Way to go flyover. Keep thinking as you do and the GOP will continue its death spiral. Martin is a possible poster child for the demise of the GOP. It is obvious since ha has run for everything, but cannot win. He like most of the right-wing Republicans have no clue.

And, apparently, like many Democrats who post here, too.

But, you probably believe the Democrats are in the same place they were when JFK was president? It is nowhere near the centrist party it used to be. The problem is the professional political class who now view politics as a career instead of a duty and honor. The worst manifestation is political royalty. Honestly, would Matt Blunt, Lacy Clay, Robin Carnahan or Russ Carnahan have ever been elected if not for their heritage? We are talking about another Bush/Clinton election in '16. Are you kidding me? That's the best we can do? I get it that the old guard doesn't want things to change, but they had their chance. They spent us into oblivion. They social engineered us into paralysis. They have crippled us with needless regulations that benefit only the lobbyists who get paid to try to change them and the lawyers who get rich interpreting and defending against them. It is no wonder people are craving a change. Change may not be possible without breaking a few eggs. Things have to change or this country is not going to be around in a viable state much longer. If a baseball manager loses most of the time we fire him. But, we keep electing the same tired faces over and over.

Being a statesman is not the same thing as being right. Neville Chamberlain was also a statesman, but I doubt too many historians would judge him as having been correct. I am all for civility in government, however, I think many, especially in the Senate take themselves way too seriously at our expense. I'm sorry, I don't believe the style of GOP leadership we have seen in the past, which has allowed the country to slip so far to the left, is what we need at all. We need new blood. I am reasonably certain Danforth has the phone number at the State GOP HQ. If he had a problem, why not call up Ed Martin and discuss it, instead of issuing a public press release?

Exactly. Ed Martin, lol.

The GOP doesn't seem to learn from the November elections, and remains focused on appealing to it's extremist elements, faux moralists, the uber-wealthy, and corporate overlords.

RD -- an amazingly ignorant comment, full of slogans and no thought. The uber-wealthy? You mean Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Hollywood? You mean the richest person in the House -- Nancy Pelosi, or heirs by marriage "John "Ketchup" Kerry? Libertarians have zero interest in bailing out failing banks or corporations as Lords Obama and Bush have and continue to do. The extremists are neo-marxist leftists like you, not those folks who wish to enhance personal freedom and follow the rule of law via our Constitution. Corporate overlords -- you mean the Goldman Sachs crew Obama has placed in control of the US Treasury and Federal Reserve? You mean them?

Stephen - Missouri GOP is borrowing it's agenda straight from ALEC - prefab legislation written by corporate lawyers. Stop embarrassing yourself with blind support.

Neo marxist leftist. Lol. I'm guessing I have more conservative practicalities than you (in the real world, not the warped political nonsense world). I probably voted for good conservatives before you got your first tin foil hat.

Well stated. So now the Missouri Republican party is looking for some "new blood" candidates to potentially win elections, and the man spearheading that belief is "new blood" Republican Ed Martin, loser of 2 recent elections, because he really knows what it takes to get elected. Nice choice, and thanks, say all the Democrats.

Mike, Mike, and RD you get it. If I were really a die-in-the-wool Democrat, I'd be ecstatic at the ignorance of this "new blood" of the GOP and its total incompetence; but rather, I am saddened by the amount of ignorance that has somehow floated to the leadership of the GOP. I'd prefer two viable parties from which to choose our leaders.

I am a Democrat and I like seeing the Republicans careen off the Right cliff. The Party continues to believe America is waaaay more conservative than they actually are. We can expect the sames outcome for the next few years - including the reality of reduced federal spending under the management of a Democratic President. Politics have literally been turned upside down. I've always admired Danforth, although disagreed with him about Clarence Thomas, and have seen him as a man of conscience. His voice will be ignored by those in the bubble.

They salivate at their own peril. Political parties need renewal and new ideas or they die. The demonrats salivate more at a party tossing up has-beens like McCain and Dole when they run youthful candidates. Clinton vs Dole, Obama vs. McCain. Ron Paul attracted HUGE crowds at college campuses, much larger than the Obama rallies. There is a message that is resonating with the young non-socialist crowd and that's what the old guard is afraid of. What's the point of having a political party that is just demonrat-lite? Even if they win, we get more "welfare-warfare" policies. Before Obama, GW Bush spent more than all other presidents combined.

