Posted on 03/28/2009 10:53:58 AM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus
Fellow Conservatives,
I'll make this brief, so as not to use more bandwidth than necessary, so graciously provided by our most excellent hosts here at Free Republic.
The major part of conservatism's problems today is a lack of unity and organisation. We're in disarray. We get out-manoeuvred by the Obama ground game. They have 10 million names on call that can be text-messaged or emailed and given marching orders at a moment's notice, and we don't. They work together, even on the parts of their agenda that they don't individually care about, and we don't. We fragment. If it's not "our" issue, or if you deviate from "me" even one iota, then we split up and refuse to work together.
This is idiotic.
We all want to see conservatism resurge. We want to see this country return to the values and practices that made it great. It can. Other than in the area of theological eschatology, I don't believe in the "inevitability" of anything - especially in politics.
I propose that we FReepers start being the nucleus of an organised grassroots effort designed to unite conservatives, unite conservative groups, and unite conservative outlets to get us all on the same page. Unity in this is key. We need to reunite the Reagan coalition, which is still out there.
To this end, I propose that interested FReepers get together and really, seriously, committedly start to brainstorm ideas, and then put them into practice, as to how we can generate the sort of grassroots effort that will produce the results we want. We can no longer just care only about one particular social issue or one particular fiscal issue. We need to get it all together, on the same page, and this needs to be done yesterday!
I propose that conservative, liberty oriented groups work together with conservative elements in the GOP to regain control of this Party and use it as a vehicle to effect OUR change. The GOP already has the apparatus, the network, the organisation, and the national reach - let's take it back, and use it. Sure, the GOP is flawed - but fixing flaws is at the heart of America. Let's take it over and use it.
Please FReepmail me if you are interested in this proposal for conservative unity leading to conservative ACTION. Please FReepmail me if you're concerned about the direction this country is heading in, and you aren't willing to resign yourself to the "inevitable." Please FReepmail me if you think you have good ideas you'd like to bounce off other conservatives about how to do all of this.
Don't FReepmail me if you just want to be a splitter for some ego-trip, pissant third party. Don't FReepmail me if you'd rather just whine about past failures instead of looking forward to future successes. Don't FReepmail me if you're too lazy or too afraid to work hard for what you'd like to see happen in this country.
Conservatives, let's get serious.
I would happily rally around Palin, but the MSM is already far along in demonizing her.
Dude, she’s friggin HOT!
I have ordered M. Levin’s book and Also Atlas Shrugged. I read the latter years ago, but feel it needs a re-read. I’m always interested in doing whatever I can to further a trip back to the future, to the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law.
Palin is not near enough what we need. I like her and I admire her but we need someone massively dynamic and brilliant to turn this tide of Marxism around.
Meanwhile, there is that election in 2010 that we need to be focusing on.
Even the best off-year we had centered around a single personality, Newt Gingrich. The leading man, or woman, is vital. In America, you have to have the charismatic leader. You’re going nowhere without the Big Personality. It’s just the way America is. It’s a celebrity-driven culture.
We are inside of their OODA Loop! Why does everyone assume that there will still be elections by 2012? And, even if there is,(for appearances sake only) it will mostly be controlled by “The Only Party”! I believe we need to move now. Lets get more State Sovereignty Initiatives going, based on the 10th. Let’s Secede, if we have to...we’re running out of time!!!
You are absolutely right about control of local politics. I find it maddening that in our local area, nobody seems to be interested in public office unless they are, as you say, Marxists. That has to change. I’m too old to run for office and it is also prohibited by my Conference for pastors to involve themselves in public politics (unless of course, you are the leadership who consistently sides with the Marxists as the UMC does). So all of you younger people are going to have to step up to the plate.
You are right about the media too. For along time I have thought that we need to bring down the liberal media, by intimidation if necessary. Our protests are not heard because the media filters them out. What if our protest were on their doorsteps, and even in their faces as they report. Make them hire body guards if necessary. Code Pink would not be bashful about busting in on the media if they were all conservative.
On the other hand, it seems a little early "to put all our eggs in one basket." There's some excellent talent out there....
