Conservatives Have Stepped In It Again!

When searching for answers as to how we got here in America - here being a steadily accelerating march into Democratic Socialism - there is plenty of blame to go around. Personally, I don’t see an innocent individual in the lot.

Those who consider themselves to be the most politically astute people in America, conservatives, have once again been out-foxed by those they call ignorant. Forest Gump’s momma was right; stupid is as stupid does! Steeped in worthy principles, yes. Politically astute? You must be kidding…

America has exactly the mess of a government it deserves because it always has the government it elected. No matter which partisan group we claim our own, there is no escaping responsibility for where we are as a nation today. In reality, our messy government is a precise reflection of our very messy electorate.

But as a lifelong conservative myself, I want to focus on my conservative brethren in this column. I want to talk to my own peeps!

Before we can advance a conservative agenda in America, we will have to figure out how to advance a conservative agenda within our own party first. Conservatives are going to have to face some hard realities about how our agenda became only a fringe side-show in a nation where most of the population is actually far more conservative than the government it keeps electing.

So they keep losing and conservatives have once again positioned themselves, or allowed themselves to be positioned, to lose again in 2008. The fact is, they have done both.

Conservatives have proven themselves to be the most ineffective political constituency in America today. The track record can be summed up no other way. Although they represent the principles and values of more than 70 percent of Americans, they can’t seem to get their act together or lead that 70 percent of the country in a single direction. So, the better organized minority movement wins.

Unlike their opposition across the aisle, who not only find a way to give themselves several good socialist nominees to choose from, but find a way to hand pick their Republican opponent in each election cycle as well, conservatives can’t even figure out how to advance a conservative candidate within their own party.

Now, conservatives can uncharacteristically blame everyone else if they want, but if this doesn’t change, the conservative movement is indeed dead in America. If it’s not our fault, then it’s not within our power to fix it. I prefer to believe it is our fault for this reason alone.

Frustrated conservatives are right. Their party is currently controlled by liberal-lites running the RNC and it is very difficult to advance a conservative agenda in this environment. But they are wrong when they accept no individual responsibility for how that came to be. If they continue to accept no responsibility for the errors of the past, then they have no power to change those errors in the future. Such a move is equal to blind surrender.

To advance a conservative agenda in today’s Republican Party, we will have to advance it against the will of the current Republican National Committee leadership, which is clearly convinced that they must join Democratic Socialists in the pander war, just to compete with them on a national stage. Are they right?

Conservatives have stepped in this trap repeatedly over the last several election cycles and as of this writing, they still don’t recognize the trap, let alone how to avoid stepping in it again and again.

Conservatives are all about their principles, as they should be. They are also all about individuality. They seldom see a need to play well with others in pursuit of a common goal. They are the most independent minded folks on earth and they are always firm in their personal belief structures, so much so, that they will go down in flames before conceding a single issue, in the name of principle.

As a staunch conservative myself, I very much identify with the standard characteristics of the average American conservative. I too am very opinionated, principled and committed to my beliefs, sometimes to the ultimate detriment of those very principles.

But as a political analyst, I also see how these natural conservative characteristics are exploited in the political process, at the expense of the conservative movement at large.

In short, conservatives have been repeatedly triangulated on the issues by the opposition. They have been systematically set up in the primaries, to take the fall in the general election no matter which direction they turn. Time after time, the election is over for conservatives, before it even begins. Then conservatives fight to make themselves completely irrelevant.

Contrary to common claims made in the current infighting among conservatives, conservatives never fail to be conservative. They don’t know how to be anything else. What they fail to be is united in that effort.

Unlike conservatives, liberals are all about group think and group movement. Liberals are not independent minded nor are they individually responsible for anything. They think together and move as one, because they take the need to unite and their individual responsibility to play an active part in the group, very seriously. Conservatives oppose this very notion by nature of being conservative and divided, they fall, election after election.

The 2008 Republican primaries provide a vivid glimpse into just how true this is. Conservatives were very committed to their individual ideas of what conservative means, so much so that they remained completely divided between no less than eight primary candidates, each of them more conservative than John McCain. Divided among the eight, the liberal wing of the party was able to unite and advance the most liberal Republican candidate in the race, John McCain.

Once the RNC has a candidate who is almost as liberal as the Democratic Socialists running in the DNC, conservatives are caught in the very trap they were trying to avoid. No matter which direction they turn in the general election, they will be supporting another national shift to the left, even if they refuse to play any part at all.

