Posted on 08/31/2007 6:16:40 AM PDT by PlainOleAmerican
The first truth we must find is a way to swallow this - we have exactly the government we elected!
Our Republican President has a public approval rating hovering around 30% and our Democrat congress has an approval rating down around 20%. Clearly, we don’t think much of our government, but we elected them and what does that say about us?
(snip)
In my last column titled “Ron Paul—A Liberal-tarian, not a Conservative," I demonstrated how easy it is to attack any politician on his alleged voting record, demonize an entire group on the basis of a few in that group who are willing to use unethical tactics to promote their allegedly ethical candidate, and cause a firestorm of political banter, both pro and con, without ever really getting to the heart of the subject at hand.
Welcome to American politics circa 2007
(Excerpt) Read more at capitolhillcoffeehouse.com ...
“Look. Vote for whomever you want. Just don’t vote for Ron Paul and yet claim he (and you) are the true conservatives, and I am not because I don’t support him.
Be honest with us and yourselves, and campaign, and discourse with others, as the true libertarians you are. That’s all we ask.”
Ron Paul does not represent all libertarians on all issues. Some issues will always be divisive where people just have to take sides.
Milton Friedman (the legend, not me) didn’t want to go to war in Iraq, but said if we go we need to win it. His wife (also a legend) wanted to go into Iraq balls out. They said it was the only major issue in their whole lives on which they disagreed. Those people are libertarians and conservatives, some of the best conservatives conservatism has to offer.
I am a libertarian that was for the war and wants to win the war. I consider myself a “true conservative” as well. I am arrogant in thinking that libertarians are “true conservatives”, just as you are arrogant in thinking that they are not and your conservatism is the real deal.
I am not a Republican, and I am afraid for the future of the party. On one side we have George Bush, a big government Republican who thinks that government and spending is the solution to our problems. On another we have a fine and decent man of principle like Ron Paul getting not just cast aside but trashed. I find it hard to stomach.
Ron Paul is a Great American. He may be wrong on a devisive issue (the war). I think he is wrong on Iraq. We are all guilty of at least original sin. He is right on most things. And he is an honest man. He has been called the last honest man in Congress. He isn’t bought and paid for like the rest of em.
Woof. Talk about a nutbar.
well said...
So again, you are supporting Ron Paul why?
I disagree. He is completely two-faced on earmarks. He inserts them and then votes against them. He should simply refuse to play like Coburn does.
The poster claimed "most of Iraq is now more peaceful than the average US city." I asked for a link to support that statement, and you gave me a link to a heartening article on dramatic improvement in Ramadi. Good news - thanks.
But it doesn't support the poster's statement: "most of Iraq is now more peaceful than the average US city."
My opinion is drawn from personal daily contact with friends (trrops) on the ground in Iraq and returning from Iraq. Google the new iraq or something like that. Iraq has several sites up now showing all the progress made. Frankly, the pictures on their sites look like a great place to vacation...especially the entire northern half of Iraq.
There are over a billion Muslims in the world. What percentage of them are busy attacking the west?
How about that fact?
Huh? The only one I'm aware of proposing re-instituting the draft is Conyers. And he's a DIMocrat.
Your entire post reminds me of the old line about going around so far to the right you wind up on the left (or vice versa). It also reminds me of DU/KOs posters.
BTW, welcome to FR! :)
same liberal headlines, over and over and over like a broken record.
You thought war would be easy and fun?
You thought liberating a nation held captive for a generation by the most brutal means would be a walk in the park?
What?
Are you kidding me?
BWAHAAAAAAHAAAAAA!
Oops. I've been trying to keep my posts objective, but I just couldn't help this. Sorry.
There are more acts of violence in America each year than in Iraq...
And they’re not happy with how Iraq is going?
Basically, all but a few small sectors around Baghdad are quietly rebuilding and figuring they’re way into self-governance.
The press will never tell that story and people who believe the press with no direct contact to the field of operation will never believe anybody but the press.
I'd like to wholeheartedly say "Thank you!", for both your service and your statement.
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I never could figure out how we became the world's Big Brother.
:-)
You see, this is the beginning of our disagreement. I believe the article this thread prompted describes the differences between libertarianism and conservativism very well. If one is a 'true conservative' one is not a libertarian. Simply put, but correct. Economically they may agree on some, or a host, of policies. Socially, they disagree moreso than agree.
So, one cannot be a 'true conservative' yet hold libertarian values. One can be a 'hybrid', but not both.
I am not a Republican, and I am afraid for the future of the party.
If you're not a Republican, they why fear for the future of the party? Let us conservative Republicans deal with that. You deal with libertarian issues. Makes sense to me. And it would allow you a far less stressful approach to politics.
As for your homily regarding Ron Paul, I'll refrain from comment. I'm trying myself to keep an even keel, here.
Thanks. I have googled on Iraq with the keywords "death toll", but haven't yet found support for the idea that most of Iraq is more peaceful than the average US city.
Um, ok...
I’m not arguing with you on this. I agree. We simply hear the bad news about Iraq because that’s the MSM agenda.
What I find annoying is the fact that so many here on FR buy the disinformation. I’ve come to realize that’s the libertarian influence that’s now on display through the Ron Paul candidacy. And we wonder why so many on the far left find his candidacy useful? Huh!
Like you love to point out..."so much fun, so little time".
Glad you could make it. Only, it turned batty just after I pinged you.
Not headlines, but from the article offered as evidence of progress in Iraq. The article did document dramatic improvement in Ramadi.
Uh, oh. Another ZOT! Oh, my. This is still a Haldol free zone.
Well it is a Paul thread...
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