Why are Republicans throwing this election?

It will be hard for any Republican to win after 8 years of Bush and a 30% approval rating for him. The right wing committed suicide by circular firing squad with Rudy, Mitt, Brownback and Thompson taking each other out. McCain kept out of the "who is more right wing" arguments and was left standing when it was all over.

McCain does not have a good backing of the Republican party, that much is clear.

The reason why he did so well though is because Republicans still allow Winner-Take-All primaries. Giuliani actually helped somewhat make more of these states. Thus when McCain won these large states he got ALL the delegates, even if he only won by a hair.

Democrats outlawed that type of primary, because they didn't see it fair. I'm sure a lot of Republicans agree right now.

There are also a lot of other factors into this. Bush is a large one, but many Republicans don't want to admit that he is. George Bush is hated by many Independents and Moderates, but he's also got the ire of Conservatives. In the last eight years he's made clear he's not "compassionate", he's questionably argued with what the "constitution" is saying, and has had many scandals.

So the party fractured, each having an opinion about what he did wrong. The conservatives think he wasn't conservative enough, the libertarians think he butchered the constitution, the moderates and independents think he's destroyed international relations. All this while not saying he was a bad president and staying behind him for party unity.

But then the primaries happened. And that's when the fractures showed themselves. The Independents are no longer interested in the Republicans are are looking to Obama, Moderates are doing the same or they like McCain or Guiliani. True republicans are conflicted, and many who are worried about the economy went to Romney. Conservatives want their values back and upheld so they look to Thompson and Huckabee.

No one was willing to go to another candidate. Each stayed on their fractured side. Because that happened McCain came out in front and started to gain delegates. The political machine saw this, and went behind him so there would appear to be at least SOME party unity.

Both political parties are completely out of touch with reality. The democrats still think that their socialist agenda is what Americans want. Why? Because John F Kennedy was elected and his predessor was a Conservative, so obviously the US wants ultraliberals in office. So rather than more their platform further to the middle they have taken their most extreme left members, Pelosi and Hillary Clinton, and just branded them moderates, regardless of the fact that both espouse Marxist social programs. The Republicans have moved further to the middle, to scoop up the moderate and independent voters, but this has caused a series of splits within their own party. So the party is totally unfocused on how to proceed forward. This lack of coordination and a lack of a strong RNC leader who can keep the troops in line and focused has started a lot of intraparty skirmishes within the ranks. The remnants of the ultraright are taking shots at the moderate and populist leaning GOP members and candidates. The Republicans are a party in flux, between the changing ideology and swelling ranks. Joe Lieberman's election is a great look at modern Amereican politics. Joe was cast aside by his party because he didn't vote in lock-step with his party concenring the war. He vocally supported the war because he and his constituents believed it was right. The Democrats supported Lamont with tons of DNC money. Now that it is obvious Lamont will lose the DNC yanked their remaining financial support. Especially because big Republican names are coming in to support Joe Lieberman with not just money and fundraising support, but with the volunteers for a full blown get out the vote movement. And that is in spite of a Republican candidate in the race who is being ignored by all, although the RNC is supplementing his campaign to offset the run. But I wouldn't rule the Republicans out yet. The house still looks like it will be Democratic, but the Senate looks Republican. On the whole not a bad idea because some of the more successful presidencies have had split congresses. It forces the sides to negotiate to get things accomplished.

Since Mitt Romney endorsed him, the conservatives were split between Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson, Mike Huckabee, and Duncan Hunter, causing McCain to catch the lead.

And exactly, who mind you ,says McCain will do poorly in the general election. That is just your opinion. I for one of millions of people don't agree with that statement at all. Will you take back this statement when he becomes president. Bet you won't

A lot of republicans are voting for Obama in the primaries but their not voting for him in the general election. They think he would be the easiest for McCain to beat.

Because the Republican Party is dead. So we keep seeing brain-dead cadavers like Dole, Bush, and McCain.

It is but a mere shadow of itself. All that is left is disgruntled liberal wannabes, moralists, zionists, warmongers, and Islamophobes.

As soon as a strong, charismatic leader emerges as a genuine third-party candidate with real conservative values (anti-tax, anti-big government, anti-war, anti-socialism and pro America) then the GOP will go the way of the Whigs.

How is it "so clear". The democrats are statistically tied, an most voting democrats vehemently oppose the democratic candidate they do not support. I have never heard of someone voting in the primaries, but not the general election, so all those votes have to go somewhere.

70 percent of republicans voted for someone else, McCain played the system and won only due to Huckabee splitting the conservative vote with Romney.

Because when Condi climbs on board (with Daddy Bush endorsing McCain today) - all bets are off.