Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Breaking Up With the GOP
Orange County Register ^ | STEVEN GREENHUT

Posted on 04/30/2007 6:20:56 AM PDT by kellynla

Have you ever been in one of those destructive long-term relationships that, at some point, you really just needed to end?

I'm not referring to my marriage to my lovely wife of 23 years, but to my 25-year relationship with the Republican Party. In recent years especially, I have found fewer things in common with the party. I feel used and abused. We've obviously grown in different and incompatible directions.

It's a groan-inducing cliché, I know, but it applies here: I didn't leave the party; the party left me.

I grew up in one of those East Coast Democratic households, where FDR, JFK and even LBJ were lionized, and where the GOP wasn't so much loathed as ignored. I never met an actual Republican – at least anyone who admitted as much – until I went away to college. I became a Republican during Ronald Reagan's first term, having been inspired by his appeals to liberty, to his recognition of the freedom-stifling aspects of big government, to his unabashed embrace of the traditions of America's founders.

Reagan never actually rolled back government, but I can forgive a failure to achieve lofty aims. I cannot forgive abandonment of those aims. And it has been obvious for years, especially under the leadership of our current Republican president and our previously Republican-controlled Congress, that the "pro-liberty" stance has become nothing more than an applause line at those syrupy Flag Day dinners.

Under Republican leadership, the federal government has expanded – without even including war-related spending – far more quickly than it expanded under Bill Clinton. And when it comes to security matters, Republicans have been zealous in giving the feds additional powers to trample our privacy and liberties. Republicans have been unwavering in their support for embarking on nation-building experiments

(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: gop; greenhut; republican
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 321-326 next last
Unless the GOP comes up with a presidential candidate who will vow to enforce the immigration laws, secure the borders and deport ALL illegals; I expect a third party candidate ala Hunter or Tancredo to emerge next year.
1 posted on 04/30/2007 6:20:57 AM PDT by kellynla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: gubamyster; HiJinx; calcowgirl

ping


2 posted on 04/30/2007 6:21:41 AM PDT by kellynla (Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots! Semper Fi!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: kellynla

Welcome to the club.


4 posted on 04/30/2007 6:23:31 AM PDT by thiscouldbemoreconfusing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
I expect a third party candidate ala Hunter or Tancredo to emerge next year.

Expect all you want. Neither of them will pull any votes. Might as run as a libertarian!

5 posted on 04/30/2007 6:23:56 AM PDT by Bommer (Global Warming: The only warming phenomena that occurs in the Summer and ends in the Winter!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
More absurd “Pretend to be a betrayed Conservative” and spread confict in the GOP base propaganda.

When are the 100% Whiners going to quit doing the Democrat’s PR work on EVERY single thread and finally discover the guts to attack the Left on anything???

Want to help the Conservative Movement Freeper Whine All the Time Cacus? GET OFF OUR SIDE.

6 posted on 04/30/2007 6:24:27 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (If you will try being smarter, I will try being nicer.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kellynla

Sounds like it’s time for Greenhut to cut and run.


7 posted on 04/30/2007 6:25:36 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
The GOP hasn't so much betrayed conservatives as they have kicked out any of us with the slightest inclination toward libertarianism.

OK, good luck signing up enough Hispanic Catholics to make up the difference. ;)

8 posted on 04/30/2007 6:28:34 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ("Wise men don't need to debate; men who need to debate are not wise." -- Tao Te Ching)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
I expect a third party candidate ala Hunter or Tancredo to emerge next year.

And if that happens I expect Hillary to waltz into the White House just like Ross Perot helped her husband.
9 posted on 04/30/2007 6:29:19 AM PDT by weef
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
Good article:

Brooks argues that Republicans have to compete with Democrats in appealing to every soccer mom's desire for more social programs, more regulations, more protections from hobgoblins
10 posted on 04/30/2007 6:29:43 AM PDT by tfecw (It's for the children)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MNJohnnie
Thanks for saying that, I was just getting ready to! Don’t let the door knob hit all you whiners in the butt on the way out. Same goes for whiny freepers! Voting 3 rd party will do nothing but elect a democrat, remember Perot?
11 posted on 04/30/2007 6:31:33 AM PDT by Ditter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: kellynla

Hunter will not run 3rd party. But he sure as hell should be getting all conservative’s support in this primary.


