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
Excellent work, by the way. :-D
Who the hell is Zak Carter, and why should I care about his political affiliation?
You see.....that's what it means when you 'libertarianism' with a small 'l'.
I don't know that I agree with everything our friend Zak has said, but I seriously agree with his main thrust: Republicans can kiss my a$$.
When they are all RINOs, the term ceases to have any meaning. They are just Republicans.
More sniveling? How embarrassing!
See 26 and 31, he is a phony.
Thought you might like to keep an eye on this thread...it has potential. ;-)
Are you going to leave me standing alone? Speak up for yourself.
IBTZ
Ib4TZ?
What kind of bs is that?
Obama thanks him for his support.
Good grief.
He’s NOT supporting Obama.
He’s going elsewhere to build up a different party. Would you prefer he just didn’t vote?
Idiot.
The two parties do NOT have a RIGHT to my vote!!!!
Obama thanks you for your support too.
I don’t think a newbie can make an Opus. There’s no body of work, no history, no sense of tragedy. Ahhh for a good irony-laced Opus.
You say that as if the Republican party or Democrat party has a RIGHT to my vote.
They DON’T.
I can’t believe some people are so blind as to believe that the only viable option is vote for their guy, or any other option is supporting the one they want to defeat.
You are absolutely wrong.
Supporting a third party is NOT a vote for Obambi.
Just because you seem to think that it’s your way or the highway doesn’t make it so.
If this guy wants to turn away from the Republican party because they’ve moved so far to the left, that’s his right. And if he wants to vote for someone other than your guy, then that’s his right too. Just because he’s voting for Barr does NOT mean he’s supporting Obama.
Voting third party may be the only way to get the attention of the bubbleheads that are running the RNC. And basically, my thoughts on it are simple. If you’re so disgusted by the two-party duopoly that runs this country, fine. Instead of not voting, vote third party.
That is NOT supporting Obambi, no matter what kind of drivel the kool-aid you’ve been drinking makes you slosh out of your mouth.
Michelle thanks you too. This will really help her kids when the Messiah gets power.
Hey, who does this remind you of?
* Speeches in stadiums filled with mesmerized, adoring audiences - Check
* An uninspiring background before meteoric rise - Check
* Creates his own new symbols of power - Check
* Associates with racists, hatemongers and violent radicals - Check
* A propaganda machine willing to show him only in the best possible light - Check
* Uses, “glorious leader” style Agitprop posters common in totalitarian nations - Check (see German
campaign poster for example)
* Wants Secret Police force - Check
* Somebody powerful people think they can control - Check
* Often dismissed as a light-weight by his opponents - Check
* Seeks to replace God with the State - Check
* People adopting his name as their own - Check
* Inspires adoration art - Check
* Appropriates symbols of past German glory - Check
* Never plans on giving up power - Check (Obama to be president for the next “eight to 10 years”)
* A narcissistic megalomaniac - Check
* Brazenly Takes credit for other people’s accomplishments - Check
* Wants to builds “youth” movement through State service - Check
* Acts as if in power before he is - Check
Because Obambi acts like the Anti-Christ or Hitler, frankly doesn’t mean that someone supporting a third party is wrong to do so.
Are you saying that anyone who votes other than the way you want is supporting Obama?
I would say, if you’re saying that, you are an idiot.
Would you rather someone who would NOT vote otherwise, sit home and not vote, or would you prefer they go be part of the process?
And your taint of me is absolutely wrong. I am NOT voting for Obama this election cycle.
Do you know the difference between an Obama supporter and a person who votes for a third party candidate or does not vote at all? Me either.
Do you know the difference between an Obama supporter and a person who votes blindly for any Republican party candidate? Me either.
At least you can’t say you weren’t warned
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