I think Mark Sanford has a better record of being fiscally conservative and opposed to pampering illegal immigrants than Sara Palin. That said, I would imagine that Alaska doesn’t have many illegal immigrants.

But in terms of cutting taxes and vetoing spending, I think Mark Sanford is the best in the business.

Sara Palin enacted a windfall profits tax on the oil companies in Alaska. That’s part of Obama’s platform.

Palin in conservative in the sense that she didn’t abort her down syndrome child. But other than that, she really isn’t that conservative.

This proabably explains why she eagerly joined McCain on the ticket.

The basic reason Charlie Crist won here in Florida is because the alternative was far worse. The main reason mccain did so poorly in Florida was his lack of campaining in any place except those he was predestined to lose bad in.

To me it is as simple as that.

As a resident in the peoples republik of MA. I have seen first hand when a Republican moderates his/her principles.

If the public has a choice between Democrat light and Democrat, they will choose the REAL deal every time. Hence NO more moderate Republicans in the house in all of New England.

Strong Conservative values and principles..COUNT me IN on that team.

With Haley Barbour, Bobby Jindahl and Sarah Palin all on the same page, I can sleep a tad better knowing that there are finally Conservative Republicans to trust. Throw in Micheal Steele and Marsha Blackburn and a lot of others and I’d say we got a fighting chance!

He doesn’t have much room to talk about a vast center coalition that swept him to victory in Florida, cause there wasn’t one. He better hope there is a conservative resurgence of the base in Florida in 2010, otherwise he is going to get swept out of office by those moderates that have no loyalty to a party or an individual.

Frankly, we can blame Crist for giving us McCain, so I’m going to be thinking hard about whether I give a damn in 2010.

Wonderful idea!! Let’s get another “moderate” to “reach out” and bend over while getting the teeth knocked out in the process.

Are these people for real? Do they plan to dismantle the Republican base entirely? Agree with Knightbrigade. Put up another phony conservative and throw another REAL conservative under the bus and I, for one will sit out another election. Maybe the Republican “insiders” should “reach out” to Howard Dean and merge into one party? Why not? That’s how great corporations get bigger. Throw all principles in the sewer and never look back…

If I want socialism, I will vote Democrat..

I’ve had Pawlenty as governor for the last six or so years and if Crist is anything like him, we don’t want either of them. Following anything those two say will lead us down the wrong path and will result in a third party because they are democrat-lite on steroids. Let’s just hope niether of them have much say on the direction our party goes.

Pawlenty is a good Republican. I we marginalize people like him, just forget the whole thing.

Crist is a bit more of a conniver.

And I’m not sure why Republicans and conservatives have this inability to seperate principle from politics, ideology form principle.

There is nothing wrong with “inclusiveness, bipartisanship and civility” as long as you dont compromise core principles. The problems with Republicans is that they also play under the other side’s terms.

We should encourage inclusiveness, bipartisanship and civility ON OUR TERMS.

Do not compromise your core principles, but recognize that you must engage in political pragmatism from time to time as necessary to build coalitions.

“inclusiveness, bipartisanship and civility” and conservatism are not mutually exclusive

George W Bush thought ALL of those things. And look where that friendly cooperative spirit got him. Crist has the benefit of observing recent history, and still thinks that tying steak around his neck will endear him to the lions.

One of my customers gave me the sticker a couple of days ago. It has attracted mostly positive attention so far, but I did encounter a couple of Lenin’s children at the theater today. They gave me some dirty looks but turned away first in the little stare off I had with them. Little girly men!

I get the impression that an overwhelming majority of Obama’s minions are vegetarians…

But, that particular strategy won’t protect Gov. Crist from those of us who like red meat.

If Governor Crist or any other moderate is nominated in 2012, I’m sitting the election out.

Anyone left of Bush is a non-starter, and we’d better pick someone considerably to the right.

There’s no way he’d get the nomination. However, I also think that the media (and the McCain campaign) has ruined Palin’s chance of getting elected in the general election until she has gotten more experience, possibly in a senatorial run. I don’t agree that she needs it, but the vast majority of Americans now do. Give me Sanford or Jindal and I will be very happy.

Great article on Sanford.

