Posted on 03/25/2006 11:03:05 AM PST by PlainOleAmerican
Most Americans are quite naturally conservative by virtue of being American, and they are in search of a political party to represent their will, since none of the existing political parties seem to have even the slightest concern for their will. They correctly see today’s Democratic Party as generally anti-American on every issue, because they are. But they watch as the Republican Party does almost as much damage to their country as the Democrats have in the past and would again if in power and wander what to try next.
They consider a protest vote for some third party alternative as a means of trying to draw the two primary parties back into the real mainstream on a host of very real issues. But they also know that third party candidates have no chance of winning national offices and that third party protest campaigns usually result in the unintended election of the opposition minority.
Those old enough to remember, know that Ross Perot single handedly elected Bill Clinton not once, but twice, both times against the will of the voting majority. Clinton was elected by default, with less than half of the popular vote in 1992 and 1996. For any intelligent conservative, that is enough to end all third party fantasies, and it should be.
However, the frustrating search for the fix continues and we seem to be running out of options, now that RINOS rule the roost in the Republican Party, behaving too much like the liberals we recently removed from office.
(Excerpt) Read more at chronwatch.com ...
BTTT
Nope!
President George H. W. Bush (41) "single handedly elected Bill Clinton" when he both raised taxes and signed gun control.
For every moderate or liberal vote GHWB collected, he lost many of his conservative voters.
Ah, my favorite option...
But I'm willing to try peaceful means first....
Exactly, GHWB wanted to, go along and get along, with the Democrats, who were only too happy to lead him down the liberal path.
GHWB alienated a good portion of his base voters.
That was his doing, no one else's!
It sure was! He angered so many conservatives that they voted for Perot! I'm sure they felt so warm and fuzzy and good all over knowing that they held to their oh so high and mighty principles! /sarc
That attitude gave us eight years of clintonism. The same attitude in '08 may do it again.
The answer is to ignore third parties and reform the GOP.
In addition, we need to support groups like the Swift Boaters, Gun Owners of America, and others who don't campaign for individual candidates but instead campaign for our issues or against our enemies.
I have quit contributing to PACs as such. I'd rather give my money to specific candidates. With groups like the Madison Project and Club for Growth, it's possible to direct funds to specific candidates, rather than hoping a PAC will make the right choices.
GIT' ER DONE!
Amen!!!
I hear ya loud and clear RJL...
But I'm not sure you are hearing me.
Liberals are really good at two things, concentrating their efforts and dividing ours.
Liberals walked Bush Sr. right into that tax trap and slammed the door behind him. Then they walked a bunch of angry conservatives into the Perot trap and slammed the door on them...
Hello Clinton!
Democrats know right now that the only hope they have of winning any election anywhere is to divide the conservative vote once again.
Some conservatives are prepared to fall for it a third time. I'm just hoping that they are few...
But I'm not sure you are hearing me.
I hear you, and I think we are in agreement on most everything. I don't want to split the conservative vote either. While the liberal MSM loves and promotes McCain and any other rino, I don't see any signs that Republicans are seriously thinking about running such and splitting the party.
It is a two way street though, the Republicans have to run an acceptable candidate for President or they'll learn another painful lesson.
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Liberals walked Bush Sr. right into that tax trap and slammed the door behind him. Then they walked a bunch of angry conservatives into the Perot trap and slammed the door on them...
Hello Clinton!
While Clinton was painful, in many ways he was the best thing that ever happened to the Republican Party. We took control of the Senate & House on Clinton’s watch, followed by two terms for President Bush (43). Hundreds of state level politicians also switched to the Republican side during his administration.
Regarding conservative voters, the political scientists told GHWB “where else can they go?” What lesson would they have learned from GHWB winning with 60% of the vote after having raised taxes and signing gun control?
They undoubtedly would say that taxes and gun control are winners for Republicans, maybe we should get behind abortion and liberal socialism as well.
Then where would we be? NO Thanks!
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Democrats know right now that the only hope they have of winning any election anywhere is to divide the conservative vote once again.
If the Dems are smart enough to figure this out, then surely the Republicans have also learned that they can't betray their base voters.
Here's the problem. The Rats have gone so far to the left, that many who really are still old-time Democrats at heart, have jumped to the GOP, the Zell Miller "Republicans." They are still very much liberal in domestic policy, but still pro-American, that they are not welcome in today's Democratic Party. So as a result, in terms of domestic policy, the GOP has been watered down.
I'm with you in principle. Many people agree with you but realize that voting 3d party, or not voting seem to be the most powerful tool at hand to send a message to CINOs.
I personally can't do this. I vote for the most likely to win candidate that will most respect my principles aka GOP candidate. But, I can understand the feelings of some that get fed up with CINOs.
The point is, protest votes are a reactionary ploy that always achieves the opposite of the intended outcome.
You are right that it sent a message, but it also caused 8 years of three steps back in search of that one step forward.
We have to work smarter. We have to take pro-active measures that acheive real results. Not keep getting caught in the trap set by both parties.
Our first priority should be to keep socialist democrats out of office. Our second priority should be to replace liberal republicans with conservative republicans.
It does us no good to replace liberal republicans with socialist democrats...
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