Posted on 07/24/2008 6:57:21 AM PDT by 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
Bob Barr, in the Path of Harry Browne, who in the days following 9/11/2001 said American had it coming.
Sorry, but between the GOP and the Libertarians I’ll keep marijuana illegal, and defend America with a strong defense.
And I’ll say NO to the ACLU about 99% of the time, unlike Barr who seems comfortable almost anywhere on the political spectrum so long as there is a mike in his face.
Just an overly ambitious 3rd tier politico. No future in him or his new party.
The future is in changing the GOP back for the better.
The person who posted this vanity is not a conservative. See the posts upthread tha expose him as a hack operative for the Lie-bertarian Party.
You have a severe mental deficiency. Bob Barr is as liberal as Obama.
I will agree that the poster was not a conservative, I agree that his post was ridiculous. (I had already acknowledged that upthread.)
I was referring to the word Republican. You would agree that FR is a conservative site. Maybe that is where the confusion lies.
As you well know, there are many non conservatives in the Republican Party. We witness it daily.
Well, President Washington would CERTAINLY be by far a better choice (even at his age) than the two candidates the duopoly has put up.
But, no. I haven’t made up my mind yet. It all depends on how North Carolina is going. If McCain can get North Carolina without my vote, then I’m going to pick a third party candidate that I can support (or write in Duncan Hunter). Otherwise, I’ll be putting my vote in for McCain.
(I KNOW I went over this before, but try reading it slower this time, and maybe you’ll get it.)
Paul
Hey, thanks for the great idea. I just might do that, smartass.
There are many non-conservatives who are in the Republican party and there are many non-Republicans who are conservative.
According to those who have attacked and attacked the idea of someone who is a conservative NOT being a Republican it’s inconcievable that there are those who do NOT agree with the party line.
I do NOT agree with the massive spending that the Republicans have pushed through. I do NOT agree with the massive expansions of government that the Republicans have pushed through.
Yet, because I dare, on a CONSERVATIVE (not Republican) board, mention that I don’t support the party because their liberal turn over the last few years, I’m told I support the communist/marxist candidate from the communist party (read Democrats).
You ought to. After all, he has as much chance of becoming President as any of the third party candidates, and you can’t beat him on ideology or character.
Sorry I missed your other post. My bad.
You prefer the Soros funded liberal to a conservative who worked with the ACLU and numerous conservative groups to protect the bill of rights?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1968902/posts
I guess you supported McCain/Finegold (as did Soros) since the ACLU opposed it.
Bob Barr is the conservative in this race.
Thanks for the gratuitous insult, it makes your point much more compelling.
I'm glad you're going to vote for McCain if it matters, but if it doesn't matter in the electoral count I can't understand why you'd ditch your conservative principles to vote for Duncan Hunter instead of Washington. That's not even a lesser of two evils thing...Washington's got way more executive experience and more combat time than Hunter or any third party candidate running.
Why flush your conservative principles when you can vote for the best with a clear conscience?
No biggie;)
Hahaha. Thanks for the laugh.
IBFZ
And on a side note, if you are so disillusioned with the GOP, then why the heck bother us about it? aren’t we part of your problem? If so, then why waste any more of your precious time? Anyway, Liberals and Democrats are out for one thing, the money in your wallet and your future earnings, given that simple fact, they can ALL go take a long walk off a short pier and you are welcome to join them if you too are after my money and future earnings.
Yep. One of 'em's the Republican Party presidential nominee.
Ummmmm, Democrats control congress.... just had to point that out. Congress controls Spending.
Yes, very true.
Why are you sacrificing your conservative principles to vote for Barr? Write in George Washington. He’s 100% on ideology and he has military service (Barr doesn’t) and way, way more executive experience than Barr. Don’t let anyone tell you he’s too old for the position or that he can’t win. He has at least as much chance of being President as Bob Barr does.
True, but given the choice between FDR and Jimmah Carter, we need to vote FDR.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.