Posted on 12/21/2006 2:57:12 PM PST by Small-L
...
This reaction previews a broader, high-stakes Republican debate as we head toward the 2008 election. One Republican Party—the Republican Party of movement conservatives on Capitol Hill and in the think-tank world—will argue that the "big government Republicanism" of the Bush era has been a reason for recent defeats.
Like all fundamentalists, the antigovernment conservatives preach that greater influence requires a return to purity—the purity of Reaganism.
But the golden age of austerity under Reagan is a myth.
...
As antigovernment conservatives seek to purify the Republican Party, it is reasonable to ask if the purest among them are conservatives at all. The combination of disdain for government, a reflexive preference for markets and an unbalanced emphasis on individual choice is usually called libertarianism. The old conservatives had some concerns about that creed, which Russell Kirk called "an ideology of universal selfishness." ...
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
What's that old axiom? Oh yeah, "I didn't leave the Party; it left me."
That's precisely the way I feel about the current "Republican" organization.
Ditto, my loyalty to the party reflects the parties loyalty to me. I don't expect to agree 100%, but we are down to bedrock principles, and I won't concede further.
Exactly. I have a feeling that 60% of the posters here would vote for a Republican candidate who favored abortion, was a socialist, opposed guns, favored gay marriage, as long as he beat the Democrat on just one issue.
"as long as he beat the Democrat on just one issue."
Or just beat the Democrat regardless of issues.
For some, this is a game. They cheer for their team on the field, but don't care what happens to the stadium after the game.....
LOL
What fight? This is a complete routing of conservatives by Washington elites who have bought our party.
I'm in!
Newsweek propaganda. Why do they care about the intra-party fights in the GOP.
I was beginning to nod my head in approval while reading this until I came to : "But the golden age of austerity under Reagan is a myth. During the Reagan years, big government got bigger, with federal spending reaching 23.5 percent of GDP (compared with just over 20 percent under the current president)."
I don't have time to research whether these figures are even accurate. What's remarkable with Reagan is that he DRAMATICALLY cut taxes, the economy suddenly grew (compared to the stagflation of the 70s), and tax revenues actually increased. When people make more money, keep more of that money, and get more government services in return....thats the best possible scenario. How to people get paid to write these columns and overlook these simple evaluations.
While his logic is bogus, his conclusions are worth pondering. I too have become frustrated at the ideological nature of free-market/less-government absolutism. In MOST cases, this is the best approach. In other approaches, a blend of the two serves the people best. Just as liberals hold an almost laughable paranoia at corporate America, we sometimes tend to hold that view about government.
"The Libertarian Party would be good if you must pin me down though."
The "libertarian" party is a joke. And not a very funny one at that.
They don't and the only reason this thread is still up is so the screen names that are allowed to turn this site into a cute, one liner, flame wars, bash forum can make their lists of enemies screen names to attack when the next nights of the long knives comes along.
That is exactly my attitude... if they nominate a country club liberal with a fancy Madison Avenue designer label for the White House, no money, no volunteer, no nothin' at all, I vote with my feet, write in Bullwinkle and vote for all the other Republicans I do like...
I like the Constitution Party better.
It's easier to sell to the people.
Sheeple? This is one of those tell tale signs that you listen to the fire-breathing Michael Savage -- a former left-winger that never put away his authoritarian and paternalist ways. Yet you're the good conservative, aren't you? I can tell it in the knuckle-dragging way that you resond the fredom minded people here in this forum. Do you even have a clue as to what (The Spirit of) 1776 represented. Here's a hint, it has little resemblence to the extreme statist desires of that Savage assclown you probably listen to.
JUMP...Lemming, Jump.. and by the way, I don't listen to Michael Savage, I do not even listen to the News, I read it, and make an assessment of what is said. And anyone who puts any puts stock into an article that comes from MSNBC, the same News Network that brings you Screaming Chris Matthews, is well just silly.
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.