For what it is worth, it makes this easier if you consider the "source." I live in Washington State where we are working to elect a new Rino to the Senate. (Our noses be held.) To be honest, he is about as conservative as we can put up from this state. What we have to do, is simply provide you guys with the numbers you need to set the agenda and we rely on those of you in less liberal areas to consistently move us rightward. If you get too far ahead of the country as a whole, you will lose those at the tail end. If you go too slowly or aimlessly, you will lose the base.
What we are looking at right now is the natural growing pains of being the party in complete power, but without a solid feel for where America itself stands on things. We have no powerful opposition to blame when things go badly, so it exposes the weaknesses and insecurities in our own party. American's are still a bit hesitant to trust us. That means we must appeal to ALL voters, and sometimes causes us to compromise simply to keep the party together.
I constantly remind myself it is much more difficult to be in charge than it is to gripe about those in charge. As far as the President goes, he is not a surprise. He has behaved exactly as he said he would behave. Both in his first election and his second. He has also very clearly said he sees himself as President of all Americans, not just Conservative Americans. I have actually been stunned at how consistent he has managed to be. He is also a conservative, albeit a practical one and from the sounds of it not one with which you trust or agree. He has also made some very human mistakes and supported things I disagree with. Yet I support him completely, even when I disagree with him.
I also find it helpful to not assume that all conservatives are like me, but that fact does not mean that others are not "true conservatives," just that they interpret conservatism different because of their life experience. I hold some positions that others may find liberal...but the vast majority of what I believe comes committedly under the conservative mantle. It just helps me realize that we have disagreements on our own team and that those discussions help me grow and challenge me to question my own assumptions.
One last thing, I think that the ridicule and demeaning has been pretty evenly spread in both directions and none of us can or should claim victim hood. I have been called plenty of names...in fact in this very thread those of us voting R were called apostate. But in the world of politics, demeaning/ridiculing is all part of the "convince them I'm right" game. It's not gentle, it's not kind...it's full contact, pounding, no rules gamesmanship. If you can depersonalize it, it makes for great world-view muscle building and skin-thickening.
Because as we all know...what does not kill us, you know, makes us stronger. ;-)
Nobody called you or other posters "apostate".
The term was directed to "Republican" office holders who have turned their backs to the conservative base.
Tell me, who is the apostate: a sincere conservative poster who has a different way than others on how to advance the conservative cause, or a Lincoln Chaffee who did not even vote for his own President and brags about it?
But the tenor of many posters here is that Chaffee must get our unconditional support. I think not. He is an apostate.
Really excellent and thought-provoking post. It's all about an effective strategery.
It's enjoyable to actually here reasoned, honest discussions once and awhile. I am sure that there are some who would not consider me to be a true conservative because I am not a one issue voter. I try to be pragmatic when it is the best policy. I guess what upsets me and I think other like me is that when you vote for a Dem you know exactly what you are going to get. They tell you upfront that they are for big government, entitlements and over arching power. I don't agree with their views, but at least they are honest and have a track record. The Rep on the otherhand too often run as conservative and then go to DC and govern like liberal. That is frustrating because it makes you feel used and taken advantage of.
The other thing that bothers me on this site is that there are so many here now that are our party/our President right or wrong. That is scary and honestly no different thatn the MoveOn/DU Clintonistas that we used to all deride. No one is perfect, everyone makes mistake, but so many on here are so partisan that you can't have an intelligent discussion about the issue anymore. I do not want a Nacy Pelosi run house anymore than the next person, but I would like to see some acceptance on here of the fact that the Rep have screwed their base many times over the last 2-4 years and should be called on it. That doesn't seem to be a very popular option on FR which recently has become less a "site for grassroots conservatism" as the banner reads and more an arm of the GW Bush/Karl Rove wing of the Republican party.