For Conservatives who seriously want to kick some RINO butt...

Warning – this is a long and ‘windy’ post – not recommended for the semi-conservative or casual reader.

Lately I’ve ran across many a post and comment on FR that made me decide to again post about politics - for the sake of many of the newer Freepers – and for this nations sake. This post by Jim Robinson is corollary to what follows. Read it – Jim defines what I call a complete conservative.

Now, the first item of business - the definition of the 'Republican Party,' a.k.a., the GOP. A few members of Congress, a couple of state governors and a few past candidates for high office generally prompt the greatest amount of disparagement of the GOP on this website. Their voting screw-ups and lackluster comments are often used to denigrate 'the GOP' in general and often followed by statements such as, "Screw the GOP, I’ll never vote Republican again." That insults many, and proves that writers know little to nothing about party maintenance, or have any clue as their own responsibility for it. Yet, it is literally the voting public at large that determines what a political party becomes – it’s strengths and it’s weaknesses are a direct result of the level of public oversight and involvement in all aspects of party function and activity at the local level. Ignore that, and you get ever-poorer performance at the top – on par with the poorer performance of the citizenry in general at the bottom (local level.)

First - what the GOP is not. It is not defined by, nor do sitting members of Congress solely constitute ‘the GOP’ – yet that is the most common perception. Nor is the RNC, with a mere 165 members 'the GOP.' (All of them count in the national total, yet they are a distinct minority, very much outnumbered and at the eventual certain mercy of the total. Oh, sure – they are a powerful minority – but ultimately irrelevant in the face of the majority.)

"The party," - all political parties are made up solely of elected and appointed members within each State of the Union, along with a few chartered party club members which are by charter are allowed to join the party, pay dues, and allowed to vote in state and local party business. In California, the most populous state, there are only about 3,000 dues-paying party members qualified to vote in party business meetings and in State Party Conventions. The huge majority of GOP members in every state are elected district party representatives in local district 'central committees' – aka, 'wards' in eastern states. Of course, any elected state GOP officeholder is a member, as are any alternates or those they are allowed to appoint as members of the state party. In smaller States, the number is much less. An average per state would be perhaps 1,000 party members in the more numerous smaller states.

There is no published figure of what the 'total GOP party members nationally' is, nor is there such a figure for the 'Democratic' Party. The entirety of the GOP is not more than 62,000 members nationally.

So, lump all the RINO’s you can think of that currently serve in state and national government together, and add up the figure. Lets say you know a lot of RINO’s in Congress, and in State legislatures – and you can come up with as many as 100 of them. That would be .19% of total GOP membership – hardly representative of the huge majority at the local level, most of them quite conservative.

The second item of business here is wrapped up in what it means to be 'conservative.' You’ll not find a better definition of it than what Jim Robinson had to say in that link above. But I would go quite a bit further than Jim did – particularly in using that word 'aggressively.'

If you are under attack and faltering, and the GOP is – and if you really want to aggressively alter the makeup of the GOP – you become part of it. I did, and I have made a big difference (admittedly in the somewhat past) – by being a key force in routing RINO’s from State party leadership positions in droves. If you are really conservative, you join the war – where it counts. Either true conservatives help keep the party conservative – or you fail the final test of conservatism itself. That failure became ever greater after Ronald Reagan was elected – to the point that today less than .01 percent of GOP affiliated voters ever darken the doors of GOP meetings in their own neighborhood – and many that do are not conservative. That low number is a measure of the knowledge of the pubic in general, and of Conservatism wisdom in particular. Yet that door is THE most critical place where conservatives can help ensure the level of conservatism within the party. It seemed that once Reagan was in office, conservatives felt that their presence in the system was no longer needed. Also distressing has been the steep decline in the number of the 'faithful' – which should understand being 'watchmen on the wall' far better than those without wisdom. Sadly, today the level of Church involvement has declined to its lowest point in US history – yet, in stark comparison, during the Founding Era ministers were literally among those at the forefront of political activity.

Third - one thing needs to be understood clearly. Conservatives are extremely unlikely to ever prosper outside of the Republican Party. They must either fight to keep it pure (that is, socialism / socialist free) at the local level – or haul up the white flag of surrender. Third parties have done nothing to prosper conservatism, throughout this nation’s history. In fact, the few that have claimed conservatism (and largely aren’t) have repeatedly succeeded in doing nothing more than electing Democrats in the districts where third party candidates drew 1 to 2% of the vote – the margin by which the Democrat won. When any do gain office, they generally prove far less than conservative.

