Cut and Run Republicans: Beware Unintended Consequences

10/23/2006 | Technomage

[harpo11]

Are these lemming cut&run conservatives crazy? By not voting they are shirking one of the first and primary responsibilities we have as citizens of the United States for which generations of brave and courageous men and women have risked and sacrificed their lives to preserve.

And furthermore, if they do vote, how can they thwart their own fundamental conservatism and vote for a raving lunatic leftist and enable that Babylon of the Bay Broad, Nancy Pelosi assume the Speakershipess position?

The only punishing they will inflict either by staying home or by voting these national security light weight democrats into the majority will be to our young men and women fighting on the front lines defending our way of life and liberty. Cowards stay home and pout and roll over because they seek perfection, well they are not going to find perfection in the democrat party which in many ways is much like Foley everyday along with erasable stain of insidious stalinism.

BTW, this article that you posted is absolutely awesome. Thanks for posting.

[technomage]

Thanks for posting.

Thank you harpo11

[daler]

The only time I ever voted for a Democrat, he was a closet Republican who wouldn't stand a chance in our Red (and I do mean Red) district with an (R) by his name.

I can't imagine pulling the lever for an avowed Democrat.

These cut and run types most assuredly have a screw loose.

To repeat what I've said before...the worst Republican is still better than the best Democrat (Zell Miller and Ben Nelson excepted).

[FairOpinion]

But people have to understand the CONSEQUENCES of their actions, that this is about the future of the country and our very life, not some ego trip.

"Those who won't learn from history, are bound to repeat it" or something like that. It's past time that conservatives learn from their protest Perot votes and face where that got all of us; 8 years of Clinton and a launchpad for HILLARY for 2008.

It's time for a reality check for everyone.

This election will have a low turnout, so whoever turns out in larger numbers, wins.

One IMPORTANT aspect gets ignored: the main reason that the Republicans weren't able to enact a more conservative agenda was because of vicious constant obstruction by the Dems. We need more Republicans, not more Democrats, if we want more conservative agenda implemented. Those who don't actively vote Republican are rewarding the Dems for their obstruction of the Republican agenda.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Why does the author think the results are unintended?

[Shortstop7]

You said it.......

It disgusts me to think that conservatives will truly refrain from voting? What purpose will that serve? Just the dems.......

Stupid is as stupid does.

[thegreatbeast]

Anybody who votes for someone just because they have an (R) after their name is brain dead. I would vote for the Communist Party candidate before I'd vote for a pig like the Republican chairman of the Appropriations committee (Stevens[?] of Alaska.)
I'm not voting for the lesser evil anymore. If I don't see a candidate I like then I'll just write in Cheney or Rumsfeld.
But fear not, I live in Massachusetts so my vote doesn't count.

[FairOpinion]

"Why does the author think the results are unintended?"

====

This is an excellent point. Some people who use the conservative label to divide us, may well actually want the Dems to win. Part of the Dem strategy is indeed to suppress the conservative vote.

An article I found illustrates this perfectly.


"The premise follows a scheme previously found most often on talk radio programs: a liberal activist calls a conservative radio host, such as Rush Limbaugh or Laura Ingraham, and delivers the line: “I’ve been voting Republican for 30 years, but I’ve finally had it and I’m not voting this year.” Or my favorite: “I’m a Reagan Republican, but I’m fed up and voting for John Kerry.” (Because that is what Reagan Republicans would do, vote for John Kerry.) At this point, the host usually asks a couple of questions and it becomes painfully obvious that the supposed Reagan Republican has probably never voted for anyone left of Michael Dukakis.

The intentions are clear: the caller hopes to make it appear as though there is already a large uprising of conservatives who are rebelling against GOP candidates, and thus, wishes to incite other Republicans to pick up the same attitude and pass it along, leading to the Democrat becoming more competitive. The successes of such a strategy on voting habits are unclear, especially given that the conservative radio host often refutes the caller’s talking points.

