Posted on 10/18/2006 7:01:51 AM PDT by IrishMike
John Stuart Mill once famously called the British Tories "The Stupid Party." From time to time since then, the Tory's American cousin, the Republican Party, has also earned that moniker. Now may be one of those moments. If current polls and anecdotes are to be believed, there may be a million or two conservative Republicans who are planning to not vote this November. Of course, Mill also said that : "A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but also by his inaction, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury." Apparently, these anticipated conservative non-voters are annoyed with Republican imperfection. They are disheartened, disappointed, disillusioned, distempered, dismal -- and thus plan to dis the party that better advances conservative principles in government. They appear to have fallen victim to the false syllogism: 1) Something must be done; 2) not voting is something; therefore, 3) I will not vote. Of course the fallacy of the syllogism is that the second category could be anything. For example, number two could as well read "eating dog excrement is something." I rather suspect that they will feel about the same afterward, whether they chose the non-voting option or the scatological one. They are both equally illogical -- and repulsive -- and would deserve the moniker, "Stupid." Here are some tell-tale signs of the sort of person who would vote (or not vote) to cause the election of a party which would act to defeat every value and interest he holds dear (merely because the party that will at least try to advance most of those issues has not done as well as he might havehoped) ...............
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
China's future interest may not always align with ours, but their hearts might. I suppose that is to sentimental a view... but it could happen... maybe.
I am not as disappointed in the Republicans as you seem to be... for me it was mostly about the courts and Bush has done well ... the border problem is worrisome ..
but I do think you have it right... head fake left and then hard, very hard, right....maybe so far right that we will not belong.
It's hard to be very supportive of the future of the party when there's so many here at school that will be the future of it. Nominally Christian and intensely interested in money. We'll see if he's done well... I hope so. In the end... we're still in Camelot. God Bless Americium! China won't share our views, but it is a very feasible hope that they, under Christian influence will be satisfied with dominance in the East.
"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country."
"It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country."
- President Theodore Roosevelt, 1908
I would agree with that if the Party didn't try to coronate their own hand picked candidate and spend Party money to defeat any challengers. Since they don't, now I will not hesitate to remove a bad pubbie in the general
A lazy person and according to this article, a stupid person will work harder to NOT do something than to simply do it.
Go to the polls. Vote a straight Republican ballot. Simple.
You are repeating an argument to defend the same strawman that I just set on fire. You used in your example, compliance on 25 issues. Most elected pubbies can't get the top five right. The top five shouldn't be too much to ask for, should it?
I wasn't trying to be funny. I was calling you a cheap and easy political slut who doesn't value your most important asset -- your vote.
So it's not an invasion if they don't have a military weapon and a uniform? Are you saying that you are okay with illegal immigration?
that was then this is now.
In the past, we had dueling.
In the past, we had open borders with the STATES controlling immigration rules.
In the past, we did not have the internet. We only had the networks.
In the past an emergency order took days to transmit. In the past Bush v. Gore would have been forced to wait for the court to "get around" to hearing the case.
In the past a Democrat Pres Kennedy advocated tax cuts, his brother despises them today.
You don't have the luxury of living in the past any more than you have the luxury of burying your head in the sand.
I think that you are still waiting for someone to give you an ice cream cone for being a good boy.
You father used shame and insults to try to get you to do the RIGHT thing. You are trying to get adults to go against their well founded principles. There ain't enough ice cream in the world -- or belts -- to get us to violate what we believe.
What too many of us don't realize is that the US is now, in effect a ONE party nation; that is one party with two wings. It is obvious now that both wings of the "republicrat" party (what most of call "republicans" and "democrats") are worn out, decadent, and lacking any new ideas. I doubt most voters believe either party (or wing of the "republicrat" party if you prefer)understands the needs or desires of the ordinary person, or if they do understand, pay much attention. The transmission belt between the American people and DC has long been broken, jammed by lobbies and special interests of various sorts. It amazes me that some people on these boards want to end popular election of Senators; that would be the last nail in the coffin where public input in government is concerned. If you hire a builder to build you a raised-ranch style house, you don't want him to build you a split-level because his "conscience" tells him do. The same applies to congressional votes!
