A Declaration of Withdrawal from the Republican Party

Zak Carter

[ZakCarter]

My reasons for leaving the Party that I’ve felt at home in since I became politically aware are numerous. I will start with quoting countless conservatives who feel as I do - I didn’t so much leave the Republican Party, it was the Party that left me. The elected Republican officials failed to implement a conservative agenda, despite having the Presidency and both houses of congress. No Child Left Behind, Prescription Drug Entitlements; they even tried to force Amnesty for illegal aliens upon us. They have given us a government that would make even LBJ blush. Our businesses and land have more regulatory red tape to deal with than ever.

Where is the Republican Party that stood for limited government, personal responsibility, a strong national defense, and against being the world’s policeman? As recently as the 90’s Republicans railed against a foreign policy of “making the world safe for democracy”, (which is historically the Democrats foreign policy, ala Woodrow Wilson) when Bill Clinton was President and he took us to war in Bosnia and Kosovo.

From its inception, the Republican Party advocated a humble foreign policy in line with our founding fathers recommendations, now, with John McCain as the leader and voice of the GOP, we are told to get behind his idea for a “League of Democracies” which sounds terrifyingly similar to Wilson and his Progressive Democrats “League of Nations” almost 100 years ago.

We are also being told by McCain that we will have to Cap and Trade our liberty and our pursuit of happiness in the fight against global warming, essentially that if we don’t give government more money and power, utopia will never be reached.

Some have told me that I should support him because he will appoint conservative judges, but I ask these questions - 1. Who’s definition of conservative are we talking about? And 2. Why would I trust the man on this issue when he is one of the “Gang of 14” who was blocking President Bush’s conservative lower federal court and Circuit Courts of Appeal judicial nominees? His long-standing, but little-noticed association with left-wing donors such as George Soros and Teresa Heinz Kerry is receiving new attention among his Republican critics and definitely troubles me. I would also remind you of his historical propensity to appease those even more liberal than himself. His version of “reaching across the aisle” looks more like a group hug when he crafts legislation like the McCain / Kennedy and McCain / Feingold bills. McCain / Feingold happens to be the reason McCain should not get the NRA’s endorsement, the NRA spent years fighting this trampling of our 1st amendment rights. McCain has not been the solid 2nd amendment supporter he would like you to believe he is - he cosponsored legislation which could require registration of attendees at gun shows and even ban such shows. Add to this the barely passing “C” grade from the NRA in his last senate run in 04‘, the “F” grade the Gun Owners of America gives him today and reflect on the work he did in 2000 with Americans for Gun Safety, an anti-gun group with a deceiving name, and you get a very different picture than the one he wants us to see.

The differences between McCain and Obama are minimal, when you consider that both believe big government can save you from yourself, and that we can save other nations from themselves as well. Given McCain’s track record of conciliatory dealings with Democrats, I fear what this man would do with a Democratic House and Senate. I will not play along with the game of lesser of two evils, as I believe that is part of what has plunged this nation into the mess we find ourselves today.

Once upon a time the Republican Party stood against special interests, corruption and abuse of power. Today their candidates campaign is “ of the lobbyist, by the lobbyist, for the lobbyist.” A man who admits Washington’s corruption has tainted him. Google Keating 5 and read all about it.

The Republican Party today would be unrecognizable to my favorite Republicans of yesterday, such as Barry Goldwater, who said “ A government that is big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take it all away.” President Eisenhower, who warned us of the Military Industrial Complex, and one whose party membership is a surprise to many today but shouldn’t be, Martin Luther King Jr. The party is just as unrecognizable to myself and others of my generation.

I had to draw a line in the sand, and the Republican Party wasted no time in crossing it, when they and the President pushed for “economic stimulus checks.” The only problem is this, the money isn’t money that we have, its money we are borrowing, and our excessive borrowing becomes a tax on future generations, as we wont be paying it off any time soon. Want to try to sell this as economically conservative? Excessive borrowing and spending has the added affect of devaluing our currency, so it acts as a hidden tax on us today. As I heard one of the presidential candidates say in regards to these stimulus checks, “ Whose economy are we stimulating here? Ours or Chinas? We are borrowing more money from China so everyone can go buy more stuff made in China.” I get it, others in the GOP get it, so why doesn’t the party leadership?

I can’t take anymore disrespect for conservative values, and unless the Republican Party wakes up and gets it’s head on straight real soon, I will be taking my vote, my time, energy, money, and passion from the GOP and taking it to the Libertarian Party to send a message to the Republican leadership that I will not be taken for granted. I believe that it is solid conservatism that wins the day and elections - limited government, individual responsibility, and a strong national DEFENSE (secure the borders!), not conciliation and surrender to Democrats to the point that our differences become blurry.

The Libertarian Party seems to be a perfect temporary home, the GOP has its work cut out if its sincere about winning me back, even President Reagan said “Libertarianism is the very heart and soul of conservatism.” I will be doing everything I can to sway like minded conservatives to join me in this exodus and vote for Bob Barr for President and Wayne Root for Vice President on the Libertarian ticket. Both of them were recently Republicans, and are among those countless conservatives I‘ve heard myself say “ It wasn’t that I left the Republican Party, it was the Party that left me.”

Thanks and God Bless, from Zak Carter

[Nonstatist]

Au revoir, newbie. Have a ZOTingly good life!

[PajamaTruthMafia]

Obama thanks you for the support.