But the pretend-conservative act is being carried onto a whole new playing field, one that has become wildly influential over the past few years and one that does not stand to be instantly recognized as a fake. That playing field is the blogosphere, which is then used in conjunction with massive e-mailings to “spread the word” (as one e-mailer insisted I do to my readers/e-mail list) to other conservatives.

The concept is the same: the blog or e-mail claims, first, that the said writer has been a conservative for years and that they have “had it with Republicans.” They then point to an issue that conservatives would likely be upset about such as excessive spending, immigration, or the expansion of government. Their supposed rage over the issue has convinced them to either not show up to vote in 2006, or, in order to really show Republicans, vote for the Democrat instead. "


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1613957/posts?page=87#87


=====

But the REAL conservatives, who may be miffed about one thing or another need to come down to reality and recognize what's at stake and vote GOP.

[FairOpinion]

I don't hand out compliments willy-nilly.

You presented facts, logic and put it together into a persuasive essay. The best I've seen.

[FairOpinion]

Another article, recommended reading to those reading this thread, which looks at the future of what happens if the Dems win:

Bleak House. Republicans deserve to lose, but what happens if Democrats win?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1724752/posts

[MaineVoter2002]

I think many cut and run republicans have forgotten their anger against the republican party but have been accused of being DUers for not agreeing 100% with the GOP and now some of them are blinded from common sense and now hope for a republican defeat to "teach the accusers a lesson". While this is idiotic and childish, we should all be careful not to alienate sectors of the republican base by name calling.

[MaineVoter2002]

I should also add that my reply in this thread is not referring to anything I saw in this thread but things I have seen in some conservative discussions on the internet. We must excite the base, not make them angry at us.

[technomage]

I don't hand out compliments willy-nilly.

FairOpinion, I really appreciate that.

[technomage]

We must excite the base, not make them angry at us.

I agree. Also, looking back at the post I threw together, I can see where I could have used other terminology then cut and run.

But, too late for changes. I only hope that those who do not agree with the post:

1. Take a really close look at what could happen if Dims take control and

2. Understand the spirit in which the post was written.

[technomage]

Anybody who votes for someone just because they have an (R) after their name is brain dead.

I do not think any true conservative would.

I am more concerned about those who are not going to vote Republican, period, just to teach them a lesson.

I would say that approach is also brain dead.

[MaineVoter2002]

cut and run is a great term for them

As I said, my comments about angering the base with insults was not from anything I saw in this thread. It's something I've been concerned about for a couple of weeks now from other things I've seen.

Great article you posted

[Shery]

Good post. The primaries ARE the place to let the incumbents know just how unhappy you are with them, but most people don't even bother voting in these things! What does one expect then? Why abandon the party if you don't make your wishes known up front? That's dishonest, at best. If Republicans turned out and upset a RINO in the primary, especially with a huge margin, I KNOW it would send a BIG notice to the dems for the November elections!!

[democrats_nightmare]

That is a great post for you list the issues that we must all consider in an objective manner. I wish there were more like that its fine to get people to understand without the vitriol and hateful comments. Thanks DN

[NaughtiusMaximus]

I'm not entirely sure myself; maybe it was a zen thing.

Actually, who I had in mind when I wrote it was a self-described conservative who was disappointed that an ideal world didn't manifest itself after the last election and who says "Might as well stay home (or vote for the Demos)because it can't get any worse than this."

Believe it or not, I know some people who think like this.

(Fasting and meditation are unneccessary. I do, however, recommend a dozen fresh oysters on the half shell with liberal doses of lemon slices and tabasco, washed down with icy cold Stolichnaya vodka.)

[Jaysun]

(Fasting and meditation are unneccessary. I do, however, recommend a dozen fresh oysters on the half shell with liberal doses of lemon slices and tabasco, washed down with icy cold Stolichnaya vodka.)

I'll get to it at once. My wife just made me a late breakfast. "Texas mess", which is sausage, bacon, fried potatoes, peppers, and onions all scrambled together with eggs and covered with cheese. Then it gets topped off with salsa. I'll tell her to throw that slop out and go get us some raw oysters and booze. Thanks.