Christie Todd Whitman - ever since I saw you in interviews pushing your book - and then after reading it - I thought - finally a Republican who would bring this party back to the moderate roots it always had. I'm a life long Independent - and now Democrat - and I almost never vote for Repbulicans as how could I vote for a party that believes man was on this earth with dinsours and that their Christian beliefs are better than anyone elses - and who preach intolerance to gays, and other minorities. And now it appears that you are endorsing Sarah Palin as VP. How could you!! This belies everything you say to the Republican Party in your petition to return to the center. Look at her record. Wants to ban books. Tolerates gays. Abuses power. Believes God sent us to Iran? Does not believe in man's role in global warming!! Truth be told, Palin was chosen because of her extreme 'right' views in energy, choice, etc. Her world view is predicated on her religious extremism. SHE IS SCARY. You lose all your credibility with this endorsement. And this movement looses it as well. I live in California - and there is a reason I voted for Arnold - and why he and his views offer the last best hope for a failing party that I hope either mends it's ways - or fails this election and many others.

I have become increasingly distressed over the level of hysteria and intolerance that has come to permeate the Repulican party. I saw Senator Danforth's book at the airport and was intrigued enough to purchase it.I read Senator Danforth's book, and was inspired by his eloquence and his ability to see our country's diversity for the strength that it is. I was excited when 'it's my party too!' was mentioned at the end of the book. I googled the site, with the intention of donating money to it. I believe that discourse and debate are healthy and neccessary to democracy. During the Bush administration idealogical lockstepping was instituted (DeLay)to the degree where now when people disagree with the Bush/Cheney/Rove Republican agenda, their patriotism is questioned.I was so dissapointed when redirected to the RLC site. Seperation of church and state is the bedrock of our constitution. It is what allows ALL people to participate in the political process. Yet, not one word about it on the RLC homepage. Senator Danforth, why did you allow 'It's my party too' to become annexed by the RLC? It could have been a voice of conscience for all people that don't support hate and fear and exclusivity. A place where people who support the true ideals of this country could meet. What an incredible (but now lost) opportunity. Apparently 'unity' in the Republican party is more important than advocating tolerance and respect for people who don't think exactly the way you do.

As a gay Independent with leftist leanings, I'm probably the last person you would expect to find posting here. That said, I am a resident of New Jersey and have followed your career from the excellent job you did as governor in NJ to the masterful way you exited the Bush Administration AT THE RIGHT TIME.

Like many of your Republican posters on here, I find the selection of Sarah Palin a chilling decision. Evidently "intellectualism" and "bein' and east coaster" are now bad things. I find it ironic that I seemingly have more in common with you and your posters on here than Sarah Palin does.

Sad commentary on the American system when it can be co-opted by radicals...on either side.

Don't wait too long, Ms. Whitman. I would vote for you.

A Letter to Gov. Christine Whitman:

I'm almost finished with "Its My Party Too" & may try to find the video of your C-Span interview. I was a life-long Republican until the party spent $50 million of taxpayers' money investigating the Clintons. I would like to explain to you - someone I've greatly admired - my reasons for leaving the GOP & registering Independent.

I voted for Bush41 in '92 & for Dole in '96, but Gingrich & Co., their religious supporters, and the neo-conservatives had already hijacked the party. Thus, I could not in good conscience vote for George W. Bush.

Every principle that drew me to the GOP as a young voter went out the window! Why? Let's not be naive - just follow the money. There was so much basic ignorance in party faithful that made them vulnerable to the tremendous influence of LeHay & Jensen's "Left Behind" series. They played upon biblical fears of the "end of times" coming at 2000. The votes & money raised by LeHay through fringe churches was astounding. This is the "hook" Karl Rove was able to manipulate (& still does).

I also became convinced that Cheney knew he wasn't charismatic enough to attract voters, but that GWB's "redemption" story would if properly managed by Rove. Subsequently, Cheney manipulated his way into the VP office where, with help from old friends, he could run the government from behind the W.H. curtain.

Those religious conservative groups were naive to think that they could dictate to Bush/Cheney once in office. They are still being manipulated along with McCain. Poor soul - at this point he'd do ANYTHING to get elected - including selling his soul to the devil (looked like it, too, when he introduced Palin).

I lived in Iowa most of my adult life & greatly admired another moderate Republican - Jim Leach. I was appalled when Jim Nussle - a "Gingrich Boy" - beat Leach. He was (& is) a poor replacement for Jim, & it was no surprise when he left his "family values" behind in Manchester & found another woman in DC. Following in Gingrich's shoes didn't seem to bother anyone's sensibilities about family. When did the Republican Party become so blasé about philandering & ditching one's family??

So you see, Gov. Whitman, for 10 years, I have been without a political party to represent my principles & values (as stated on your homepage here). So long as the religious groups bring money & votes to the table, they will control the party & people like myself will no longer contribute to the party.

When McCain caved on accepting Palin, I could no longer support him. She did what was asked - jazzed up the religious conservatives - but no way can she gear up enough to make us feel secure in her abilities. IMHO, Cheney chose her long ago & Rove was sent out to make it happen. With Palin as VP, he would remain in control as her mentor & she would rely on him with great gratitude (his long-held M.O.).

McCain passed up the only TRUE maverick - YOU! There would've been no question about your credentials & capability to govern, or as a maverick when it came to Bush/Cheney... but then you aren't acceptable to the religious conservatives as pro-choice. When did life become defined so narrowly?? How sad...

