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Republican Defections

By Jeralyn, Section Elections
Posted on Sat Jun 24, 2006 at 11:14:20 PM EST
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The Observer takes a look at the Heartland today and finds Republicans not only deserting Bush but switching party affiliation to the Democrats. It begins in Kansas with Mark Parkison who changed affiliation recently.

a few weeks ago Parkinson was a Republican. In fact, he was Kansas Republican party chairman. His defection to the Democrats sent shockwaves through a state deeply associated with the national Republican cause and the evangelical conservatives at its base. Nor was it just Parkinson's leave-taking that left Republicans spluttering with rage and talking of betrayal. It was that as he left Parkinson lambasted his former party's obsession with conservative and religious issues such as gay marriage, evolution and abortion

The Republicans' loss is the Democrats' gain:

But in a swath of heartland states such as Kansas, Democrats are seeing the first signs of their party's rebirth. [Mark] 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.

The radical right may finally be ebbing.

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    Republican Defections | 12 comments (12 topical)
    Re: Republican Defections (none / 0) (#1)
    by aw on Sat Jun 24, 2006 at 11:55:11 PM EST
    The Republicans have become so extremist they are driving out the last of the moderates.

    Re: Republican Defections (none / 0) (#2)
    by cpinva on Sun Jun 25, 2006 at 01:27:56 AM EST
    i wouldn't get too comfy just yet. not unlike the evil vampire, it isn't dead until you've driven a wooden stake through its heart. as it stands, the dems can't find the wood, much less make a stake and keep from stabbing themselves with it. what they need is a van helsing, and i don't see one on the horizon. if it's all the same to you, i'll wait for the movie.

    Re: Republican Defections (none / 0) (#3)
    by Pol on Sun Jun 25, 2006 at 04:45:35 AM EST
    I fear Webb and others will be elected, then will vote with the Republicans, or worse yet, change parties. That might be one way Republicans could "clean house" of their radicals. Who needs more Joe Liebermans in our party?

    Re: Republican Defections (none / 0) (#4)
    by Edger on Sun Jun 25, 2006 at 05:09:04 AM EST
    pol: I fear Webb and others will be elected, then will vote with the Republicans Trojan horses? Vote democratic and get a rethug for your trouble?

    Re: Republican Defections (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Jun 25, 2006 at 05:56:19 AM EST
    oh come on the party isnt obbsesed with those issues, when the left has a view the right counters and debates it. no "right winger" brought up gay marriage until the sodomites broght it up

    Re: Republican Defections (none / 0) (#6)
    by soccerdad on Sun Jun 25, 2006 at 07:41:05 AM EST
    Excuse me while I dont jump for joy at this news. Lets stop fooling ourselves. Lets rename the parties. The Repub. party will be called the extremeist Repub party and the Democratic party will be called the Repub party of the 1980's. The Dem. party and what it stood for is dead. Being happy that the name Dem. may be attched to a president is meaningless if the fundamental priorites are not different, pro-imperialsm, pro corporate, anti worker etc. Now I'll be screamed at from the same suspects that anything is better than nothing. No its not. Change will only come with crisis. Rep and Dems- the only difference is how fast you get there. Now lets be clear, when I refer to Dems I'm referring to those in power i.e. the DLC, the corporate interests, and people like Clinton, Biden, etc.

    Re: Republican Defections (none / 0) (#7)
    by Avedon on Sun Jun 25, 2006 at 08:41:56 AM EST
    Maybe he's honest but dumb. How smart do you have to be to have noticed before now that Republicans were obsessing on "gay marriage, evolution and abortion"? Not that I think our elected Democrats can afford to be even more stupid than they already are....

    Re: Republican Defections (none / 0) (#8)
    by squeaky on Sun Jun 25, 2006 at 09:35:07 AM EST
    People do change though. Some say that change is the only thing we can be sure of. The reason for the defections is because these conservatives want to part ways with the neocon ultra right extremists. Many of the neocons were on the far left at one time. They changed shirts, grabbed power, and are now inspiring many to flee the republican party. Ironic, no?

    Re: Republican Defections (none / 0) (#9)
    by john horse on Sun Jun 25, 2006 at 10:43:23 AM EST
    I welcome all former Republicans who switch party affiliation to the Democrats. Most Republicans are good, decent people. In many states, the state party has been taken over by fundamentalist extremists. I believe that more and more Republicans will switch as they realize that their values are incompatible with the party. And for those of you who look down upon them because of who they were, I say shame on you. Who are you to judge people on the basis of where they've been rather than where they are going.
    I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance--Luke 15:4-7.
    Re: Republican Defections (none / 0) (#10)
    by soccerdad on Sun Jun 25, 2006 at 01:50:59 PM EST
    Republicans will switch as they realize that their values are incompatible with the party.
    Like I said The Dem party of 2005 = Republican party of 1980. If you're happy with that or will settle for a Dem in the WH regardless of what they stand for then fine. But cut the self righous crap. Rooting for the label is an empty gesture.

    Re: Republican Defections (none / 0) (#11)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sun Jun 25, 2006 at 04:07:28 PM EST
    Yes, they need to find Jesus. And not the Supply-Side Jesus, the real one, the wild-eyed radical socialist one.

    Re: Republican Defections (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jun 26, 2006 at 09:47:42 AM EST
    This is amusing, as social patterns change so does political affiliation. We no longer grow up in tha towns of our forebears, going back several generations, as tha roots grow shorter so also does political opinion. We no longer have a left half/right half majority. What we have now is a factionalized electorate governed by a 'political elite' who controls tha vote with rhetorical smoke and mirrors. I respectfully submit that two of the largest employers in this Nation, America, are tha political parties themselves and tha "officers" are keeping themselves gainfully employed, and quite a few lawyers I might add, while tha rest of us go broke and die. Politics is THE Stepping Stone to wealth and Power in America. Of course all of this factionalization may be good for America as hopefully some new independent parties will now become a reality and a factor in bringing down America's Imperial Forum. Perhaps then we will hopefully be able to see some true openess in gov't. I got a kick outa cruzing Capitol News on Humanevents.com today chatting up about Sen. Kerry's wealth, hmmmmm Sen. Bob Dole is from tha Kansas Doles who own most of tha mid-country insurance business and his wife tha current Sen. E. Dole, her maiden namesakes are synonymous with NC banking business. Did yall know that Sen. Bob Dole got away with modifying tha 1st Amendment protections, creating a special class as regards sueing for redress in Worker's Comp Cases as a Rider to an Apropriations Bill? Yup, ifn yur hurt on tha job by yur employer's negligence and yu choose to accept Wage-Loss, then yu give up yur Right to Sue. I heard when this passed that the Senator's, Bob and Elizabeth's, respective portfolios increased $1 mil each with not a single dime more invested. Yup that's what I want a liberal Republican corporationer writing laws in our Congress. And if yall think Bob Dole was a conservative, well he was, with His wallet, but not with yall's wallets. And definitely not with laws governing corporations, but hell he was er is a damned great rhetorical politician, could blow smoke up yur skirt with a beautiful, sincere smile, and no nervous ticks, on his face. A true professional politician, just like Ronnie Reagen, wish he'd stayed a democrat instead of screwing up my party. Aw well, ifn wishes were horses we'd all be millionaires.

    Republican Defections | 12 comments (12 topical)