Time to Leave?

Manchester Union Leader ^ | August 31, 2003 | The Union Leader

[TBP]

GOP, MIA: Taking the road most traveled

HAD THERE been any doubts about the direction the Republican Party is headed, they vanished last week when Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie visited New Hampshire.

During a cheerful and pleasant meeting (that’s the kind of guy Gillespie is) at The Union Leader offices, the party’s new chairman, energetic and full of vigor, said in no uncertain terms that the days of Reaganesque Republican railings against the expansion of federal government are over.

No longer does the Republican Party stand for shrinking the federal government, for scaling back its encroachment into the lives of Americans, or for carrying the banner of federalism into the political battles of the day.

No, today the Republican Party stands for giving the American people whatever the latest polls say they want. The people want the federal government to tell states how to run local schools? Then that’s what the Republican Party wants, too. The people want expanded entitlement programs and a federal government that attends to their every desire, no matter how frivolous? Then that’s what the Republican Party wants, too.

The party’s unofficial but clear message to conservatives is: Where else are you going to go? To the Democrats? To the Libertarians? They don’t think so.

[TBP]

The Republican Party is now admitting that it has no interest in Constitutional, limited government. How do we advance our principles by supporting those who will not advocate them? The Republicans are just as much a Big Government party as the Democrats.

The time has come to reevaluate conservative support for the Republican Party. They are absolutely unwilling to take a stand on any issue of interest to conservatives.

The argument that no conservative third party can win is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If everyone who agreed with our principles would vote for us, we would win, but if we preemptively surrender because we "can't win," then we make it true that we can't.

Are you a conservative or a Republican? According to the Republican National Chairman, you can no longer be both.

There are alternatives like the Constitution Party that stand for sound conservative principles. Has the time come to leave the Republican Party?

[Mr. Bird]

I tried the link, but got an error.

I'd like to hear a response from Gillespie before leaving...

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I tried to verify this but your link to the Union Leader does not work. Any reason?

[xzins]

We don't need a new party.

We need a legitimately organized, fully staffed, ideologically chartered, official "caucus" of the current Republican Party.

This caucus will promote it's own candidates and endorse only candidates who follow its principled paths. It would possibly, in a given race, endorse a Constitution or Libertarian candidate OVER a Republican.

[opusprime]

"Are you a conservative or a Republican?"

I'm a conservative, and I will not support any Republican ticket in 2004.

Republicans have sold out. There is now one party in power, the Republicrats.

Did you hear that George?

[Publius6961]

OK...
Where's the ONION logo?

[bigfootbob]

Rush just talked about this. This issue will cost GWB bigtime with the base.

[TBP]

You need to subscribe. It is free and they don't even ask your name.

That's probably why the link isn't working for you.

[TBP]

Nice thought, but the Republican leadership is making clear that conservatives are not welcome and they will do what they have to to stifle us.

[aardvark1]

Go Constitution Party!!

[newberger]

1. Apparently, you *do* believe the liberal media?

2. The head of the RNC is *not* the Republican Party.

3. The Consitution Party is impotent to change the USA.
It may say the right things but it has no influence.
I care about change

4. I hate having RINOs in leadership, too. Thats why the
grass roots needs to work harder and take control.
It has worked in Oregon!

Newberger

[Bill Davis FR]

bush trashes the constitution, overspends, exports our jobs abd increases the tax burden of the middleclass...

[HairOfTheDog]

Time to Leave?

Don't go away mad.....

[Eala]

I'm a conservative, and I will not support any Republican ticket in 2004.

I'm a conservative who will -- in the way I always have, by money to, and time and effort spent directly on, candidates I know and trust (whatever their party, but they rather tend to be Republicans). I quit giving to state and national committees some time ago.

[bigfootbob]

"Thats why the grass roots needs to work harder and take control. It has worked in Oregon!"

What you say? The grass root socialists control Oregon, don't they?

[Dan from Michigan]

I am both(A precinct delegate and County part exec), will be both, and don't care what the RNC chair says if this article is true.

Where else are you going to go? To the Democrats? To the Libertarians? They don’t think so

I'm going to work to get the conservative repulicans elected. If it's the anoited ones the 'leadership' wants, then that's good. If not, too bad.

[Eala]

I found the article here. It's legit.

[Dan from Michigan]

The Republican Party is now admitting that it has no interest in Constitutional, limited government.

That's one person. There are actually several republican parties if you get to state and county levels....where the candidates come from.

The argument that no conservative third party can win is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If everyone who agreed with our principles would vote for us, we would win, but if we preemptively surrender because we "can't win," then we make it true that we can't.

I'll give you this arguement. HOW can it win?

[WhiteGuy]

Ed Gillespie = Al Davis

Being taken for granted bump