Posted on 11/01/2010 1:45:51 PM PDT by jimluke01
If conventional wisdom holds true and conservative candidates mop up tomorrow as expected, the Republican Party had better have a serious "come to Jesus" meeting, and quick. The party will either return to the tried-and-true principles of unsullied Reagan conservatism, or the new Republican revolution will fizzle faster than you can say "Obama is a socialist."
Ronald Reagan often spoke of a "three-legged stool" that undergirds true conservatism. The legs are represented by a strong defense, strong free-market economic policies and strong social values. For the stool to remain upright, it must be supported by all three legs. If you snap off even one leg, the stool collapses under its own weight.
A Republican, for instance, who is conservative on social and national defense issues but liberal on fiscal issues is not a Reagan conservative. He is a quasi-conservative socialist.
A Republican who is conservative on fiscal and social issues but liberal on national defense issues is not a Reagan conservative. He is a quasi-conservative dove.
By the same token, a Republican who is conservative on fiscal and national defense issues but liberal on social issues - such as abortion, so-called gay rights or the Second Amendment - is not a Reagan conservative. He is a socio-liberal libertarian.
Put another way: A Republican who is one part William F. Buckley Jr., one part Oliver North and one part Rachel Maddow is no true conservative. He is - well, I'm not exactly sure what he is, but it ain't pretty.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Exactly, exactly, and exactly again!
I’m not goimng to look the other way when a republican steps out of line. That’s Nancy Pelosi style swamp draining.
So called social conservative pro-life democrats voted for Obama’s government funded healthcare.
So called fiscal conservatives\ socially liberal politicians like Arlen Spectre voted for the stimulus.
It seems you have to be conservative all around to keep the integrity.
A quote I can agree with!
“...one part Rachel Maddow.”
I guess that rules out Lindsey Graham as a conservative.
Another GOP leader defending RINO’s and talking tough at the same time.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
I’ve said this again and again. You can be a libertarian, and share values with conservatives, but if you insist on throwing out the social values, you will wreck the coalition, lose your way, and lose the next election.
Because with freedom comes responsibility. A free society is only possible if a critical mass of people are willing to discipline themselves. Our country cannot survive on the principle of “do whatever you damned well like.” It has to be, “do what you know is right.”
Scripture: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Pray for the U.S.A.
If they do not, 2012 will be a repudiation of them, and the light of liberty in the world may be extinguished.
If America is to regain its leadership role in the world, then "We, the People" must select the kind of leaders who possess and are dedicated to a deep understanding of those ideas essential to liberty.
Some one or two of these Republican candidates who win election, or some other person out there needs to emerge who truly understands the ideas of liberty our Declaration of Independence and Constitution were founded upon.
Further, those persons must have the courage and tenacity to stand upon those principles in the face of Progressivism.
That has happened before.
President Reagan's real strength and authenticity lay in his deep and abiding understanding of the principles and ideas of America's Founders. This meant that somewhere along the line he had studied the writings and underlying documents by which liberty was obtained.
His easily-delivered cautions about limited government were not mere "talking points" or platform-based recitations. Those cautions came out of a mind and heart that were in sync with Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and the other geniuses who structured the limited government of the U. S. Constitution to protect liberty, and to bar tyrants from oppressing the people.
Reagan's eloquent speeches about a "shining city" were not mere high-sounding rhetoric, they were about deeply-held beliefs, founded in understanding of and devotion to ideas.
While it is admirable for current Republican leaders to quote Reagan, or to claim his philosophy as their own, second-hand embracing of the positions he took is not enough to qualify any candidate to lead America back to "peace, liberty, and safety" (Jefferson's First Inaugural cautions).
No, that candidate must demonstrate his/her own study and understanding of the principles underlying the United States Constitution, and that only can be acquired by study, reflection, and a deep commitment. The threats are so great, they are presented in such subtle ways, and the enemies of freedom are so intent on imposing their own deeply-held counterfeit ideas that a surface belief in what is referred to as "limited government," "tax cuts," "reductions in spending," and "getting government out of our lives," while they may be attention-getting and handy for speeches, will not be sufficient to hold the line in defense of liberty.
Something more is needed. Reagan had it, and any person who wishes to emulate his leadership cannot do it without submitting himself/herself to the same depth of study as Reagan.
When that person emerges who can demonstrate the discipline and dedication to ideas which Reagan did, then the counterfeit ideas of opponents will not be able to prevail in public debate, and America may once again be able to be that "shining city" or "beacon of liberty" for the world. Other nations will again look to America for leadership, not compromise and appeasement.
Has Reagan's Young Americans for Freeedom produced such a candidate somewhere? Has any conservative think tank exposed the Founders' ideas to someone who can now articulate them and demonstrate leadership?
What you are most right about is having a “Come to Jesus” meeting, early on. They need to expeditiously have a straw poll between all the new and continuing House republicans, (not the lame ducks who lost) and they need to poll the issues, one by one, to find out who stands where and then caucas accordingly. We are in a hell of a hurry. No nuancing, for Pete’s sake.
George Bush was elected as a "conservative" and virtually his first major act was to invite Ted Kennedy to the White House and then invite him to write the education bill. Bush's "new tone" ended up doubling the Department of Education.
We cannot afford to let these new congressmen wander off the hot-seat and start schmoozing as soon as they get their office furniture ordered. Not this time.
Matt Barber isn’t part of the leadership; he’s just a pundit, and he makes good points against those, like Dick Morris, who want to leave social conservatives out of the loop.
i am sure there will be variations how best to keep the 3 legs strong, but this is exactly right.
i would say fiscal policy and cutting crap out of the budget is #1 and defunding/repealing/battering a close #2, but start smacking the social cons around, see what motivation they have for 2012.
The Country Clubbers MUST understand this. And in any event, no crony capitalism, no too big too fail. Govt needs to make things more transparent and allow for more competition
The Republicans are a classic case of a political party which lost it way when it became Democratic Lite. Let us hope and pray that the newly elected Representatives and Senators quickly choose leaders that favor limiting Federal government intrusion into our lives. Equally important is the get the Government off industries backs so they can start creating jobs. An example, reign in the EPA and permit the oil companies to drill domestically.
If we as a nation send our young men and women into harms way, they should be fully supported. This means that they have the resources and the leadership that permit them to do their job. They should not be asked to fight under Rules of Engagement which will get them killed unnecessarily.
Maybe I got him confused with Barbour. heh.
See, I knew I should have read some of the article.
I should have tried reading the article. lol.
Hey Haley... tell it to rove and the rest of the countryclub elite bluebloods.
LLS
It's less of a Republican revolution and more of an American patriot revolution.
That's what makes it so frightening for both Democrat and Republican politicians.
The Tea Party is made up of a wide cross section of America. And we want our country back!
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