About 40 years ago... And especially after the first Apollo spacecraft circled the moon and sent back that picture of Earthrise over the dead moonscape... leftist groups like Greenpeace started creating what they themselves called media "mindbombs!"
I was living in Davis during the first "Earthday" that soon followed and have observed the "mindbombs" that exploded in America and especially CA with highest intensity in the 1964-1968 period. I can still remember sitting in the corner office of the then most prominent insurance company over by El Macero and hearing that militant blacks were marching across the Yolo Causeway the day MLK was assassinated!!!
I then watched the mindbombs explode as Reagan, S.I. Hiakawa and other pioneering CA conservatives did battle with Mario Savio, Country Joe McDonald and other now proven Commies and Paul Gann and Howard Jarvis led a conservative tax revolt in CA that shook the nation!!!
I am NOT pursuaded to except the attempt at a self-fulfilling prophecy that we conservatives should all lie back and try to enjoy the incrementalism you insist must take place. That is self-limiting timidity and will achieve nothing, either short-term, or long-term!
What if those pioneering CA conservatives had resigned themselves to your point of view? I expect we wouldn't have even taken the Assembly in 1994 and Willie Brown would STILL be the Speaker to this very day!!!
So get up out of your rut, and dream up some "mindbombs" of your own and cultivate members of MSM AND alternate media. I've been there and done that in 1994. That's why I'm content to sit here and ping the others you mentioned. I don't have anything to prove, but you and the others reading this DO!!!
Engage!!! Organize!!! Strategize!!! Subvert the predominant paridigm!!! (that's a bumpersticker I first saw in Davis on the first Earthday) And don't forget to "Question Authority!!!"
Outstanding response, with this as the best part.
I do what I can. I try to persuade people through my writings of the problems with liberal rule. I think that if you took a person who trends left but is not committed, and had them read some of my writings, then had them read some of yours, mine would be more persuasive in pulling the person our way. Not because mine are "better" in any sense, but because you can't expect people to move from 3 to 10 without any steps in between.
There are a lot of people who don't want to vote Dem but can't imagine themselves voting Republican (other than for a celebrity). To move them our way, we can offer them reason or bombs. I think my way is more effective but I don't presume to be all-knowing.
"I am NOT pursuaded to except the attempt at a self-fulfilling prophecy that we conservatives should all lie back and try to enjoy the incrementalism you insist must take place."
Somewhat of a mischaracterization. I did not "insist" anything. I didn't say you should "enjoy" anything. I discussed what I thought was your "all or nothing" philosophy earlier. Right now we've got "some" and are moving to "more." In my opinion, your call for an immediate "all" will result in "nothing." As I see it.
"What if those pioneering CA conservatives had resigned themselves to your point of view? I expect we wouldn't have even taken the Assembly in 1994 and Willie Brown would STILL be the Speaker to this very day!!! "
The 1994 takeover was not a Conservative revolution, at least in California. The Republicans eked out a narrow victory, led by a moderate governor. And before long the Dems were back in control with an iron grip.
You mention CA conservatives specifically, which as far as I can tell, republicofdavis is not from California or at least the FR state list of folks doesn't reflect his or her name amongst 2418 or so other FReepers in this state.
While this is probably just a database irregularity, maybe republicofdavis might verify he or she is or isn't from or currently in California, was at one time or wishes he or she was today.
The blank profile page with no state or flag is typical of someone who likes to gather info and dispense comments about California and its political climate in a truly anonymous role, and that is fine too.
I seem to even recall the offering last night that he or she is leaning more to the right, which makes me wonder how left he or she was or currently is, and if he or she doesn't vote here, why is it so important he or she post of recent on some of the latest California threads?
Maybe it is all quite innocent and he or she would like to move here but wants to help with the cleanup now in the works before he or she moves here.
No reply is necessary. I'm just curious, like my cats.
I am NOT pursuaded to except the attempt at a self-fulfilling prophecy that we conservatives should all lie back and try to enjoy the incrementalism you insist must take place. That is self-limiting timidity and will achieve nothing, either short-term, or long-term!BTW, I notice the GOP is already rolling over on Socialized Medicine, actively promoting Prop 78.
I take my wins where I get them.
Bravo!