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ConservatismCentral.com ^ | 11/07/2008 | Brian

Posted on 11/07/2008 9:07:56 AM PST by B Knotts

All of the frenzied recriminations and strategizing you are seeing are for naught. Before the conservative movement can even think about regaining political power, it must reform itself. Not by abandoning conservatism, but by reestablishing its principles.

What is it we as conservatives believe? Until we can answer that question clearly and convincingly, we will largely be on the sidelines.

We need not try to find candidates for the next electoral cycle at this time, because we have to discuss our principles first, and come to an agreement on them that the various factions within conservatism can agree on. If I were to try to define them, I’d say:

Certainly, this list is not exhaustive, and this will be thought out and adjusted. But this is a necessary exercise, because voters can sense when politicians do not really believe in their alleged principles.

Once we have these principles in place, then the search can begin for attractive candidates. They must stick to principles, but must be able to communicate our principles in a way that voters understand. They must not apologize for conservatism, but must advance it confidently and unapologetically.

The strategy of the past ten years has been disastrous to the conservative movement. It is clearly time to start anew. Let us do so now.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Politics
KEYWORDS: conservatism; principles
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Please add your suggestions for how to come to agreement on our principles.
1 posted on 11/07/2008 9:07:58 AM PST by B Knotts
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To: B Knotts
Obama's speech on faith.
2 posted on 11/07/2008 9:08:27 AM PST by Brian S. Fitzgerald
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To: Brian S. Fitzgerald

Brian - good post on this.

My own addition to this would be

* If we want right to life, then it is only logical to believe it abolishment of the death penalty. Life is life.

* Enforce current immigration laws on the books.


3 posted on 11/07/2008 9:10:47 AM PST by GerardKempf (Let's Get Over This)
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To: B Knotts

i think we need to get rid of the gray areas around our beliefs...for instance one of the things i noticed about Palin that i loved (among others)—she was black and white on abortion—even in the event of rape. she said she wouldn’t force a girl to have the baby but she would counsel to life...and she NEVER apologized for it. that is another thing our party needs...CONVICTION.


4 posted on 11/07/2008 9:13:03 AM PST by MountainWoman
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To: GerardKempf

i have to disagree with you—abortion and the death penalty are completely diffrent—innocence vs. evil


5 posted on 11/07/2008 9:14:16 AM PST by MountainWoman
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To: GerardKempf

Life IS life. So, taking the life of someone who took ANOTHER life is actually confirming the importance of LIFE. If you take another life, you forfeit yours.


6 posted on 11/07/2008 9:14:48 AM PST by jdsteel (CONGRESS: Take it again in twenty ten.)
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To: MountainWoman
I agree. That is one thing I really like about her. Another aspect of it is that she doesn't just talk; she lives her principles.
7 posted on 11/07/2008 9:15:41 AM PST by B Knotts (ConservatismCentral.com)
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To: GerardKempf
If we want right to life, then it is only logical to believe it abolishment of the death penalty. Life is life.

I don't completely disagree...but it is important to understand the difference between the taking of innocent life and the execution of a justly convicted killer.

In one way, you respect (innocent) life more through capital punishment.

But, yes...just eliminating it is simpler to explain in the context of respect for life.

And, yes, immigration is something we need to address.

8 posted on 11/07/2008 9:18:25 AM PST by B Knotts (ConservatismCentral.com)
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To: GerardKempf; Brian S. Fitzgerald
Good points all but I would like to go one step further. You - Gerard - said enforce current immigration laws. How about enforce all the laws on the books. Some examples -

How many saw the women storming the stage during Palins convention speech? Why was she not charged and tried?

Why is Spitzer walking?

Why are Dems allowed to threaten the Presidents life and not be charged?

So, let the new Republican/Conservative leadership start by stating they will enforce all laws.

9 posted on 11/07/2008 9:18:43 AM PST by 7thson (I've got a seat at the big conference table! I'm gonna paint my logo on it!)
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To: jdsteel

What about redemption? Is executing someone redemption? Also, wouldn’t you agree there are faults in the system that have in fact led to innocent men being executed? The death penalty is flawed. Also, where in the New Testament does it talk about death penalty?


