Four Reasons The GOP Lost

It is amazing that the 2008 presidential election came down to the economy in a way. I mean, many in the pundit class were priming for Hillary vs Rudy showdown. And, much to their chagrin, it was Barack vs. Johnny Mac.
So, it should not be surprising that the Republican party and its allies are trying to find blame with how they lost this election.
Well, again, it was two things.
A referendum on President Bush and, as noted, the economy.
But, reading the very same people that promised the Hillary/Rudy showdown, there are other reasons.
I will highlight four reasons to add to the two reasons I noted above.
1) Why, it is those darn social conservative/religious voters.
And this is according to the newest member of the Washington elite club, columnist Kathleen Parker.
Today in her Washington Post column, she takes out the double-barrelled shot gun and blasted those pesky so-called values voters.
Here are some choice cliches that Miss Parker takes aim at the values voters:

Three little letters, great big problem: G-O-D.
I, for one, do not think that God is a problem. The problem is when someone closes their mind to God, which Miss Parker must have done.
I'm bathing in holy water as I type.
A totally insulting line that diminishes a potential point that Miss Parker may be trying to make.
To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn't soon cometh.
I have heard this before, but what I would like to ask people like Miss Parker, et al, is does she really think that if the most energetic group of Republicans are thrown overboard, those youths and young adults would flock to the Republican party? No, they were attracted to President-elect Obama because he had a positive message and was on offense while Sen. John McCain had no cohesive message and was on defense.
And shifting demographics suggest that the Republican Party -- and conservatism with it -- eventually will die out unless religion is returned to the privacy of one's heart where it belongs.
Again, I have heard this bandied about as well and yet if that were to occur, then what else would one have to keep private? Miss Parker seems to forget that the United States constitution guarantees freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. Thus, all those who practice their religion should be able to do so freely. That goes for evangelical Christians, traditionalist Roman Catholics and mainline protestants and Orthodox Jews.

So, according to Mrs. Parker, the Republicans would be better off without it's strongest voting bloc.
But, there is the following from this blogger's dear friend, the former Republican governor of Arkansas, the Rev. Mike Huckabee.
2) Why, let the Rev. Mike continue his pile-on against former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. And, when that is not enough, he pretty much goes after Fred Thompson, Sen. John McCain and fellow evangelical Gov. Sarah Palin.
The main problem with the Rev. Mike is that he is an very bitter and small man. And, an ordained minister. A bad combo.
But, the Rev. Mike is promoting his book, "Do The Right Thing" and he uses the book to do the wrong thing.
And that is the continuing demonizing of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And, Mitt Romney. The Rev. Mike uses the book to whine about not getting a phone call of congratulations from Mr. Romney after the Rev. Mike won the Iowa caucus. Of course, before that the Rev. Mike had a rather offensive "Christmas television ad" with a floating cross. And in an interview with the New York Times magazine, the Rev. Mike asks an ignorant question about a Mormon belief that God and Satan were brothers. Nice. And he expects Mr. Romney to grovel at him? I guess so.
And now, the Rev. Mike is resentful of Gov. Palin being chosen by Sen. McCain to be the GOP vice-presidential nominee.
News flash Rev. Mike. If you thought that sucking up to Sen. McCain while knocking off Mr. Romney was your ticket to the VP slot, you got taken. You were never on the McCain radar. Period.
What the Rev. Mike is doing is giving all the ammo that ingrates like Kathleen Parker need to demonize the Republican party. If he really believes in doing the right thing, he needs to get over the hate against Mr. Romney and learn some economics from the former Massachusetts governor.
3) So-called Republican congressmen like this imbecile who has no idea that he was voted out of office. And probably wonders why.
Joe Knollenberg is a recently defeated congressman from Michigan and he is trying to explain why the three American auto makers deserve any help from the American people.
But, according to this guy, it is not the American people, i.e. the taxpayers, but congress that is helping out. Because after all, it is congress' money, not the American people's money.
What is the difference between soon to be ex-congressman Knollenberg and President-elect Obama on "spreading the wealth"? Nothing.
Again, when a moderate Republican is pitted against a Democrat, people vote for the Democrat because they know what they are getting with the Democrat. Screwed.
4) Lastly, it is all the groups of the conservative coalition saying they are important at the expense of the other.
Get a clue.
As I say, I am a conservative. Not a social conservative. Not a fiscal conservative. Not a national security-foreign policy conservative. A conservative period.
Until we get that through our heads, we will not go out and talk to the American people and regain their trust.
These are some highlight reasons, but there are probably many more.
We need to stop shooting each other.
The common enemy, if you will, is the Democrat party. Liberals. President-elect Obama.
If we focus on that, we can learn a lot from the three branches of the conservative movement.
Until then, I guess some people and groups just have to vent. At the expense of serious examination.