Posted on 07/16/2008 6:23:42 AM PDT by big black dog
Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment is as sacred as the first 10…”Thou shalt not speak ill of any other republican.” Yes, moderates and right wingers can have our healthy disagreements. That makes us an intellectually stronger party than the democrats, which do not allow for dissenting views from the party orthodoxy (Joe Lieberman anyone?). However, we must not question each other’s motives. We are not liberals. We do not cannibalize each other, since we need every one of us to govern.
As a Jewish republican, I have always thought of republicans as the Jews of politics. Everybody outside of us hates our guts, and even those inside our group are often angst ridden, hand wringing, guilt ridden and self loathing. Wow, that sounds like Jews to me. Republicans and Jews would both be better off if instead of begging our many enemies to like us, we just told them (Syria, Iran, Moveon.org, Jason Blair Times) to go (insert bad word here) themselves. Those plotting our demise will fail. We need to stay strong as republicans and govern.
Yes, the goal is to govern. There are no moral victories. Yes, the republicans in congress in 2006 needed a wake up call. That is fine. Congress is not the White House, and never will be (Nancy “Damascus” Pelosi anyone?). The reasons liberals can’t govern is because they blackmail “normal” democrats into veering hard left in order to be palatable to their fringe elements.
My blog deliberately refuses to write about red meat social issues, such as abortion, gay marriage, and immigration. I have not taken a public position on the immigration bill, and my blog is officially neutral on the issue. I will simply say that while there are some right wing bigots in this world, not all people on the right who want to protect our borders are guilty of “brown bashing.” They believe our laws are being violated, and simply want to enforce the rule of law. Also, the “moderates” that are not as riled up about illegal immigration are not democrats or even republicrats. Wall Street is filled with staunch republicans that focus more on economic issues. Criticizing someone for not sharing your passions on every issue is counterproductive when they might be your ally on most other issues. We cannot act like liberals. We have to be tolerant of each other. This does not mean embrace views we find wrongheaded, but it means not questioning the motives of our fellow republicans for holding such views.
Ronald Reagan united people because everybody wanted to be on his side. They all thought he agreed with them, when it was they who agreed with him. No matter how fiercely he disagreed with you, he was pleasant.
Concerns that the immigration debate will blow the republican party to smithereens are a tad overblown. The media does not understand that these disagreements are why we are so strong intellectually. The same people who accuse the Bush administration of group think are the ones who also accuse it of secrecy. The President has every right to want dissension in the ranks kept behind closed doors from people who wish the administration only harm.
However, private citizens in a democracy are supposed to criticize things they disagree with (Are you listening Hillary?). These are major issues, and the republican party allows for adult discussions. Try deviating from San Francisco values and see how hard the democratic party smacks you down in the name of tolerance. Talk about group think.
This blog will continue to disappoint people in the republican party that have contempt for other members of our coalition. I say that we have our disagreements forcefully but respectfully. Then we can hammer the democrats on why they are wrong about virtually everything, once we are united. We can discuss turning Iran and Syria into 50,000 whole golf courses, and shoving the American flag up Guantanamo Bay prisoner’s hides until they go to the toilet red, white and blue. We can have tax cuts and grow the economy.
Yes, every family has disagreements, but we cannot let the outsiders overrun us by weakening ourselves. We are all we have.
I will not agree with the moderates, the libertarians or the social conservatives on every issue. However, if you refer to me as a democrat, or God forbid, a liberal, I reserve the right to show my pro-military stance by decking you as if you had insulted my parents (who are both good republicans).
There will never be another Ronald Reagan, but we can honor his memory by living up to his ideals and portraying his optimism. As Rush Limbaugh says, we should be optimistic and be of good cheer. Of course we should. We are winning, and have been since 1980. The liberals had their time from 1932-1980. It is our time now. The country is moving rightward, with the occasional victory by democrats being an aberration. They cannot govern because the American public at this stage in history does not agree with their ideas. We can govern, except when we get our guns together and fire in a circle. The 2nd amendment gives us the right to keep and bear arms, but nowhere does it say we should shoot each other. That is electoral suicide, and suicide is illegal.
We are Ronald Reagan’s children, and he ordered us to play nice. We are different and unique, and he loved us all. That is why we loved him. None of us were his favorite. We were like the different color jelly beans on his desk, equally sweet.
There are dangerous people out there wishing to hurt us, from liberals to terrorists. Yes, there are varying degrees, with liberals being nuisances and terrorists being evil, but if we cannot even defeat the most pathetic opponent we have, that being liberals in a country that does not have a true left at all, then how can we beat the terrorists.
2006 was a disgrace. We lost to people that believed nothing, because no beliefs were better than what we were perceived to have been offering.
So let’s fight these divisive social issues in a civil manner, and be done with the squabbling by the time the primaries are over. The winner of the general election must have enough fight left to take on the Clintonistas. They cannot be damaged goods. We have the strongest group of candidates since 1980, and if we lose in 2008 we will only have ourselves to blame for beating ourselves.
For those republicans who take the ten commandments seriously, they had better remember to obey Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment. It should be in big chiseled granite on every republican desk top. “Thou shalt not speak ill of any other republican.”
