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GOP, what are you so afraid of?
Daily Caller ^ | 5/23/11 | Jedediah Bila

Posted on 05/23/2011 6:39:51 AM PDT by markomalley

I spend quite a bit of time calling out some on the left. I detest big-government policies that simultaneously snatch our liberty and rob us blind. I find class warfare to be profoundly un-American. I have no patience for leftists who demand civility while spewing hateful rhetoric, or those who insist that feminism, diversity, and compassion are enemies of conservatism. And I don’t like left-wing liars who utilize scare tactics to distort everything from Paul Ryan’s Medicare proposal to Jan Brewer’s effort to enforce an immigration law that the federal government should be enforcing already.

I’ve also had tough words for some in the GOP. I have rejected weak deals that do nothing in the way of seriously addressing this country’s deficit and debt. And I have repeatedly stood firm against business-as-usual Republicans who compromise even when it’s not in the best interest of the country.

I now see two trends developing on the right with respect to 2012 that I’d like to address.

First off, I’ve received many emails from Republicans who feel that GOP contenders shouldn’t boldly criticize each other and that conservatives shouldn’t strongly critique 2012 candidates. I beg to differ.

When it comes to a 2012 primary season, it is imperative that candidates hold each other accountable for their records, for any disparity between their actions and words, for promises made and not kept, and for any and all inconsistencies. I want grassroots conservative bloggers, columnists, television commentators, and talk radio hosts calling it like they see it, putting those records front and center, and having a zero-tolerance policy for phonies and do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do nonsense. That is the only way to try to ensure that the strongest, most capable, most genuinely conservative candidate rises to the top. I want candidates challenging the heck out of each other. And I want us challenging them, too.

Secondly, I’ve had about enough of folks on the right trying to discourage candidates from running by insisting right off the bat that they could never win. Candidates are labeled unelectable, unpresidential, too polarizing, not polished enough, too unconventional, or some other absurd description. And so I ask — what are you folks so afraid of? Why are you so terrified of Sarah Palin, Herman Cain, and others entering the race and showing voters what they’ve got? Whether or not they are able to adeptly articulate their message and/or possess a proven commitment to conservatism will be heard by voters. The American people will make their decision. And I have to question the motives of anyone who wants to silence a candidate before the battle has even begun.

Conservatives, 2012 isn’t a fight we can afford to lose. And it’s not just about defeating Barack Obama. It’s about supporting someone who can be trusted to get this country back on track. You and I both know that plenty of politicians with GOP labels stamped on their foreheads are in no way committed to principled conservatism, and can in no way be counted on to exhibit strong leadership when it comes to fiscal responsibility, entitlement reform, and reawakening the values that built this country. By challenging candidates — and by them challenging each other — American voters will begin to separate the men from the boys, the women from the girls.

And to those who love telling potential GOP candidates to sit down and shut up before they’ve even stepped up to the plate, I remind you that this is America. That’s not what we’re about. I, for one, am ready to hear from everyone gutsy enough to play.


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 112th; 2012; 2012gopprimary; 2012issues
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1 posted on 05/23/2011 6:39:54 AM PDT by markomalley
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To: markomalley

BTTT!


2 posted on 05/23/2011 7:01:37 AM PDT by F.J. Mitchell (Strange how we fully informed about Palin possible candidate, but not about Obama the sitting Prez.)
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To: Al B.; onyx; Brices Crossroads; Lakeshark; sarah fan UK

PING!!!


3 posted on 05/23/2011 7:03:07 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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To: markomalley

The Republican Party-establishment’s greatest concern is not the welfare of the nation but the preservation of the party; much like the Ted Knight character’s defense of the country club in “Caddyshack!”


4 posted on 05/23/2011 7:17:03 AM PDT by old school
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To: old school

Perhaps they are more concerned with the “perks” of the job than the nation or the party.


5 posted on 05/23/2011 7:55:42 AM PDT by charlie72
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To: markomalley

They’re afraid someone might require them to actually follow the Constitution.


6 posted on 05/23/2011 7:59:11 AM PDT by EternalVigilance (Capital punishment is pro-life.)
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To: markomalley; P-Marlowe; wmfights

Amen!!

Outstanding article!


7 posted on 05/23/2011 8:20:10 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain & proud of it: Truly Supporting the Troops means praying for their Victory!)
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To: markomalley

The old line GOP dislikes Tea Party reformers more than they dislike democrats.

The establishment republicans don’t want to change the system any more than do the democrats.

Their only argument with democrats is that democrats are hogging most of the graft and payoffs for themselves.

Republicans just want to get enough people in office so they can negotiate a bigger chunk of the graft, payoffs and other loot for themselves.

But those uppity upstart Tea party voters and other conservatives want to stick their noses in the GOP business - WHERE THEY ARE NOT WELCOME!

