But will you love me tomorrow? -- GOP Centrists to Speak at Convention, but Will They Be Heard?

Excerpts from 8-23-04 N.Y. Times article:

Those who once might have been called Rockefeller Republicans say the prime-time slots set aside to present a centrist image show that the leadership knows the party must broaden its appeal to retain the White House. But they worry about their real influence in a party dominated by conservatives at a time when the ranks of House moderates are thinning and an activist group zeros in on candidates it brands RINO's, Republican in Name Only.

[Former New Jersey governor, head of the E.P.A. under Bush, and GOP moderate [and Sid notes a former but wonders if still a GOP heroine] Christie Whitman says]: "If [Bush] loses, it is an absolute validation of the fact that you cannot be a national party if you are excluding people.''

[Ms. Whitman] is not alone in urging party leaders to consider the contributions of moderates at moments other than when it makes strategic sense.

"There is no doubt that [GOP] moderates feel squeezed to the same degree that some of our conservatives did in the 1980's in the Democratic caucus,'' said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 Democrat in the House.

"This is where the party started,'' Mrs. Whitman said of the wing that likes to be known for fiscal conservatism and social pragmatism. "We need to start flexing our muscle a little more to remind people of that.''
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Ms. Whitman is writing a book titled "It's My Party Too."

Sen. Miller's "A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat," says the Demo's have veered too far to the left.

Ms. Whitman's will say the GOP has veered too far to the right.

Maybe these two former governors can get together and figure this stuff out for us.