If they vote for the RNC leftist who emerged from the RNC primaries with 35 percent of the Republican vote, they are voting for a shift to the left. If they stay home on Election Day, vote third party or write in some non-factor, they are allowing Democratic Socialists across the aisle to win by default, just as Clinton did in 1992 and 1996 with less than 50 percent of the popular vote.

If they cross over in protest and vote for a Democratic Socialist to teach the RNC a lesson, they have voted for a giant leap to the left and the only message they are sending the RNC is that the RNC must move even further left in the next election cycle to get back those votes that went Democrat in the last cycle.

Checkmate! No matter which direction conservatives move now, they are moving the nation left, at odds with all of the principles and values they hold dear. Stupid is as stupid does!

Like a pit viper backed into a corner, out come the fangs. Now cornered and pissed off, conservatives have their fangs out and they lash out at everything that moves. Anyone who failed to support their guy in the primaries is the enemy now. Anyone who sees the need to at least block a giant leap to the left in November is also an enemy.

Reality is, only about 35 percent of Republicans support John McCain. The other 65 percent who voted against McCain can never be accurately accused of supporting McCain, only opposing the greater opposition.

But more than 35 percent will indeed vote for McCain come November. Not because they have some new found love for John McCain or his many shortcomings, but because they will be NO part of sitting the First Family of Political Crime, Presidents Clinton, or the freshman cut-n-run Marxist from Illinois in the Oval Office.

Isn’t it funny how those who openly oppose Clinton and Obama are now seen by some conservatives as liberals, the enemy, when it is their vote or non-vote, of conservatives to angry to think straight, that will elect the most Socialist candidate running for office in the name of opposing McCain?

The infighting among conservatives has reached a deafening pitch. To see just how dangerous a cornered conservative can be to his movement, consider these postings at a well-known conservative discussion board Free Republic.

In reaction to my recent New Media Journal column titled “Why Conservatives Must Vote in 2008,” and some of the posters, hundreds of blogging conservatives lash out against their conservative brethren. So consumed by rage once cornered in the same old trap, they lose all perspective of who the real enemy is and cannibalize their own movement.

“This article was written by a self-important self-flagellating idiot. My conservative vote did not count for a whole lot in moving forward a conservative agenda whenever I voted for guys named George Bush. Now, this clown blames conservatives for being SO POWERFUL as to being blamed for allowing the Democrats to takeover congress. What I did at the polls in 2006 had NOTHING to do with the Republicans losing the congressional majorities. And if the Hillary the Republicans greatest hope for retaining the WH does not get the nomination, my conservative vote will have little to do with the 2008 election.” – Freeper by the screen name Biblebelter

“I think the RNC is going to be very surprised at the vote total for conservatives that do NOT coattail for McCain.” – Freeper, The Citizen Soldier

“If I vote my conscience, none of the current GOP or DEM candidates will get it. If I decide to hold my nose, McCain will get my vote. IF I decide to hold my nose. Your telling me that if I don't vote for McCain is voting for Hitlery or Obomba is not making me think of voting for McCain.” – Freeper, Just another Joe

“Just more McCainite fearmongering they think they can bully us with. Sorry, but my greater fear is we get another Arnold Schwarzenegger. A Hillary or Obama might give us a GOP majority in ‘10.” – Freeper, Free Vulcan

“At what point do you just realize it’s over. Nobody thinks the Rat party is going to go back to being a southern, agrarian, pro-slave party. The shift to a big government, elitist, urban party was incremental and permanent. The shift of the Republican Party BACK to a big government, elitist, country club party is permanent. The majority of the party is not in control in which case the majority should leave the system in which we get screwed.” – Freeper, demshateGod

These are but a few from hundreds of comments. Not all of them are self-defeating like these. The issue isn’t whether or not these posters have a valid point, but rather, what is the productive nature of their point? Can anything productive come from the massive infighting underway with the conservative base of the Republican Party? Anything positive for conservatives I mean?

“The McCattle have already surrendered and become democrats.”- Freeper, cripplecreek - This comment on the basis of opposing Obama and Clinton?

Have conservatives really lost sight of who the real enemy is here? Do they really accept no personal responsibility for how we got here, or what happens next? Are they really throwing in the towel, not just for the GOP, but for the nation, or are they simply having a momentary temper tantrum?

Most disturbing to me when reading comments on a conservative discussion board like Free Republic, is the fact that you will rarely read a comment based on a productive idea of how to change what every conservative is indeed upset about.

Hundreds of complainers and finger-pointers can be read at Free Republic and countless other conservative blogs. But for all the principled opposition to what is happening to our party and our country, where are the conservative ideas of what to do about it? These kinds of comments are suspiciously absent among conservatives at present.

