Posted on 11/17/2008 3:03:20 PM PST by lancer256
In the aftermath of the 2008 Republican electoral bloodbath, many are discussing what direction the party should take to recapture its vitality and viability. Liberals -- as if they have the best interests of the GOP at heart -- and so-called elitist, Northeastern Republicans seem to agree the party should tack center. I disagree.
Traditional conservatism and its advocates invariably get bad raps. They're painted as uncompromising, uncompassionate extremists who won't adjust to the realities of the 21st century.
But those familiar with modern history understand that these intramural debates have been going on for decades. I remember my father complaining about Rockefeller Republicans in the early '60s, so the schism had to have begun much earlier than that.
From what I can gather, the David Brooks and David Frum wing of the conservative movement wants conservatism to grow, sort of like liberals want the Constitution to be a "living document." Big government -- at least, an active, energetic government -- is here to stay, and we better get on board. Our debate with liberals must be one of minor degree rather than kind. We should accept, rather than resist or attempt to roll back, the leviathan and instead address how best to direct it, lest we relegate ourselves to political irrelevance.
We traditionalists should acknowledge that in one sense, the Davids have a point. After all, it was no less a traditionalist than Mark Steyn, if I may categorize him as such, who recently lamented that "settled democratic societies rarely vote to 'go left.' Yet oddly enough that's where they've all gone."
(Excerpt) Read more at davidlimbaugh.com ...
I often think we should quit kidding ourselves .. the conservatives should just start a new party.. I think many southern democrats might vote that way as well.
You know we give the French a bad time, but I am starting to understand how the French Revolution came to be.......
This was the year I Honestly believe a legitimate third party candidate could have won, as long as the talk radio guys would have given them a chance.
Go right, they have already had left of center with Bush and we have seen how successful that was.
Big government in service of social engineering is the problem. Replacing big government in service of Marxist ideology-driven social engineering with big government in service of right-wing religious ideology-driven social engineering isn’t progress, and it is a compelling agenda for only a small minority of US voters (and an even smaller minority of significant political cash contributors). Until “conservatives” jettison that agenda, socialism will continue its steady march toward to domination of our country.
IMO, Northeastern Republicans are a breed apart. They are clueless about real Conservatives and what the working man does for a living!!!
They have never had a callous in their lives.
When the brown sticky stuff hits the moving blades, the real workers of this country will survive in tough times-—not the Blue Bloods who have taken the “get along” tack with the Dempcraps.
It is time to put a stake thru the heart of this “compassionate conservatism” nonsense and go to “tough love” conservativism. This country is on the brink of national suicide.
IMO, all italians say, “That’s a spicy meata ball!”, all blacks have rhythm, all Mexicans pick lettuce, etc.,
No, actually the Conservatives should take the Republican Party back to it’s roots. A Conservative 3rd party is exactly what the Democrats and liberals wants.
Give the pantywaists and milquetoasts the bum’s rush.
Here, here!
I compare “compassionate conservatism” with chewing your arm off, when your leg is stuck in the bear trap! You are going to bleed to death, but you look like you put up a great fight!
I love these “life long Republicans” that couldn’t see voting for a Republican, so they voted for Senator Obama. That makes sense, you didn’t like how President Bush was doing things (far left of most Republicans), so you went even further left! Sounds like a life long Republican to me - NOT!
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