Posted on 05/10/2009 1:08:11 AM PDT by Ron C.
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?
May God bless you...
Ron
Since the Declaration of Independence makes it clear (it’s self-evident truth according to the founders), that the very purpose of government is to equally protect the God-given unalienable right to life of all, and since the Constitution of the United States, in its opening statement of purpose otherwise known as the Preamble, states as its crowning purpose “to secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves AND OUR POSTERITY,” and because the Fifth and the Fourteenth Amendments to that Constitution protect the natural right to life of all PERSONS, and because every single officer of government in this country, at every level of governance, takes an oath to protect and defend that document and those principles, the only path to ending the daily bloodbath is clear and simple: only support and elect those candidates who understand the basis of our liberty and our form of republican self-government, and who will uphold their oaths taken before God and man. Everybody else needs to be sent home.
By the way, that’s the basis for America’s Independent Party, our Platform, and our Personal Affiliation Agreement which every individual who wants to participate in setting our platform, electing our party’s leaders, and in selecting our candidates, has to sign. As per the First Amendment they can disaffiliate at any time, for any reason or no reason. The party can disaffiliate them if it chooses to as well, if its members think the individual is not living up to our core non-negotiable principles.
The right of free political association is a wonderful thing.
Sorry to be a stopped clock for you!
We have painted ourselves into quite a constitutional corner. The GOP might make a comeback for the bi-election of 2010, but the fundamental problem of the anti-constitutional shift to total federalism will continue unless we battle for local control (A) and (b) at least a re-appraisal of the 17h Amendment. Unless voting for state legislators once again becomes meaningful and gives us a chance in the Senate, were doomed.
The non-elected Federal government from the CIA to the Department of Agriculture is a Democrat fiefdom from top to bottom ... it is only the states, with conservative republican government in local control that can control this by cutting off the money.
The big states with their increasingly dominant and very expensive-to-maintain minority and Third World populations are going to be socialists ... the other states have to figure out how to stop paying their bills.
John McCain's biggest problem is that he has inspired those feelings ... making millions of Americans who previously might have held their noses long enough to keep the Kenyan Kommunist out of office so disgusted, that they felt justified in witholding their vote.
4 million people who held their noses for Bush, simply could not hold their breath any longer ... their absence, + ACORN ... and we got The Magic Marxist Mulatto ... whatisname? ... Odinga's cousin..
I’m not going to dispute that some people who identify themselves as “independent” (from the two parties) are conservaties. But others who do so are communists. The great portion of those who do so, however, are simply too dumb to know what they are.
The fact that talk radio operates as a successful business model does not mean ANYTHING in the context of its value. The Conscience of a Conservative by Barry Goldwater turned a profit. Would you rule out everything Goldwater wrote in that book because it sold well? It’s a goofy argument that actually encompasses some liberal dementia, the leftie conspiracist notion that “profit” automatically usurps legitimacy.
Talk radio has a vital place in the broad effort to move America back to the center-right position its citizenry largely reflects. As for you disagreeing with Limbaugh about illegal aliens, so be it. When you find a candidate or voice you agree with 100 percent of the time you will have thrown your own hat into the ring—until then...
We’ve set out to change that. Our premise is in George Washington’s stern warning in his Farewell Address about the dangers of party factionalism.
It doesn’t take a genius to see what the “party first” mentality is doing to our country. You can see some of it right here on this thread.
It’s time for Christians and conservatives to change their mindset. It’s time to coalesce around unchanging principles, not meaningless party labels. That’s the only hope for our free republic.
No. All I am saying is that it is not Rush Limbaugh's job to change anyone's mind, and in fact he usually doesn't. Rush Limbaugh's job is to sell radio advertising time. He does that better than anyone working in the industry in this country.
Talk radio has a vital place in the broad effort to move America back to the center-right position its citizenry largely reflects.
Talk radio will not move anyone from one position to another. I grant that it has value ...even significant value ... in energizing its dedicated audience by validating their beliefs.