[Bye, fast200! - Moe Lane]

I don’t understand why this site is so intent on always what you guys call moderate Republican

Tim Pawlenty and Crist are excellent Gov and I am proud they are members of this party

Why can’t we be an open tent party? I consider myself Conservative but lately I feel uncomfortable on this site sometimes? I am willing to bet I would be labeled a moderate by some here

While its important to discuss the future path of our movement, we should be much more focused on the substance and ideas rather than simply the messengers themselves. Once we find the principled conservative message then we can move forward.

I’m just saying that if you give him a significant role in the party, don’t expect much different policies then what McCain or Crist would give you. They’re all great guys, but there are just so much better options. I’m currently on the Sanford bandwagon, myself.

I think these are both good governors and I could support both. I have a couple of concerns. I understand the idea of keeping taxes low, however these governors have to ensure that services are met and budgets are balanced. In different levels of government, civil servants are having to be laid off and projects are having to be cancelled. There is only so much budget cutting that can be done. I am not an advocate of high taxes but I am an advocate of responsible government. Also we have only 21 republican governors and 14 republican led legislatures. In order for republicans to be elected in some of these states either more republicans have to vote or democrats have to be convinced to vote republican. Gov Mitch Daniels of Indiana is an excellent of the latter. And I believe that Gov Palin gave the extra tax monies to every child in Alaska in the form a rebate.

Look, I love what I’ve seen so far of Sarah Palin. I’m willing to go to the wall defending her from the BS criticisms and outright lies leveled against her. She’s a rising star of the party–or could be. I actually believe that’s how she’ll turn out, and I hope I’m right.

On the other hand, she’s still a work in progress and I’m seeing signs of a kind of “cult of personality” emerging in regards to her along the lines of what many Democrats did with Barack Obama.

This is NOT a healthy development, in my view. I don’t want a culture hero–I want an effective political leader. In that respect, Palin still has a lot to prove. I’m rooting for her, not against her, but she DOES have to pass a number of future tests.

Lets see what she continues to do as Alaska’s governor. If she decides to go to the next level, let’s see how she performs in the snows of Iowa and New Hampshire during the grind of the primaries, how she handles herself in debates with other Republican candidates when she’s free of McCain’s handlers and the burden of defending McCain’s positions. Let’s see how well she responds to Obama, how she conducts herself in future interviews, how well she crafts a message that might appeal not just to us but to a sufficient number of Americans that might enable her to win a national election on her own steam.

People need to take a hard look at others besides Sarah Palin when deciding on the 2012 standard-bearer. If she’s “the one,” I for one will celebrate, but I don’t consider that a foregone conclusion. At least not now.

For the sake of a few idiot RINOs who think we should bring Republicans and Democrats together for the sake of unity and to make America a shiny, fun land filled with happy skittles and rainbows.

The Democrats are allowed to nominate the most liberal man in the senate as their candidate, but Heaven forbid that Republicans try to pick a candidate with a spine.

In my opinion, these milquetoast moderates we keep nominating are doomed to lose elections. It’s very hard for a candidate to argue with someone else’s opinion when they don’t have one themselves.

What we need is a candidate who doesn’t mind forming their own opinions and -isn’t- promoted by the New York Times during the primaries.

Restore the leg of the stool that is broken, that of limited government fiscally responsible conservatism. THAT will win. I don’t want to throw anyone out of the party - however, those who have diluted the colors toward the pale pastel must not lead. They should follow the winning conservative coalition.

Palin & Jindal are definitely rising stars. They don’t have to be shooting stars, however. Palin is 44 & I don’t think Jindal is yet 40 - they have a lot of time to contribute. That said, I think that either could be a formidable candidate in 2012 for the presidency. We should have a deeper bench, where either would not “have” to be there to “save the party.”

Regardless, Republicans need to reclaim the mantle of limited government fiscally responsible conservatism. I approve of this message!

The point of a political party should not be about winning elections, nor should it be about pandering to the voters. The point of a political party is to enact positive change to our nation, and that means moving the middle away from the middle. The left understood this very well, why do we not? By moving toward the middle and abandoning out core principles we deserve to lose each and every time.

I just do not understand why anyone would want the party to shift toward the center, or soften our core principles.