[TADSLOS]

It will be interesting to see whether you survive this post or not.

[SolidWood]

I will be doing everything I can to sway like minded conservatives to join me in this exodus and vote for Bob Barr for President and Wayne Root for Vice President on the Libertarian ticket.

Voting for the ACLU liberal and enabling Obama. Thank you for nothing, for standing with the enemy of the Republic.

[Jemian]

You joined up to say what many have been saying already and without writing an opus about it?

IBTZ, I hope.

[jennyjenny]

It’s lively around here this morning.

[Petronski]

Ozone or trioxygen (O₃) is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic O₂. Ground-level ozone is an air pollutant with harmful effects on the respiratory systems of animals and humans. Ozone in the upper atmosphere filters potentially damaging ultraviolet light from reaching the Earth's surface. It is present in low concentrations throughout the Earth's atmosphere. It has many industrial and consumer applications.

Corona discharge method

This is the most popular type of ozone generator for most industrial and personal uses. While variations of the "hot spark" coronal discharge method of ozone production exist, including medical grade and industrial grade ozone generators, these units usually work by means of a corona discharge tube.^[32] They are typically very cost-effective and do not require an oxygen source other than the ambient air. However, they also produce nitrogen oxides as a by-product. Use of an air dryer can reduce or eliminate nitric acid formation by removing water vapor and increase ozone production. Use of an oxygen concentrator can further increase the ozone production and further reduce the risk of nitric acid formation by removing not only the water vapor, but also the bulk of the nitrogen.

[TeleStraightShooter]

ZakCarter: member since 2007-07-24

Does this qualify as another one Zot wonder?
IBTZ

[sarasota]

Buh bye

[Jeff Head]

In many areas, the differences are minimal and you will get no arguement from me on that...or on the fact that the Republican Party has opened its arms to those who have essentially changed it away from many of the bedrock conservative principles upon which this nation is based.

But, between Obama and McCain there are other very fundamental and critical differences that, IMHO, are worthy of consideration in determining how to vote in this disgusting election presidential election cycle.

When it comes to the foreign war against Islamic Jihad, when it comes to drilling for oil and producing nuclear power and moving towards energy independence, when it comes to taxes, when it comes to the likely Supreme Court makeup, when it comes to abortion, when it comes to the 2nd emendment, when it comes to at least some fiscal responsibility in spending...the differences are stark.

Do not get me wrong, I am not saying that McCain is nearly "optimum" in those areas, but the differences between him and Obama are strong there and McCain's positions are muich closer to our end of the spectrum.

We face a sorry choice for president amongst the candidates who have any hope of winning this cycle...and yet we face a monumental choice.

With McCain we have a real chance to hold ground and retain some critical conservative principles and hope to buy time for the next cycle. With Obama, we invite the absolute apex of the hate-America, domestic enemey forces into the dining room and sit him at the head of the table. My choice will be much more against that than it will be for McCain.

But each has to make up his or her own mind in that regard.

CHOOSING THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA - CHANGE YOU CAN COUNT ON, BUT DON'T WANT

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH ABOUT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA

[TeleStraightShooter]

Zot on takeoff?

[windsorknot]

I have huge problems with McCain and the GOP, but I’m not voting for Nutbarr.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Your rant has interesting points and some not so much, but you seem confused as to whether or not you are actually quitting or not. First you say you have left the (republican) Party ... then you say that you will be taking your vote elsewhere unless it get’s its head on straight real soon. So, which is it?

[pgkdan]

.” I will be doing everything I can to sway like minded conservatives to join me in this exodus and vote for Bob Barr for President and Wayne Root for Vice President on the Libertarian ticket.

Ok...you quit. Now go away and take your freak friends with you!

[paudio]

Got this from another thread. Hope you don't mind, rabsucttle. ======================================= Bobb Barr while at USC in 1967 joined the Young Democrats of America, and rallied against the Vietnam War. His parents disapproved, and threatened to cut off financial support if he continued his “flaming liberal” activities On the Colbert Report on June 4, 2008, Barr confirmed that he now supports ending marijuana prohibition, as well as the War on Drugs At the 2008 Libertarian National Convention, he apologized for the part of the Defense of Marriage Act which prevents the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages ( Barr supports same sex marriage) Barr has called for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, leaving no permanent military bases. A press release from Barr’s presidential campaign stated: “The next president should commit to a speedy and complete withdrawal from Iraq, and tell the Iraqi people that the U.S. troops will be going home Barr Does Not support the Patriot Act which has kept us from further attacks since 9/11 Barr has been a vocal opponent of President George W. Bush’s claim of authorization to wiretap transnational phone calls without individual judicial license. (Another favorite of the left.) More recently, Barr has become a prominent member of the American Civil Liberties Union, sometimes doing paid consulting on privacy issues. Fought to prevent State and local law enforcement from going after illegals saying it was a ‘federal only’ responsibility and is for amnesty. Barr had acquiesced to his then-wife having an abortion in 1983. He had also invoked a legal privilege during his 1985 divorce proceeding so he could refuse to answer questions on whether he’d cheated on his second wife with the woman who is now his third.”

[metesky]

What a goober!

[Dixie Yooper]

T.T.F.N.

[Tainan]

Good comment to what I thought was a rather well prepared post.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks. I honestly believe we have to do all we can to keep Obama away from the reigns of power, and that at this stage, though a sorry choice, McCain represents a choice we can make to retain some ground and buy time.