Posted on 05/22/2008 9:48:34 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Recent congressional losses, President George W. Bush's unpopularity, and bleak generic ballot poll numbers have conservatives fearing the "liberalization" of America – a move toward secularization, the growth of government, stagnation, mediocrity and loss of freedom.
Yet there is still a way to revive the conservative cause. Doing so will require avoiding the traps of pessimism or election-year quick fixes. Conservatives need to stand back for a moment and think about our philosophical first principles.
Conservatives value the lessons of history and respect faith and tradition. They are skeptical of mass movements, perfect solutions and what often passes for "progress." At the same time, they recognize that change is inevitable. They also know that while man is prone to err, he is capable of great things and is meant to be free in an unfettered market of ideas, not subjugated by a too-powerful government.
These were the principles relied upon by our Founding Fathers, and which paved the way for a Constitution that delineated the powers of the central government, established checks and balances among its branches, and further diffused its power through a system of federalism. These principles led to a market economy, the primacy of the rule of law and the abolition of slavery. They also helped to establish liberal trade policies and to meld idealism and realism in our foreign and military policies.
The power of conservative principles is borne out in the most strong, prosperous and free country in the history of the world.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
It makes me want to cry that he wasn’t picked.
"...Conservatives value the lessons of history and respect faith and tradition. They are skeptical of mass movements, perfect solutions and what often passes for "progress." At the same time, they recognize that change is inevitable. They also know that while man is prone to err, he is capable of great things and is meant to be free in an unfettered market of ideas, not subjugated by a too-powerful government.
McCain became the presumptive nominee while winning only 31% of the total primary vote. Winner take all and open primaries helped McCain game the system.
A South Carolina guy told me that once it was clear Obama was a sure thing, he voted for McCain on the Repub ballot. I’m sure that happened a lot. Open primaries are stupid.
Well said.
Did Bush choose Cheney to get Wyoming (or to get Texas, if you accept the Democrats claim that Cheney really resided in Texas)? No ... neither state.
Very well said. Thanks for posting.
In a word; Huckster. He pulled the SoCons (who already did not like Romney) away from Fred and handed the nomination to McCain.
“Can someone tell me again how the hell John McCain won the nomination? All I remember is seeing him at the bottom of the polls, then a haze came over me and all of a sudden he was the nominee. I’m still not sure it’s real.”
I’m afraid it is real! But keep seeing McCain referred to as the “presumptive Republican nominee”. So wish something would happen to cause a BIG CHANGE at convention! A draft of a Thompson/Romney ticket would be a dream come true!
Back to the Top!
Mods, in light of Jim Robinson’s endorsement of Fred Thompson back when he was in the race, can we put this COLUMN on the front page of FR? Or at the top of Sidebars??
This is excellent reading!!
SFF
I’ll tell you one big way: he convinced the normally intelligent Cuban delegation in Congress, primarily Senator Martinez, to endorse him in the Florida primary.
Mitt Romney was set to win Florida—and would have had the Michigan and Florida delegates—but the Cuban vote went overwhelmingly for McCain.
I think McCain or a sycophant of his spread some rumor (I forget the content now) about Romney a week or so before the vote in Florida.
We are stuck with McCain. He can do himself some good by picking a CONSERVATIVE running mate...and letting his VEEP have some say in his administration.
My two picks were Romney and Thompson, not necessarily in that order. I am sorry they were booted.
Therein is the answer, or at least part of the answer: Nobody thought he had a snowflake's chance in hell, so nobody really went after him.
The other part of the answer involves the primaries being an absolute affront to anything resembling democracy.
Fred I love ya man but do not pee on my leg and tell me it is raining.
ROFL!
Funny ain’t it...
You know what’s possibly even scarier in what you said?
That blocks of voters are swayed by an endorsement from a politician.
He couldn't even take 50% in his home state!
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