In fact the largest 'third party' vote ever recorded in US history was that of the 'Progressive Party' under Theodore Roosevelt, which drew 27.4% of the vote. But, note well - in the early 1900’s Democrats were the conservatives, while Republicans were the first to drift off into ‘progressive’ socialist politics. Unfortunately for us today, early 1900’s 'progressive' Republicans radically altered our political process, by co-opting political power to the top of the political ladder from the local level where it had resided for over 130 years. That single action helped send the party into the wilderness for near 50 years, and while it was there Democrats turned socialist and the Republican Party slowly became conservative.

Ultimately the degree of conservative success rests with conservatives themselves. And, if you’re like me – you’re a working stiff with a job somewhere or you’re working your buns off keeping a home together, caring for your family. You don’t have a lot of time – or a lot of money to sink into political activities, so if you’re going to do anything – you need to know how to be most effective with what little time you have. And believe me, you can be very effective, if you know what to do – and that is, walk into the real political arena nearest to you – at the local level, and figuratively, put on your political brass knuckles.

It is probably less than twenty minutes away from the front door of most Freepers. And, quite likely, you can gain a voting seat (without election) – simply by showing up – once or twice a month. (That is, if the local district committee is a few people shy of their allotted number of seats filled.) But, even if all the seats are filled, they all need alternates to sit in for them when they cannot attend for some reason. So take a friend or family member with you. It is worth noting here that quite often only one or two people will actually go to the trouble of getting the few signatures that it takes to get on the ballot for the Central Committee in a California district. When that happens, they are ‘elected’ by default. The position and their names don’t even appear on the ballot! Then, THEY get to appoint the remaining people to bring the district committee to its allotted number. That is a stark difference from public oversight – or 'conservative' attention to what makes up the party they choose to affiliate with. It is such apathy and indifference that has produced the squishy nature of the GOP in the largest and most populous states, and has led to ever greater pollution in even the most conservative states.

For over two decades, I voted many times per month – at the local district level, and at the county level. And, as a dues paying elected or appointed member of the state GOP, I voted often at all state conventions. I worked hard to purge liberals from any power in the state party, and I became highly effective at it. Ask RINO Pete Wilson how effective I have been. Ask Arianna Huffington, and her millionaire switch-hitting ex-husband Michael (with a very obvious case of aids) who both came lurking around the CA GOP, claiming that they were staunch Republicans. (Luckily, I knew about Arianna’s deranged past long before she came in the door – thanks to early use of the then brand new Internet.) Neither one got far, and both eventually left the GOP after being exposed for what they both were.

Bottom line, if Freepers really hope to see a GOP that harks back to conservative principles, and want to aggressively pursue such a goal - the only process that is effective begins at the most numerous level of the elected party – a few minutes away from your home. If we cannot be guardians at these most important gates to the political arena – forget about it at the state and national level. It is within this arena that conservatives can effectively block RINO’s from moving higher up the political ladder – by identifying them through personal contact, listening to their conversation, finding out what they believe and would like to see come to pass in future legislation. It is in this arena that you can identify the best – and help promote them toward higher office – and easily stop the worst of the worst.

The Reagan Revolution was initially energized by thousands of conservatives that had begun with Barry Goldwater a few years prior. In those days, back-yard political gatherings attracted literally thousands of local teens and college youth – and their parents – all of whom provided an energy level beyond any seen prior or since.

Conservatives could easily make that all happen once again – if enough of them decide they really want to become aggressive at making a political difference. Absent such an effort – conservatives will have only themselves, and their personal lack of effort to blame. Samuel Landon, one of our Founding Fathers, said it best. "On the people, therefore, of these United-States it depends whether wise men, or fools, good or bad men, shall govern them; whether they shall have righteous laws, a faithful administration of government, and permanent good order, peace, and liberty; or, on the contrary, feel insupportable burdens, and see all their affairs run to confusion and ruin."

Samuel Langdon is also quite famous for the following quote, from the same sermon. (spelling here is as in the original.)

"From year to year be careful in the choice of your representatives, and all the higher powers of government. Fix your eyes upon men of good understanding, and known honesty; men of knowledge, improved by experience; men who fear God, and hate covetousness; who love truth and righteousness, and sincerely wish the public welfare. Beware of such as are cunning rather than wise; who prefer their own interest to every thing; whose judgment is partial, or fickle; and whom you would not willingly trust with your own private interests. When meetings are called for the choice of your rulers, do not carelessly neglect them, or give your votes with indifference, just as any party may persuade, or a sordid treat tempt you; but act with serious deliberation and judgment, as in a most important matter, and let the faithful of the land serve you. Let not men openly irreligious and immoral become your legislators; for how can you expect good laws to be made by men who have no fear of God before their eyes, and who boldly trample on the authority of his commands? And will not the example of their impiety and immorality defeat the efficacy of the best laws which can be made in favour of religion and virtue? If the legislative body are corrupt, you will soon have bad men for counsellors, corrupt judges, unqualified justices, and officers in every department who will dishonor their stations; the consequence of which will be murmurs and complaints from every quarter."

