Posted on 10/09/2009 8:32:34 AM PDT by BobMcCartyWrites
I consider myself one of those disgruntled registered voters who prefers to consider himself a conservative rather than a Republican. In fact, I had been leaning toward throwing my support behind candidates from lesser-known third parties. That changed today after a conservative friend of mine shared a copy of an e-mail he sent recently to a local representative of a conservative, third-party group seeking candidates to run against Democrats and Republicans in future elections.
(Excerpt) Read more at bobmccarty.com ...
Votes for the GOP ARE WASTED VOTES!!
The Constitution could not pass today. The people don’t want it; most the people don’t deserve it or the vision the Founders had.
Then again, I've come to my conclusions mostly on my own, with the benefit of something neither the framers nor the antifeds had--200+ years of data and 20/20 hindsight.
Those who opposed it back then really just validate what is plain to see now. Sad really. The Constitution, imo, should have been rejected. It came down to Virginia. Strange, the Civil War in many ways came down to Virginia also.
I agree. Makes it all the more sad that the Framers laid such an egg with the one we’ve got.
I think they expected more from their descendants.
They never envisioned such a needy, helpless electorate
They also over estimated the urge to preserve liberty and freedom at the cost of regular revolution.
The fact is the framers created a strong national gubmint where there was none. They made much more than a stronger confederation. They obliterated the confederation and replaced it with a national gubmint set up like a rube goldberg machine, and that was supposed to guard against tyranny?
I think they knew the human weaknesses involved. I think they knew the Spirit of 76 was a rare--almost sacred thing. I think they just went too far, gave the national gubmint too much power, and included far too much superfluous language that was unnecessary and haunts us to this day. I'd throw out the entire preamble. No good comes from it--only mischief.
I don't think they did it on purpose, although Patrick Henry famously "smelled a rat." I think perhaps Jefferson needed to be there. He could have done some good. His extremism could have been put to good use.
I'm at the point where, when I hear conservative commentators saying people should read The Federalist Papers, I just roll my eyes. They inform us about the intent of the framers, and have great value, but they are also a monument to the bizarre naiivete they had, an inexplicable blind spot to the failings of the document they produced. Maybe they just fell in love with their own work. It happens.
For me, I think I'm better off accepting it as a failure, and moving on intellectually. No use beating my head against a wall about it. They failed. We failed. Done is done. The verdict is most definitely in as far as I'm concerned. That's why conservatism fails in practice--it's an impossible task to undo what's been done. Sorry for the long reply.
The RNC has obviously written me off, or they figure I'll vote for the lesser of evils again, but I'm no longer sure they are even slightly less evil.
The GOP wishes Sarah Palin would just go away, but they are going to work to neutralize her, just in case. There are already attempts to link her to a RINO millstone.
...Read and skimmed through most of the posts. Good debate going, Bravos to all. Frist thought, yer right, We’ve had a one party system for a long time. Second thought, MNJ got it right on #2, start with yer local elections first. One brick at a time and then continue to be a Mortar Forker and stack those bricks into an every growing wall. Third thought, vote yer convictions, I’ve had it with this voting for the lesser of two evils sh!t! Comes up every election. Sorry that Obama got elected, I’m not and will never be sorry I voted third party, it was a good thing. Woke up alot of apathetic, docile, bovine masses that now realize we could lose our Republic...
I appreciate longer replies that show some thought. No worries.
Then enjoy 6 more years of the Fascist agenda.
Fascism was underway during Bush.
You just put into a few short words something that has been bothering me for a long time.
Just how do we undo what has been done? Is it even possible?
At this point, I don’t think it is. Here’s some of my thoughts on the subject, fwiw, from earlier today. It’s been a major topic of meditation for me lately:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2358410/posts?page=53#53
See especially the point about what I call “the barnicles of history” to understand why I think it’s impossible.
I think that in these modern times, where the Western world is very squeamish about warfare, there is one big opportunity, and ironically, it was tried before and failed. To wit, secession.
The reason it failed last time is that American culture was not yet so domesticated, flabby, feminized and weak. The gubmint had the balls to spill a serious amount of blood.
Do they have the stomach for it anymore? If Texas broke away, what would the gubmint do? And if they didn’t do anything to stop Texas, would others follow? Much of the Old South would seem apt to try—Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina.
I can actually see a day when that happens. And I question whether the libs have the stomach for a fight. I’d say they don’t.
But it has to get a lot worse first. Even I am not anxious for the prospect. I live in NJ. I’d end up having to leave. I have a home here that I like. I have a job here that I like with a customer base that I like. I admit I like my comfort. And so I, like others, continue to tolerate the long train of abuse. We haven’t gotten to the caboose yet, to strain a metaphor.
And so our “conservative” party is much like the Brits’. They actually are correct in thinking a return to original intent is impossible. They are merely a braking mechanism on liberalism, and an occasional friend of business.
And as I’ve been saying, I think returning to the Constitution is returning to a flawed document. I’d rather start all over. I’d rather see the USA broken up into smaller confederations of states. It would solve a lot of problems. Neoconservative foreign policy would be impossible. Debts would be retired. The slate would be clean. No more paying for the sins of the USA. A fresh start.
But as I say, things will have to get much, much worse, or else people will continue to grin and bear it. And as I admitted earlier, a part of me wants to just get through life ok and not have to deal with it. Sorry for yet another long post. I’ve been quite wordy lately.
It should be obgvious to all Freepers that the hierarchy isn't motivated by the same things we are. They think we're sort of silly with our pro-RKBA and pro-life stance, and our interest in other issues affecting us. They are either remote from these issues, or hostile to them. At any rate, they are not reliable. Giuliani can swear conservatism until Hell freezes over, for example, but he will never be trustworthy on RKBA. He just isn't wired right and I'm afraid he is typical of what we must deal with.
...That's all I ask...
Arrogant? You sound like teh kind of guy who lurks on the outside of the ring, afraid to get into the fight (i.e., work to reshape the GOP and get rid of the RINOs).
Get involved and reshape the GOP from the local level up. Sniping from the outside changes nothing.
This is the problem, the GOP is viewed by many as a country club for the wealthy, and it is true to some extent. I speak of freedom and they think, "how will this affect this months profits".
I heard Sean Hannity on radio today talked about a new survey which reveals Democrats represent more wealthy districts than Republicans. I’d suggest you revisit your local Republican Party and try to shape it from the inside out. That’s my approach.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.