They want to change a perfectly good system and cut out the wheeling, dealing, skimming and graft.

Can’t those naive conservatives see that if politicians don’t have billions of tax dollars to give to their friends it will be impossible to get decent payoffs from them down the road?


8 posted on 05/23/2011 8:31:29 AM PDT by Iron Munro (The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. -- John Steinbeck)
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To: markomalley
The worst thing conservatives can do is surrender their principles to RINOs out of fear of Barack Obama.

Excellent article.

9 posted on 05/23/2011 8:40:02 AM PDT by bwc2221
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To: markomalley

New Rule.

10 posted on 05/23/2011 10:21:11 AM PDT by itsahoot (We make jokes, they make progress. Dimmitude, get used to it.)
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To: markomalley
"Conservatives, 2012 isn’t a fight we can afford to lose. And it’s not just about defeating Barack Obama. It’s about supporting someone who can be trusted to get this country back on track. You and I both know that plenty of politicians with GOP labels stamped on their foreheads are in no way committed to principled conservatism, and can in no way be counted on to exhibit strong leadership when it comes to fiscal responsibility, entitlement reform, and reawakening the values that built this country. By challenging candidates — and by them challenging each other — American voters will begin to separate the men from the boys, the women from the girls."

Amen, and Amen!!

The revolutionary statement of liberty called "The Declaration of Independence" and the 1787 Constitution to protect that liberty were adopted by men who were willing to risk their "lives, property and sacred honor" to secure the liberty of generations yet unborn.

Only persons of such passion for liberty, combined with a fierce determination to understand its essential ideas, and a willingness to risk all for its preservation should apply for leadership of this nation in 2012.

Anything less is a betrayal of all those who have died for it over the past 200 years.

Political hacks, power-hungry elitists, and even well-intentioned former governors and congressmen who have not studied and understood America's founding ideas should stay out of the field and allow a devoted patriot to emerge as the General Washington of 2012.

The crisis for liberty is greater than it has been since 1776, for the oppressor is not King George III in Great Britain: the threat is "from within," and is being carried out by Americans who have become enamoured by "other ideas"--namely those of Mao, Marx, Lenin and Keynes.

A challenger who can capture the hearts and minds of a broad spectrum from across all racial, ethnic and other group by the very power of his person and his ability to communicate the ideas of 1776 to modern generations will win in a presidential debate, because the opponent relies on counterfeit ideas which lead to tyranny, not freedom. When exposed, they will not hold up to truth.

11 posted on 05/23/2011 11:24:20 AM PDT by loveliberty2
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To: markomalley

Run Sarah Run!!!


12 posted on 05/23/2011 1:57:29 PM PDT by GregB (Mr Singleton I presume?)
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To: bwc2221
The worst thing conservatives can do is surrender their principles to RINOs out of fear of Barack Obama.

We are already seeing some of the RINOs trying to scare us into giving up our principles and supporting RINOs, so it's going to be very tough. I think 2012 will be one of the most important elections we've faced in many decades. If we continue giving control of the party over to the RINOs, we will be digging ourselves into a deeper hole as both a party and a nation. I'm setting a zero tolerance policy for myself, which will probably mean I'll support some third party candidates, but I'm not going to be fooled into thinking that RINOs are better than the Dems anymore. I've bought that idea too many times now and look where we are at!
13 posted on 05/23/2011 2:07:13 PM PDT by af_vet_rr
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To: markomalley

You can bet that the GOP and the press will fight together to put another RINO on the ticket. Bottom line, the mainstream GOP would rather suffer four more years of Obama than give any power to someone they consider an outsider. The treatment by Newt and other GOP leaders towards some of the Tea Party candidates is proof positive that they will fight the Tea Party with everything they have, all the while rolling over for the libs. We are just waking up to the fact that, Dem or Pub, they are all part of what they consider to be their own “exclusive” club - no outsiders allowed.

That said, we have to face the fact that the press is swarming like locusts around the GOP field waiting to destroy any candidate who dares to run against their Messiah. If the candidates have ANY skeletons in their closet, the press will find them. Any credible candidate will get the Palin treatment and the press will use every tool available to discredit and destroy. It will take someone with solid convictions and a tough hide to be able to stand up to the smear jobs that the press will take part in. I suspect that may be why so many Pubbies have chosen to sit this one out. With the unscrupulous, biased press against them, running against “The One” could destroy their career to the point of no return.


14 posted on 05/23/2011 4:58:29 PM PDT by onevoter
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To: af_vet_rr

Let’s face it. The Pubs ran a RINO in 2008 and many Republican voters opted to stay home. The end result is that we ended up with a boy-President with no resume, no visible past, no leadership qualities whatsoever, and absolutely no work ethic. Let’s not even get started on his obvious hatred for this country. If the Pubs put another RINO on the ballot, it will be because they WANT four more years of this administration. They can’t possibly be stupid enough to believe that a RINO is electable and it concerns me that they believe WE are stupid enough to fall for that line.