Conservatives are supposed to be part of the solution, not a part of the problem. Yet they seem unable to move beyond their rage to a place where productive solutions can emerge. I expect this kind of emotionally charged hand wringing and indiscriminate lashing out from liberals, but from conservatives too now?

There is but one reason. Conservatives failed to unite to move their agenda forward. Divided, they have fallen. Continuing to divide will only worsen the problem, not provide a solution.

My grandfather was a WWI veteran and although he passed many years ago, he remains one of my heroes today. He repeated the following advice so many times as I was growing up, that there was no way to wash it from my memory.

He would say, “If you have nothing productive to add to the conversation, say nothing at all. That alone will be more productive.”

Conservatives are getting their ass handed to them by an anti-American minority and the best response they can come up with is to beat on each other in a fit of rage and further divide their foot soldiers? Well, they bicker and divide at their own demise…

1) McCain sucks! But one of three candidates will sit in the Oval Office for the next four years, McCain, Clinton or Obama. When faced with three dangerous attackers, and only two bullets left, shoot the two most dangerous attackers and go hand to hand with the least of the threats remaining. To address none of the three is certain suicide. 2) Most Americans are far more conservative than the governments they elect. The socialist minority will continue to win so long as conservatives fail to unite in productive measure. 3) Conservative principles are not welcome in any socialist country. So, stopping Democratic Socialists from sitting in the Oval Office at any cost is a must.

Or, we could spend the next seven months regurgitating all the well-known ways that John McCain is a horrible Republican alternative to the completely unacceptable Democratic Socialists he’s running against. It won’t change anything, but you can sound more conservative at cocktail parties by showing how smart you are to recognize this reality.

McCain was indeed a ten o’clock two. But he’s fast becoming a two o’clock ten! Unless conservatives want to go home and take a cold shower and wait another four years for a date, they will have to dance the least ugly girl at the party this time around.

Eliminating the two bigger threats and going hand to hand with the lesser McCain is the best they can do in 2008. But then they will have to do a better job of uniting on principle in 2010 and beyond.

I’m not asking you to play the good republican. I’m asking you to tell me how quitting or helpuing Obama or Clinton into the WH is the best course of action today.

If Clinton or Obama would find their power effectively checked by congresscritters that aren't rabid leftists, the country should survive a victory by either one of them. I really don't see such a situation as being nearly as dire as many here would suggest.

One of the most important rules for a Democrat politician is to always have a scapegoat. If a Democrat introduces a program that would supposedly solve some problem, but the Republicans block implementation, then the Democrat can blame the problem on the Republicans. There's no requirement that the program would actually work as advertised. Indeed, the more outrageous the claims the liberal can make for the program, the more blame can be heaped upon the Republican. Thus, the more optimistic the promises, the better.

When Democrats are actually in power, things become much trickier for them. They're expected to make good on promises they can't possibly keep. Although there are some Democrats who would have no objection to destroying the country if they thought they could be kings of the wasteland, many of them would rather have a smaller role governing a more intact country. If Obama or Clinton goes too far overboard, a lot of Democrats in Congress are going to balk. The more outrageously overboard Obama or Clinton goes, the more the Democrats in Congress will resist.

A McCain victory would actually make things much easier for the Democrats. If the only supporters of a piece of radically leftist legislation are Democrats, then it's hard for them to avoid being branded as radical leftists themselves. On the other hand, if the legislation were supported by a "Republican" President, its supporters could claim the legislation was so "moderate" that even a Republican could support it. Given that McCain is unlikely to fight very hard against leftists on most issues, his election would allow them to implement their agenda more effectively than would an Obama or Clinton win.

You somehow miss reality. If you don’t support McCain, you ARE supporting Clinton-Obambi. Whoever wins in November is likely to win with something less than 50% of the popular vote. The largest minority will win, just like in 1992 and 1996.

Reducing McCain minority makes Democrats minority greater. There is NO avoiding that mathematical reality.

So again, you hate McCain more than you hate Clinton or Obambi?

I’ve heard this logic before and I don’t buy it. Here’s why...

Democratic Socialists control congress, academia, the MSM and the Judicial branch already. That means they control the ability to lay the blame anywhere they like, no matter who sits in the WH.

If they take the WH too, there is no “blocking” their agenda in congress, the liberal courts or anywhere else, and their MSM will make sure that Republicans get the blame for anything that doesn’t go well.

We have only one viable alternative at this point. Keep them out of the WH and do all we can to stack the Senate with conservatives who will have enough trouble just blocking McCain’s domestic initiatives.

