Posted on 11/09/2008 5:45:35 PM PST by Obushma
Hi All Freepers! I am a new Freeper---been here to just read news and posts for over a year and now am motivated to do something after the disappointing loss on last Tuesday. Below is where I stand politically and my two cents where the GOP needs to move to for success---I do NOT endorse scrapping the GOP for a new party. I endorse gaining control of the GOP from the grass roots with some cosmetic/PR changes:
I voted for McCain-Palin although I’m not a Republican. I'm now strongly considering formally joining the GOP.
As of now I support Sarah Palin to run in 2012.
My thoughts on some Public Relation changes (Not Necessarily Changes in Principles):
1 Drop the formal opposition to Affirmative Action : This mutes the charge of “historical opposition/indifference to civil rights”. The opposition to AA/Quotas can remain in principle.
2 Drop the formal opposition to “Amnesty” for Illegal Immigrants: Focus on securing the borders. The status of the 20 million or so illegal immigrants is now more or less an Obama/Democrat problem and has been essentially a lost issue for the GOP. We in opposition to Obama will need to cut into his Hispanic support in 2012 in order to defeat him.
3 Drop formal opposition to Environmentalism. Yes, I know that environmental extremist are nuts, but the GOP must recognize when a battle is probably lost and not waste precious political capital on what I consider minor issues (especially when there will be major battles to be fought over major issues). Remember this is just a formal dropping of an issue, but not the issue itself in principle.
4 Focus on middle class, middle class, middle class!
5 Focus on domestic/economic/education issues. Less on foreign policy. To be sure there will certainly be new issues of both to tackle in ’12, but I can guarantee with the failed economic policies put in place by The Obama administration---domestic policies will again be front and center.
6 Build bridges to unions/working class. Historically Unions and the GOP have been arch-enemies. But the alliance between big business and the GOP in decline. Big Business seem to have found a new love REDs---“Rich Elite Democrats”. We need to counter this with courting some of there core constituencies. This may have already have begun in West Virginia and among many Hillary Clinton Dems.
7 Continue with strong opposition to Gay “marriage”, Abortion and Adult Euthanasia.
8 Continue with strong opposition to Islamic Extremism, and Socialistic Liberal Extremism.
9 Continue to be strong on crime, the death penalty and gun ownership rights.
Sorry for what you guys call a “Vanity” but these were just some of my post-election observations as a right of center African American. Tell me what all you Freepers think!
Amen.
Well Said.
Welcome! I don’t understand why so many here are getting their panties in a wad over your statement of African-Americanness. It’s just a way to identify yourself as a developing Conservative black American, and I think that is a wonderful thing to be!!! We in the GOP need more of you, and your fellow (confused, liberal) black Americans need you even more. :)
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we currently have the numbers to win national elections even with all those blocs. Sooner or later, we're gonna have to think about modifying our approach somehow, and since the social aspect of conservatism seemed to be about the only aspect that had a winning night last Tuesday, I highly recommend that we don't go all David Frum.
Welcome! Michael Steele/Bobby Jindal (or the reverse). This is the most promising for 2012.
The GOP should not move left to get further appeal. That will not strengthen their cause, but undermine it. The GOP and American Conservatives have a wordview that is different in goals and dreams, not merely in degree from the worldview of the democrat party.
We believe in individual liberty - that man is endowed with inalienable rights from a common creator. We believe in individual responsibility - that men should be judged and should succeed or fail according to their own actions (as opposed to the color of their skin or their lineage). We believe that the Constitution is a contract created between consenting and free individuals which establishes a limited government. And lastly we believe that right and wrong exist and are unchangeable.
In contrast, the left beleives that man’s liberty, success, and morals are defined by society. As such, these elements belong to society and are subject to redefinition or change as is deemed expedient. The left does not believe in limiting government by a Constitution and generally believes that the document is meaningless. The left does not believe that the individual is responsible for his actions, but rather that these actions are a result of one’s socialization, and since society creates this, we are also all responsible for the success and failures of others. Lastly, the left does not believe in right or wrong as anything other than tools of expediency.
In light of these different worldviews, the GOP and Conservatives cannot shift to the left without betraying their foundations. Additionally, as we shift left we become the party that stands for opposition as opposed to leadership and creation (instead of having new ideas we become the party of a smaller increase in minimum wage).
One of the unfortunate but not unintentional problems that American Conservatives deal with is the label “conservative”. In reality, what Barack and liberals around the world propose and push is the same message that was promoted since the dawn of man. It is the message that some - based on color, lineage, or talents - are destined to rule the mass of stupid beings. In contrast, the founding of America and the writing of the Constitution were and are a break with the state of man since the founding of the earth. When we support the principals that led to the founding and the Constitution, we are not being conservative but are rather liberal radicals in the true sense of the word.