Thus saith Mr. Reagan, God rest his soul.
Keep on repeating that to yourself over and over....Soon, you will begin to believe it. Much like the MSM has been doing about Global Warming.
You do the same with you thesis.
Thou shalt not speak ill of any other Conservative.
I like the sound of that better.
Well, there is Larry Craig...
What Republican Party is he talking about?
Why should he "good mouth" the way it was handled...do you believe the two fronts were handled as flawlessly as they should have been? IMHO, when we have war, we need to prosecute it with all of our might (including a draft, if necessary). After 9/11, the country was united in wanting a victory and there is absolutely no reason why we couldn't have had a quick and decisive one!
Like I said before, it has become very hard to tell either party apart from the other.
That paradox you illustrated represents that fact quite clearly.
I am a maverick this year. Just that word “obey” in the title of this BS turns me off.
I don’t intend to OBEY the GOP this time around. Its kind of sickening.
No, you pompous jerk, I’m not a lemming, rather someone who realizes we have the choice of two candidates come November. One of those candidates is perhaps the most dangerous candidate to ever run for President. As a grownup, I realize I have 2 choices and I am going to vote for the lesser of two evils. Now, if you wish to continue to be insulting to those you disagree with, there’s plenty of space over at DemocratUnderground.
Your premise is totally wrong. Many Hillary people are not supporting Hussein, many blue collar RATs are not going to vote for Hussein.
Quit whining because you can't always get people to do what you want them to do.
Fact of life.
Quit whining because you can't always get people to do what you want them to do.
Whining? No, regretting? Yes.
So, then I should vote for Hussein Obama, since our guy is that bad?
Seriously, after reading through your list, wow, who has time to compile such...? anyway, I think I will just not vote this fall, at all.
Also there is a thread running here on FR today that said Obama is not winning a lot of white vote.
You see, many are like us, they are not in favor of their candidate. So it is not a fact that all Dems will just vote for anyone. Sounds a lot like the GOP this time.
I don't ask for much. All I want is a candidate who advocates smaller, limited government and who will call the ball on the hoax of Global Warming -- that second move alone would win the full-hearted support of tens of millions of Americans, right and left. That's all I ask.
Abortion, the 2nd Amendment, the 1st Amendment/"Fairness" doctrine, taxes, the specter of nationalized health care, homosexual and religious "rights" (or rather, the rights of gays and Muslims/pagans/atheists/Wiccans/etc. to DENY my right to non-violently discriminate against them in my private business and personal choices) -- IF the candidate advocates limited government, then that candidate will be headed in the right direction on all those issues and I will happily support that Republican conservative.
It just so happens McCain and Romney BOTH are headed in the opposite direction and advocate increased government intrusion into personal, financial, and business choices. So take your whiny "... if our candidate doesn’t meet every requirement that the hard core right of our party demand ..." and GO JOIN THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AND TAKE YOUR CANDIDATES WITH YOU.
Then, as a grownup, you should grasp that some of us OTHER grownups here are contemplating the very real possibility that Obama may not be the lesser of the two evils. You and way too many cowardly, submissive "Republicans" are forgetting to carefully consider all the possibilities, and you become very nasty and hostile and irrational when faced with other grownups who ARE considering all the possibilities, looking ahead, weighing the risks.
A lot of grownups like you fell completely for the illusion the MSM presented about the "inevitable" and all-powerful Hillary. Obama's popular support is also illusion, while resilience of the American political system is proven and REAL, something the MSM is loath to bring to our attention. On the contrary, the MSM delights in presenting the American political/economic system as fragile and weak, and AGAIN, too many grownups who should know better are falling for it.
Your assumption of which of these two candidates actually IS the lesser of two evils, is at question here. Recognize it and respect it, and for Pete's sake, stop using terms like "pompous jerk" for people who think you might be mistaken in that assumption.
I use the term “pompous jerk” for someone who feels the need to insult those who disagree with them, which is what the original reply did. It was defensive action in the spirit of the original slight. Recognize that. And if you truly feel that Obama is less of a threat to this country than McCain, then it is YOU who is falling for an illusion presented by the MSM. Have a nice day. By the way, your post was also pompous and condescending making many assumptions about me based on your limitied knowledge of the world as you see it, i.e., the Hillary blurb.
Well obviously you have your own list of demands. "Whiny", that is the second time that a disagreement of opinion with me has been dismissed as "whiny". Frankly that is a cheap shot.
and GO JOIN THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AND TAKE YOUR CANDIDATES WITH YOU.
.
Thank you for your invitation, but I am quite happy to stay in the REPUBLICAN PARTY AND TO VOTE FOR THE NOMINEE OF SAID SAME PARTY.
Long term. Courage, thoughtfulness, push fear and cowardice aside -- and THINK IT THROUGH. Cowardice dictated Republicans choosing a candidate based solely on the premise of "beating Hillary." Cowardice now dictates Republicans vote for a (or perhaps a pair, if McCain picks Romney as VP) "Republican" who stands for the same big government intrusion, increased taxes, and global warming socialist engineering. THAT IS PLAIN STUPID, and it is only cowardice and fear that makes it a possiblity at all.
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