Plus I'm a little troubled that conservatives feel they must have a "charismatic leader," a "Big Personality".... A good part of what's wrong with America right now is that it is a "celebrity-driven culture." As a conservative, I'd be ashamed to feed into that sort of thing.
Seems to me you get your choice: a focus on "personality," or a focus on the key ideas that made this nation great. Let the "personalities" contend on this "battlefield of ideas" and we'll see who emerges the strongest in a year or two. Nothing like competition to sharpen people up!
Hey, it's just me.... MHO FWIW
It’s impoortant to settle on a conservative candidate for 2012 ASAP. Otherwise, you end up with people like Charlie Crist working in the shadows to “leverage” the nomination to a mediocrity like McCain, who never really had more than 35 percent support in the minority party. One more McCain and America is DONE.
In the end, you can debate issues until you’re blue in the face but you have to win. Reagan was Reagan, in the end, because he won. I was there for Goldwater too and I know the difference. You have to win. If you want purity, join the church. If you want to win, identify the charismatic leader and start knocking on doors.
Thanks for the ping. Count me in.
I love that idea. Will hang my flag out tomorrow.
‘The major part of conservatism’s problems today is a lack of unity and organisation. We’re in disarray.”
It is hard to unite a very independent group of people who have been taught to think for themselves and make decisions after studying the issues.
Unity requires a certain amount of faith in your fellow conservatives and a willingness to compromise on the message. Judging on the comments in posts, I can think of only two issues in which we would get 100% concensus and that is liberalism is a mental disorder, and individual freedoms are worth fighting for. Once we start discussing what we should do and say our concensus dissolves.
I have often wondered if it came down to it would I have the strength and courage to lay down my life as my ancestors did in the revoluntionary war? Then I remember that God gives us strength and courage according to our faith, I shouldn’t worry about my strength but work at keeping my faith strong and gaining knowledge. If the time comes and the cause righteous and we stay close to the Lord, we will be given the strength we need.
God bless us Freepers one and all
With all the taxation that is taking place, and with the Tea Parties being virtually ignored by the MSM, I think we should organize a “strike” day if you will, and simply NOT go to work on a specific day. (Like April 15, for example) If you don’t like the word “strike” call it “Taxpayer Flu.”
A rally like this would send the blithering idiots in DC a strong message, that, “If you’re going to insist on taking my livelihood to “redistribute”, then I will sit on my haunches like the recipients of MY redistributed wealth.”
First We (thus far being the respondants to this thread) need to get organized. How do we do that? Well, by coming up with a platform. We know that we don't want the big tent where everyone and anyone is catered to.
So... ok, so what?
We need to get serious. We need to establish what we stand for. What is a conservative? What does a conservative "feel" about guns, abortion, about taxes, about public healthcare, welfare, social security, war/GWOT, religion? Sure, you know, I know...... but we aren't out to attract us to become conservatives!!!!!! WE ALREADY ARE!!!
We need to develop what we stand for and why. Getting welfare and food stamps for doing nothing sounds good.... but people need to understand their friends and family have to work harder and pay higher taxes to afford your lifestyle. Like your Escalade with shiny rims? Sure, welfare will pay for that. But, if you want to park in front of a house that doesn't fall under Section 8, you have to work for it.
We are the choir and consistently (myself included) we preach to the choir. We see the obama stickers on vehicles at our churches. And I promise 9/10 times when the situation is approached we ask "How can you vote for xxxxx as a Christian? Don't you know he stands for YYYYYY!!!?
We need to watch our approach. "Hey 'so-and-so' you know, I am curious why you would vote for xxxxx. Oh, I see your point. You know, I've been conflicted about this election so I've been praying a lotand researching a lot. And I'm concerned about this, this, and this. But, through all of this, I can't get passed the fact xxxxx is pro-abortion and I know you are a good Christian too, I think it is important for us and our church family to discuss things that affect our religion and beliefs. You know, I don't have all of the answers, but perhaps we should get some people together and discuss the candidates and make faith based decisions.
The biggest question people (and people are generally selfish) ask is "What's in it for me?"
We are telling them well, you can't have an abortion, you have to work and can't be on welfare, you can't be pro-gun, you can't you can't you can't. We need to get the word out capitalism isn't 'profit at any cost.'