We have to see the forest for the trees. BOTH parties are bankrupt of ideas (and perhaps morals; Foley is just the latest example of moral rot affecting both sides). Actually, the term "both" is a misnomer. What we have is ONE party with a right and left wing. This party has such a lock on power that new parties with new "out of the box' ideas don't have a chance. I am hoping for the day when we have a PROPORTIONAL electoral college, rather than the winner-takes-whole-state" system we have now. This way, even if a third party candidate wins only 10EVs, he can have real power if neither "demopublican" candidate gets 270 EVs. Just think: "If you want my 10 EVs, here is what you must do ..." Gives a third party candidate real power; he can "mau-mau" a bland demopublican politician into taking a real stand. Great way of putting new parties and new ideas on the map.
Self-congratulations are not in order. The idea that allowing our philosophical enemy to gain power somehow helps our cause is beyond logic.
What exactly is your beef with the Republican party that is so bad you would stay home and not support them when the only other outcome is another Democrat in elected office?
Romans 3:8 (King James Version)
"And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just."
Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid.
Do we vote for evil or the lesser of two evils? or... Perhaps we do as the Bible suggests for reasons quite clear (not wanting damnation)? Humm which to choose / sarcasm... sorry Race, I will not waste another vote on a candidate that has major flaws again... fortunately... locally we have good canidates to choose from. Otherwise I am voting third party or not at all for that slot.
The lesser of two evils in not an option... and the author was far wiser than you and me will ever be.
Based on what? I'm not the one who is refusing to participate because I can't have it all.
You father used shame and insults to try to get you to do the RIGHT thing. You are trying to get adults to go against their well founded principles. There ain't enough ice cream in the world -- or belts -- to get us to violate what we believe.
Ahhh....your condescending view of my father only makes me smile. I have the best father in the whole world. I wouldn't have him take back one single instance of the firm lessons he taught me about life. Without him, I might be posting over at DU right now. Complaining how we need national healthcare, gay marriage, military disarmament, less millionaires, higher taxes, more illegal immigrants, liberal judges. Yea, I love my dad!
Oh, and I'm not ragging you for sticking to your principles. I just think your principles, if they include boycotting voting for Republicans, are indeed peculiar.
In proportion, all things are a measure of good and better, or bad and worse. That is unless you believe in true perfection. Good luck with finding that in politics. So is it safe to say every election has a candidate that is more conservative (or less liberal) that the other(s)? And if given the chance to be part of a process that selects which candidate gets to make decisions on things from how much of your earnings you keep to the defense of our own existence, wouldn't you take it?
Its simple...I'll vote. I have never missed an election, I don't intend to miss this one. The thought of the D's possibly winning control of the Senate does not impress me, because I will vote as I always have done. Disappointment over the last 2 years of Republican legislation will not stop me from voting, I will vote. Endless discussions on Fox news about the Democratic Party's gains and the upcomming landslide that is being predicted will not stop me from voting. My late father impressed on me the importance of my vote. I won't go against his advice. Serving in the Army for 20 years and seeing how others in our world live made me aware that I was fortunate to be a citizen of the greatest nation on earth. I have a responsibility to vote, and will do so.
Its really simple folks, vote.
You haven't been paying attention.
I'm involved with the fight for our gun rights and I can tell you it's always the Republican Party fighting along side us. It's always the dems who introduce the anti-gun bills and vote 100 Per cent against us.
Look at the "leadership" of the dem party. Schumer, Kennedy, clinton, and Feinstein are the leaders of the dem party. Each one of them are the biggest gun grabbers we have in government.
Forget the house stories. You want to scrap the car for having a leaky tire.
It's their politicians I'm concerned about. They've already turned California into liberal hell.
I'd sympathize but native Pennsylvanians are doing that to this state without a whit of foreign assistance.
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