Unfortunately, the values of the Republican Party as witnessed in the last decade plus, are more populist in nature and geared around the acquisition and maintenance of political power, at any cost.
Fred Dalton Thompson is the only "Constitutional Conservative" left, as of this posting in the mix.
I believe we are approaching some more cataclysmic changes in the journey of our Republic. Many of us knew that the world as we have known it changed, with many, many unknown consequences to follow on September 11, 2001. The consequences of that change are still effecting us and the world and no one but God Almighty, knows where we are headed.
I believe, most emphatically that we are approaching the time our forefathers had in mind when they penned the Declaration of Independence and put the following philosophy into it very early on:
"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
Now to be sure I don't know exactly how "we the people" are to do this, but I do know the first step is at the ballot box with our votes.
It is for that reason, should the Republican Party at large place a candidate on their ballot who is, unlike Fred Thompson, no where close to a "Constitutional Conservative" I will not vote for their nominee.
George Washington warned in his farewell address about political parties. The following is a quote from that speech. You might need to read it more than once and aloud to get the exact point of his meaning:
"All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests.
However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines, which have lifted them to unjust dominion."
I believe our "two party" system is beyond fatally flawed. It is broken, almost beyond repair. We need a Constitutional Conservative "leading the Republic" once again. And yet the two parties keep offering us populists that barter for our votes with benefits from them that stifle individual responsibility and achievement.
Long response, but it is why I have made the decision not to play their games any longer. A few others here on FreeRepublic have stated the same. A movement begins with but one ripple. Perhaps the time as come to let the self anointed royalty in D.C. know we aren't going to continue playing their game forever. This is "our" Republic - Not Theirs!!!!!
The Cluetrain Manifesto
(just substitute “Political Party” whereever it reads “Company”)
95 Theses
http://www.cluetrain.com/
There is so much important, relevant, and insightful, information to quote and point out in your post, that it would be almost duplicating it. It’s that good.
So many, even here, are willing to forget why we are here, what brought us here, and what we have in common. It is not “the acquisition and maintenance of political power, at any cost”. It is our Constitutional and Conservative beliefs.
Yet they settle. They justify. They reduce us all.
I’m with FRed till FRed decides otherwise. Even then, I’ll be with the principles he stands for. I will encourage others to do likewise. I will not, ever again, allow my vote to say...”I’m holding my nose for the party”.
Get ‘er Done, FRed!
Personally, I put the life and marriage issues first. But the only way to protect them is to protect our Constitution, IMHO. Fred seems to see that, too. He is both pro-life and pro-Constitution.
The Constitution and its preamble speak of an “inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” And the details of the Constitution lay out the best way to preserve those rights, given human nature and its flaws.
Right to life means right to self-defense, and that means the Second Amendment. And so forth. It all hangs together.
I agree ImpBill. For these and other reasons, I have come to the same conclusion. It is nice to know others out there are thinking in these terms.
I don’t say this lightly, becuase I recognize this as a measure of last resort. If I couldn’t look back and realize what has taken place over the last 40 years, I wouldn’t be able to say what I am today.
What we have been doing, voting for RINOs, hasn’t been working. We are working together with the democrats to move this nation away from our founding principles. It has to end. For me it ends here.
They can take this nation down if they wish, but I’ll be no part of it.