The only route open to moderate Republicans is to force a split in the party by organizing & funding a new Independent Party for voters of both parties who are in the center (call it MOR for middle of road party). ~:-D

Good luck & good night...
E. J. Cram
(retired attorney from Iowa)

Ms. Whitman: I'm very disappointed. After reading your book, It's My Party Too, I came to this web site hoping to find supporting information and examples of the type of action you recommended for taking back our party.

Instead I find more of the same: Go Along to Get Alone. Had you notindorsed Palin and had John McCain had the guts to select Joe Liberman as his VP, or for that matter, you too would have offered more than Palin, then maybe, just maybe would the Republician Party been on a road to recovery.

Instad McCain selects Palin to appease the religous right, hold the part together in the minds of many, to increase his core base support and therefore in the minds of his adviosrs improve his chances of success. More of the same go along to get along.

our book was exciting and I thought right on target. To bab your follow up actions didn't support your written receipe for success.

Regards;

After readying It's My Party too today I came to this web site expecting to see implementation of the strong changes recommended to move the Republician Party back to the center.

Needless to say I am disappointed with other whose comments are very similar. All talk and no real change.

I am a conservative and I am very enthusiastic about the McCain-Palin ticket. I feel very strongly that we need fiscal reform and a very strong energy policy in the next 8 years. Palin's experience and attitude to energy independence is what's needed, that paired with her ability to take on the establishment and McCain's history of taking principled stances even if not all that popular at the time. At the same time, the biggest hurdle our country must cross will be ourselves, the environmental movement has NO interest in our ability to become energy independent and too many of us have given too much credence to their argument. If they had a true interest in clean energy I think we could work with them, but unfortunately they have shown their only interest is curbing our energy consumption and thus our curbing our economic growth.

A victory by Palin/McCain is exactly opposite of what the GOP and the RLC need. The GOP needs to see that appeasing the Religious Right and the Pat Buchanans of the party is 180 degrees from where they ought to go. I support the RLC but I cannot support the GOP where they are today. I've been a Republican all my life and my family has been GOP since the 1860s, but this year I'll be voting a straight Democrat ticket.

I call myself a Goldwater Republican. I'm still a registered Republican, but I don't see how I could possibly vote for any Republican for national office. The leadership of the Republican Party has been taken over by a bunch of extreme radicals (what a laugh to call them conservatives, verbicide is what Oliver Wendell Holmes calls it) and voting in a Republican into either House simply gives them support.
McCain, for whom I voted twice in primaries, has completely abandoned the "maverick" positions he took over the past 8 years, e.g. was against tax cuts, primarily for the rich, now favors them; was against torture by U.S. and recently voted to allow it, etc.
Then, of course, he selected one of the least qualified persons he could have for his running mate!!
It's enough to make me change my registration.
Sadly yours,
Tom Cummings

I am a life-long Republican. However, I'm feeling way out of touch with the Republican party. In my opinion, they've abandonded the ideals with which the party was founded in order to appease the religious right. I don't think this country should be governed strictly based on religious beliefs, but rather by the rule of law and what is best for the country, first and foremost. I find myself conflicted this year because while I'm not comfortable giving my vote to the McCain/Palin ticket, I certainly don't want to vote for Obama/Biden either. I had high hopes for Rudolph Giuliani and Ron Paul, but sadly it was not to be. What happened to our party?

Lastly, Governor Whitman, you are missed here in NJ!

I been a lifetime Republican (active "Young Republican" in the late '30s) but left the Party about eight years ago because of strong disagreement with the "Christian Right" and their effective influence on the Party; some of their views are not sustainable in the Bible. I'm a sincere and dedicated Christian, but I object to organized insistence on telling us how to vote.

I then registered as Democrat, but soon found the "far left" equally objectionable and have been an Independent voter since.

I applaud Governor Whitman's book "It's My Party Too" but see little change in the Party since it was published. For example, I find Governor Sarah Palin's stance on abortion completely unacceptable (we cannot know when the soul enters the fetus--when the brain is formed?) Many Republicans candidates seem to share Gov. Palin's view--unwilling to go against the Christian Right?

I'm still an Independent!

--Bill

Ms Whitman, I have been listening to your wonderful presentation on Cspan '05. It is fascinating to have the perspective of time. As an independent thinker, you speak to me.

In the interest of full disclosure, I became a republican temporarily in order to vote for Ron Paul in the primary. I am a passionate environmentalist. I always have been, even before the climate change debate. One needs only to witness the brown air and the mercury in our waters, etc. Of course, I am being simplistic, here.

I am writing because it appears that you are endorsing Sarah Palin as VP. This belies everything you say to the Republican Party in your petition to return to the center. Being politically aware, I know something of Ms. Palin's record. In actuality, Gov Palin was chosen because of her extreme 'right' views in energy, choice, etc. Her world view is predicated on her religious extremism. SHE IS SCARY. You lose all your credibility with this endorsement.
This disappoints me, tremendously.

It appears it always comes down to party affiliation. That is why the courage of Ron Paul was so appealing.

RE: Mrs Palin as new hope?

I just watched a rerun of Gov Whitman's 2005 Book-TV (CSPAN) interview about her book, and with excitement came to this web page to see a centerist assessment of the current GOP ticket.

I'm disappointed to see that this council (RLC) is not willing to recognize the non-centerist role Mrs. Palin is playing. McCain is a lot more centerist than Palin although McCain on 2008 has moved too far off the center compared to the McCain on 2000.

Is Mrs. Palin really the next generation of promising leader per the RLC's [founding] principles?

A very sad state for the me-too republicans who don't agree with the issues of the far right as being the top challenges of our country.

Regards;