Republican Moderates Abandon Party

In republican strongholds across the country moderate republicans are defecting to the democratic party. They say that they are displeased by the republican focus on religious issues, such as abortion and gay rights, rather than quality of life issues, such as education and jobs.



I'm not sure whether we have some idealistic individuals standing up for what they believe or the first of the rats abandoning a sinking ship. However were I a betting man, Id bet on the rats.

[edit on 27-6-2006 by df1]

[edit on 28/6/2006 by Mirthful Me]

So you are saying that all moderate republicans are leaving the party because they feel that it is doomed?

That doesn't make the least bit of sense. If a person votes for the party, and the party looses, what would they have gained by voting for the opposition?


The article focuses on Kansas, which has been having some rather absurd debates over whether or not evolution has occured. So I wouldn't translate whats happening in Kansas as occuring throughout the country.

One of the key reasons Kansas Democrats are in fighting mood is their governor, Kathleen Sibelius. Sibelius's vote represents an island of Democratic blue in a sea of Republican red on the political map, and she has impressed by reaching the middle-ground voters in a startlingly successful first term. Shunning the hot-button social issues, she has focused on education, jobs and health.

There's no reason to think that this formula is working in other states, especially when the democratic party is not following that platform anyway. its also unrealistic to think that the party can win big or swing voters without addressing the major issue of the WOT.

Well, it sure is a start! Could we actually see some conscience forming here? Great finds like these make my day, thanks.

[edit on 28-6-2006 by HardToGet]

Ha, c'mon, the Republican Party is in the White House, the Senate, Congress, sheesh, even the governership of California, albeit I'm not impressed, though still, California???

Let me get this straight, a Liberal Euro Newspaper is hoping beyond hope, dreaming if you will, praying for.....oh no, not praying, that'd be politically detrimental

hmmmmmm, you mean the UK Guardian has a handle on the political mood in Kansas?

Best belly laugh I've had in a long, loooonnng, time.

thanks!!!

From The Article
In Virginia, Jim Webb, a one-time Reagan official, is seeking to be a Democrat senator. In South Carolina, top Republican prosecutor Barney Giese has defected after a spat with conservatives. Back in Kansas another top Republican, Paul Morrison, also joined the Democrats and is challenging a Republican to be the state attorney-general.

While the article's focus is on kansas, it references several other "red states" where republicans are leaving the party to join the democrats. I dont think the author was writing just about kansas or intending to compile an all inclusive list of republicans leaving the party, but rather the author was reflecting on what appears to be an emerging trend. In any case, my interest is purely academic as I do not believe either party properly represents the american people.

I would be interested in hearing from other ATS members that are seeing similar defections in their states.

As for the newspaper being in the uk, it states that the author Paul Harris is located in Topeka, Kansas. So much for the belly laughs.




[edit on 28-6-2006 by df1]

Give me a break the intro is very misleading and clearly bias. Nowhere in the article does it state what the author implies, well unless of course you consider one or two people as several which it is not. :shk:

Not voting for this

Oh wait there is no voting button wonder if a MOD caught the bias



[edit on 6/28/2006 by shots]

Originally posted by shots
Give me a break the intro is very misleading and clearly bias. Nowhere in the article does it state what the author implies, well unless of course you consider one or two people as several which it is not. :shk:

Not voting for this

Oh wait there is no voting button wonder if a MOD caught the bias

[edit on 6/28/2006 by shots]

Like it or not there is indeed serious dissatification among the rank and file republicans, many of whom feel that the people in charge of the party do not represent their views and especially among fisical conservatives. What is happening in the republican party is exactly the same thing that happend to the democrats in the late 70's. Like it or not shots, its happening and any casual political readings both online and in print will prove me right. Question is will they bolt to the democrats or to third party canidates.

Originally posted by grover
Like it or not shots, its happening and any casual political readings both online and in print will prove me right.

I realize that it is happening. My point was the intro indicates or implies it is happening in masses which is not the case.

Originally posted by shotsMy point was the intro indicates or implies it is happening in masses which is not the case.

Que?

