Posted on 09/09/2006 12:17:35 PM PDT by 308MBR
I'm a conservative who has voted VERY consistently for GOP candidates for 24 years. I believe in small government, personal responsibility, reducing taxes and sensible solutions to pressing problems. On many issues, especially terrorism, the GOP leadership has done a mostly excellent job. On a few others, which happen to be quite critical issues, the GOP has done exactly the wrong things. There are two main issues that are at the root of the electoral angst of the GOP leadership.
Number one is the GOP leadership's penchant for looking at politics like some sort of a board game. This is evidenced by its continued financial support of incumbent Congressional candidates who are not conservatives in their primaries against more conservative challengers, and choosing "moderates" who have questionable backgrounds to challenge entrenched Democrats. The situations in Rhode Island and attempting to run Pirro against Hillary are two recent examples. Gun grabbing, socialized medicating, baby killing, amnesty for illegals, special rights for gays people have no place in the GOP, regardless of how large the tent may be. That means YOU, Mitt, John and Rudy.
Number two is the behavior of Congress, especially over the last four years, and now that the base is quite angry, the "GOP Right or Wrong" crowd is out castigating everyone who does not join in their goose step march for being some sort of a turncoat. The base could have (and has) tolerated a lot, but the turncoats are in Congress and the RNC. We, the GOP in particular and the nation in general, wouldn't be in this mess right now if; spending had been controlled, open access to earmarks and all other spending were provided by a searchable database, logical steps had been taken to solve the illegal immigration problem using FENCES and stopping all catch and release. We would be far more secure if the PC approach to airline safety were abandoned immediately and ALL the usual suspects were scrutinized, as well as continuing random checks on grannies. Even with full knowledge of the current situation, the Congress comes back after recess to vote on horse meat instead of immigration.
The jeopardy the GOP finds itself in today is not because people like me won't vote for a conservative, but because the GOP has taken after Nixon and LBJ far more than Goldwater and Reagan. I'm tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. Admittedly, I'll probably go to the polls in November, hold my nose and turn in my straight GOP ballot, but a quite significant portion of the base will stay home.
The current problems the GOP has with its base has been well earned and well deserved. The RNC and Congress moved away from them. Don't fuss at the voters, change YOUR ways!
Yada, Yada, Yada
How exactly is today's GOP far different than Reagan?
Absolute power corrupts absolutely, regardless of party. As Reagan is famous for saying, "I didn't leave the party, the party left me." The Pubs, especially the egomaniacs in the Senate, need to go back and reread the Republican Platform.
A lot of people will be sure to drop in and tell you we don't need to hear this. You know what, we do need to hear this until the leadership gets the message. I share your thoughts on this and wish these types of posts would soon become unnecessary.
Oh dear me!
The NRCC did not fund candidates in open seat primaries or
allow other State Republican parties to fund candidates in open seat primaries.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1698478/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1698462/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1698428/posts
Its like what my father told me after I made the comment that I couldn't vote for McLame if he were running against Shillery.
"You HAVE to vote for the Republican."
As I just might have to do that, I certianly hope I can make it outside before I puke.
(and NO, I wouldn't vote for Shillery if she were the only one on the ballot!)
Warning to both you and me--put on our asbestos underwear!
Time to Freep Congress…
As you know our spineless Congress is getting ready to take a break WITHOUT ANY ACTION ON THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT PROBLEM!!!
There are many things that could be done.
Granting citizen status to children born here is a big incentive for illegal crossing.
A national database for use by school districts, hospitals and law enforcement to file claims for costs associated with illegal immigration to recover some of the financial costs DEDUCTED FROM US aid to Mexico would not be costly and finally give the Mexican government some incentives to help with the problem as well.
Please take the time to contact your congress critter on this huge problem before it is too late.
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/
Thanks for posting this. Unfortunately, this needs to be said often and loud.
Dittos. DC Chapter ping.
That's the point. No. You don't. For conservatives, President John McCain is just as bad as President Hillary Clinton. Why the blazes would you vote for EITHER of them????
should it not say this?:
The Democratic Party is its Own Worst Enemy (Vanity)
Nice try, but no cigar.
Reagan could speak English George W. Bush cannot.
It strikes me that the tone of this reply to a well-stated argument is what is really dimwitted.
Part of conservatism is about grace, wit, tolerance and charm.
I greatly admire the late President Ronald Wilson Reagan. I miss him very much. I think that you have departed from a very important part of his legacy.
I am sorry for you.
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