“Close to half of the independents ARE the Conservatives. Where do you think all the Republicans have gone?”
OK, but conservatives (I am one) haven’t figured out a way to win many competitive races since about 1994 - or perhaps we just didn’t know how to govern and hold our own party together. So we need to figure out a way to coalesce with the other independents - the so called Reagan Democrats. How would you suggest we do that now? We can either remake the Republican Party, or start a powerful 3rd party movement (remake the Republican Party by a different name). So let’s you and me not split hairs here. :)
“To suggest that “social issues” are to the “detriment of the movement” is wholly and utterly false.”
Listen to what I said - ‘whilst not focusing on them...to the detriment of the party.’ While not focusing on them, to such a degree and with such an intensity, that those social issues end of peeling away people that are not as inclined to them as we are. That is not to say that we are not standing up for them, or standing on our principles as social and fiscal conservatives. But it is saying we need to find a way to coalesce with the Reagan Democrats again - how would you suggest we do that? I think Reagan did it well - with his populism and optimism. That’s the difference, see. Reagan knew how to focus on populism, while still standing on socially conservative values like pro-life. He didn’t focus on them to such an extent that he limited to too great a degree his populist message with Reagan Democrats. We need to re-learn that approach. That’s really my point, I suppose.
That said, I’ve marched in pickets at Valley Hospital in Kent, WA and stood in pickets in Olympia protesting abortion and adovcating for the sacredness of life. You can do both well.
Regards!
My views on the subject should be self-evident.
I have already abandoned the Republican party because I think it is hopelessly and irretrievably without value as a vehicle for the Conservative movement. It has positioned itself in a way which is extremely biased against Conservatives rising through it's ranks. It has become a gigantic heat sink, effectively cooling Conservative dissent, and co-opting the Conservative message.
The old proverb, "A house divided cannot stand," serves to describe the Republicans well. There is no sense in continuing to prop up what must fall down (a ready piece of logic to use throughout this Union, and to include even the Union itself).
As to the question, "What to do otherwise", my own efforts are soon to be joined to one of two parties: Either the Falcon Party, or the American Independent Party, both based solidly in Reagan Conservatism, and the only two fully Conservative offerings, to my knowledge.
I am leaning quite heavily toward the AIP at this point. It is not only Conservative, but activist, putting it's money where it's mouth is. And in less than a year, it has grown to be the third largest party in the nation, according to member registration.
I will make that decision with finality in early summer, and at that time, I WILL advocate. I will convince regional and small national funding sources I am involved with to come with me, and I may also become involved in party structure, to the degree that I can without creating a conflict of interests with my primary political role.
In my opinion, it is not a matter of crafting "a message". It is about getting out "the message" in an honest and reliable way. It is about putting our trust in statesmen, not politicians, statesmen who regard their charge as a sacred oath, and are duty bound to express the will of the people and the states, within the boundaries of the law.
What Reagan did to attract the people was "MEAN IT". What the "Contract with America" did to earn the trust of the people was "MEAN IT". Unfortunately, the Republican party, under which these two revolutionary uprisings took place, does not "mean it". They are not devoted to the Conservative cause, in fact, they stand against it.