By embracing creeping libertarianism and free market extremism the GOP sold out their true core conservative base. This cost them both houses.

Uhhhmm no. Republicans are not big proponents of free markets and limited government, that is why libertarian minded voters turned away from them, IMO.

Now that they’re out of power it’s time for them to regroup and recognize that libertarian values aren’t compatible with true conservative values.

Conservativism does not mean statism Mac. I know you might think telling people what to do is a good idea, but in general it isn't.

Libertarians haven’t been able to elect so much as a dogcatcher in this country unless they’re intellectually dishonest and wrap themselves in another party’s flag. There is a reason for that. Conservatives need to realize this, and put as much distance as they can between themselves and this intellectually bankrupt ideology.

Well unfortunately for you, Reagan Republicans have far more in common that your kind of kooky conservativism. There still are a fair number of such Republicans and your only going to alienate them further...in short your going to the Konservative Kos Kids thing, not a good strategy for winning.

Yes... libertarians did cost the GOP the senate, but... not in the intellectually dishonest way that you're putting up.

By embracing creeping libertarianism and free market extremism the GOP sold out their true core conservative base. This cost them both houses.

Now that they're out of power it's time for them to regroup and recognize that libertarian values aren't compatible with true conservative values.

Libertarians haven't been able to elect so much as a dogcatcher in this country unless they're intellectually dishonest and wrap themselves in another party's flag. There is a reason for that. Conservatives need to realize this, and put as much distance as they can between themselves and this intellectually bankrupt ideology.

Now that the Republican's have lost both houses because of their embrace of creeping libertarianism, my bet is that they'll grow a brain and begin to clean house.

It's about time.

I don't blame the libertariens, I blame the jag's like stevens.

Stevens from alaska did more to damage to the 'pubs much more than foley ever could.

Though foley wasn't in congress, he was an ugly person, and the 'Pubs are happy to destroy those who break the rules, but alaska keeps voting for stevens.

Foley? a 2 week constant hash in the common media, but stevens, a clear offender of conservative ideals stands, for the addicts, stevens did more to hurt the 'pubs than foley.

At least in my mind. I'm a so-chi-burbanisticite, so I don't know many 'pubs, including my family.

It would be very wise for the Republican party to embrace many of the key issues that concern Libertarians since those are the same concerns as conservatives. You keep your base happy while expanding the tent.

Now if the Libertarians party would just get the drug thing sorted out we could see a real alignment of interests benefiting both.

So let me get this straight:

1.) You have strong libertarian leanings
2.) Libertarians are basically conservatives
3.) Libertarians need to get over the whole "small government" thing and embrace government deciding your personal issues.

Explain to us please what exactly you meant by "Libertarian leanings", because I don't think that word means what you think it means.

Having strong libertarian leanings I have become somewhat disgusted by Republican shenanigans. But is it smart to give power to the party which is even more removed from my beliefs in order to send a message? I chose not to.

And that is exactly why the Republican party has done nothing to address issues concerning Libertarians. Seriously, if you're telling them "Listen to me or I'll vote for you anyway", why should they? To them, you are a free vote, they don't have to give you anything but lipservice and a little fearmongering to keep you in line.

Well the Republicans certainly got a kick in the butt this year. Not an entirely undeserved one, and not an unexpected one, but a butt kicking nonetheless. Some pundits say this is a defeat for Republicanism, not conservatism. It's true that the elec....

BTW the military that Clinton handed off to Bush acquitted itself pretty well. They achieved military victories in Afghanistan & Iraq that were undone by incompetence in the Bush admin.

I honestly don't think the Republican Party will sort itself out until Dubya has left the stage. There's just too much bile out there on both sides to think otherwise. "My country, my President" doesn't seem to work for too many people, if it ever did.

For me, my votes for Ford, Reagan, Bushes 41 and 42, as well as straight-ticket Repubs meant they reflected most of my values, not all of them. Each one disappointed me somewhere, but never enough to think I'd chosen the wrong party or candidate. I think I'm old enough now to realize that no single party will ever reflect every single thing I'd want in gov't. The best you can hope for is a majority.

Let the blood-letting begin, let the long knives flash. After the dust settles a bit, we'll have a clearer picture of where the GOP is headed. We've been down this road before. One thing I do know: every Repub who held Dubya at arm's length, be it Ahnold on the left coast to Kean, Jr. on the Atlantic, down to Crist in FL -- they will always be dead to me.

One of the many lessons to be learned from the Sopranos.

No free market for you!......

UPDATE: Bad news about Libertarians: they may have cost the Republicans the elections. Good news about the two-party system: when one of the major parties feels threatened by a third party, they may begin the process of co-optation. This means......