Gov Charles Crist (R-FL): "We need to go back to our roots, the wonderful optimism of Ronald Reagan"

GOP Hands Are Wrung Over Party Prospects

While Republicans Face Costly Losses In "Safe" Districts, Cuomo Deconstructs Voter Ire

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2008

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/18/ftn/main4105128.shtml?source=mostpop_story

"We need to, as a party, go back to our roots, if you will," said Gov. Charles Crist, R-Fla., "make sure we understand we're the party of Abraham Lincoln, the party of Teddy Roosevelt, the party of Ronald Reagan, who had that wonderful optimism that people looked toward and were excited about and understood that there was greater hope, greater opportunity for the future."

Rollins also said it was a mistake for President Bush to inject himself into the presidential race with his inflammatory comments during a speech before the Israeli Knessit (in which he compared Obama's stated intention to talk to anti-democratic world leaders with Nazi appeasers in the 1930s) because it suggests that John McCain is running for Mr. Bush's third term. "If it’s the Bush third term, John McCain can’t win," he said.

"This president has to realize that he is no longer on the ballot," Rollins added.

Also appearing on the show, Mario Cuomo, the former Democratic governor of New York, believed the Democrats - regardless of how their contentious primary battle shakes out - have an enormous advantage come November, in a nation where 82 percent believed our country is moving in the wrong direction.

"How do we make the most of the Republican problems, all of which are Democratic opportunities?" Cuomo said.

"America wants and needs everything that we have got from 1993 to 2000," Cuomo said. "You got 22 million new jobs. You got a balanced budget. You got a potential surplus of $5.4 trillion. You got an ascending middle class. You got a shrinking poor population - all in those years. You got peace. And that's what the United States wants again."