Why don't Republicans make more of a play for Maine?

[Rockefeller GOP]

If the temperament and statesmanship of these ladies were more widely reflected in our party across the country, I suspect this thread would be titled "Why don't Democrats make more of a play for Maine".

If the temperament and statesmanship of these ladies were more widely reflected in the party across the country, I would vote Republican.

But at last, these qualities does not reflect the party and I do not vote Republican.

That's what all Democrats say, but it's BS.  At the end of the day, almost every Republican is too fiscally conservative/pro-business for any real Dem to actually vote for them (regardless of how moderate they are on other stuff).

[Rockefeller GOP]

If the temperament and statesmanship of these ladies were more widely reflected in our party across the country, I suspect this thread would be titled "Why don't Democrats make more of a play for Maine".

If the temperament and statesmanship of these ladies were more widely reflected in the party across the country, I would vote Republican.

But at last, these qualities does not reflect the party and I do not vote Republican.

That's what all Democrats say, but it's BS.  At the end of the day, almost every Republican is too fiscally conservative/pro-business for any real Dem to actually vote for them (regardless of how moderate they are on other stuff).

For hyper-partisan Democrat - yes. He looks only on letter after candidate's name. But a lot of Democrats in Maine are not hyper-partisan. Even less so - Indies, but they are not too conservative either. When Republican party in Maine gave people such candidates in the past as Tupper, Cohen, McKernan, and, yes, Snowe and Collins - they usually won. When they offer LePage and Poliquin (or Scontras, or - lot of others) - another matter. Some reasonable fiscal conservatism is not a taboo in Maine, social conservatism - usually is.

No, I agree on Maine - I was talking about your generic Dem across the country.  I'd consider myself a social liberal, really, and I definitely agree with the OP still.  Maine could be won with the right Republican.

[Rockefeller GOP]

It's unlikely that the GOP will nominate a presidential candidate moderate enough to win Maine in the near future.

What if that candidate campaigns on economic issues and downplays the social issues?

Someone who is socially conservative is not winning Maine period, no matter how little they bring it up in their campaign. 

Not to mention, someone who can win a GOP primary is not going to be moderate enough on economic issues to win Maine.

Really?  I thought New England was notorious for its fiscal conservatism and independent streak.

I know you like to mock this belief, but socially liberal (not moderate, liberal) and fiscally conservative candidates do just fine in New England.  Despite what revisionists (or reactionaries in the case of Tea Party Republicans) say, people like Snowe, Collins, Rockefeller himself ARE/WERE pro-business fiscal conservatives, at least compared to Democrats.

[Rockefeller GOP]

Also, as I pointed out, it's easy to find fiscally moderate and socially liberal politicians, they just happen to be Democrats right now. If you're not happy about that, you're entirely free to change parties at any point (in theory). There are enough Democrats out there that aren't your old "labor lefty" or "blue collar social conservative" (another stereotype) that I'm sure you could find a primary candidate or two that meets your fancy.

A final point is that if you want to refer to some ages-old politician that could win in a blue (atlas red), was a genuine moderate, and might be able to be called "libertarian" from time to time, Mark Hatfield might be your best bet, though he of course is on the other side of the country.

So I've gathered you want the GOP to be this folksy, anti-elite bastion of populism?  No thanks.

And socially liberal, fiscally conservative people are Democrats now for the most part?  News to me.

[Rockefeller GOP]

I'd rather have most Democrats over a degenerate piece of waste such as Nelson Rockefeller.

I understand that you may not like him, or may disagree with him, but what exactly makes our 41st Vice President, one of our country's most outstanding leaders and philanthropists, a "degenerate piece of waste"?

Not to mention a crusader for civil rights.

Exactly.  If you strongly dislike ole Nelson, I'd wager there's a descent chance you're what's wrong with the GOP voting base today.  The Party of Lincoln will become the old Southern Democrats (culturally and economically populist) over my dead body.

[Rockefeller GOP]

I'd rather have most Democrats over a degenerate piece of waste such as Nelson Rockefeller.

I understand that you may not like him, or may disagree with him, but what exactly makes our 41st Vice President, one of our country's most outstanding leaders and philanthropists, a "degenerate piece of waste"?

Not to mention a crusader for civil rights.

Exactly.  If you strongly dislike ole Nelson, I'd wager there's a descent chance you're what's wrong with the GOP voting base today.  The Party of Lincoln will become the old Southern Democrats (culturally and economically populist) over my dead body.

A large number of Rockefeller haters, specially on this forum, are libertarians of some variety. Not exactly what I'd call "culturally and economically populist", if you are using the term "populist" the way I think you are.

Fair enough, and I apologize for generalizing.  But populism is something I NEVER want to see enter the GOP, especially economically.