I can’t believe you are still willing to bet on RINO congress critters. We have to send a few more “conservatives” to at least the senate this fall too.

But we are too busy arguing about McCain still. We will need a conservative controlled senate just to deal with McCain.

We can stop McCain, we have in the past. But we will not have the same luck stopping either Clinton or Obambi, who want to erase our borders entirely and welcome Bin Laden right here.

So instead, you will be “tricked” into helping criminal Clinton or Hussein Obambi into the Oval Office for four years, for your grandchildrens sake?

I'm not being "tricked" into anything. I have given my reasons for not supporting McCain. You don't agree. That's your right. So vote for your guy.

Just remember, it was Mr. Williams who said "McCain sucks," and who am I to argue with that?

He’s NOT “my guy.” My guy dropped out right after South Carolina.

Is Obambi your guy? Is Clinton your guy?

Your strategy puts one of these two in the Oval Office. My strategy puts McDisdain in the Oval Office. None of them are “my guy.” But I can sleep with blocking McCain for four years. I can’t sleep not being able to block Obambi or Clinton for four years.

This makes McCain “my guy?”

If it does, then it makes Obambi or Clinton your guy... It’s the end result of the strategy that counts, not the emotional high.

You had better read it again... Of the 2000 or so words, you caught six of them on the first pass.

Perhaps you need to read it again. From the article.

If they vote for the RNC leftist who emerged from the RNC primaries with 35 percent of the Republican vote, they are voting for a shift to the left.

...

Three Undeniable Realities

Note, I do not agree with the premise that these are three undeniable realities, especially point 1. McCain is a more dangerous attacker than Obama. Time and time again McCain has proven that given the opportunity, he'll always shoot the conservative first. Therefore, according to the authors logic, I'm obligated to shoot McCain first as I find him far and away the most dangerous attacker. He will take the nation to the same place he takes the Republican party.

Simply put, ENOUGH IS A ENOUGH. I, as many American conservatives have, have reached my wits end with the Republican party.

Now my suggestion to you is you REREAD it before accusing others of not reading if because they may not be buying what you're selling.

Agree until the cows come home and you will still be wrong...

It isn’t about the GOP or the RNC or Republicans or RINOs or even John McCain...

It’s about one office with one chair and a whole lot of power at the finger tips....

If you don’t want Hillary Clinton (and Bill) plundering the nation again, or Barack Hussein Obambi giving it away in his international global welfare agenda, then you’ll have to at some point, join the rest of us in reality.

EXACTLY - conservative now have no good choices. There’s a real shocker Sherlock...

“Simply put, ENOUGH IS A ENOUGH. I, as many American conservatives have, have reached my wits end with the Republican party.”

You’ve had so MUST that you are going to put Obambi or Clinton in the Oval Office in a fit of rage???

Real grown up genius!

That’ll show them... You’ll get McCain, by shooting the entire nation!

For starters, somebody better come up with a definition of conservative that at least most conservatives can agree upon.

Since we currently disagree on that, it’s impossible to agree on which kind of conservative represents at least most conservatives???

Ron Paul?
Duncan Hunter?
Tom Tancredo?
Sam Brownback?
Fred Thompson?
Mitt Romney?
Rudy Giuliani?

Which one was the “real” conservative? Any of them?

[Before we can advance a conservative agenda in America, we will have to figure out how to advance a conservative agenda within our own party first. Conservatives are going to have to face some hard realities about how our agenda became only a fringe side-show in a nation where most of the population is actually far more conservative than the government it keeps electing.
Conservatives Don’t Know How to Win]

Well said. Seems we have been railroaded by the liberal rino RNC and it does indeed infuriate me. What I want to know is whether or not it is time or not to start a third party conservative movement that will run only conservatives. And if not, why not. The origninal conservative republicans were once the third party before the great President Lincoln won.

“I am mad because the conservatives were just overlooked by todays rinos.”

Were they overlooked by RINOs or defeated by RINOs?

And if only those who supported these three candidates are “real conservatives” (which I won’t debate here), then how many conservatives is that in today’s Republican Party?

Republicans can lower the lights, their standards, avoid eye contact or hold their nose and vote for one of those three all they want. I won’t. As to reality, ......The GOP abandoned such when they tried to sell McCain as a conservative.

I am neither the cause or the solution for GOP mistakes short of withholding my time, my donations and my vote after they made their nomination of McCain.

Compromise is possible for voters when ones issues and political agendas are comparable to 70% of a party’s base. Well aware that ya can’t please all the people all the time and that is understandable, accepted, acknowledged.

My vote is reserved for a conservative, a real one.

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