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Head Strong: Sorry, but for me, the party is over
Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 2/21/2010 | Michael Smerconish

Posted on 02/21/2010 12:51:59 AM PST by americanophile

It took only the single tap of a computer key, and just like that I'd exited the Republican Party after 30 years of active membership. The context might sound impulsive, but I'd been thinking of becoming an independent for a long time. I just hadn't expected that a trip to renew my driver's license would mark the end. Just before my photo was snapped, I was asked if I wanted to register to vote. For me, the question was borderline offensive. I first registered after turning 18 in the spring of 1980 and haven't missed an election since. And I'm not just talking presidential races. I mean all elections. Congress, town council, school board, whatever.

"I'm already registered," I offered. Next came the unexpected question of whether I wished to change my political affiliation. I'm not sure why that is asked of someone renewing a driver's license, and I question whether it is even appropriate for most. But in my case, it was the only impetus I needed.

Years ago, I grew tired of having my television or radio introduction accompanied by a label, with some implied expectation that what would then come from my mouth were the party talking points. That was me 26 years ago, when I was the youngest elected member of the state delegation to the Republican National Convention, but not today. I'm not sure if I left the Republican Party or the party left me. All I know is that I no longer feel comfortable.

The national GOP is a party of exclusion and litmus tests, dominated on social issues by the religious right, with zero discernible outreach by the national party to anyone who doesn't fit neatly within its parameters.

(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: gop; independents; smerconish; voters
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To: Marty62

Here’s the point: The GOP has been coopted by the demrat party. Thus, there is no longer a second opposition party in America. It is inevitable that something will happen to fill that vacuum. Indeed something already has—The Tea Party movement. Whether that movement evolves and becomes a new opposition party, the movement is a catalyst for a new second opposition party or forces conservative leadership on the GOP is not clear now. However, IMHO wresting the GOP from the RINOs and their demrat handlers is a long shot.

One thing is very clear to me. Continuing to support the RINO-led GOP and the RINO candidates it runs does nothing to advance conservatism. In fact, it is self defeating.

Thus, I will not no longer vote for RINO candidates. And to make sure the GOP gets it, I have reregistered as an Indie.

That isn’t quitting anything. It is called using my vote to drive toward a result. My vote is not intended to keep the GOP in power. I vote to elect conservatives to political office. If the GOP won’t support conservatives then I won’t support the GOP.


61 posted on 02/21/2010 5:22:40 AM PST by dools007
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To: AppyPappy

Last I checked, Libertarians are in favor of abolishing as much government as possible, including the income tax, the Federal Reserve, and the entire fractional reserve banking apparatus that keeps otherwise free citizens in perpetual and unpayable debt.
As for these other issues, individuals and families and churches need to deal with that kind of stuff, not government. The government can do very little right, and what they can do isn’t done with much efficiency or effectiveness.


62 posted on 02/21/2010 5:25:44 AM PST by ovrtaxt (Constitutional money isn't just backed by gold and silver- it IS gold and silver.)
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To: TChris
-- I have serious contempt for anyone who would stay home in protest rather than exercising their privilege of voting, which thousands have bled and died to preserve. --

Blaming the voter is a loser's excuse.

And the principle that honorable American soldiers have fought for is individual freedom, not the right to vote. Iraqis under Saddam Hussein had the right to vote. Some elections in the US are shams, where regardless of Frick or Frack getting the office, the office keeps its thumb on the people.

63 posted on 02/21/2010 5:29:21 AM PST by Cboldt
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To: Cboldt

Exactly- thus the ‘revolution’ in 94 that went nowhere.


64 posted on 02/21/2010 5:31:53 AM PST by ovrtaxt (Constitutional money isn't just backed by gold and silver- it IS gold and silver.)
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To: AppyPappy
"I’m saying that too many libertarians put dope and whores ahead of smaller government."
I will comment on these 2 issues only. 1) Ending the war on dope will result in smaller government. When a person caught with a joint gets jail time, probation, mandatory drug testing, tens of thousands of dollars in fines and fees, eliminating all of this will naturally result in smaller government. When paramilitary storm troopers engage in no knock warrants and shoot and kill little old ladies in their homes ( happened in georgia, there were many threads in FR about this one ) ending the war on drugs will result in the near elimination of these organizations, resulting in smaller government. My greatest fear is that I will be the next one shot dead over a bad tip and no knock warrant. I do not do drugs, nor do I believe Illegal drugs have a place in society. But, when a doctor or dentist has to struggle over prescribing pain medication to a patient because his books will be monitored, and any discrepency can result in imprisonment, fines or loss of license, then it is upside down. The war on drugs is over, and civil liberties have lost. 2) When the fines for soliciting a prostitute include confiscation of property, publishing of your personal information, and prison time, it is upside down. When the police set up sting operations, whose sole purpose is to entrap, confiscate personal property and imprison, it is upside down. This is my 2 cents. Flame away.
65 posted on 02/21/2010 5:36:55 AM PST by joe fonebone (CPAC.....Commies Playing At Conservatism)
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To: joe fonebone

