Posted on 10/12/2008 6:21:16 AM PDT by BarnacleCenturion
To the degree that they are engaged in this election, conservatives are motivated entirely by fear of Obama and what he will do as president when backed by a solidly liberal Democratic House and Senate. They are not driven by love of the Republican candidate, and it shows in the anger present at McCain campaign rallies. Most conservatives will probably vote for McCain, but they also realize they are far less likely to persuade others, and they feel a disaster coming. The enthusiasm the Right felt during the 2004 election, which had been framed as a true ideological clash between Left and Right, simply does not exist this time around.
McCain's abrupt embrace of a big-government solution to the mortgage crisis during last week's debate places an exclamation point upon his many apostasies from conservative thought. Never a believer in supply-side economics, McCain had denounced the tax cuts of 2001. His push for campaign finance reform, for carbon emission restrictions, for federal regulation of boxing, and his long-standing defense of the Death Tax prior to this election have always made his agreements with conservatives on other issues appear to be accidental overlaps rather than a sign of common philosophical belief.
What would have happened if Republicans had nominated a conservative this time around? Conservatives must consider the possibility that things would look just as bad as they do now. The Bush presidency, by its mere association with conservative ideas, has ruined many of Republicans' best issues, creating an overwhelming headwind for any Republican running this year.
But a true conservative might also have shown voters an alternative rather than someone who incites "I agree with John" in the debates; someone to put Obama's left-wing policies in stark relief.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Most Conservatives won't be bribed by such an obvious ploy.
find later
What do you expect? She is pimping the traitorous bastard and his policies. The more she sells him, the less Conservative she must be, by the very definition of it all.
Now if we could only get McCain to do that. How do you propose we do that? McCain isn't in a world of hurt because of the detractors on FR.
No. McCain's reaction and solutions to it wrecked McCain.
Please explain how you got from “to say the bailout has been a failure when it hasn’t even been implemented yet” to “defending the bailout.”
That’s a complete non sequitur.
To say something has not been implemented, and therefore cannot legitimately be said to have failed, is in no way, shape or form “defending” the thing which has not been implemented.
I read your post carefully and responded with my views on it. In my view, your points proved what I was saying: that the bailout could not work overnight, assuming it works at all (as I said, I have repeatedly said you can’t stimulate confidence).
Absolutely right
But they don’t help. And there is no reason to jawbone over spilled milk right now.
As for McCain, get him elected first. Then we do the best we can to influence his administration. Unlike an Obambi administration, we will have some chance to be heard.
Great article!
Wow! I like you points, your tagline and your FR home page!! You strike me as a courageous, consistent conservative!!! (not prone to political expediency, or partisanship for the sake of partisanship)
Agree 100% She has brough NO votes from the center. She is embarrassing. This women was a huge mistake. I expected nothing less from Karl Rove and John McCain, Republicans.
You Becha!
"Compassionate conservatism" brought it on!!
Courageous conservatism is the only thing that will ever bring it back off the sidelines of history in years to come!!!
Yup. We can thank ole Jorge for that compassionate conservatism or whatever the hell he wants to call it. I call him A FAILURE.
Common-sense and pro-Constitution conservative values never lost their credibility. Big Government Republicanism, on the other hand, did, and, by masquerading as conservativism, damaged the conservative brand.
Vote the bastards out...Socialists with an (R), a (D), or whatever letter follows their name!
My family, friends, and co-workers are becoming increasingly frustrated with McCain. Not by my words or deeds. I say very little. The problem is McCain.
All the vitriol on FR are demonstrations of our fear he won't do what is necessary to win this election. I'd like to think his advisors are reading FR and getting a clue.
He has more to lose catering to the squishy middle. Don't be fooled thinking that what goes on at FR is going to affect his chances of winning.
This phrase is worth repeating, SW.
"Courageous Conservatism" That's a terrific label!
I appreciate your sentiment! Thank you!! You are free to adopt and disseminate it as you wish with no royalties required!!!
Hi SierraWasp!
Thank you! Compliments are hard to come by these days.
I was once extremely partisan, to the extent that the Republican party was associated with Conservatism and as the House of Reagan... But as that is no longer the case, as Republicans do no more than pay lip service to Conservatism, and hardly even that, I find partisanship to be of little value.
It is the philosophy of Reagan Conservatism that I admire and support, and that is what I pledge my vote and my treasure to- certainly not the branding.
It pains me to see such rampant RINOism called "conservative" at all. It makes me wonder that so many here- supposedly the very heart of Conservatism on the Web- do not seem to even know what Conservatism even is :(
It is good to see you- You may not remember me, but I was among those who supported Hunter in the primaries (in pissant's list)
Take care, y'all.
I don't think I advocated losing - I'm voting for McCain, I'm encouraging family and friends to do the same. I wish he could win.
What I AM saying is that we need to recapture 1994's philosophy and ideology with leaders who are committed to it.
Obama's inventors and handlers are "68ers" - in France, where they have been in power for years, they call 'em "soixante-huitards".
They didn't win their revolution in 1968, but they never gave up, they always, always stayed focused on what they wanted to accomplish, and now they are about to take power here.
We need to become "quatre-vingts quatorzards". Instead of following liberals like Bush masquerading as "conservatives", who use us to gain power, we need radical fanatics, people like Bill Ayers and Mike Klonsky, people who will even go underground if necessary. Someday, the wheel will turn, the coming Leftist revolution will eat its children (as ever) and we will be ready for another 1994, this time with real leaders.
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