Posted on 10/04/2005 5:42:21 AM PDT by Mikey
I hereby officially pronounce the conservative movement dead.
May it rest in peace.
It was killed by its faith in men, not principles – men like George W. Bush.
The appointments of John Roberts as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and Harriet Miers as associate justice serve as the epitaphs for the political movement.
But even before these betrayals, conservatism was on life support.
It could not have survived the irresponsible spending by the Republican Congress, approved by the president during the last five years.
The conservative movement, in the best of times, represented a defensive effort to slow the trend toward unconstitutional, unlimited, centralized, Washington-based government.
Today, it represents, at best, only the hope of a slightly slower trend toward socialism and tyranny.
Let me state this plainly, as I do in my new updated, paperback edition of "Taking America Back": If Republicans filled every seat in the U.S. Congress and maintained control of the presidency, unconstitutional government would continue in Washington unchecked.
The confirmation of that fact came last week when former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay explained there was absolutely no place to cut the bloated federal budget. He said Republicans had done such a good job reining in government spending over the last decade, there was no fat left.
For those who still revere and love the U.S. Constitution, freedom and the goal of self-government, the death of the conservative movement might seem like a bad thing. I would submit to you it may be a necessary development to restoring the American Dream.
As long as the totality of political alternatives for the American people are represented by the Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals, the drift away from the unique founding principles of American sovereignty and liberty will inevitably continue.
Quite frankly, it's time for some new creative thinking among Americans who still value what made America great.
No amount of defensive wrangling will be enough to preserve or restore our free republic.
It's time to think outside the box. It's time to exercise some courage and boldness. It's time to realize no war is won fighting defensively – trying in vain to hold on to old turf with no attempt to win new turf. It's time for freedom-lovers to reframe their political objectives. It's time to set goals for expanding liberty and morality, not just beating back relentless attempts to rob us of them.
Are you looking for new strategies, new tactics? Do you see that conservatism has only lost ground for the last 17 years? Do you understand we need to do more than work to elect politicians to represent us in Washington? Do you agree that the corruption of our system now runs too deep?
This may sound alarmist to some: But, at this point in history, Americans are less free than we were under the Crown of England.
Do any of us have the courage and convictions of our Founders? How many of us are willing to risk our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor for the cause of freedom today?
That is my challenge to you today.
We can complain about out-of-control government for the rest of our lives. We can continue to watch our liberty slip away. We can leave our children and grandchildren a society far worse off than the one which we inherited from our parents and grandparents. Or we stand up to the tyranny, get organized, set goals for expanding freedom, reclaiming ground robbed from us and set above rebuilding that shining city on a hill.
I don't pretend to have all the answers. If any man does, don't believe him. But I can read the handwriting on the wall. The political system in America is broken. It cannot be repaired with a little tinkering. Freedom-loving Americans need to realize they don't have a political party that represents them. Freedom-loving Americans need to realize they don't have a political movement that represents them.
Nothing could be clearer to me. How about you?
Let's not wring our hands over the latest Supreme Court nomination. Let's not whine about spending by the Republican Congress and president. Let's not mourn the death of conservatism. Let's get organized to build a new freedom movement with an offensive strategy and the goal of taking our country back.
Can't get enough of Joseph Farah? Subscribe to his premium, online, intelligence newsletter, Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, in which he utilizes sources developed over 30 years in the news business to bring you news before it's news.
Joseph Farah is founder, editor and chief executive officer of WND and a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. He is also the founder of WND Books, publishes the premium, online, intelligence newsletter Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, and is the author of the highly acclaimed book "Taking America Back." In addition to his daily column in WND, he writes a nationally syndicated weekly column available to U.S. newspapers through Creators Syndicate.
Neither party has EVER tried to rescind the EMERGENCY WAR POWERS ACT of 1917, the TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ACT, the EMERGENCY BANKING ACT, etc., etc., etc., which in turn will abolish all of FDR's unconstitutional socialistic "New Deal" policies.
Its time for the American people to awake from their ignorant slumber and become aware through knowledge
Stop electing the lesser of two evils. Stop wasting your time and energy supporting politicians. Seek out true statesmen. Seek out only those who'll truly defend and adhere to the Constitution for the United States. Do this at the local level first and it will eventually reach the Federal level.
