tueffelhunden, I still prefer Josh’s point.
To restate an obvious: To have an influence, you have to have a voice. More voices together are heard better than many single voices. (Isn’t that why all professionals unite in associations to increase their lobbying power before local, state and federal governments?). Unless some cataclysmic events happen (and G-d save me from any bloody revolutions, I don’t want to “live in interesting times”, thank you very much!), we have a working democratic process with all its pluses and minuses.
It just happened historically that there are only 2 major parties in America. SO, you need to make one of them to better suit you (and from what you are saying, me too). A cohesive strong faction within party, or a closely allied third party, “a third party which isn’t really a third party” like the Conservative Party of NY - are better mechanisms than a totally new 3rd party that is doomed to lose if it stands on its own. (It is a matter of fact, not emotions). As Josh said, you need an organization - infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure.
Without such organization, all the dissatisfaction we have with the GOP nomination and general direction of the Republican party is just lots of hot air. If we all remove ourselves from the political process, who is going to win? How is our point of view is going to be better advanced? I don’t see Republican party disintegrating or magically transforming itself into a conservative party if we all just leave into nowhere.
Don’t get me wrong bud, I myself, PREFER Josh’s point.
I just can no longer support it.
But it goes deeper than just my frustration with cowardice in Washington. It also goes with far too many Republicans attacking those of us who have historically been their allies.
Want me to support you (not you you, but you understand I hope)?
Better not pee on my head and tell me it’s raining, and you’d by God better not attack me when I insist that you pony up what you’ve been promising.
I want to believe we can do this. I really do. But this last episode of “just support the candidate of the party and we’ll do you right”, has ended up again with Conservatives being locked away and told to shut up and support the party.
No longer.
They will have to earn my vote and my support and it won’t be earned by words. It will be earned by Deeds.