Sorry my rant is so long - but, unfortunately in some ways it is not nearly long enough. For those that have never really entered the political arena, there is a world of things you should know, and will have to learn on your own, and from others that have gone before you. I can not say it more bluntly than this - if you do not go, learn, and fight - then who will?

Is it possible - that you and those like Ron C. are both right? YES - both/and. Not one or the other. We should not blow apart the Conservative movement. We should grow and prosper Conservatives and anything that doesn’t do that well or effectively should be under our scrutiny. We also need to heed the lessons of history and reality - and not tilt after windmills. Let’s all play our parts - while we pray to God our Father to bring back the principles of this nation to which we have formerly and still aspire to.

Amen! Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!

Every time the GOP gets the majority, they reach across the isle and go all squishy because they don;t have conservative core principles. So, nothing happens. The Dems just got power and crammed 80 years of smoldering Communism up our *sses in 100 days. Get it? Have power and USE it. But, our RINO friends just can't do it.

DITTO! In other words - "Grow a pair or get out of there!"

Carrot - get to stay in D.C.

Stick - Third party candidate that could whup yo *ss!

“Third - one thing needs to be understood clearly. Conservatives are extremely unlikely to ever prosper outside of the Republican Party.

Conservatives haven't only prospered within the OP but have been deliberately excluded from the party. Beyond that point, your point is based on mere speculation.

Third parties have done nothing to prosper conservatism, throughout this nation’s history.

This is based on the false presumption we have a two party system. In fact the OP has moved to the socialist left under a big tent, all inclusive, bipartisan mentality creating a one socialist Republicrat party system. A party based on strong Conservative principles will restore the two party system. This point has been expressed to you in the past and yet you continue to ignore this fact.

In fact, the few that have claimed conservatism (and largely aren’t) have repeatedly succeeded in doing nothing more than electing Democrats in the districts where third party candidates drew 1 to 2% of the vote – the margin by which the Democrat won.

Republicans have only themselves to blame for creating this situation. You continue to espouse Republicanism while members such as Colin Powell keep publicly stating a big tent, more to the socialist left mentality. It is a stark contradiction you also conveniently choose to ignore.

The message to you is we can force the Republican Party to acknowledge the Conservative power base. We can do it through a comprehensive approach to the primaries and general elections that includes indepedents and 3rd party candidates running against RINOs, while still supporting true Republican conservatives.

Every time this point is raised I ask the same question to which I have yet to receive ans answer. Why wasn't this plan implemented long ago when the OP was far more in line with Conservative principles? You failed to accomplish this task under far more favorable conditions for Conservatives. It's illogical to assume it will happen now with the party more sympathetic to socialism than ever.

The Republicans WILL get the message.

They haven't gotten it for years and continue to move farther to the socialist left. Your time has come and gone as a major player. Conservative are tired of the lip service you and fellow Republican party members spew to Conservatives while continuing to act in a manner more associated with socialism. Pitching your snake oil at a Conservative website is steadily losing its effectiveness.

Kev, you're not going to get anyone to agree on a litmux matrix.

The reason is back at Post 19.

At last count, there were 150,000 registered FReepers. If that number is assumed right, then we're outnumbered 400 to 1 by the Leftists alone - to say nothing about the RINO's and the moderates.

If you can't even convince 150K that you're right, you think you have a chance convincing 60 million?

Well by God let’s just all blow our brains out right now. I fail to understand why even come to your keyboards to type that drivel. Just be done with it already.

You have two choices - fight or they eventually come to get you in the night. My choice is to fight and to work internally in the Republican party.

You can make vague accusations about corruption and RINO’s in the leadership. Just hand waving and smoke blowing. Anybody in the party knows it’s a mixed bag and there’s a constant internal war going on for power between the conservatives and moderates. It would be nice if some of you suckass whiners would join in and tip the balance. I’m not holding my breath.

Oh yeah, BTW, I am my county party’s co-chair, I know and converse with a number of GOP county leaders in my district and in my state, right up to the state chair. You know not of what you speak.

I totally agree with you Ron. I dare any of those who are advocating third parties to give me evidence of how voting for third party losers like Alen Keys has advanced the conservative movement.