If we, the GOP, and its candidates hold to the views that led to the establishment of America we will succeed. We are the shining city on the hill offering hope to people around the world.
I am a Freeper-American.
1, 2 and 3.....is that you John McCain?
Thank you for your additions. There is truly a difference between those who like to think of themselves as conservatives and those who actually belive in the principles of the philosophy. One of the problems involved is the failure to buy-in to moral absolutes as a value-system. In my response I said what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. Notice our new colleague employs situational ethics questioning the utility of a platform that includes pro-life re: abortion, euthanasia, etc. Politics tends to do that to people. The problem with America is that 60% has lost their way on such moral absolutes. It doesn’t matter if it is popular or politically expedient. It is about who we are and what is right.
Welcome, new freeper!
I believe that cutting to the chase is a good policy. Concentrate on what is urgent and important, ignore the things you can’t immediately address, and focus, focus, focus on what must be done. Obviously, the message needs to be concise and to the point to get attention and gain a following. And a unified front would be nice......
Of the four, business appears to have largely thrown its lot in with lawlessness, due to cheap labor from illegal immigration, never mind that McCain is one of their own on this; they didn’t turn out. Small government advocates are thoroughly disgusted, and rightly so, with the collossal increase in government, and government spending, and they didn’t turn out. That left defense hawks and social conservatives. Social conservatives, myself included, were less than lukewarm about John McCain, as he has always been about us, and only came to support the ticket with the addition of Sarah Palin for VP, but support her, and in turn McCain by default, we cetainly did. It wasn’t enough, sadly.
Does this mean there is something fundamentally wrong with the Republican coalition? I don’t think so. We’ve strayed from our own values, and put up a weak candidate for the presidency. And, we did it in an election season that was taylor made for Democrat gains.
Obviously you took a great deal of care to write all that, and I never said the GOP should move left. Therein lies the conundrum.
As to our founding fathers, I don't idolize them nor look at the constitution the same as I would the Word of God (and since I'm not all-knowing and possess all wisdom, I take that with a lot of grains of salt and don't understand a lot or it nor presume to). The constitution was progressive for its time and has served us fairly well. I don't know when or how, but it will become either more ignored or revamped.
I can only speak for myself, but I don't want to make a grab for power and force my views on those who don't want to do it my way.
Right now, all I see is further marginalization and irrelevance in the coming years. It's inevitable. We will become outcasts or on the peripheral of the mainstream, leading to intolerance. The Amish and Mennonites (all I know of early religious bodies that have survived the utopianin movement) have done fairly well; I don't know what the future holds for them.
I won't compromise on certain basic issues, or if I do, I have sold out my soul.
I see intolerance on my own side, but the intolerance on the left anywhere they are in the majority is far worse and chilling.
My brother from another mother! Welcome to FR.
I made the final conversion from AA liberal Democrat about ten years ago. Glad to see you made it also.
Thank you! I tried to respond to a particular poster but they had me blocked as a “troll”. Oh well, so much for political discourse. Apparently, the words “Public Relations” is lost on the staunch purists. I thought I qualified my original post with “cosmetics/PR” as opposed to “Principle”. One thing the Dems know and the GOP doesn’t get and that’s the difference of packaging and selling a platform......
What you’re against number 4 too???? You don’t like the middle class???
“Smarter breed of Troll”? No, someone who will join the GOP regardless of your personal rigidity. My sugestions were ones of marketing for the party not a single one time candidate like McCain. The GOP has to find areas of common ground with a more diversified demographics and think it will and will to you chagrin succeed.
I actually work with someone very proud of his Scotish heritage. I’m thinking of asking him to find me my family cloth pattern.
My apologies-—didn’t realize how sensitive Freepers could be. Foe henceforth I shall just be known as Obushma, that Republican-American
I think Republicans don’t need to do much beyond going back to being real conservatives with a conservative agenda.
We don’t need to give impressions of who we are, they need to act and be conservative.
Thanks for the invite! I believe a new coalition is forming under the GOP banner that will consist of former Hillary-Dems, Reagan-Dems, soon to be disaffected Hispanics, African-Americans, Jews, Unionist, Middle Classers, Women et al!
Do you read Dr Thomas Sowell and Dr Walter Williams? Both find it a negative term.
Look forward to your input here. We have a great many Americans of black white brown and pink skin who post frequently as well as many of all different religions and heritage. We even have some atheists and muslims and an entire melting pot of people who believe in a consevative based philosophy as well as distractors.
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