Yeppers.
It was a very special culture that created America. The rugged, do-it-yourself pioneer spirit was the result of a specific conjunction of individuality, pride, intelligence, and optimism that, frankly, is non-existent in most cultures.
Most cultures are tribal, collectivist, and have very limited goals: party and get laid. Even strict Islamists promise suicide bombers an afterlife of what? Partying and getting laid.
We are the last relics of a once-in-a-million-years mutation: a culture of self-reliance. The messy dregs you see about you are typically human. This is simply the jungle retaking the ruins. Nature. Be glad you got to see it before it was lost under the vines.
“But, as I gaze across the barren landscape of the Republican party, I can see only one guy who’s got any real ideas.
That would be you, Newt.” posted by: okie01
I’m inclined to agree. His baggage is no worse than the cleanest Dem, and he can point that out. What I don’t see is anyone who has the right stance across the spectrum of issues, who can communicate it, debate it, and sell it other than Newt. No one since Newt has been able to crystalize this set of qualities like Reagan.
The litmus test of true conservatism is whether the MSM holds you to a different standard.
The pendulum swings one way, then another. All hope is not lost....perhaps delayed, but not lost.
We lost when we let the liberals take over the education system.
Now they are so entrenched the only choice is to abandon it and hope that the homeschooled generations can carry the baton of civilisation.
It is mystifying to me that Barack Obama is rising like a rock star by proposing to solve the politics of hate and partisanship— which were implemented and carried out by his voting base.
It is surreal that this will be the basis of his victory.
Obama will allow his base to stop frothing at the mouth with their hatred of our Commander in Chief and our troops.
Wow! What a deal.
I still believe a huge strategic error has been made by conservatives that disaffiliated themselves with Bush. I think that made Obama’s coming route a rational ploy. Even conservatives don’t like Bush so Obama is doing everyone a favor by relieving this Bush of his command.
That is an absurd and hateful meme but for now it seems llikely to take the Democrats to the White House and historic high levels of control in the Senate and the House. Conservatives on these boards will largely not bat an eye because they consider Bush a traitor on the border.
I strongly disagree with the bashing this good President has gotten from partisans on both sides. I am no longer particularly impressed with what is deemed “conservative.” The enemy Bush confronted was more diabolical than the Nazis and is more diminished by his radical strategies than any known alternative.
Thank you George Bush.
We had no real conservatives run a good campaign. As a result, it looks like McCainiac will be a minority selected candidate.
Read “Atlas Shrugged”. It will cheer you up.
He's wrong. Those weren't conservatives. They were RINOS! He should be saying that Republicans are responsible, not conservatives! They are greedy, power hungry globalists who have sold America/Americans down the river to the highest bidders!!
ping
I would also add that many folks consider infighting and clobbering others within this forum a form of armchair activism. Rather than using the opportunity to hone persuasive argument skills, Giuliani and Romney supporters were kicked under and off the bus last year. Allegedly mature adults resort to childish name-calling and shoot-from-the-hip attacks to what end?
Historically, the odds of a party holding onto the Presidency following two four-year terms are slim. As Gingrich pointed out during CPAC, don't focus on POTUS as though it is the only race in 2008. Use this precious time to support and elect conservatives to local, state, and U.S. Congressional races.
Sorry, but the liberal/moderates and independents that have been trying to brow-beat conservatives into supporting the unsupportable have failed America.
It’s really quite sad that the liberal wing of the republican party cannot accept responsibility for what they have wrought.
My principles are not for sale.
I compromised on W and can see the spending record we have compiled since then. McCain was left of W in 2000, and has drifted further left since then.
The only conservative failure is having allowed the primary system to stack against conservatism.
WRONG, WRONG, WRONG
I have to keep repeating that conservatism is a movement, NOT a political party. Some like Newt Gingritch are finally realizing it. Most Americans legal immigrants included hold conservative values. It is the rule NOT the exception. The problem in the paradigm is party loyalty. When we ran Paul Rodriguez for congress against Nydia Velasquez we asked ten questions of most of the constituents we met. They were issues questions regarding family values vouchers etc. most agreed with 9 out of 10 questions. Positions that were supported by conservatives, yet they were too tied to their party identity to vote for a conservative candidate. Most people respond to cliches rather than reasoned arguments and that is dilemma we are facing. The elites in this country have figured that out and are playing the public like a fiddle.
Conservatives must realize they belong to a movement. They have invested emotionally in political parties and that is the paradigm that we must deal with. There are conservatives in the democratic party, as independents and the vast bulk in the republican party. The republican party was NEVER a conservative party. It was just a party where most conservatives found themselves. We need to learn the lessons of this experience. Our problem in the political landscape arose when political office changed from a civic duty and obligation and became a career.
Knowing this paradigm I always advise conservatives stuck in heavily democratic districts to run as democrats and in republican districts to run as republicans. Conservatism is a values based ideological system not as socialism and other isms a strict theoretical construct guided by a dogma. Once conservatives realize this they will begin winning again. We need to start an organized movement rather than a third party as we have no Reagan at the moment to bring together conservatives in the democrat, independent and republican camps as he could. We can only appeal to all three elements outside of the party.
Our obligation this coming election is to take back the house and senate. We have to show up at the polls in droves. If every conservative shows up at the polls we can have an impact. I will NOT stay home. Sitting out the election is not an option. I will however, not vote for president and chose conservative candidates on the rest of the roster on election day. If we elect a president, whoever that is , we must put him/her on a leash, a very short leash.
They know that no matter what, they can count on people to vote for anything that has an ~R~ after the name. Even Satan himself could get support with an ~R~.
It is time to take it one the chin and fight back. I am never throwing my vote away again.