This is an unprovable point from either side of the discussion, however, as it seems to me that Conservative Talk Radio was utterly unable to get the people needed to beat back Obama to even get off the couch and vote.
Not one talk radio host took and ran with the (to me) shocking story of Obama' and Dick Morris' raising $2 million for Raile Odinga, and then campaigning, right along side the church-burning Muslim SOB, in Kenya. Not only was this a violation of the Logan Act, but when Odinga lost, Christians were burned alive, hundreds of thousands displaced, and Odinga threatened all-out civil war. He was backed up 100% by Obama, who politicked ferociously to have him given the post of Prime Minister.
Where were these conservative talkers; these paragons of constitutional government when this was going on? Well, they were doing their jobs, which is selling radio time to advertisers who want to reach their audience. Have you not noticed that very little political advertising runs on these shows? That's because if they are Republican, the political advertisers know they already have that audience. If the advertisers are democrats, they know they have no chance of convincing anyone and ought to save their money!
As for you disagreeing with Limbaugh about illegal aliens, so be it ...
When Rush was pushing illegal immigration as the "sign of a healthy economy, " he was doing his job. Selling radio time to the major corporations who wanted to reach his audience and who needed cheap labor and to keep more expensive labor quiet about it.
There is not a damn thing wrong with radio talkers selling radio time. What is wrong is the confusion amongst their fans. Yes it validates their closest held beliefs, and usually mine, but it has absolutely nothing to do with changing the minds of those who are outside the demo- and psychographics of the audience they already have.
The very good news is that for Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck, that audience is growing rapidly; albeit largely within the demo and psychographic parameters already established. I.E., more people of a similar kind are listening. I am watching this very closely ... for my business.
In short, if radio talkers, whom I happen to admire, wanted to show me something, they would stop ranting on about global concerns and concentrate on getting conservatives into office in local contests. And so far, not one of them .... nary a one ... has picked up on the need to re-think the 17th Amendment. Not one ... despite hours of ranting about BIG GOVERNMENT ... has bothered to explain that the most crucial check and balance in our constitution is the one between Federal and state power.
thrown your own hat into the ring—until then...
I have run for and won local office. And, I have run and lost, too. So I have put my (and others') money where my mouth is. But I think you expect too much of talk radio conservatives whose primary purpose is to build an audience and sell what they say to advertisers. By all means, take all the good we can out of their efforts, just take it with a grain of salt.
“You supported worse ... Obama.”
“Juvenile.”
Yes, your counterproductive actions helped elect Obama, the Juvenile.
No adherence to principle there.
Well, with the inevitable coming of a new (un)Fairness Doctrine, you’ll probably get your wish where conservative talk radio is concerned.
My good friend, pat Farrell, of North Olmsted, Ohio just lost the primary for Law director of his city by only 700 votes and the GOP locally was totally unable to help him in the most simple of ways ( how to send out postcards cheaply and never went through with ‘emailing all our people” promise.) and just had a “don’t care about you attitude from the get go!
Good luck GOP with all your big arguments about what conservatism is...if you can’t give information and support to a local...AND if you can’t deal with voter fraud!
Just realize that the heavy lifting in the reconquest that may come will not be done by entertainers.
I do not believe we can leave the future of our country in the hands of any “party,” GOP included. (I am conservative first, Republican second, so this is not an anti-GOP rant.) Instead, we need to make basic changes to our laws so that every party will have to go by the same rules. For instance, no more of this “my idea of Utopia is better than my opponent’s idea of Utopia, so vote for me!” That is what is driving us to bankruptcy and what will be the ruination of the United States of America.
That is what “Push Back Until!” (http://pushbackuntil.com) addresses and embodies. If our country is worth the fight, then we need to fight in the manner described there. So if you are up for the battle, plan on being in D.C. several times a year for the next 5-10 years.
I’ve been following your post since you so recently joined. You’re mighty haughty for a newby.
I bet you wouldn’t feel that way if you actually agreed with my posts.
sfl
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