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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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 OPINION 
16

GOP: It's Time to Rebrand to 'Conservative'

New name may have greater pull than tainted Repub label

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(Newser) – Candidates on both sides are doing their best to hide their party affiliation but it's the Republicans who have the most to worry about, writes Nate Silver. "The Democratic brand is marginal in about half the country, but the Republican brand is radioactive in about two-thirds of it ," Silver writes at FiveThirtyEight.com. It might even be time, Silver notes, for the party to consider rebranding itself "the Conservatives."

Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman would probably be in a much weaker position if he had won the Republican nomination in New York's 23rd district upstate, Hoffman writes. The battle there, he notes, shouldn't really be considered a fight for the soul of the Republican Party, but "a fight between the institutional Republican Party and a group of people who feel like the Republican Party may not be worth fighting for."

Congressional candidates in New York's 23rd district Democrat Bill Owens, left, and Republican Dierdre Scozzafava debate in Plattsburgh, NY.
Congressional candidates in New York's 23rd district Democrat Bill Owens, left, and Republican Dierdre Scozzafava debate in Plattsburgh, NY.   (AP Photo/Todd Bissonette)
This ad for Republican candidate Bob McDonnell fails to note his party affiliation and is in Democratic blue, Silver notes.
This ad for Republican candidate Bob McDonnell fails to note his party affiliation and is in Democratic blue, Silver notes.   (McDonnell for Governor)
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The 'conservative' brand is just as powerful as it ever was in America, whereas the Republican brand is as weak as it has been.
- Nate Silver

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
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16 comments
VIEWING:
 
gabo
Nov 3, 09 2:50 AM CST
but first, what would Rush say? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+10
IN RESPONSE:
Deebles
Nov 3, 09 3:53 AM CST
Rush would say that my father and all my brothers got educations and were very successful in their own right as human beings, but I was on the radio when the FCC dropped the equal time thing and the only people who listened to AM radio in the eighties were DUMB, so I became a huge right wing foamer cause that brought in the adds from the local Seebe Hardware Store. So, he's talking shit he doesn't even believe for the add revenue and wow, a career is made. And now conservatives think he has some insight. Well, Liberals are about as gullible, so no one really can say anything. But as gabo said--what would Rush say? Well, whatever it is he couldn't hear it without that implant since he fried all those little follicles in his inner ear with the narcotics. Right about the same time that he was screaming--had to to hear himself--about the drug users. I could go on and on about the hypocrites who make up your daily life no matter what party, but I've been here lomg enough to know that none of you have a thought beyond what Beck or Maddow said last night. I will give Rachel points for being out of that closet. Think Beck will ever get there? Both sides are stupid but liberals are at least honest and stupid.
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+10
IN RESPONSE:
Unaffiliated
Nov 3, 09 7:06 AM CST
Dude, Heisenberg! Awesome. I see you've been here a while, but I haven't really noticed your posts all that much. I couldn't agree more.
Vote up! Vote down!
+7
IN RESPONSE:
dontlikeyou
Nov 3, 09 10:05 AM CST
@Heinsberg, this is not an essay contest.
Vote up! Vote down!
-2
IN RESPONSE:
dontlikeyou
Nov 3, 09 10:06 AM CST
... and if it were, you would get an F for your poor command of the English language. Public school?
Vote up! Vote down!
-3

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