You’re obviously a misinformed slut chasing crackhead. What are you doing on FR? ;)


66 posted on 02/21/2010 5:42:30 AM PST by ovrtaxt (Constitutional money isn't just backed by gold and silver- it IS gold and silver.)
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To: ovrtaxt

crack is for losers.........I prefer heroin..:)


67 posted on 02/21/2010 5:51:52 AM PST by joe fonebone (CPAC.....Commies Playing At Conservatism)
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To: americanophile
Hey... I fart in the general direction of the gop but this guy is a dim writing the dim lie. This is the same dim that the press uses every time that they say, “a former republican”.

LLS

68 posted on 02/21/2010 5:57:01 AM PST by LibLieSlayer (hussama will never be my president... NEVER!)
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To: americanophile
The national GOP is a party of exclusion and litmus tests, dominated on social issues by the religious right

Huh? You mean the party of gay caballeros, multiculturalism and open borders?

69 posted on 02/21/2010 6:01:01 AM PST by Altura Ct.
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To: joe fonebone

oh sorry. Didn’t mean to lump you in with the ‘loser’ class of drug addicts!


70 posted on 02/21/2010 6:04:33 AM PST by ovrtaxt (Constitutional money isn't just backed by gold and silver- it IS gold and silver.)
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To: americanophile

buh bye!

good luck finding that squishy center that is impressed by candidates who talk like conservatives and vote like liberals!


71 posted on 02/21/2010 6:04:48 AM PST by silverleaf (My Proposed Federal Budget is $29.99)
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To: americanophile

Leaving?!!! The Republican party thanks you!


72 posted on 02/21/2010 6:05:04 AM PST by timetostand (Ya say ya wanna revolution -- OK!)
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To: americanophile

Leaving?!!! The Republican party thanks you!


73 posted on 02/21/2010 6:06:33 AM PST by timetostand (Ya say ya wanna revolution -- OK!)
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To: americanophile

I heard this infiltrator once and he sounded like a reincarnation of Lord Haw-Haw.


74 posted on 02/21/2010 6:10:42 AM PST by sergeantdave
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To: MetaThought

He may be a talk show host,but, if he backs or backed obama, he is not a Conservative.


75 posted on 02/21/2010 6:18:36 AM PST by sport
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To: americanophile

I have never been asked for part aff. when I registered to vote. I suspect that it was asked the civil rights crowd would have raised hell a long time ago, maybe made un-constitional.


76 posted on 02/21/2010 6:25:51 AM PST by Waco (Wanna buy an FBI file,,,See Hillary, she's got 900 of them.)
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To: paulycy
I believe I speak for the majority of humankind when I say, “I give not a single flying f*ck about the party affiliation of this self aggrandizing radio putz.”

Worth repeating.

77 posted on 02/21/2010 7:43:21 AM PST by proud2beconservativeinNJ ("In God We Trust")
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To: Cboldt
Blaming the voter is a loser's excuse.

B.S.

A voter who throws a tantrum and refuses to vote can kiss my patriotic rear. Move to a country where you don't have to bother.

Making choices sometimes sucks, but that's what real citizens do. They make choices, even hard ones. Even sucky ones.

A true, patriotic citizen does NOT sit in the corner and pout because he doesn't LIKE the choices presented to him!

78 posted on 02/21/2010 7:48:05 AM PST by TChris ("Hello", the politician lied.)
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To: TruthHound
Well, he brags about being a long time republican. I didn't hear him say he was conservative.
79 posted on 02/21/2010 7:48:40 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: americanophile
As an indepedent you will never get to participate in the primary elections. When I figured this out 15 years ago, I felt compelled to register R.

I have a friend that is registered D and her husband is registered R that way they get to participate in both primary elections. We kid her all the time that she is a registered Democrat. But she knows what is coming down the pike before any of us R's do.

80 posted on 02/21/2010 8:28:06 AM PST by thirst4truth (www.Believer.com)
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