Wanted: True-Red Conservatives

You have to wonder about Republicans' state of mind of late. Did they wake up one morning and confront an unfamiliar face in the mirror? Like some bad political Botox, gone is Ronald Reagan's face; staring back in his place is Teddy "I will spend your money like a drunken sailor" Kennedy.

Republicans are knee-deep pork barrelers practicing the fine art of fiscal irresponsibility. Who passes the baton that began with Goldwater, took root with Reagan and gained power through the "Contract with America"?

An outstanding article. I'm still a Republican, and I'm sure I will be for the rest of my life. Right now, though, I'm a little disillusioned withthe party. The spending, the pork, the growing government. AAAAARRRRGH!!!

But, I think the party will come around eventually. If we keep the complaints up, maybe the representatives we elect will support the issues they were voted into office to support, and not the pet issues of the citizens in their district or state that didn't vote for them.

Where have you been the last 8 yrs. while the Republicans gained power and the conservatives lost it? You should never have had any illusions about the Republican party. It's the only vehicle available for conservatives to take over in order to govern, but they haven't. The Republicans will always support what we call a RINO over a conservative because they masquerade as conservatives to fool people into voting for them, then they govern like what they are - not much different from Democrats in domestic policy.

penowa is right; Reagan and Goldwater stand out because they're exceptions rather than rules.

Once in a while you get an outstanding conservative; we just have to wait around for the next one to show up. Meanwhile we have to try to deal with the standard politicians available in the current crop.

You're right that Reagan and Goldwater are exceptions rather than rules, and, I believe I'm right by saying that I'm currently disillusioned with the party but I think it will come around. The GOP was on the right track, socially and fiscally, when Reagan was president. The GOP continued on the right track as it took control of both Houses. Then it got comfortable in it's power. Recently, the complaints have been made by more than the "full time conservative" (as I like to call people like you and me that understand that having your party control Congress means little if your party doesn't act like YOUR PARTY).

The pork spending, the acquiescing to the weaker party, etc.. is getting more and more popular coverage on famous talk radio shows, popular news outlets, and the wonderful, growing, internet blogspots and news forums. If we voice our discontent louder and louder, VOTE the conservative line, and push votes on the conservative line, then we will get more representation in the vein of conservatives mentioned in the article. The rest that remain in office will, so long as their contituency gets the message across, represent the people the way they were elected to represent.

Perhaps I'm idealist, but, if I were to believe that we couldn't effect change then I couldn't believe that my vote mattered. What kind of American would I be then?

Could it be, someone speaks the truth? My measuring stick for conservatism as always been: Does this person favor a limited role of government? A lot of Republicans fail that simple test, more so in action than in words. If you can't stand behind reducing the role of government in people's lives, you aren't a conservative and a sham of a Republican.

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.