10 posted on 11/07/2008 9:20:32 AM PST by GerardKempf (Let's Get Over This)
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To: GerardKempf

I’d also add that enforcing immigration laws is a given, but merely begs the question: what should our approach be to immigration? What sorts of levels of immigration? What sorts of people from what sorts of country should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S.? Most importantly, what do we hope to accomplish through our immigration policies?


11 posted on 11/07/2008 9:22:31 AM PST by B Knotts (ConservatismCentral.com)
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To: 7thson

Guys, first of all, while I am viewed as a RINO, I still believe that we should enforce laws on the books. The Spitzer decision makes me think that he was going to spill the beans on a lot of things if he was taken to the woodshed and both sides of the aisle said ok let’s not push this. Granted, I think he should have been prosecuted to the full.

However, corporate greed and what has happened in the financial markets was done by both Dems and fellow Republicans. We should start prosecuting all these POS’ who let greed corrupt them.


12 posted on 11/07/2008 9:24:08 AM PST by GerardKempf (Let's Get Over This)
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To: B Knotts

yes—i think Trig opened up a lot of eyes for women—my mom told me that after she heard the story about Trig, she felt ashamed for ever saying that she would have aborted a down baby because no matter what, it was still a life...it was pretty powerful


13 posted on 11/07/2008 9:27:18 AM PST by MountainWoman
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To: B Knotts
Not by abandoning conservatism, but by reestablishing its principles.

It is far more important to find the right candidate capable of expressing that conservative message.

Articulate, confident, bold, charasmatic ... proud of the Republican Party and of the conservative movement.

Of all these recent 'leaders'...McCain, GWB, Dole, Jack Kemp, Lindsey Graham, Martinez, ..... not one seemed proud of the conservative philosophy. Not one could speak with clarity and energy and passion.

We need an articulate, motivated conservative messenger, someone energetic and bold.

Once that is accomplished, people will become re-energized and gravititate back to conservatism because in their heart of hearts, most people KNOW that our individual freedoms and our respect for Almighty God is what makes America the safest most prosporous nation in history.

All this Obama 'redistribution' and homo-abortion-feminism/ acceptance of multicultural principals is bogus, and even Democrats know it.

Unfortunately, everyone has a little class envy in their souls.... and Obama convinced them he would "take care" of them better than McCain.

Lord knows GWB hasn't done all that well the past two months.

Hey, people are susceptible and gullible. It's as simple as that.

14 posted on 11/07/2008 9:31:51 AM PST by Edit35 (.)
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To: Edit35

MachoSauce Productions for a start. Talk about a message delivery engine!


15 posted on 11/07/2008 9:33:29 AM PST by FTL
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To: Edit35

PS: With MachoSauce it has nothing to do with the color of his skin, rather the content of his character.


16 posted on 11/07/2008 9:36:40 AM PST by FTL
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To: Edit35
It is far more important to find the right candidate capable of expressing that conservative message.

That comes next.

The first step is to all get on the same page on our basic principles. If we can't do that, we're not going anywhere.

17 posted on 11/07/2008 9:40:34 AM PST by B Knotts (ConservatismCentral.com)
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To: MountainWoman

I think Trig is also what caused the intense hatred for Sarah from some people. There are many people who have aborted their Down’s Syndrome kids, and Sarah’s decision made them feel that guilt again. That’s unfortunate, because forgiveness is available.


18 posted on 11/07/2008 10:01:48 AM PST by B Knotts (ConservatismCentral.com)
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To: B Knotts
The first step is to all get on the same page on our basic principles. If we can't do that, we're not going anywhere.

I understand what you mean, but it is impossible to get 57 million people (GOP voters on Tuesday) to agree on the EXACT same thing.

Who decides who is truly "conservative" and which belief is not?

It is MUCH more realistic to get the one intelligent person who BEST exemplifies conservative policies, and let that person conduct a inner-debate of sorts until that message is honed and powerful.

We can't afford to wait until 57 million people to get their act together. That could take decades.

19 posted on 11/07/2008 10:11:12 AM PST by Edit35 (.)
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To: Edit35

I agree; we’re not going to agree on everything. But there are certainly some basic principles on which we can agree. If not, how can we form any kind of movement?


20 posted on 11/07/2008 10:13:23 AM PST by B Knotts (ConservatismCentral.com)
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