Study the Constitution . Get involved only with a party that will adhere to the Constitution. Impeach all those in government who'll not adhere to their oath's to the Constitution and replace them with strict Constitutionalists. Only then will this Country ever get back to the original intent of our forefathers.
This political suicide note by farahloon has already been posted.
I've never met anyone with that problem.
I did a search and it didn't pop up, so I posted it.
How is that wrong?
Another "more conservative than thou" kind of guy.
I put the word "dead" in a title search and voila.
The column is just an excuse to pimp the "new updated, paperback edition" of his book.
Don't ask about the issues or the article. Ad hominems are the order of the day. The truth is irrelevant here.
Apparently, there are many GOP supporters who think I should just shut up and drink my Kool-Aid.
I can't do it. Today I officially abandon the GOP. Now all I need is a true conservative/libertarian type party to support.
Politicians on both sides of the aisle have concluded that the best way to get reelected is to smear pork fat all over their constituents. If not true, why do they keep getting reelected? Conservatives may not like it, but that's the way it is. Some equilibrium between freedom and socialism might be reached when there aren't enough producers left to feed the eaters.
It was a bad nomination. It was done for the wrong reasons. There ARE better candidates. End of the party or not, Bush is spelled cronyism. It was stupid and a betrayal. You can take your Compassionate Conservatism and stick it where the education bill, the highway bill, the unprotected borders, and Supreme Court nominations end up............where the sun don't shine!
"Let's not wring our hands over the latest Supreme Court nomination. Let's not whine about spending by the Republican Congress and president. Let's not mourn the death of conservatism. Let's get organized to build a new freedom movement with an offensive strategy and the goal of taking our country back."
SPEAK FOR YOURSELF FOR YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME. I HAVE TRUST AND FAITH IN THIS PRESIDENT AND AM NOT READY TO THROW HIM OVER THE SIDE OF THE BOAT SIMPLY BECAUSE HE HAS MADE SELECTIONS FOR THE SC THAT "HE" FEELS ARE BEST AND NOT ONES THAT HAVE BEEN VETTED AND PARADED AROUND THE PRESS.
Joseph Farah wrote an article a few years ago saying the best thing for the country would be dissolution of the office of President of the United States.
He is a garden-variety blame-American who has built a business on using criticism and insults to draw people in.
No thanks.
"The only think that is not in larger supply than childish hurt feelings because Mr. Bush didn't personally clear his nomination with every radio talk show host in the country is Mr. Farah's inflated ego."
With the disappointing nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court I decided to review George W. Bush's five years in office from a conservative perspective.
On the plus side we have:
Tax cuts
Prosecuting the war on terror
Some good appellate court nominees
On the minus side we have:
Steel tarrifs
Campaign finance reform
Lack of aggressive support for some appellate court nominees (Miguel Estrada)
Wishy washy support of Israel
Education bill
Prescription drugs for all
Runaway spending
Farm bill
Transportation bill (Here little piggy)
George Tenant
Paul O'Neil
Alan Greenspan (again)
Use of the term "religion of peace"
No support for Toomey in Pa.
No support for Simon in Ca.
New Orleans poverty a product of "racism"
Trashing Bill Bennett
No Border Security
Homeland Security capitulation (I'm not excited by the idea but OK, let's do it.)
Two (yes, two) stealth nominees to the Supreme Court when great candidates were available
Creator of the term "compassionate conservatism" (as oppposed to ...?)
Minutemen="vigilantes"
Illegal aliens eligible for Social Security
Throwing money at Katrina relief, lots of money, our money
I'm sure I've left out some examples which belong in both categories but, well this jury is no longer out, at least for me.
My response to Farah is:
Whatever...
I never like the "conservative" moniker anyway. Since we're all originalists....let's understand the original meaning of a political conservative was reactionary, groups who sought to preserve that which was. Social security reform, tax reform, education reform....those are PROGRESSIVE and liberating ideas....not conservative.
In fact, the only group that wants to PRESERVE that which has been in place....
are DEMOCRATS!
I hate to bust your bubble but most of us probably never think about you at all. As for myself, I may not be much but I'm all I ever think about.
I can't do it. Today I officially abandon the GOP. Now all I need is a true conservative/libertarian type party to support.
Great now start winning elections and I'll join you. A political party that can't win important elections is worth squat.
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