Barlowmaker says: Obviously, this is about one issue for many of you: abortion. Well, single issue bullies generally end up being a scourge within any political party. They can't be kicked to the curb quickly enough.
Ray - I've been thinking about this - unfortunately, I believe his opinion is representative of the views of most of the GOP establishment. After careful consideration of the evidence (Toomey, et al), I am led to a painful conclusion.
The Republican Party has absolutely no interest in overturning Roe v. Wade in our lifetimes.
Sure, they point to their voting records and their rhetoric. And there probably are a few principled individuals there who truly want change. But most do not.
Have you ever been to a greyhound racetrack? The key is to keep the rabbit just enough in front of the dogs that they continue to work furiously. Take away the rabbit, and they have no interest. However, in addition, when one of them actually catches the rabbit, it's a disaster. The dog will never run again.
That's how I see the GOP and abortion. As long as they had the 'Rat majorities in Congress or the Rapist-in-chief to blame, they could take a pro-life stand while knowing nothing would ever change.
But something happened - suddenly they controlled all three branches of government. Consequently, pro-lifers like myself expected more than just rhetoric. We wanted action. We got it on the PBA ban, but as far as the total number of abortions performed, the number covered by PBA represents a small percentage.
We know that Supreme Court openings are coming, and in Pat Toomey we saw a historic opportunity. Get rid of Specter, who has fought the conservative cause for years, get a new principled pro-life senator, and put a principled pro-life senater in charge of SJC. By their rhetoric, this should have been welcomed by the GOP. Instead, we know what happened.
Basically, the conservatives came too close to catching the rabbit, and they had to be beaten back. The key is to not beat them back to far, to keep them believing the dream that the rabbit is attainable someday. That way, they'll keep pulling the "R" level and believing the rhetoric, in the hope of a better day. But many of us have decided catching the rabbit may not be possible due to GOP indifference, so why run at all?
Let them (GOP establishment) kick us to the curb - see what happens at the next election. I think most of us conservatives would move on in our lives with a clear conscience, knowing we did everything possible to make a positive impact on our country and culture, but were rebuffed at every turn. We would simply take care and protect our families and loved ones, and wait for the inevitable.
I've said it on other threads - they need us a lot more than we need them. If the rabbit is not attainable, let them find another group in their quest to acquire and maintain power (which is all they really care about).
Trillium, unlike the flamethrowing children (Barlow, dane, et al), you at least seem to want to discuss issues. With respect - please give me your take on my greyhound analogy.
I have felt for some time that we are to the Republican Party as the black community is to the Democracts. But many of them, too, are beginning to wisen up and see them for what they are.
After working on the Toomey campaign and witnessing first hand the tactics of the Republican Party, I see them for what they are. They would rather we just not have a primary, which in essence is what they did in this case. They want to dictate to us who, what, when, and where, then give us excuses as to why. Their control of the overgrown government has become more important than the basic principles of what this country was founded on.
The sadist part is that so many have been blinded by this. Look at the comments just on this thread. So many of them read like Marxists statements-"for the good of the Party !","we must keep a majority !", "My party tells me so" etc.
Think of all the new bright-eyed Republicans that came into Congress that have left. They saw that they were banging their heads against the wall. Then the ones that have stayed have become infected by the beltway power virus.
The PARTY has lost all it's PRINCIPLES. I have become very saddened by this.
Uh oh O O,
I think that you struck paydirt. I've expressed the same sentiments on the PA State Store system, gambling, and a host of other issues. They keep them around (actually both sides do) to keep fanning the rhetorical flames and keep the campaign contributions flowing in.
Vote for ME! and I'll get rid of your boogie man. Really, I will. I just need another term to do it. Maybe two.
Have we gotten too cynical? I just don't know how that could have happened.