Posted on 02/01/2008 5:03:19 AM PST by A2J
In the coming weeks, I will acknowledge an anniversary of thirty (30) years as a registered Republican. I have always been a Republican and my first presidential election was a vote cast for Ronaldus Magnus, one of my heroes.
I have always voted the GOP line in state and local races, except when there were only Democrats running wherein I would either vote for the most conservative or skip that particular match up entirely.
I'm afraid that this year will be different.
As a conservative who found a home in the GOP 30 years ago, I now find myself without a home, particularly as the GOP has been gradually becoming the DNC-Lite over the past eight (8) years. To say that I'm now frustrated with the GOP would be an enormous understatement but yet I find myself more frustrated and even bitter at such conservative stalwarts as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, two I have always enjoyed listening to and agree with for the most part.
It is not my intention to challenge the pedigree of their conservatism, but rather to tell them and the collective conservatives and conservative wannabes who are now complaining about the ascendancy of John McCain, a despicable little man, to shut the hell up.
Why? Because they've laid the steps for McCain's rise.
Just this week I listened to Rush complain about McCain and Huckabee, who should step aside and support Romney who is more conservative than McCain, with Rush's earlier comments that should McCain or Huckabee receive the nomination, they would destroy the GOP...a statement to which I agree. Additionally, just this week Rush was championing conservatism over the GOP, as he and all conservatives should, and yet when asked as to whether he would support McCain if he is nominated, Rush flip-flopped, ala John Kerry, when he said that he would do nothing to harm the GOP.
Such doublespeak is what cracks the door open for rats like McCain.
Sean Hannity, "Mr. Nice Guy," is no different especially when it comes to anyone who has an "R" after his name.
During Arnold Schwarzenegger's gubernatorial run against Grey Davis, Hannity nearly wet his pants in adoration of Schwarzenegger. He has been the same toward "Mr. Character," Rudy Giuliani. And now he wants to feign anger and frustration over Schwarzenegger's endorsement of the little man from Arizona. In fact, Hannity ridiculed Schwarzenegger's comments as being void of the ideals and core values of Ronald Reagan.
While I cannot speak for all true-blue conservatives, I know that my frustration truly lies with people like Rush and Hannity who openly embrace liberal Republicans and yet now complain that those same ones whom they have embraced are now going to destroy the party. Maybe the GOP should be allowed to continue to merge with the DNC. Maybe then we can build a true conservative party from the ashes.
To me, true conservatism transcends parties and labels and remains absolute and unchangeable, however hard others may try to redefine it. "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" are the "marching orders" for all conservatives regardless of party and while the GOP is currently undergoing a redefinition, conservatism must never.
But, alas, as long as we are more obsessed with making sure that GOP candidates are elected instead of true conservatives, we are not only guaranteeing the destruction of a Grand Old Party, but worse, we become the willing participants in the assault on conservatism.
This year will mark a new era in my long history of voting Republican in that should John McCain become the Republican nominee, I will choose my convictions over my party and withhold my vote because if I truly love America, as we all claim to, then why would I continue to inoculate her with more poison by choosing party over principles?
I agree with your percentages. The problem is that the 30% includes stuff I really care about.
See tagline...
Not that I agree with the original premise of McCain being a done deal to start with, but does the SCOTUS mean anything to either of you? Perhaps you recall Madam Speaker? We got her from so called principled conservatives doing exactly what what you are advocating right now.
I agree with you. If, at the end of the day, we just cave and go along with McCain, they will just keep doing this to us, over and over.
As I have said, I'm finished with these RINO's. Slow death is not my idea of a better option.
Let the Socialists complete, unfettered, their dirty deed.
Perhaps then, "we the sheeple" will rise up and "get er done".
Only if we keep the numbers in each house high enough. Staying home will guarantee that it does not happen. Write someone in for president if you will, but vote the rest of the ticket!
We need to prune liberals out of the party and send a clear message that if you violate the core principles of the Republican party you will not be supported. Romney is just within the limits of how much I will compromise. McCain is way over the line and I will actively campaign for him to lose. The Republican party will be more effective in opposition and regroup around core principles rather than be in the “reach across the line” RINO mode.
That said, I think we need a 3rd party ASAP. Only when conservatives can go to the Republicans with proof that we represent umpteen million voters and have so many $ million in the bank, which we will use to endorse only solid conservatives in the GOP, will we be able to make them change course.
Exactly.
His opinions may be irrelevant, but the interview format with Colmes as counterpoint and Hannity's pitbull attitude often reveal things about the interviewees that don't come out on "Meet the Depressed", etc.
No, needs to be a mass migration to a new party.
Romney is worse than McCain!
“Republicans still cannot play offense and are absolutely pathetic at defense.”
Bingo! The weighted impact implement again squarely contacts the friction retention device.
That realization, along with the revelation that Republican no longer means conservative should be the seed that leads to the birth of a new conservative movement in US politics.
But...there’s no way, under any circumstances that I could ever vote for either Obama or the Hildebeast. Sorry, they are just too, too far to the left on every issue of substance facing the nation, today. Socialized healthcare? Can’t do it. Higher taxes and higher spending? Can’t do it. Increased entitlement spending? Nope. Timetable for the WOT in Iraq? Wrong. Negotiate with Islamofascists? Can’t be done. Continue to apologize for the the success of this grand experiment? Sickens me.
No... I’ll write in someone before I’ll cast a vote for Her Thighness or the JFK-wannabe.
Lock and Load.
Exactly!
And yet Hannity trots Newt out like a brand new thoroughbred, apparently forgetting this is the same guy who said that the Reagan Revolution is dead.
Hell, I live in Illinois. If the contest in November is between Obambi and McCain, my vote is meaningless because Obambi will carry Illinois by a landslide (no matter who the Repub candidate is). Thus, if I cast a write-in vote for Dick Tracy it would be the same as casting a vote for McCain, because both votes would be meaningless. Same for the Hildabeast: She will carry Illinois handily, so it makes no difference who I vote for against her.
Hannity's hypocrisy wreaks now that he's been outed and is trying to come across as one whose principles have never changed. Right.
We allowed ourselves to be divided, we dallied, we were ultra-picky and refused to acknowledge that a 30% block divided 5 ways gave no one any chance of success.
Amen.
We hold a share of the responsibility in this mess, too. We've turned the bolts on the neck of our creation and now want to call it a monster when it comes to life.
A strong argument but still a compromise and justification. I think we would need to bunker down for 2 years: 2008 - 2010. The libs will cause sufficient mayhem that there will outrage by 2010 and the Senate and House will back firmly in CONSERVATIVE GOP hands and then the White House in 2012.
Isn't that the Christian Reconstructionist party? Or have they changed?
Last I read of the Constitution Party they were advocating legislating Christianity. I'm a christian but I want no part of a party that feels it is ok to use the power of government like that.
But maybe I'm misunderstanding the stand of the CP.
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