We need to think about "DINOs" and possible Republican converts.

[latteromden]

Y'all here want your representatives to be pretty ideologically pure - which, to an extent, I can understand. However, if something manages to disrupt the GOP and we get both regular people and elected officials defecting to our party (or becoming independents), it seems to me that we should support them, regardless of whether or not we agree with them 100%. After all, if they run away from the Republican party - they need somewhere to go. And this is a very partisan thing to say, but if they don't vote for the GOP, we want them to vote for us ("we" being the Democrats & also Greens in some cases), not for another hard-right party.

What do you think?

[lojasmo]

1. Not worth it, if they vote like republicans. We need populists.

Check your signature.

[MrModerate]

2. Yeah, which is why I'm choking down my ire over . . .

Inouye and Akaka's defection on the ANWR issue (Landrieu is another matter -- she's a RIABN -- Republican In All But Name).

The situation is too dire for ideological purity. We've got to embrace all who genuinely fit in our big tent, short of compromising our core values.

[Finder]

3. Most frustrated GOPers do vote for Dems.

It is doubtful they would reregister as Democrats since they are trying to repair the party. That said, a lot of people I know registered as undeclared.

[MemphisTiger]

8. I remember a NPR story about this prior to the election

saying that most frustrated voters will vote for change no matter the candidate. The reasoning was that we know what is in place now doesn't work so will give the other guy a shot. We see how that turned out.

[SheilaT]

4. Frankly, here in Kansas

I'm more concerned about the RINO's, since all the Democrats here who register as Republicans just to be able to vote in the Republican primary are worse. Only about 20% of voters in this state are registered as Democrats, and it's one reason why it's so hard to get a Dem to run for office here. I get so sick of arguing with those-who-ought-to-register-as-Dems that the Republicans can take care of their own, and let us build our own party, and too often feel like I'm talking to a wall.

[democrank]

5. I`m willing to work with moderate Repupublicans, but...

don`t expect me to compromise with rightwingers. I`d rather have a smaller party that stands solidly for core Democratic principles than some hybrid mixture that sells out in order to win an election.

It may take some time to rebuild our party from the bottom up but once we do that we`ll have something to be proud of.

[Discord]

6. might not be much of a country left to save

by the time that strategy works out...

[quaoar]

7. Don't hold your breath waiting for GOP elected officials to defect

Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) said his party had become a party of "theocracy" because of the Schiavo vote in Congress. So why would he stay in such a party?

Power, of course.

[Finder]

9. The 2006 elections are very important

Someone needs to make a list of all the social fundies in Congress up for reelection or running (Republican or Democrat) and out them. Partisanship aside---we need as many progressives as possible in Congress.

Anyone interested in working with me on a project like that?

[snippy]

10. Both this country and the world will benefit greatly

from the defeat of republicans. Neither this country nor the world will ever be what I or anyone else would like. Therefore, the democratic party should welcome nearly anyone who wants republicans defeated.