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Time to leave the GOP?
1stfreedom

Posted on 03/31/2005 7:39:11 AM PST by 1stFreedom

For over a decade I’ve tried to convince people in the pro-life movement that leaving the Republican Party wasn’t a good move. The past few days has changed my mind, and I started to write this article when the news broke that Terri died.

Florida has shown us that the best that the GOP has to offer is a losing strategy.

For decades abortion has remained “legal” due to the same problems which were present in Florida: an arrogant judiciary and an unwilling executive branch.

The call for Jeb to refuse to enforce the illicit orders of Judge Greer went unheeded. As a direct result, Jeb’s actions sanctioned the starvation of Terri Schiavo. His Pontius Pilate approach to saving her life hasn’t fooled the pro-life base.

His public denial that there wasn’t anything more he could do was a slap in the face to the pro-life movement and to Terri’s parents. It is well known that he indeed had these ORDINARY powers as the Governor of the State of Florida.

If this is the strategy the GOP has to reign in the Judiciary, then it’s time to find another party. It is simply not acceptable that someone could be starved to death in the United States of America with “legal” sanction.

But where does one go? Many of the alternative parties are too idealistic or too focused on history to reach a broad spectrum of people. And some of the names are quite silly….

In my mind, an ideal third party candidate would appeal to socially conservative Republicans, Regan democrats, and minorities. A coalition party can indeed win…

What are your thoughts?


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: boohoo; crybaby; democratspy; demssaythanks; depression; florida; givinguptheghost; gohillary; gop; hyperbole; hysteria; iamhowarddean; iwannabealoser; judicary; kennedyswetdream; leave; libertarians; lies; pap; politicalbaby; schiavo; seppuku; stupidity; stupidvanity; suicide; thegopleftme; waaaaah; whatdoesarvotegetu; wrongforum; wrongresponse
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To: 1stFreedom
Time to leave the GOP?

Not over the Terry Schiavo case. Over border security and zero spending discipline? Maybe...

121 posted on 03/31/2005 7:55:19 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves
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To: thoughtomator
A third party that is not crazy like the LP, and not a single-issue party, and not based on a single personality, has a lot of room to work with.

By definition, third parties are made up of fringers who are unhappy with the two major parties.

What do they want? Single issues, a cult of personality, or, like the Constitution Party, take a position (oppose the war on terror) that is crazy.

Third parties don't work, and never have.

122 posted on 03/31/2005 7:56:21 AM PST by sinkspur (I'm in the WPPFF)
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To: 1stFreedom

My thoughts are that you give up too easily my friend. That's not how it is done. What would you gain going to the other side? That is SOOOOOOOOOOOO ridiculous. I'm sorry. I know you are frustrated but for heavn's sakes it's the OPPOSITION that is so much for murder. What ARE you thinking anyway?


123 posted on 03/31/2005 7:56:28 AM PST by cubreporter
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To: FlipWilson

Bump for a great post.


124 posted on 03/31/2005 7:57:25 AM PST by Defiant (Amend the Constitution to nullify all decisions not founded on original intent.)
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To: 1stFreedom
Hillary must love threads like this. Folks ready to take their toys and go home, leaving the playground to her and her friends.

Folks, the libs have had almost 50 uninterrupted years to get their people in place in courts in this country. They've had the media for that same length of time. Why did we expect any different outcome? Having a conservative in the White House for the last four years is a drop in the bucket, and he's fighting against cultural attitudes that have been building since Roe v Wade in 1973.

The pro-death people have been planning for this, and even helped author the legislation that allowed Terri's death. We weren't paying attention, so there's plenty of blame to go around. Don't go throwing away the ONLY hope we have of turning this bus around.

125 posted on 03/31/2005 7:58:19 AM PST by SuziQ
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To: Rebelbase
Yep. Third party challenge gave us Clinton #1. Another third party challenge will give us Clinton #2.

Nonsense.

When you run pitiful candidates who can't get enough people to vote for them, you lose. But it's natural to blame outside influences, that way you never have to take responsibility for your failures.

The Democrats do precisely the same thing, they are still blaming the electorate instead of themselves.

126 posted on 03/31/2005 7:58:30 AM PST by Protagoras (Christ is risen.)
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To: 1stFreedom
Need a legitimate, truly conservative third party which excludes the Libertarian Party.