We don't need to look for a way to lose, we already have one in the old guard. What most of us are trying to do is find a way to win. I really can't believe we are arguing about someone worrying that a State GOP Chairman had the guts to say he wasn't going to worry about John McCain who ran perhaps the worst campaign on record in '08 and instead plans to look to the future. That doesn't mean there isn't room for McCain and RINO's like Graham, God Bless them, but that doesn't mean we have to follow them down the path to another loss in '16. With millions of points of view and only two parties, neither is going to be perfect for everyone. Just ask all the pro-life Catholic Democrats.

"McCain who ran perhaps the worst campaign on record". If you've been around long enough, you'd have to give Dole a close runner-up for that award. Talk about giving someone the nomination just because he had "been around forever".

The thought of a Bush/Clinton race is 2016 is utterly repugnant. I couldn't agree more -- is that the best we can do? Give Hillary's role in the current regime, I'm tempted to give Obama an honorary Clinton designation. How many decades will the American people vote in Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton?

Unfortunately, I have been around longer than that. You may be right. Bob Dole was also pitiful.

The criticism by the GOP of Bush is disingenuous. Where were you all when he was ramping up for war in Iraq, and spending those billions? The prescription drug bill?

Anything to do with balancing the budget will require major cuts to the military - I think that is part of the Paul platform (though admittedly, can't say I've followed him much). Is legalizing marijuana enough to expand the base? How do you keep all your other single-issue voters happy?

With MO-How much further right does Martin want the state to go? You risk waking people up - most in MO are unaware of the clown show in Jeff City - like Nieves, and Brown and Tim Jones. How much money does Sinquefield have for all this?

And your alternative to Bush was who...Al F. Gore. The Ozone Man. There was no choice. I saw Bush out at Steve Brauer's place when he first announced. The guy I saw there I would have followed anywhere. I sometimes wondered if there were two of him, the campaigner and the guy who showed up at the White House. If you were not hearing conservative dissatisfaction with Bush, it is only because you weren't listening.

Do You Really Think So? I'd Say Republicans Are Undoubtedly In The Middle Of ACTUAL and REAL Change And No One Can Know Where It Will Lead. Take Their Swings On Immigration Lately. Upper Echelon Democrats Might Actually Be Very Scared Of What "New Republicans" Look Like. Just A Thought.

The change has to be real and honest - and would require party support of programs and policies that actually support those they are trying to win over. One thing to "say" they are now open to immigration reform and something else to actually support it. November was a sign that America doesn't buy the "Republican" talking points. Republicans lost - only keeping the majority in the House by gerrymandering and attempted voter suppression. They can't simply rebrand themselves that easily. Americans have reinforced my faith in their ability to descern who has their best interests at heart.

I think you overstate what "America" believes. Of course, you dismiss the metric that the GOP only lost the last presidential election by a very slim margin, despite a RINO candidate who did nothing to rally the base. I read where if 300,000 votes had been cast in the right states, Romney would have won. That isn't a death spiral. That is simple a lack of organization and management skills. And, yet, who gets reappointed to run the National GOP? Same guy.

I don't think I overstate that America is not nearly as conservative as Republicans think. The popular vote wasn't even close. Obama won in spite of gerrymandering and voter suppression attempts by the GOP. Look at the polls on reproductive rights, for example. Only a small portion of the Republican party is Tea Party or Far Right Religious yet they control the entire Party and remain in a bubble of their own making.

Try being a pro-life, right to work Democrat and see how fast the loons who run your party bounce you to the trash can.

True, CrevecoeurDad. And as long as they keep strugglingly among themselves in their bubble, they are leaving my uterus alone.

This is the voice of the "new Republican party". As a Democrat, I'm looking forward to future elections. LOL

Agree Regal! The new voices will self destruct and certainly cannot win an election. Also glad that a hapless character such as Martin is leading the charge.

I think you have confused Ed Martin the candidate with Ed Martin the manager of the party. While you may differ with his stands on various issues, you cannot argue that he runs a great campaign and has done so with very limited resources. He almost beat the Carnahan scion in his own district with less than half the money. Ed is a good organizer and that is what we need. We don't need someone catcalling from their dotage every time he doesn't like something.