Karl Rove: GOP 'Can't Do It' Without Independents in 2018

[XenaLee]

Very much agreed.  What do we have now?  Far right socialist Dems, a few moderate Dems (who are being pushed out by the far right Dems), and left-leaning Republicans.  The Republicans try to move left and the Dems are moving further left.  Didn't anyone think moving further right might be the way to go?  Who wants variations of the same old, same old?

Be grateful the leftist Dems did not think about moving (faking) to the right.  I'm glad they're not bright enough (or too leftist.... same thing) to do that.

[roamer_1]

Of course Rove would recommend a move to the middle, which would seal the GOPs fate.

More than half of Conservatives stand outside of the Republican Party. To assume 'Independents' are in the middle is a huge mistake.

[libertybele]

Good grief ... why would anyone listen to Karl Rove to begin with?  He's proven to be irrelevant (and wrong) time and time again.

[Chosen Daughter]

Well Karl, it will be even more interesting to discover you can't do it without principled Conservatives either, unless going full-tilt Democrat is your goal - and then, just go after the rabid liberals who feel abandoned now that Marxist/Communists have taken over their party.

They need a home Karl, and I am sure you and the GOP will welcome them with open arms, as you make passing the liberal agenda an official platform in your party plank.

That is exactly what I was going to say.  He should be saying Republicans can't do it without Conservatives.  You either stand for something or you don't.  If Republicans no longer hold Conservative values everyone might as well be Independent because the party is a nothing burger.

[INVAR]

If Republicans no longer hold Conservative values everyone might as well be Independent because the party is a nothing burger.

No, they no longer hold Conservative values.  Rather as evidenced by the last 9 years, they hold Conservatives in contempt and govern even more stridently Statist than the Democrats do.

They never really were a 'Conservative' party to begin with.  Reagan brought principled Conservatives in, but the Oligarchy and party leadership hated Reagan and have worked since to make sure another like him never again is able to take their party back to one of limited government and moral values.

Conservatives need to find another party to call home. 

[truth_seeker]

That is exactly what I was going to say.  He should be saying Republicans can't do it without Conservatives.  You either stand for something or you don't.  If Republicans no longer hold Conservative values everyone might as well be Independent because the party is a nothing burger.

Interestingly, when one actually  visits the web page of The Conservative Party USA, one finds Sen. Ted Cruz'  endorsement of Trump.

[darroll]

This is my favorite quote from Karl before he went brain dead;

Quote:
 But perhaps the most important difference between conservatives and liberals can be found in the area of national security. Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers. In the wake of 9/11, conservatives believed it was time to unleash the might and power of the United States military against the Taliban.
Karl Rove
End Quote

[Sanguine]

This is my favorite quote from Karl before he went brain dead;

Quote:
 But perhaps the most important difference between conservatives and liberals can be found in the area of national security. Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers. In the wake of 9/11, conservatives believed it was time to unleash the might and power of the United States military against the Taliban.
Karl Rove
End Quote

Makes you wonder what happened to him?

[Free Vulcan]

Well Turdblossom - here's the deal: Indies don't vote very well in the mid-terms. Half the rate of Republicans, especially in the Red states. Those that do tend to be informed and fairly partisan as very few true indies tend to vote in those elections.

If I were a campaign manager this time around, I'd woo the Indies I could, try to keep the loss to no more than 55-45, and go right after the same blue dog dems Trump did. Pump up the GOP turnout, and try to demoralize the Bernie Dems from coming out.