It would be possible, with the right slate of candidates, to fractionalize the two monopolies and swing the pedulum back in the "right" direction.

If we continue down the path we're going (thanks for the elitist political class) the majority will be ready for a benevolent dictatorship.

127 posted on 03/31/2005 7:58:33 AM PST by JesseHousman (Execute Mumia Abu-Jamal Today)
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To: PhiKapMom; All

I've been a Republican since Ronnie was president....

I voted for Bush Sr. I helped work on Bruce Herschenson's Senate campaign against Barbara Boxer. I helped "smaller" candidates in local races. I worked for GWB in the 2000 election.. I worked for him again, going down to PA to try and get out the vote so he could carry the state...

All this time loonies on the right have tried to get me to join one movement or another: Libertarian, John Birch , Society, etc...

I have an aunt who is a democrat ideologue. No matter what evidence you show her, now matter your strong arguments, she's a die hard Democrat who hates republicans. I'm not like this, I prefer to look at the issues and make and informed choice. You sound like my aunt, willing to follow the GOP whereever it goes.

Party loyalty isn't a virtue by the way...


128 posted on 03/31/2005 7:58:39 AM PST by 1stFreedom (1)
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To: thoughtomator
Start a new party... it's been proven time and time again that there is a huge underrepresented segment of the electorate just waiting to vote against the establishment if given a chance.

Yeah, and we'll get another Clinton. No thank you.

129 posted on 03/31/2005 7:59:06 AM PST by SuziQ
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To: 1stFreedom
Negative - Gain more control of the Republican Party since they are long established. Just kick out the fake conservatives....simple as that...(starting to wonder about Jeb).

BTW if the 'Rats were smart (they aren't), they would kick out the far left wing.....nearly immediate results. But we know that attempt would lead to a 'Rat Civil War.

130 posted on 03/31/2005 7:59:09 AM PST by add925 (The Left = Xenophobes in Denial)
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To: 1stFreedom
"Florida has shown us that the best that the GOP has to offer is a losing strategy. For decades abortion has remained “legal” due to the same problems which were present in Florida: an arrogant judiciary and an unwilling executive branch."

So, yer just gonna punt? After working fer years to get a GOP White House and a GOP Congress, we now are in position to balance out the Judiciary with a few more Constitutionalists, and you wanna pick up yer toys and go home? That's LOSER-talk!! Enjoy yer irrelevancy to the debate...

"His public denial that there wasn’t anything more he could do was a slap in the face to the pro-life movement and to Terri’s parents. It is well known that he indeed had these ORDINARY powers as the Governor of the State of Florida."

NONSENSE...have you even been following this case at all?! Do you actually believe Jeb couldda saved Terri's life without arrogating upon himself extralegal powers? That's silly...Jeb did what he could do legally...now, it's up to us to take on and defeat the Pro-Death FL Judicial Branch!!

"If this is the strategy the GOP has to reign in the Judiciary, then it’s time to find another party. It is simply not acceptable that someone could be starved to death in the United States of America with “legal” sanction."

Uh, excuse me, but it's been happening fer years...why haven't you considered abandoning the Pro-Life Party every time another innocent human being was starved and morphined to death?

"But where does one go? Many of the alternative parties are too idealistic or too focused on history to reach a broad spectrum of people. And some of the names are quite silly…."

The Constitution Party?! The Libertarian Party?! What's so silly about those names?

"In my mind, an ideal third party candidate would appeal to socially conservative Republicans, Reagan democrats, and minorities. A coalition party can indeed win...What are your thoughts?"

My thought is that yer certainly welcome to leave, but yer gonna be missing out on the opportunity to begin reforming the Judiciary Branch by weilding influence within the GOP. No third party will garner you any relevance fer at least a generation, imho, but if yer so pissed off at the Florida GOP/Jeb Bush that you can't stand being associated with Republicans, by all means, LEAVE!!

FReegards...MUD

131 posted on 03/31/2005 7:59:44 AM PST by Mudboy Slim (The Culture War shall be won by those RightWingers who choose to fight it!!)
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To: Mr. Jeeves
President Bush did the right thing.

Congress went half way. So did Jeb Bush.

