Then what is our future? I can't speak for your state, but I have limited influence with the Republicans. As limited as it is, it is more than I would have as an independent or as a democrat. I can do the following as a Republican. As an independent, I can only vote in primaries and donate (or not).
Republican primary voters here vote for precinct delegates. Delegates are often opposed. Delegates choose local party leadership and delegates to state convention. State conventions choose district and state leadership, along with RNC reps for the state.
It's limited influence, but not if I'm at the local convention with an organized group of 50 voting delegates with a slate.
Darren, you raise some good sound points there. It was not as much my intent to explain every step we must take into the future, as it was to get folks to realize where we find ourselves at today.
I’m not saying this to be critical at all, but it does strike me that when confronted with what the party means to Conservatism and it’s future today, you none the less fell back into the mode of explaining how frustrating it is for you to try to influence the party today.
Exactly right my friend! That’s exactly my point. Why should you have to move Conservative principles up the line to the leadership? If we were talking about a Conservative movement (first and foremost), they’d already be hawking what you want them to.
The Republican Party makes it as difficult as it can for you to do what you know has to be done. That’s my conclusion too.
It’s time to give up on that party and replace it. We make our own rules. We loft our own candidates. We give the U. S. Citizen voter a real choice for a change.