Posted on 02/09/2007 5:54:27 AM PST by shortstop
The presidential elections aren't for another year, and I know that what gets said and done now probably doesn't seem that relevent. But I think that the next few months -- from the standpoint of conservatives -- could be the most important of the campaign.
Most of the attention in the Republican Party has been focused on the frontrunners.
Specifically Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney.
They're all great guys and any one of them would probably make a capable president. But, as a conservative -- particularly as a gunowner, as a believer in the Constitution -- I can't support any of them. They have all shown themselves to be liberals, over and over again, and specifically enemies of the Second Amendment.
Again, I respect these men, and admire their abilities, but I cannot truthfully say that philosophically i agree with a single one of them.
John McCain will always be a hero to me because of his service in the Vietnam War and of his heroic endurance of five and a half years in a prisoner of war camp. He is a man I admire. But his legislative record on a variety of topics is in direct conflict with conservative principles.
Rudy Giuliani cleaned up New York City when that was a seemingly impossible task. He chased the crooks out and cleaned up the streets and made New York safe for the regular people again. And when our nation was attacked on September 11, his leadership, calm and grace earned him the gratitude and admiration of the entire nation. But he is a liberal, a dyed-in-the-wool liberal, and his views are polar opposite of mine on most issues.
Mitt Romney belongs to the church I attend. But so does Harry Reid. And it'll be a cold day in heck before I vote for Harry Reid. Mitt Romney has shown a clear pattern of saying what he thinks people want to hear, to such an extent that I personally don't trust him further than I can throw him. He has flip-flopped on every issue of significance to conservatives. Now he says what they want to hear, but for the previous 50 years of his life he has been on exactly the opposite side. He is a liberal masquerading as a conservative to get the nomination.
Now, if one of these three happens to end up with the Republican nomination and is running against Hillary Clinton -- or almost any Democrat -- I'd vote for him. In a heartbeat. I know all about the lesser of two evils.
Conservatives have been voting for the lesser of two evils ever since Reagan left office. And we'll do it again. If the Republican Party picks another liberal to run for president, we'll probably line up and vote for him.
But until then, as the Republican Party tries to select a candidate, I'm going to support someone who is a true conservative, and, if we're talking about guns, a true friend of the Second Amendment.
I think so far there are two or three candidates who fill that bill. They would be Duncan Hunter, Mike Huckabee and Sam Brownback.
These are all men whose support of for common-sense conservative values lasts all year, not just when they're campaigning for our votes. They haven't flip-flopped on the issues in order to curry favor with Republican primary voters, they are true believers whose records keep pace with their words.
As far as I can tell, these three are all like you and me, just regular guys who believe in what this country stands for.
There may be others -- like Tom Tancredo -- and one or more of these guys may fall by the wayside, but if conservatives -- and gun owners -- are going to be heard in this presidential election, they need to be heard now. Now, while the Republican candidates are making essential early progress, conservatives will have to rally to candidates who support their views and their values.
In a few months, the big three will have consolidated their hold on the party. By then, it will be too late to either eliminate or influence any of them. The money and the support will be gone. We conservatives will be left begging for crumbs, called upon for our votes and our contributions with nothing but lip service in return.
This is the season for us to rise up. This is the season for us as individuals to look at these genuinely conservative candidates and lend our support to one of them. Even though the election is a long ways away, the success or failure of conservative and pro-gun Republicans will be determined in the very near future.
A stitch in time saves nine, and if we miss this opportunity to boost candidates who feel as we do, we can't be surprised if we go into the next presidential election without a conservative candidate to vote for.
The election is more than a year and a half away, but the time for us to win it is now.
Study these candidates, pick one, and support him now, while your support can do some good.
No
Tell all of your friends & family about the REAL conservative candidates. Passion can go a long way.
GO DUNCAN HUNTER!!!
Someone send out a Hunter ping!
I've been reading up on the candidates and so far Duncan Hunter is the one I like the most.
And look where it's gotten us.
And we'll do it again.
Well, SOME of us will. Some of us won't. There has to be a point where you abandon a losing strategy. The "lesser of two evils" just gets us to the cliff a couple of hours later.
Brownback is already lagging behind the herd due to that self inflicted wound.
Yes, as was Jimmah Carter. Get some $$ to your conservative choice for the nomination and let's make some noise.
The MSM and RINO establishment won't give him the time of day, so it'll be up to US to make this thing happen.
We had a popular Conservative as POTUSA.
Next was a one term moderate.
Next was a two term traitor, who some people think was conservative.
Next was a two term moderate that squeaked by because the democrats nominees were very bad.
Now some people want a far left winger as the Republican nominee that most real democrats can beat because they can run to the right of any of them.
I bought 2 Hunter shirts.
My 17 year old son will be wearing one to school next week.
the media is trying it's damdest to influence our choices early in the game because liberals know they could live with McCain, Gulliani or Romney if DemoRats would somehow lose the election. There is little distinct difference between those candidates. As the article notes, they are all very similar in their records. And we should not have to settle for watered down representation when we can have the best representation that protects America's core values and the Constitution.
There is no better time for the party to show some unity and get the candidate that, in a Reagan fashion, could rally the conservatives to re-gain control of the GOP.
The MSM is having a Presidential Candidate Draft on our behalf. But they are not the choosers. We the people have DIRECT control of who we choose. But it is up to us to clear the smokescreens and show America we will do better if we quit settling for popularity and actually hold an election based on core principle, truth, and justice.
The MSM is attempting to lead us away from those potential candidates that threaten the liberal agenda. Those candidates are the ones we should seek. Protecting our 1st and 2nd Amendment rights should be our foremost considerations. Duncan Hunter is a prime candidate.
Excellent point
If the Republicans have to become Democrats to get elected, then what's the sense in voting for a Republican? It only creates the illusion that we're standing our ground.
The best long term strategy is to maintain faith in true conservative principles and actively support the most authentic candidates. It may lose one elections in the short run, but produce major victories, like Reagan, in the long run.
You're absolutely right...it seems the GOP and Media have already made up their minds and DUNCAN HUNTER, surprise, surprise, IS NOT listed among their choices. No doubt in my mind WHATSOEVER, that this has to do with OPEN BORDERS and the power of the OBL, who are going to try and keep him and his message buried as long as they can.
If Duncan Hunter wants to be in the running he's going to have to get more face time and his stand on the issues, especially OPEN BORDERS, known, because KEY to his success is going to be education the American people!! The only shows who seem to be covering the BP story are DOBBS and BECK. Hunters got things in the works, but as presidential candidate, I'm disappointed that we are not seeing him nearly as much as we should/could. Instead I see Rohrbacher, Poe, and Tancredo. Everyday new information is coming out about this case...Hunter should be taking the LEAD, not playing silent partner in his effort to fix this situation. Time and the GOP/OBL are against him.
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