Posted on 10/26/2015 10:50:11 AM PDT by Kaslin
There is a phrase thrown around politics - RINO - Republican In Name Only. It refers to someone who is not a strong enough adherent to whatever Conservative principles the writer (or sayer) as believes the RINO should be.
I am a RINO.
I guarantee I am not a strong enough adherent to Conservative principles as defined by the Tea Party, the Freedom Caucus, or any of the other groups who have hijacked the Republican Party by demanding absolute fealty to their definition of Conservatism.
I was a Barry Goldwater Conservative. I was a Ronald Reagan Conservative. I was a George W. Bush Conservative.
This is the Ronald Reagan Republican part: He is quoted as having said:
"Die-hard conservatives thought that if I couldn't get everything I asked for, I should jump off the cliff with the flag flying - go down in flames.
"No, if I can get 70 or 80 percent of what it is I'm trying to get ... I'll take that and then continue to try to get the rest in the future."
Imagine Speaker-presumptive Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis) citing that Reagan quote last week. The members of the House Freedom Caucus would have lit their hair on fire and run screaming from the Capitol building.
Speaking of Ryan, it was announced this weekend that he has tapped David Hoppe to be his chief of staff. I've known David for nearly 40 years since his wife and I both worked for a young Congressman from Indiana, Dan Quayle.
That might read like it deserves to be a footnote, but in the Kremlinology of the U.S. House, who has the ear of a Leader is closely watched and Hoppe is a brilliant choice.
Today, I am a Jeb Bush, a Marco Rubio, and a John Kasich Conservative.
If that makes me a RINO then I will wear the label proudly.
In fact, I often identify myself as a "Trotskyite Republican." I made that phrase up, but in my mind it means I am very concerned about government spending and government intrusion in our personal and business lives.
But, on social issues: To each his/her own.
Someone emailed me over the weekend complaining that I was sounding like an "establishment" Republican.
I wrote back to say I AM an establishment Republican.
I've lived and worked inside the Beltway for most of my adult life. I have worked on Capitol Hill long enough (and frequently enough) to understand the solution to problems isn't as easy as it might seem at first blush.
That doesn't mean I approve of every line in every bill that has been adopted by the Republican Conference in the House or the Senate. But, it does mean I am willing to weigh the good a piece of legislation is designed to do, against the bad that might be included with it.
It means I don't require perfection as a starting point.
New Topic:
The three most recent polls of Iowa Republicans appear to indicate that Ben Carson is solidifying his position as the principal challenger to Donald Trump.
The CBS/YouGov poll has Carson and Trump tied at 27. The DMR/Bloomberg poll has Carson with a nine point lead, 28-19; and the Quinnipiac poll shows Carson with an eight point lead 28-20.
There is still a long way to go before the Iowa Caucuses in February, but these are significant results.
The 10 participants in Wednesday's CNBC Republican debate have been announced (with their polling averages):
Donald Trump: 25.22
Ben Carson: 19.78
Marco Rubio: 9.67
Jeb Bush: 8.11
Carly Fiorina: 8.11
Ted Cruz: 6.89
Mike Huckabee: 3.56
Chris Christie: 3.00
John Kasich: 3.00
Rand Paul: 3.00
70%?
Try 7% and we’ll talk.
“or any of the other groups who have hijacked the Republican Party by demanding absolute fealty to their definition of Conservatism”
When anyone other than he and his type has power, it was hijacked. When they hold it, it’s legitimate. Ever stop to think that we view GOPe as a hijack of the party?
Is that even possible in their small minds?
Why are they legitimate and we are hijackers, insurgents, etc etc. Do traditional conservatives not deserve a voice?
“I’ve lived and worked inside the Beltway for most of my adult life.”
Said without a hint of embarrassment or shame.
That sounds right.
My only question is when is Galen moving to Mexico?
Then I could care less what you have to say then, bub...
The Freedom Caucus? You consider them the example to be set for conservatism?
The gope is convinced everything is fine and those of us complaining are just children.
Probably because they're raking in the $$ w/ both hands.
I am very concerned about government spending and government intrusion in our personal and business lives.
He doesn't want to stop it. He wants to be concerned about it. Therefore if a Democrat proposes growing government by 10% and he gets them to only grow it by 8%, he considers that a win. He was able to demonstrate his concern and had a some minor impact on the outcome.
On the other hand, non-RINO conservatives want to shrink the government by 10%. To them, any growth is a failure not a victory. If they were to end up with a solution that only shrunk government by 8%, they would still consider it a victory but not as great a victory as they would like.
And diagnosed with schizophrenia?
“I am a RINO”
The first step in solving a problem is identifying it.
So how does 60-70% of the Party's rank-and-file "hijack" the GOP? They ARE the GOP.
2 out of 3 what happened in the end doofus?
Good for you, pal.
Dan is the fake conservative that was playing with himself while Christianity was removed from American scrools.
“Today, I am a Jeb Bush, a Marco Rubio, and a John Kasich Conservative.”
actually that makes the author nothing
but an undocumented Democrat eager to
arm al Qaeda, keep the borders open,
while protecting IRS abuse of Americans.
What people inside the beltway do not get is Conservatism hasn’t changed in 200+ years. There has been no evolution, no flexibility, no compromising in its creation or operation. That is why it has been successful.
Fact is, anything other than conservatism is a radical shift from the norm. Problem is we never did anything to fight against it. We are taught to turn the other cheek and then we are slapped across the face. And more importantly, as long as we keep turning the other cheek we will continue to be slapped.
Idiot.. If you were ever a Reagan Conservative you would know how stupid you sound now.
You are right, you probably are a RINO, if you think it is a term only ‘far right whackos’ use
Dude is definitely NOT a Reagan 70% er conservative. He’s a wimp a@@ wuss establishment RINO. So, article is of little worth except for the “gated” RINOs who “got theirs”, and are pals on the golf course with the lefty demonrats.
Try 7% and we’ll talk.
What are you talking about?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.