What does it mean to be a Republican

Ronald Reagan was handicapped by an entrenched Democrat Party controlling both Houses of Congress. Some issues were untouchable.

And since then we have gained firm control of the House and nominal control of the Senate. For where then do you get the idea that we have moved to the left? If we are now tackling issues that were once beyond our even bringing them up because they were too conservative then we must have moved to the right.

What makes you think Gingrich hasn't changed? He is obviously positioning himself for a run in '08.

What makes you think he has? Gingrich has always had his eye on the White House. He is, after all, a politician.

Wow, I'm amazed at the cynicism. I am no plant, don't know what a DU is, nor a Kos Klown.

I am a working class, white, Presbyterian, male voter concerned by the direction of our elected officials.

Since I work about 60 hours per week, I don't get much time to express my opinions on forums such as this, but I will be posting my opinions and seeking yours again soon.

The country had indeed moved to the right, the proof is in voter turnout and Republican gains.

The problem we face has to do with republicans who lack the backbone to lead. Democrats don't care if they look partisan, Republicans feel the need to appear bipartisan.

Gingrich would never have stumped with Hillary in 1994.

Posters who have been around these parts are a little suspicious of any given new poster. But since you have taken the time to respond in a civil and intelligent fashion, I am obligated to reply likewise.

"Recent events however, have created doubt in my belief that the Republican Party is the true party of conservative ideals."

Logic dictates that presently of the three major parties:

1. The Democrat Party is NOT the home of conservatives.
2. The Libertarian Party is NOT the home of conservatives.
3. The Republican Party IS the home party of conservatives, but glaringly, not all Republican politicians are conservative. The best example of weak and spineless traitors was Jeffords. He was not a conservative, and he abandoned the party outright and went "independent." He supported Democrats. They used him and threw him away. He wanted to come back to the Republican Party, and the Republicans told him, "thanks, but no thanks." His career is over.

That being said, the process of making Republican politicians "conservative" is a lengthy years' long process. Those who are not conservative have to be identified. As time goes by they screw up and support Democrats. It is up to the voters in their districts to put the heat on them. If they don't and they re-elect them, there's not a whole lot the rest of us can do. The best weapon the Party has is to make it risky to side with the Democrats on liberal issues.

"Sen. Arlen Specter, who has served those of us who reside in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for years, lost my respect and vote when he sold out his counterparts in the House with his failure to convict President Clinton following impeachment proceedings. In this case, our Senator disregarded Clinton’s perjury and obstruction of justice, which denied Paula Jones’s her Constitutional right to have her case heard in court, but this is not about Arlen Specter."

Conservatives are still angry at Specter for wimping out with his "Scottish Law" crap. It didn't make conservatives too happy either that President Bush supported him. At this point I throw up my hands because there is no way I can possibly understand all the machinations of politics, and who owes who, who supports who and why, and who in the Republican Party may have sat down with President Bush and explained convincingly why Specter had to be supported.

"The group of seven Senators initiated by Trent Lott and carried to fruition by John McCain, negotiated a compromise with Democrats to avoid the triggering of the so-called “nuclear option”, which would prevent Democrats from filibustering judicial nominations, continuing a practice that had not been done in the 214 years of our Constitution prior to Republican’s gaining control of the Senate."

I will theorize that these people took this action in good faith to try to stop the "perceived" rancor. I believe that they truly do not understand the vicious, vengeful, and dishonest nature of the left. I disagree with what they did because it is far past time to marginalize the Democrat Party, deprive them of funding and power, and generally do everything humanly possible to put them in the trash bin of history. The thing that stands out here is that the Democrats risked much by this "alliance" with the dwarfs. If at some point they are perceived by the 7 dwarfs as having made them look foolish, the Democrats are history. They won't get any more moderates to bail them out on issues, and they might as well not attend anymore Senate sessions.

"even if it meant voting for the Lincoln Chaffee’s and Olympia Snow’s of the world. They were the least liberal of the candidates available at the time."

People like Snow and Chaffee know that they are risking much by appearing to support the Democrats. When, not if, but when the Democrats violate the "agreement" they will embarrass Snow and Chaffee, and Senators are not people who lightly tolerate embarrassment.

"This is evident by our government’s unwillingness to seal our borders from the insurgency of illegal aliens, for fear they may offend Hispanics, the fastest growing voter base. Even President Bush, a man I greatly respect, sold out our citizens who volunteered to peacefully protect our borders from illegals, calling them vigilantes, to win respect of Mexicans."

This policy, or non-policy, carries extraordinary risk for President Bush. While it may be a "positive" in terms of the Hispanic vote, (and I doubt that it is), it carries the possibility of political disaster if there is an incident of such sweeping scope and terror that the people lose all confidence in Republican control of the Government. It is a risk that someone with "ice in their veins" would contemplate, and it could remove the Republicans from power for another 50 years.

"The abandonment of conservative values by Republican politicians will prove to be devastating for the party if they fail to do what voters empowered them to do. The tables can be turned. Never forget, Ronald Reagan was once a democrat!"

Many Republican Senators, aside from the 7 dwarfs, are not sufficiently conservative for me. But, they are the party in power, they do support the President, and they are infinitely preferable to the Democrats. Many people are like President Ronald Reagan. They WERE Democrats, and increasingly, they cannot stomach the likes of Dean, Hillary, and Biden. They are sickened by what their Party has become.

Fight the good fight. Welcome to FreeRepublic.