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
Isn’t funny how so many liberal blowhearts love to talk, talk, talk. He we have one that writes, writes, writes. Damn, they get tiresome.
Hey stupid, don’t make this your first post.
There is a reason why Ayn Rand called the Libertarian party ‘hippies of the right’ and said that the Libertarian party was the “Perversion of Liberty”.
Considering that your four posts since you joined have all been praising Barr and this, why do I have a feeling you work for the campaign and are trying to float these ‘viral’ stories of Republicans jumping ship?
Barr is no better than the rest of them. Heck, he has even jumped on the AlGore bandwagon with Global Warming.
Who the heck are you? Are you the person who swiped my Ho-Hos from the lunchroom last week? Then I say good riddance to you, scoundrel!
You pretty much hit every site and post the same one or two comments, either the one posted here or pimping Barr's website.
It also would be interesting to know if you are the same Zak Carter that is making all of these donations to Obama.
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/donor_lookup.php?name=carter,%20z
Is this an Opus or just DE-Rinoization?...
IBTZ!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDZLK8xXBRw
Nice self admission that you are breaking the UCMJ there. You did this in the uniform of the US Army, should be charged and be subjected to a court-martial! If found guilty of the various charges, demoted and given a discharge, that fits your violations of the UCMJ.
DOD 1344.10 prohibits using your official position in partisan activities. I.E. “I'm in the Army, vote for John Smith.”
It is not a violation of Federal Law, i.e. the Hatch act, but is a violation of UCMJ, Article 92, Failure to Obey Order or Regulation.
Sure, we're entitled to believe whatever we want as our nations warriors. But to strip off the uniform, go off on a political rant, and make statements in full knowledge of it violating the UCMJ is dishonorable and SHAMEFUL.
So much more to come on old Zak here.. interesting fella.
Great post. Now for the sleepers this post and other like it have flushed out.
*ahem!* Welcome to FR. *cough!*
Re 31- it seems that Zak decided to remove his video all of a sudden. Hmm..
I sort of discovered that by accident when I was a teenager.
Allegra, ping 26 and 31 (especially 31)
Phony hippie.
I’m completely unimpressed.
You’re a waste of bandwidth.
That's what those ahems and coughs were about. ;-)
Damn Zak! You hadn’t even got here yet before you left! July 24,2008. You should have shared more of your wisdom with us poor sloops.
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.