To me, this means is that we need to stop the infighting.  We need to stop calling decent Republicans "RINOs" because we disagree with a couple of points.  Olympia Snow?  Lincoln Chaffey?  Fine.  Joe Knollenberg?  Not so much, even though I ADAMANTLY disagree on the bailouts.

LBJ had a quote - "I'd rather have people inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in."  Quit pissing in the tent, and start pissing out - onto the liberals and the ideologies that are not going to bring a strong America for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

This also means that we have to let the poisonous people go.  I don't care that you feel the Republican party "left you".  I don't care if you think I'm not a conservative.  I'm not going to let my party be hogtied by ultimatums - don't threaten to vote Libertarian, just go.  Go and do it.

I suppose lastly, we have to realize that the Republican party, like our government, is a committee of many people.  We appoint representatives for us to handle party business.  Committees operate on majorities and consensus.  Complain about it all you want, but you have to play the game to get what you want.  If you're not going to play the game, go start your own.

Poisonous people pissing in our own tent aren't going to make us strong, and detract from our larger goal of bringing government right again.  We don't have the time and shouldn't have the patience for "more conservative than thou" battles.

Besides, does it matter if they're outside the tent pissing in?  They're already inside the tent pissing in.  No change in status, and it makes them someone else's problem.  We'll surely lose less poisonous people who sit around pissing and moaning than we'll gain when they're gone.  RightMichigan is the perfect example.  When the arguments over Ron Paul settled down, much more productive conservation erupted.

He mentioned african americans who helped campaign for DeVos who voted for Obama.  What drew them to DeVos?  What drew them to Obama?  I don't think this is a Republican/Democrat issue.  I think it's message-based and reaching out to these people.

McCain lost to Obama by 8 million people out of almost 122 million votes cast (66m to 58m).  

A lot of areas where Republicans lost in Michigan, the votes had to be recounted because it was a narrow win/loss.  Several areas that Republicans won were the same way - narrow wins.  All of these were likely targetted races with a 2:1 spending by Democrats.  To get a narrow win.

I don't think we need to rebuild the party "from the ground up".  I don't think the Republican party is "shattered".  

I DO think we've been so hampered by poisonous people.  I DO think that we're not getting our message out there.  It's not simply saying "Oh, the solution is lower taxes."  "Oh, you disagree with me, so you're a RINO."  But explain, and work to convince - and outreach to the people you disagree with or whom you fear disagree with you.

I'm sick and tired of seeing Republican "stuffed shirts" who are destined to lose in a district doing nothing.  I'm sick and tired of seeing Precinct Delegates doing nothing.  I don't care if you're in a 95% Democrat area - you can be out there talking about why the Republican party is the better way to run things.

It's about letting people go who are threatening to go.  They are a minority of people and yet they make the loudest clattering.  

I'd rather lose 1,000 loud mouth detractors and spend my time spreading a positive, conservative message to others... than wasting my time convincing those 1,000 loud mouths to stay in the Republican party.

And all urine related analogies aside, small l Libertarians make up a significant part of the party.  People who demand limited government, yet want strong security measures..  you want to shrink the party to half it's size?

Is half the party threatening to "go away" unless they have their demands met?  I don't think so.  

Poison is that which drives us away.

EXACTLY.  Let's let the poisonous people go, so we can focus and spend our precious resources (time, energy and money) where they will do the most good - spreading a Republican message.

This whole discussion is not aimed at any single person.  I knew before I posted that I was going to get responses from individuals who have threatened to walk away.  But I'm not going to have individual arguments.  I'm not going to allow myself, like I won't allow my party, to be distracted from a larger goal.

I'm not talking about "kicking people out".  I'm talking about letting people go who threaten to go.  I'm talking about treating people who are pissing inside the tent as the outsiders they really are.  I don't care if they're die hard libertarians, 'true blue' conservatives, or lefties like Olympia Snow.  If you're going to piss and moan and beat up our own party, you can leave.  We don't need you.  You're wasting more resources than you'd bring to the table.

Saying you'd leave the sheet blank? If I understand correctly, that's not an option and I'd suggest it as part of the problem.

Mr. G, you have no argument here. I believe one of the valid points is that we have been (proven) too conciliatory with the wrong and even disruptive. Always getting lost in making concessions, and fearful of not 'losing' anyone. Those on the other side especially and those who say they're inside. Now, we're trying to defend our very freedoms and populistically, it's up hill.

We are a people that actually has something to stand for, freedom. Let's keep our eye on that ball.  We good men have done nothing. We lost the ability to educate our children decades ago. Let's not split hairs. We are in this together or it's clear we'll hang separately. The basics are all here, we agree. Yet, let's not shy away from this discussion. The sooner we iron a few things out the better. We know we love one another. But we've got some talkin' to do.

I may not be able to agree with him 100% but my husband (hubby is at 97.8 today, grr) doesn't get that either and we're fine.

Other then that, he's an intelligent guy. Send him an email, he'll see good sense.

Again, let's not split hairs.

Mr. G, The Controversial One is a mover and shaker, imo. We'll see. I'll bet you the best cup of joe in town (we can do this) that he is. Don't miss the train.