Our tent is made big when we accept people who share most of our ideals, especially if they do not piss on the principles they don’t particularly share. We all don’t have to agree on everything, but we must still agree on what the party holds to be important and true, our principles.

For the skeptics, there are plenty of time for Palin to prove herself. (Where the hell do i get one of those Palin 2012 stickers???). But first we all need to pitch together and win the 2010 elections, both for state control and control of Congress.

From what I’ve seen Florida Republicans are a little outside the party’s mainstream. They are probably the most liberal/moderate ones outside the northeast given what I have seen, heard, and read about them over time in the legislature, law enforcement, primary voting and polling data, and leadership.

I think Crist (among other elected Florida Republicans) probably represents the self-identified Republicans of Florida.

I’m not too interested in 2012 right now. We just ended a 2-year campaign; we don’t need a 4-year one!

We need candidates that can clearly explain their conservative ideals and why they are superior to lib “solutions”.

Someone has to stop reacting to polls and get their message out and explain it and draw people in.

We may spend the text two or four years arguing about the best conservative candidate. But the sooner we make up our mind, the more effective will be our support and hence the chance of succeeding. True, we don’t have all the facts about the four true conservative: Palin, Jindhal, Barbour, Sanford. They are not perfect, but the sooner we get behind two of them and start helping them build a strong support from the base the better.
Since the possible new faces that may prop up will be too young, and since personality matters a great deal, I would say Palin/Jindhal is the best bet. Rather than spending our energy in testing and retesting them, let’s start helping them.

Why are so many people talking about re-running McCain’s campaign?

He ran as a moderate to appeal to Blue state voters, and by the convention he had already lost.

Pawlenty and Crist would be the same from the way they’re positioning themselves.

Can we just focus on more pressing matters now? Palin was absolutely correct to say that right now, we need to reorganize and start looking at the next set of elections (which are not in 2012) and hold the Democrats responsible for what happens over the next few years? So let’s focus on fighting the bad policies that are going to come up over the next few years and start fighting during LOCAL govt elections. I live in VA. For a red state turned blue, we have an appaling number of Dems in local leadership positions (which are stepping-stones for bigger jobs). Rather than attack either McCain or Palin (who both had excellent credentials as well as a few drawbacks and media armies charging after them) or picking out who we should nominate in FOUR years, let’s talk about what is happening right now and making sure we do not allow the Dems to totally mess this country up…

So Crist walks around like an arrogant jerk, thinks he has the popularity and and polls sewn up. Palin et al please do not listen to people like this. Our govener has put our state and it’s people in a very precarious situation. I am sure that he takes quite a couple of drinks during Hurricane season. Yes I did vote for Crist because I thought he may have some new ideas or search them out in regards to property tax. Possibly live up to the promise of lowering insurance premiums. None to both of these, I mean not even an intelligent plan, so what did he do, he made the state run insurer, Citizens, larger than any other property insurer carrier in the country with over $59 billion of exposure. What this means is that if a large Hurricane hits a highly populated area such as South Florida or Tampa, that the state will not be able to pay for the resulting loses. Crist’s only hope is for a Federal bailout and his CFO Alex Sink has admitted to as much in writing. Pathetic. People just don’t know it’s coming. So who pays for this….you..me..the taxpayers
No don’t look to Crist for answers on what should the GOP should do, pandering to groups is insulting although Crist feels he is very good at this, living in his own mind.
We Conservatives have a simple principle life liberty and pursuit of happiness. We don’t need to pander to each and every group because being responsible monetarliy and socially, strikes a chord in every American no matter what race, gender or orientation.
This is why Palin strikes a chord in many of us, she walks the talk she lives it and we see it. No Sarah be yourself you will succed beyond any of these obstacles we are pulling for you.They fear you because you stand for something and they for nothing except power which apparently is a stronger temptation than money.

I think there are a lot of current “republicans” that simply need to go. We need to cut out the “moderates” and otherwise start defending our own ones instead of running away. Liberals never stay out of a fight, but we seem to be scared of entering who we really are.

There is NO WAY I am backing anything but a REAL conservative next election. even if Obama resussects Karl Marx and puts him as VEEP, I wouldn’t vte for another phony republican candidate, no way.

The republican leadership needs to behead a few people after this disaster-election or make themselves further irrelevant in 2010.