The Making Of A 9/11 Republican

SF Gate via RealClear Politics ^ | 02.26.05 | Cinnamon Stillwell

[q_an_a]

As one of a handful of Bay Area conservative columnists, I'm no stranger to pushing buttons. Indeed, I welcome feedback from readers, whether positive or negative. I find the interplay stimulating, but I am often bemused by the stereotypical assumptions made by my critics on the left. It's not enough to simply disagree with my views; I have to be twisted into a conservative caricature that apparently makes opponents feel superior. They seem not to have considered that it's possible to put forward different approaches to various societal problems and not be the devil incarnate.

[q_an_a]

Welcome aboard to a left coast liberal who not only sees the light, but is an articulate spokes person.

[Drango]

Cinnamon is an active FReeper. A lot of people can relate to what she is saying here...

[goldstategop]

You can count the number of conservatives in the Bay Area on a couple of fingers. A place that liberal shouldn't have any, right? But if you want to be politically incorrect, you could care less if you vote or not. Being different from the herd is more important.

(Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News.")

[IronJack]

They seem not to have considered that it's possible to put forward different approaches to various societal problems and not be the devil incarnate.

I plead guilty to the same mindset toward liberals. The ideological impasse is reaching a crisis these days. But that's the dialectical theory at work, and the left is accomplished at manipulating the dialectic.

[WorkingClassFilth]

The Bush-Cheney coordinators for a northern suburb here in Minneapolis were a pair of 911 Republicans. At a meeting in early summer, they weathered the usual small talk rants about the idiocy of the left from all of us before the meeting. When everyone was introduced and told a little about themselves, a collective 'gulp' was heard as they told their story and admitted that they still held a lot of their views. Even so, they feared a Kerry victory.

My big concern is not in admitting these people but in their impact in the already shakey "conservative" leadership that exists in the Republican party already. Being a 'big tent' party is fine, but you need a palace guard to preserve the nature and goals of the party. Solid conservatives still need to be fed up the pipeline, men like Tancredo need to graduate into leadership roles and embarrassments like Specter need to be slapped upside the head.

[NonValueAdded]

An article of interest for your ping list.

[Drango]

I can't speak for Cinnamon's views or the evolution of her ideology. I can only say that during the SF anti-war protests, we stood shoulder to shoulder counter FReeping and supporting our troops. Thousands of unwashed, SF maggots spit on us for daring to be differ with them. She stood tall. And I welcome her and any others into our tent:-)

[Bulgaricus]

Anyone that is a conservative in SF deserves a Medal of Honor just for having the cajones to stay that way in the face of you know what there.

Way to go, Cinnamon!

[jocon307]

Great post! A really well written article that pulls no punches.

[NYURepublican]

One thing I find interesting is that many Republicans will be steadfast on specific issues. Some with the religious side and some with the financial side of conservatism. However, the interesting thing is that as one grows more and more with the party their views, which may have been not really for the other, start to grow stronger.

You got to start somewhere. Most of the voting public can't be RINOs or whatever. Simply because they arent running for office and their decisions dont really mean much. These people still tend to vote republican, and thats all thats asked of them.

What Cinnamon talks about left's hatred of the right is true. I go to NYU after all heh. The liberal hypocracy is rampid, but we must be careful not to take the same mindset. A Big Tent party is far better than a party that hates. There are plenty of moderate liberals and democrats who may share a few similar values as those of us on the right (hence making them moderates). We need these people's help inorder to stay in control. I think that showing that we are the bigger people by accepting their help is a far better route. Especially since the left has today become a "small tent" in that one view is the only view. More and more people are becoming disillusioned with them adn their system, and they need someone to take them in..