Plus if going third party is the way to go then how come Ronald Reagan didn't go down that path after he lost to Ford in the 1976 primary. Reagan could have easily gotten himself into a hissy fit and ran as an independent in 1980 claiming the GOP was nothing but a bunch of gutless RINOs who abandoned him.

I thank God Reagan stuck with the GOP because if he had run as a third party candidate in 1980 he would have split the conservative vote, giving us four more years of Jimmy Carter and denying us eight years of the Reagan Revolution and the greatest era of freedom and prosperity this nation has ever had.

As someone who greatly admires Reagan and his great legacy it is my desire to follow his example and not just hear his words because the Reagan I admired not only was a great speaker who gave great speeches, he was a man who put his words into action which is what I remember most about him. I believe if he were around today he would still be a committed Republican despite it's faults, because it had many of those same faults when he ran in 1976 and in 1980.

If the GOP was good enough for Reagan it's good enough for me and I want to do everything I can to change it from within. If we conservatives can't take back a political party then how can we ever expect to take back a whole nation? Plus what will conservatives do if their favorite third party becomes infested with squishy moderates? Are we then going to hear conservatives blathering about how we need a fourth party?

I fail to understand why even come to your keyboards to type that drivel.

That's understandable. Republicans would have an increasingly hard time understanding Conservatives since the party has been moving more towards socialism and consider Conservatives call for a party based strong Conservative principles as drivel.

You have two choices - fight or they eventually come to get you in the night. My choice is to fight and to work internally in the Republican party.

Conservatives are fighting. They are fighting the incremental socialism that has turned the once two party system into one big socialist Republicrat party system by realizing forming a party strong on Conservative values will restore the two party system. That isn't a choice. It is further acceptance of a party that has repeatedly stomped on Conservative values over many years. It's the political version of battered wife syndrome.

You can make vague accusations about corruption and RINO’s in the leadership.

My statements of fact couldn't be more clear. The OP has become another arm of the socialist movement. Conservatives have become the RINO's since they are now the minority. The increasingly socialist leadership is the prevailing attitude in the party.

Oh yeah, BTW, I am my county party’s co-chair, I know and converse with a number of GOP county leaders in my district and in my state, right up to the state chair.

How sad for you. You have my condolences.

You know not of what you speak.

You know not where you blog. This is a Conservative website, not a Republican website.

What eloquent empty words. You and whatever group of conservatives you are talking about can fight in whatever mythical arena doing whatever mythical things you’re talking about. Good luck in your building those castles in the clouds.

You make sweeping condemnations of the GOP yet I doubt you’ve even done any work whatsoever in your local party much less at any higher level. Yet you seem to know the party from top to bottom by some sort of voodoo osmosis. You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about and you will never never ever get any farther than your keyboard.

Yet you feel somehow you have the right to criticize.

America's Independent Party has discovered the cure.

That's smart remarketing of freedom and liberty.

As waterboard's chart shows, both party brands are in decline, as most people are just not hardcore ideologues, and are put off by single-issue folks as much as they are to Obama's Handbasket To Hell programs.

The USA is a consumer economy. People, even those with a conservative chord want to identify with the "independent" label.

Independent creates a natural coalition party, because it does not infer a litmus test like this thread demonstrates for "conservapurists."

What eloquent empty words.

The empty words are coming from Republicans who insist in their fertile imagination the party is till viable for Conservatives while the likes of a high profile Republican like Colin Powell, who supports BO, publicly states the OP is for more taxes and bigger government or the likes GWB and John McCain who insist on amnesty for illegal aliens and are willing to cede at least some of our national sovereignty to the world order UN.

You and whatever group of conservatives you are talking about can fight in whatever mythical arena doing whatever mythical things you’re talking about.

Dumping socialism and standing firm on Conservative principles is no myth. It's a fact. The group of Conservatives you refer to are those here at FR! You attempt to insult and dismiss the very group from which you want support! Great strategy! LOL!!!

You make sweeping condemnations of the GOP yet I doubt you’ve even done any work whatsoever in your local party much less at any higher level.

Thank you for perfectly illustrating the deep denial amongst the rank and file OP of the sweeping change from Conservatism to socialism in the OP over the past several years.

Yet you seem to know the party from top to bottom by some sort of voodoo osmosis.

You obviously don't have a clue why Conservatives are disgusted with the socialist Republicrat party nor do you care.

Yet you feel somehow you have the right to criticize.

You feel Conservatives don't have the right to criticize, contrary to the first amenedment, because they have a dissenting point of view. This is the same tact the socialist RATS use and only further illustrates my point how far left the OP has gone.

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