15 posted on 05/23/2011 5:07:42 PM PDT by onevoter
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To: onevoter
If the Pubs put another RINO on the ballot, it will be because they WANT four more years of this administration. They can’t possibly be stupid enough to believe that a RINO is electable and it concerns me that they believe WE are stupid enough to fall for that line.

Agreed with everything you said.

I don't know whether they believe we are stupid enough to support a RINO, or if they think they can scare us into voting for a RINO by hanging the threat of another four years of Obama over our heads.

The RINOs are going to be in for a shock when they finally realize that we Conservatives will not take our marching orders from a RINO-led GOP. I don't know how many elections they are willing to lose before they realize they can't win without Conservatives. They may not even care though, they may just decide the GOP should move further to the left. That seems to be their gameplan anyways.
16 posted on 05/23/2011 5:26:09 PM PDT by af_vet_rr
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To: af_vet_rr

You say, “ I don’t know how many elections they are willing to lose before they realize they can’t win without Conservatives. They may not even care though, they may just decide the GOP should move further to the left. That seems to be their gameplan anyways.”

The GOP may discover that they are greatly outnumbered in their attempt to move the party to the left. It was obvious that the Good-ol-Boy GOP was furious in the 2010 elections because they felt THEIR party was being taken away from them. They haven’t realized yet that it is OUR party and we want OUR party back. If they want to go further left, they can just change the “R” behind their name to a “D” because that is the only way that they can avoid losing at the ballot box. True conservatives are DONE voting for RINO’s and have stopped swallowing the line that we need to move to the middle to win. In 2010 we refused to budge and we swept the election, unlike in 2008 when they convinced us that we had to play it THEIR way and we got our heads handed to us.


17 posted on 05/23/2011 5:45:15 PM PDT by onevoter
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To: af_vet_rr

You say, “ I don’t know how many elections they are willing to lose before they realize they can’t win without Conservatives. They may not even care though, they may just decide the GOP should move further to the left. That seems to be their gameplan anyways.”

The GOP may discover that they are greatly outnumbered in their attempt to move the party to the left. It was obvious that the Good-ol-Boy GOP was furious in the 2010 elections because they felt THEIR party was being taken away from them. They haven’t realized yet that it is OUR party and we want OUR party back. If they want to go further left, they can just change the “R” behind their name to a “D” because that is the only way that they can avoid losing at the ballot box. True conservatives are DONE voting for RINO’s and have stopped swallowing the line that we need to move to the middle to win. In 2010 we refused to budge and we swept the election, unlike in 2008 when they convinced us that we had to play it THEIR way and we got our heads handed to us.


18 posted on 05/23/2011 5:45:15 PM PDT by onevoter
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To: markomalley

I don’t believe it is the GOP in general...The conservative base wants real conservatives to stand up...But everytime one does come up on the radar the leadership elitists, those country clubbing, Rino infested leadership caste comes up to squash them...

If Romney is forced upon us, we WILL see another 4 years of Obama, plain and simple...And since most of the candidates so far are trying to still get a feel for the campaign, the one thing that will kill them is when they actually go against Obama...In a sense of going after policies, actions and the congress/senate in general...That candidate will immediately,and they have this ready to fly the moment it happens...

“That candidate is simply a racist!”

And that will be it...

The GOP candidate that beats that rap will be one that is ready for it, and shrugs it off like a wet towel...

Too bad the GOP LEADERSHIP doesn’t see this, and just keeps running interference for Romney...

And BTW, if anyone wants to challenge me on why I don’t like Romney (the candidate), make sure you leave the lame arse excuse of, “You don’t like him becuse he’s a Mormon!”

Make sure that that is left alone...That mans (personal) faith in God is not the issue...

I’ve met the man personally and I like him as a person, his wife is an absolute charmer, and I wish no ill upon him, he is just not a political option for me...

And maybe a few others...

Remember, the GOP leadership foisted a political shlup on us last time...I hope there is not a repeat of that in 2012...That would be a real shame for us...


19 posted on 05/24/2011 3:58:27 AM PDT by stevie_d_64 (I'm jus' sayin')
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To: onevoter
You can bet that the GOP and the press will fight together to put another RINO on the ticket. Bottom line, the mainstream GOP would rather suffer four more years of Obama than give any power to someone they consider an outsider. The treatment by Newt and other GOP leaders towards some of the Tea Party candidates is proof positive that they will fight the Tea Party with everything they have, all the while rolling over for the libs. We are just waking up to the fact that, Dem or Pub, they are all part of what they consider to be their own “exclusive” club - no outsiders allowed.

You just described John Boehner without mentioning his name, who can probably blow smoke through his ears.

20 posted on 05/24/2011 4:33:49 AM PDT by Theodore R.
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