Replies

No, we are not. Because Arnold is not the opposition. He is a Republican. You are sadly mistaken if you think Republicans come in one size fits all. They do not, and it is silly, stupid, and counterproductive to keep insisting otherwise.

All Republicans are not pro-life. Sorry, but its true. All Republicans are not anti-immigration. Sorry, but its true.

As long as you keep believing that only your brand of conservatism is what makes a republican a republican, you will continue to be defeated at the polls.

The Republican Platform is Pro-Life. If they want to modify it, so be it - but they don't have the guts or the honesty to do so.

All Republicans are not pro-life. Sorry, but its true. All Republicans are not anti-immigration. Sorry, but its true.

What about being against the Brady Bill?

What about being against gay marriage?

What about being against gay adoption?

What about setting a clear moral example?

What about supporting property rights?

What about supporting a colorblind society?

No, we are not. Because Arnold is not the opposition. He is a Republican. You are sadly mistaken if you think Republicans come in one size fits all. They do not, and it is silly, stupid, and counterproductive to keep insisting otherwise.

So you're happy to elect more Republicans like Jumpin' Jim Jeffords, Olympia Snowe, Lincoln Chaffee, Arlen Specter, Susan Collins, John McCain, David Duke, etc. How nice. And you think THAT is not "silly, stupid, and counterproductive" to the conservative movement?

I think this is a great point. The Republican Party is as much a coaltion of views as the Democrat Party. While not as broad as the democrats, we still have our blue-bloods, moderates and social/religious conservatives. And as much as I respect the social conservative for their principled resolve...and believe in those tennants, there are other fiscal conservatives that are just as scared as these views as they are of the far-left's views. While I like Keyes and others who speak of morality, they can also be very condescending and arrogant. It often sounds as if it is "their way or the highway" and if you don't subscribe to their views, you are not a real Republican.

The Democrats have been successful as a "political" force because when it comes to elections, they put aside their differences and unite for a commom cause. When Republicans do this, they are accused of putting thier principles aside in exchange for power. Unfortunately, this is often the reality of "politics" in our current system. It is also a reality that politics is a compromise of values and ideals to form a middle-ground...we not only have to do it at the national level with the current governing two-party system, we have to do it at the party level. How else can you form a broad enough coalition that is strong enough to compete for governing...especially against another Party that doesn't play be the same rules. I hate to say this, but I would be as leary as living under the ideals of a Keyes' America as I would the other side. Not because Keyes' is an evil man...in fact from from it, but because compromise is something that's missing from the far edges. Ironically, it is these sharp edges that generally keep America relatively centered.

I can guarantee that the far-left could not win on its own merits, just as I do not believe the far-right/Christian Coalition could win on its own. The danger is when one of these groups decides it is their right to insist on which way the party goes. In doing so, the party's broad appeal becomes an exclusive group that alienates others. This is the reality of politics where each special interest group must decide if they want to go it alone (Greens, Libertarian) or compromise, working within the Party, to achieve their ideals. It may not always yield immediate results...but if it doesn't within the Party that most closely shares your views, it most likely will be worse in a country with such divergent views. It's sad, but sometimes compromise is needed to advance your ideals and agenda. And I'm sorry but I don't see any virtue in losing...even if it is only to show people how stupid they may be. The damage will aready have been done.

to: EternalVigilance..
[ As long as you keep believing that only your brand of conservatism is what makes a republican a republican, you will continue to be defeated at the polls. ]

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." -John F. Kennedy, 1962

All Republicans are not anti-immigration. Sorry, but its true.

Do you actually mean illegal immigration?

"All Republicans are not pro-life. Sorry, but its true. All Republicans are not anti-immigration. Sorry, but its true.
As long as you keep believing that only your brand of conservatism is what makes a republican a republican, you will continue to be defeated at the polls."

It's comments like this that make me long for the day when every single member of the GOP - including office holders - who is a moral conservitive first and fiscal conservitive second leaves the GOP and switchs to the Constitution Party (or start a completely new one) and let the remainder see how many members they have left.

Does the word "Whig" mean anything to you?