Those of you that have seen the movie "Thank You for Smoking" Know exactly what I'm talking about. "I'm not after you; I'm after them."
The Tea Parties are awesome. They work, (unfortunately so do many of us). Pro-gun, pro-troops, we are working that too. Too often we breed Single Issue voters. We need to bring it together.
Well, we need to fund-raise. We need establish accounts to donate to. We need to volunteer. We establish a platform... I don't know... how about The Constitution Party? We apply for a bulk mail-out rate. Then we mass mail our neighborhoods, we help with other neighborhoods. How do the real estate companies, Dems, Repubs, grocery stores, get our addresses?
We need to establish a site, or (I dunno how this works is Jim Robinson out there?) use this one to advertise (for a nominal fee) family friendly, religion friendly, gun friendly, companies. The money funds the site and funds mailouts, radio ads etc. Maybe see if we could co-sponsor something with other groups....the NRA, Boy Scouts, VFW, American Legion, the Moose, different churches etc.
I am imagining there are enough lurkers out there to help. I am sure there are people out there smarter than me, more entrenched in politcs that can help. The key is establishing a platform and rallying around it.
We need to let those consrvative Republicans (the few left) that this is what we are moving toward. They either come over to us or we don't vote for them. Too many times we break down and think the 3rd party conservative guy won't win and we vote for the Rino. WHY? All that tells rinos is we have no principles and will vote against the other more liberal candidiate.
If we adhere to this, one of two things will eventually happen..... the Rino Party will die and the Constitution Party will emerge, or Republicans will start beign real Republicans.
/rant
“The sheeple are brainwashed; cnn has convinced them that Republicans are eeeeevil and the name is tarnished beyond repair, some of it deserved. “
Not only this, but when you couple brainwashing with ACORN FRAUD...
It may take a bit more than that, PaleoBob. The next two elections are about saving the soul of our nation. If we don't win the first one (2010), then it will be exceedingly difficult to win in 2012. Hopefully, a charismatic figure will emerge on the basis of an ability effectively to communicate core conservative values and principles in a way that people can see how they might benefit from them. (The fact that McCain couldn't do that absolutely doomed his candidacy.) The problem is I don't see any obvious candidate for "charismatic figure" yet.
The only person lately I've heard speak to the conservative message in a way that would have made Reagan proud is MP Daniel Hannan. But since he's a British subject, he's not available for the job.
The GOP has to figure out where its head and its heart is. Lately, it's been acting like a circular firing squad. E.g., the Crist maneuvers to benefit McCain, his caving to Obama on taking "bail-out funds" and then making it look like that was some kind of noble act, etc.
All self-serving political expediency, no principles whatever.
Or so it seems to me, FWIW.
Sometimes we firebrands need a voice of reason, which you graciously supply, Dear Mary. Keep the faith! D
WN, I’d like to support what you’re saying about the need for legal defense of Constitutional freedoms. The left, ACLU, for example, has legal warriors in place that jump to file a lawsuit the second a Baby Jesus is put on a lawn. On the right, most people are minding their own business and don’t know their rights, or where to go legally if violated.
Take this so-called “Census” - we have yellow signs plastered all over my town “CENSUS! A government official will soon be calling on you at your home. They are on Official Business and require your cooperation.”
These signs outrage me. This is one TINY issue, but what if we had lawyers at the ready to defend us when we tell the Census worker we refuse to answer any questions except #’s____. Most of these questions we are not obligated to answer; some arguably are illegal to ask!
What if we got the word out to our friends and neighbors, when the worker comes, say, “According to my Constitutionally protected rights, I will answer only questions X.”
What if I were to “Deface” the big yellow signs by adding my own sticker at the bottom that says, “It is unconstitutional for a government census worker to ask you for personal information or opinions.” I have thought of doing so...but would I be arrested? And who would help me?
The pro-lifers and pro-family folks have realized the need to fight legally and they have won battles. The Catholics have the Thomas More Law Group and the Protestants have the Allied Defense Fund. These groups are principled lawyers devoted to a very specific set of values that no other law firms represent. Maybe we need a group like this for “Constitutional Rights” with a traditional, conservative slant.
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