The article goes on to note people doing the same in other states, not just in Kansas, but other Republican "strongholds," such as Virginia and South Carolina. There ARE several "defectors" mentioned in this article. Please read the entire article next time...

But in a swath of heartland states such as Kansas, Democrats are seeing the first signs of their party's rebirth. Parkinson is not alone in switching sides. In Virginia, Jim Webb, a one-time Reagan official, is seeking to be a Democrat senator. In South Carolina, top Republican prosecutor Barney Giese has defected after a spat with conservatives. Back in Kansas another top Republican, Paul Morrison, also joined the Democrats and is challenging a Republican to be the state attorney-general.

While it's sad they chose to become Democrats instead of say....Libertarians, I think it is obvious from the article that this is not an isolated issue. It HAS happened across the country and with many important ones mentioned by name.

[edit on 28-6-2006 by Jamuhn]

Originally posted by Jamuhn
While it's sad they chose to become Democrats instead of say....Libertarians, I think it is obvious from the article that this is not an isolated issue. It HAS happened across the country and with many important ones mentioned by name.

[edit on 28-6-2006 by Jamuhn]

I realize that and that was not my point. The way the intro and headline reads implies it is happeing in mass numbers which is not the case.

Originally posted by shotsI realize that and that was not my point. The way the intro and headline reads implies it is happeing in mass numbers which is not the case.

You mean this?

In republican strongholds across the country moderate republicans are defecting to the democratic party.

Nowhere does it say 'en masse' or anything to that effect. The author simply stated that in multiple majority republican states, moderate republicans are becoming democrats. Technically it's true, but also the intention of the author was probably based on the position and high ranking status of the republicans that have been becoming democrats. If such republican leaders are doing so, it's indicative of a larger occurence happening among republican voters as well.

But, isn't that what the elections are for? This article is simply reporting that republican leaders have been becoming democrats. I think you are looking too much into this because you don't like the news. Just be honest, that's all I ask.

Originally posted by Jamuhn
I think you are looking too much into this because you don't like the news. Just be honest, that's all I ask.

It does not bother me one bit. As I stated it happens all the time

Originally posted by shots
The way the intro and headline reads implies it is happeing in mass numbers which is not the case.

That's your perception. It doesn't indicate anything about numbers at all.

Like it or not, "former Republican" is becoming quite a group. I'm not talking now about Congress people, I'm talking about the citizens.

I wish they'd take back their party from the extremists, myself, but if they see jumping ship as the right thing to do to distance themselves from this administration, I can understand that, too.

"The middle of the road is all of the usable surface. The extremes, right and left, are in the gutters."
Dwight D. Eisenhower

I actually did an OP/ED following the the whole Terri Schavio mess as few of you (judging by the responces) will recall in which I discussed the looming war within the party for its direction

Caveat Emptor: The Selling of The GOP's Soul To The Religious Right.

The whole embrace by some of the party by a radical right agenda has alienated and marginalized moderates which despite thier lack of press coverage still forms a huge chunk of the core of the GOP. The battle is still growing and the possibility exists that a third party could form (Its doubtfull but you never know). IF the GOP nominates a hard core religous right winger for the 2008 campaign you will many in the GOP flock to a more moderate Dem. candidate in a reversal of the "Reagan Democrats"

[edit on 6/28/06 by FredT]

[edit on 6/28/06 by FredT]

As for the newspaper being in the uk, it states that the author Paul Harris is located in Topeka, Kansas. So much for the belly laughs.

[edit on 28-6-2006 by df1]

So it appears Mr. Paul Harris is a correspondent, writes for, or has otherwise been recruited by the liberal media, I can accept that.

And the belly laughs come not so much from the fact that a few politicians are reported to be, shall we say, switching sides, which is not terribly unusual, rather, the humor for me is that this is simply another near frantic attempt to show the conservative base as breaking apart.

Do not misinterpret what I say, as the Republican party constantly portrays the Democrats as being quite fractured in their approach to policy too. Do you really think Howard Dean, Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid, John Murtha, and Joe Lieberman work well as a team? Rush Limbaugh says constantly the Democratic party is "imploding".

And so I see this thread as one more attempt at justification of ones political views.