The Grand New Party

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Essentially, the question is where do fiscal conservatives go now that the social conservatives have co-opted the Republican party?

Can a group based on fiscal conservatism and limited government be viable? OR will any such group attract and be subsumed by anti-government groups and/or social conservatives.

Can fiscal conservatives remain allied with social conservatives and still be relevant or is it a catch-22? We need them for a majority but in gaining their support we lose the core values of fiscal restraint by the government, personal responsibility and limited, but appropriate, govt. regulation (i.e. oversight of banking, insurance, interstate trade, etc.)?

IMO it will be real difficult to have a third party because a split in the GOP and a fiscal conservative/socially moderate party won't pull many Dems. It would just solidify the Dems control on the government and guarantee expanded gov't, higher taxes and liberal social engineering.

The social conservatives need to wake up and let the GOP frame the gay marriage/abortion/other social issues as a "state's rights" issue vs. a gay/straight or abortion/anti-abortion issue. The "what works in Kansas doesn't work in CA" is an argument I think most people get. This would allow the GOP to seem more interested in the reduction of the size & scope of the federal government rather than in pushing their moral beliefs on others. That stance should attract independents and moderates. The social conservatives need to understand if we don't get fiscal control of the government within the next election cycle, a 6-8 year span of a Dem President and Dem Congress will do irreperable harm to the country fiscally. It also won't matter what social issue they social conservatives have, the districts and census will be so gerry-mandered the GOP will be a minority party for 50+ years and they won't have a snowballs chance of getting any ground on their agenda.

Put fiscal responsibility first and find candidates that don't have skeletons in closets or are sold out to special interests. Fight the social issues at the state and local level and make the Dems/liberals appear to be the ones trying to force their agenda down everyone's throat at the federal level.