"Never send a monkey to do a man's job."
~ Captain Leo Davidson

132 posted on 03/31/2005 7:59:58 AM PST by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: nikos1121

"Bush is not our King, and cannot act like one. If this case makes us look long and hard at the abusive power of our court system and results in fixing it, then Terri did not die in vain but for all of us."

Well put.

I haven't really commented on any of the hundreds of "Terri" threads. As a conservative, I was torn. The right to life weighed heavy on me but so did separation of powers and states rights.

I have kept my head through this by hoping and believing that whatever happened to Terri would be the will of God. Rest in peace, Terri. You've more than earned it.


133 posted on 03/31/2005 8:00:04 AM PST by L98Fiero
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To: Auntie Toots

Let's take illegal immigration as an example. It's been proven time and time again that 80+% of GOP voters want action on this issue, and there's been no lack of lobbying for that action, and the GOP has been granted a solid governing majority, yet the only proposal on the table goes directly against the will expressed by the GOP's supporters. The same thing can be said for government spending, as well, all proposals on the table increase spending.

Working within the GOP is a proven failure as a strategy on these issues. Only by giving them a real reason to fear losing voters will they become responsive to the people. There is little to no risk of most GOP voters going to the Democrats, who are even worse on these issues, so the politicians are on a practical basis free to completely ignore the will of the people.


134 posted on 03/31/2005 8:00:28 AM PST by thoughtomator (Fight terror - strangle a caribou!)
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To: 1stFreedom

bye!


135 posted on 03/31/2005 8:00:34 AM PST by Conspiracy Guy (dotdotdot dashdashdash dotdotdot)
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To: zerosix

Newsflash the party HAS begun being taken back. Back from the wishy washy LOOSERS who nearly obliterated the party in the name of moderates and going along to get along. No more T. Todd Whitmans, No Trent Lotts, No X41's.

No more fear. The fact that the house was pulled into session on palm sunday, the fact that 1/2 of all the demcrat reps had to vote for terri's fed law, the fact that for YEARS the florida legislature changed laws in light of terri ALL these have show the GOP is on track.

If anything we need to push farther and harder.

Otherwise the Democrats will use the Whitmore tests on the baby boomers to save social security.


136 posted on 03/31/2005 8:00:37 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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To: Auntie Toots
"...we sure don't want to work for or with the Democrats."

I'd work with a pro-life democrat before I'd work with a pro-"choice" republican, any and every day of the week.

137 posted on 03/31/2005 8:00:51 AM PST by trickyricky
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To: Rebelbase
Yep. Third party challenge gave us Clinton #1. Another third party challenge will give us Clinton #2.

I suppose you could argue in the long term that makes us stronger. The simple fact is that you cannot win the white house without the support of conservative Christian evangelicals. Congress, and Jeb Bush, in waging this war over Terri, and then proving too cowardly to prove themselves an equal branch of government, annoyed many of us who take the Constitution seriously. The fact is that 7 of 9 supreme court justices are OUR CREATION! That is an outrage, and it is very difficult to sell the the Republican party to thinking people when we have that track record. (O'Connor, Souter, Stevens, Kennedy--we are responsible for this human debris.)

What's worse, it's very quickly becoming apparent that some conservatives have entirely given up on the checks and balances that were supposed to operate in cases like Terri's. If a judge tells some conservative lawyers to grab their ankles, you can almost hear them singing "nation of laws, nation of laws" as they take it from behind. The Hugh Hewitts and the Judge Pryors of our movement are the real enemy, not the lefty loonies.
138 posted on 03/31/2005 8:01:04 AM PST by farmer18th ("The fool says in his heart there is no God.")
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To: Protagoras

Only a fool would think Perot didn't cost the republicans the election in 92'.

Pull that stunt again and Hillary stands the best chance she's got to be President.


139 posted on 03/31/2005 8:02:06 AM PST by Rebelbase (Accused Culture of Death member.)
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To: sinkspur
Other than Ross Perot, who gave us Bill Clinton, name one other time.

Running poor candidates causes losses at the ballot box. Don't run morons and you have nothing to fear from other morons.

But I understand why you would try to blame someone else, it's human nature to deflect blame and look for scapegoats.

140 posted on 03/31/2005 8:02:14 AM PST by Protagoras (Christ is risen.)
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