[Dysart]

Well my purpose was more to spur discussion and maybe challenge some views more than endorsing all assertions and foisting them on any here. What I will say is in this mess is opportunity. I see a lot of hand wringing and little solution seeking. I would say we should take into consideration what is true and likely useful in advancing conservative values and throw out what is not.

[Lancey Howard]

Agreed.
I meant no disrespect. The article is definitely a worthwhile read and has a lot of thought-inspiring analysis.
It is some of the conclusions and prescriptions that I disagree with.
Thanks for posting this.

FRegards,
LH

[Finny]

What I will say is in this mess is opportunity.

Yep -- and do you know where that opportunity may well be?

Americans have as much righteous contempt of what they stereotype as "Republican" as they have for liberals in general -- and if you read general comments at general MSM sites, you see that the overwhelming majority of folks hold liberals and liberalism (not necessarily the Dem party) in contempt. Democrats, Republicans -- a lot of Americans are disillusioned with both of them, for wrong and right reasons. A lot of Democrats are pro 2nd amendment and pro freedom to discriminate peacefully against lifestyles and morality, to not have the government force them to cooperate in facilitating something they'd just as soon go somewhere else. A lot of Democrats don't like liberals.

The opportunity is in the party that says, "to hell with both parties." The party that says get a handle on vote fraud. The party that says reclaim this nation. The party that says put the Federal government back in its cage and let good, moral, smart Americans go about the business of producing goods, energy, and food in their pursuit of happiness.

The opportunity is for a fresh unity of Americans sick of both of parties and sick of boa constrictor government that worms its way in through every avenue to dampen initiative and creativity. Worse, that government, on pretence of everything from anti-discrimination to environmental scare tactics is criminalizing Americans more and more who dare to produce food, produce energy, produce goods, produce prosperity. It's all phony "green jobs" and rip-offs at the Smog Check stations. Totally phony.

The GOP has been playing the playbook for so long they can't even conceive how phony it really is, or how simply, fundamentally PRINCIPLED the solution is. No, they'd rather pander to special interest groups, missing the point entirely. *shakes head*

[Finny]

Actually, it would be better said in my post above that the Republican party has been letting the Democrat party set the terms so completely for so long, that it has zero concept of setting its own, or even from what foundation those terms should spring.

Hapless party.