Conservatives shouldn't shy away from core values

Fresno Bee ^ | August 26, 2003 | Jim Patterson

[ElkGroveDan]

California conservatives are being advised to muzzle our core beliefs in order to elect a Republican to statewide office again. Campaign operatives say our ideas don't sell any more, and we must throw them over in order for a Republican to win again in the Golden State. Pundits say we are in the political wilderness and that the only way out is to compromise our ideals.

[ElkGroveDan]

I believe Jim is the former mayor of Fresno. Great words from a great leader.

[ElkGroveDan]

PING

[scottlang]

Why not, Bush has.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Ideas matter. They are the powerful engines of freedom and opportunity. Conservative ideas have stood the test of time and circumstances. They formed the foundation for the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Millions in America and across the globe are now more free and prosperous because leaders who held conservative ideas were not afraid to say so or to use them to govern. Holding office is meaningless if the pathway to that office sheds the very ideas we need to secure the blessings of liberty.

Well said. Is anyone listening or are they trying too fool people into voting 'R'

With a 7% rating from the Demos, and 63% UNfavorable, its now safe to say those fish ain't bitin'

[heleny]

bump!

[Reagan Man]

Thanks for posting this article. Excellent writing.

Conservatism is not dead. Conservatism is not unAmerican or anti-American. Conservatism lives in the founding documents of America. Conservatism was at the core of the Founders values and beliefs and they spoke of conservatism at great length, from the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the Constitutional Convention and in the creation and the approval of the US Constitution.

Conservatism is America.

The last line says it all.

California Republicans shouldn't shun our conservative foundations. We should champion those ideals as the solution to California's problems.

[DoctorZIn]

PING!

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[theDentist]

What's the Party breakdown % in Ca, anyway?

[ElkGroveDan]

What's the Party breakdown % in Ca, anyway?

I'll have to look it up somehting like 44-38-11, but the numbers are deceiving. People in CA don't really vote straight party line to the extent they do on the East Coast.

There are a lot of Dems, expecially in the Central Valley that vote pretty conservative. Legislative seats are considered safe when they hit 42% Rep, but Dems need 48% to be considered safe.

Finally, the turnout in this election is going to favor Republicans, skewing those numbers even further.

[Gophack]

Republicans are at 35.2% and Democrats are at 44.2%

But you CAN NOT judge elections by registration numbers! In 1994--when Republicans in the Assembly won 9 seats, we took over congress (even here in California!)--Democrat registration was 49%. That means that Democrats have LOST 5% of their voters. (Republicans lost 1% since 1994.) Most of these have gone to DTS.

Republicans historically turn out in larger numbers than Democrats, except recently when Republicans have been disinclined to go to the polls because of un-inspiring candidates. Many of my conservative friends skipped the presidential ballot in 2000 (and I, for one, THANK GOD we had George Bush on 9/11 and not Al Gore.)

In this recall, who is motivated to vote? CONSERVATIVES. Will all these people jumping up and down with stars in the eyes actually make it to the polls on election day? I doubt it. Will people who vote against the recall vote for Cruz Bustamante? History says 30% will not vote at all on the second question.

The question is not what are the registration numbers and can Republicans win. The question is, will conservatives vote? If that answer is YES, we can not only dump Davis, but we can elect a conservative to replace him -- and he is Tom McClintock.

[kellynla]

Great article, Dan. Thanks for the post & the ping.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Thanks for the ping. Jim was a good mayor (I lived there during that time). I've met his wife and she is a very nice person.

[JustPiper]

Bump!

The perky, obscure little document called the Declaration of Independence, especially the phrase about Americans being endowed by their Creator with rights that government could not take away - rights like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[theDentist]

Thanks Freeps! I was just curious.

I was in Mass. until last winter, and one thing I remember from there is that even though the GOP has held the Governorship since Pee Wee Dukakis' failed run, is that each Republican candidate must be a left-leaning RINO to get the office. Straight conservative values in such a state won't fly. The majority is just too liberal, and even the grass roots GOP is a bit left.

BTW: Last week I began re-reading "AT ANY COST" and "The Plot to Steal the Presidency", both books about the 2000 election and the Florida mess. I recommend reading them both (again if you already have). There were just so many tricks, twists, and turns that even years later I nearly perforated an ulcer from anger.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Good read BUMP!

If only Illinoians and New Yorkers would catch on!

[ElkGroveDan]

each Republican candidate must be a left-leaning RINO to get the office. Straight conservative values in such a state won't fly

That's not true here. The moderates lose really badly in statewide elections, far worse than conservatives do.

[CyberCowboy777]

[Kevin Curry]

Bump for genuine conservatism.