12 posted on 04/30/2007 6:32:07 AM PDT by pissant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kellynla

At this point I’m willing to accept real border enforcement and real punishment for illegal employers combined with an increase in deportations. Removing the incentives for illegals and employers will send a lot of them on their way.


13 posted on 04/30/2007 6:32:30 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Greed is NOT a conservative ideal.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ditter

People need to understand we are at war for the very soul of this country. In order to begin the purge of the RINO’s, we absolutely need to win one more major battle. We MUST take back the supreme court. Once that is done, i can stop holding my nose, and begin the purge. Please guys and gals, we the supreme court first. This is the one thing GWB has gotten right ( he tried once to screw it up, but we, the base, caught him ) so, hold your noses one last time, and we will get the court back. Those old geezer libs are gonna retire or die from old age soon. One more time, please....


14 posted on 04/30/2007 6:40:01 AM PDT by joe fonebone (Nothin' from Nothin' leaves Nothin')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
I hate it when we lose mainstream conservatives like Mr. Greenhut.

Steven Greenhut: Archives

Past articles by Steven Greenhut on LewRockwell.com

15 posted on 04/30/2007 6:40:56 AM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (Why are protectionists (and goldbugs) so bad at math?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kellynla

It’s a distinct possibility, and a worrisome one. Giuliani as the GOP nominee stands a very good chance of shearing the right wing off the party, especially once more people see past the initial glow of “yeah! he’s kicking ass!” and realize that his social stands are much closer to the Democrats’ than they are to those of the Republican mainstream, much less to those of conservatives like us.

The Republicans CANNOT win the Presidency by nominating a liberal. You can’t out-liberal Hillary or Obama. Nominate a conservative, stick to the basic core principles that made the party great under Ronaldus Magnus, and then get out there and fight. Sell the product.

}:-)4


16 posted on 04/30/2007 6:40:58 AM PDT by Moose4 ("(Rudy's) the exact same animal as Hillary only he wears a dress." --Jim Robinson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kellynla
Reagan never actually rolled back government, but I can forgive a failure to achieve lofty aims. I cannot forgive abandonment of those aims.

Ronaldus Maximus had a Democrat-controlled Congress to work with. The GOP had all the pieces in place, for the first time, going into 2000. But the GOP power brokers got the worker bees to nominate a big-government, moderate POTUS candidate once again.

The GOP is a one-trick pony. All they know how to do is run against extreme liberals, not for principles. Every campaign season, it's the same mantra: "We not as bad as the Democrats!" You'd think by '06 they would have learned how sick we folks in flyover country are of that pablum. But they still drew the wrong lessons, and let the MSM convince them the '06 defeat was all about the war in Iraq. Oh well. .

I stopped being a GOP enabler several years ago. If Fred Thompson is not the nominee, then I'll "waste" my vote on the Constitution Party, and I'm not alone. If enough people believe as we do, maybe a viable third pary will arise. Maybe not. But maybe what the country needs is another lesson in the stark, practical differences between liberal and conservative principles, as per Carter and Reagan. The momentary discomfort of a Dem govenrment would be better than continuing to march towards socialism, as we have been under GOP "leadership."

17 posted on 04/30/2007 6:44:18 AM PDT by mikeus_maximus (Abort Rudy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bommer
Expect all you want. Neither of them will pull any votes. Might as run as a libertarian!

That's your song and dance now but the closer we get to election day I expect your tune and the tune of other kool-aid drinkers to start saying that disaffected conservatives will cost the GOP the election.

Which will it be?

No votes, or cost the election?

18 posted on 04/30/2007 6:46:09 AM PDT by ksen ("For an omniscient and omnipotent God, there are no Plan B's" - Frumanchu)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: kellynla

Hunter or Tancredo, this years Patrick J. Buchanan. And they will have just about the same effect on the outcome of the election.


19 posted on 04/30/2007 6:47:13 AM PDT by Valin (History takes time. It is not an instant thing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MNJohnnie
Here we go again, this worked so well in 2006.

And now all we hear is, "don't blame me for Reid and Pelosi" and “show me the evidence that Conservatives/Republicans didn’t show up for the mid-terms”.

Good grief. Another brilliant "lets teach em a lesson" political move by rightwing constituencies.

20 posted on 04/30/2007 6:48:45 AM PDT by roses of sharon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 321-326 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson