Posted on 06/22/2010 8:18:02 PM PDT by EternalVigilance
AIP-endorsed congressional candidate Bill Randall will apparently be the winner tonight in the NC-13 run-off election.
Congratulations Bill!
7 of 7 Counties Reporting
Percent | Votes | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
William (Bill) Randall (REP) | 58.95% | 3,789 | ||||
Bernie Reeves (REP) | 41.05% | 2,639 | ||||
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6,428
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Oh really, and why is that? Because I don't join your third party?
I've got news for you - I'm ALL about principles and the practical means of getting our country back. That's ALL I've talked about, and forms a significant part of what I WRITE about. If you're too blinkered to see past the fact that I think taking the GOP back for constitutional conservatism is a better way than going third party (i.e. operational difference), then the intellectual deficiency is yours, and is your problem, not mine.
Sorry, but I don't have to join the American Interdependetalist Party to have principles or stand for the Constitution.
Oh really, and why is that? Because I don't join your third party?
I've got news for you - I'm ALL about principles and the practical means of getting our country back. That's ALL I've talked about, and forms a significant part of what I WRITE about. If you're too blinkered to see past the fact that I think taking the GOP back for constitutional conservatism is a better way than going third party (i.e. operational difference), then the intellectual deficiency is yours, and is your problem, not mine.
Sorry, but I don't have to join the American Interdependetalist Party to have principles or stand for the Constitution.
Nobody asked you to join our party. Why would we want you when you misrepresent who and what we are so egregiously?
For instance, I would quibble with your statement that there are “a few” Republicans left who still remember the Founders, etc.
Entirely false.
Don’t characterise the entire Party on the basis of a few Senators, Representatives, and insider hacks who are more interested in party and personal power over principle. This CERTAINLY doesn’t apply to the millions of rank and file Republicans who are just as concerned about the Constitution and the future of liberty as you or Eternal Vigilance are.
:-)
Let me TRY to explain this to you again...
First, I don’t know Eternal Vigilance. I’m sure he’s a nice guy. I don’t fault him if he believes a third party is the route to take. I would not fully agree with him personally, though I think a third party route is NECESSARY in some cases ABSOLUTELY. NY-23 comes to mind.
Second, my history with the Republican Party is NOT as an “outsider.” I was an ACTIVE member within the party for YEARS. President of the College Republicans at the College I attended. Provided precinct workers for two counties in North Carolina for the reelection campaigns of President Ronald Reagan and Senator Jesse Helms in 1984 (along with MANY other State candidates). Executive Committeeman in South Carolina UNTIL 1996, when I resigned from the party in disgust because both the STATE party under (the pathetic) Governor David Beasley and (the anemic) Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and the Republican Congress capitulated to the Clinton machine.
The Republican Party as a whole LEFT their CONSERVATIVE ideals. They largely DESERTED their CONSTITUTIONAL moorings. In doing so, THEY LEFT ME. I have never regretted it.
There ARE a REMNANT of Republicans that are worthy of support, because they remain faithful to the Constitutional and Conservative Principles that made the Party and the nation successful. THOSE are the people I will support. Nikki Haley. Jim DeMint. A few others in SOuth Carolina... Some outside the State, like Michelle Bachmann, Mike Lee, and Chris Christie.
These people, unfortunately, are the EXCEPTION, NOT the rule in the Republican party. MOST of them were NOT supported by the powers that be in either the State or the National Republican Committee. To the contrary, these groups are breaking their neck in general to find moderates to run — Democrat’s lite... NO SALE, thank you.
Will that change? Perhaps. If so, perhaps the Republican Party will find its way BACK to me — but I will NOT go running back to THEM. My loyalty is to the PRINCIPLES of the Constitution, to Conservatism, to liberty. If Republicans represent that, GREAT. If not, I’ll go third party or independent at the ballot box. If NOBODY represents liberties and everyone represents tyranny at the ballot box — or there is no longer a ballot box — well, then I’ll represent LIBERTIES with the cartridge box...
Radical? Maybe. So was Patrick Henry. And George Waashington. ANd they didn’t care for political parties much either....
George Washington, from his farewell address:
I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.
Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.
It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.
But who are they? Where are they running, and for what office?
Iowa
Tom Shaw, Iowa House of Representatives, District 8 (Republican) http://www.electshaw2010.com/
Kansas
MarylandDavid Powell, Kansas Insurance Commissioner, (Republican) http://www.davidpowellforkansas.com/
Dan Gilyeat, US House of Representives, District 3 (Republican) http://www.danielgilyeat.com/
Jim Anderson, US House of Representives, District 4 (Republican) http://www.anderson4congress.com/default.aspx
Jim Rutledge, US Senate (Republican) http://rutledgeforussenate.com/
Chris Lewis, US House of Representatives, District 1 (Independent) http://www.facebook.com/chrislewisforcongress
Steve Schulin, US House of Representatives, District 4 (Maryland Independent Party) http://www.mdforsteve.org/
Scott Guenthner, Maryland House of Delegates, District 4A (Unaffiliated) http://www.md4guenthner.com
Don Dwyer, Maryland House of Delegates, District 31 (Republican incumbent) http://www.delegatedwyer.com/
Massachusetts
James Walsh III, Selectman of The Town of Grafton (America's Party of Massachusetts)
Nevada
Sharron Angle, US Senate (Republican Party) http://www.sharronangle.com/
New York
Doug Hoffman, US House of Representatives, District 23 (Conservative Party of NY) http://doughoffmanforcongress.com
North Carolina
Bill Randall, US House of Representatives, District 13 (Republican) http://www.randallforcongress.com/
Texas
Melissa Pehle-Hill, Texas House of Representatives, District 4 (Independent) http://www.melissa2010.com/
Virginia
Ken Cuccinelli, Attorney General (Republican) http://www.cuccinelli.com/
I think the main difference between you and me is that you are backward looking, while I am forward looking.
Let me explain what I mean.
Like you, I have had a checkered history with the GOP. On at least two occasions (that I can remember), I have left the GOP in a huff, thumping my chest about how I’m so much better and more conservative, over some petty thing that the Party did that I didn’t like. I also wove a wonderful fabric of self-justification about how they’ve left me, I didn’t leave them, and how I’m just too jolly conservative and good to tie myself to a party. I’ve even flirted with third parties.
Then I woke up. I realised that there’s nothing for conservatism in third parties. In fact, most third parties are basically trojan horses designed to split the conservative vote and blunt conservative activism (case in point - the “Tea Party Parties” in Florida and Nevada, which we KNOW were put together by people trying to split the conservative vote and keep liberal Dems in office).
I realised that the better way to advance conservatism is to take the GOP back over, toss out the RINOs, and return to the conservatism of our forefathers, using the ready-made organisation of the GOP to do that.
When I say that you are backward looking, I get this from what you’ve said. All you said to me was how mad that you were with the GOP because it didn’t meet your standards of purity. That’s well and good, but it’s not useful. I’m sure it makes you feel good about yourself to compare yourself to the present GOP “leadership” and pat yourself on the back for how conservative and constitutional you are. Problem is, that doesn’t do anything to advance conservatism.
I am forward looking. I don’t think it’s enough to pine for the past. I think we have to work for the future, which in my view, means that conservatives get together, get on the same page, and start exercising our activist and electoral muscles to actually win. We do this by taking the GOP back.
Now here’s the kicker: My way is actually working. All across the country, we see conservative insurgents taking down establishment RINOs. Think Rand Paul. Think Mike Lee. Think Marco Rubio. Think Nikki Haley. We also see the GOP APPARATUS itself being taken and made more conservative. This has been happening at the state and country levels here in my own state of NC. Look at Maine, whose GOP convention adopted a Tea Party platform.
In short, TEApublicanism is working. Thumping our chests is not.
And do you know why its working? Because conservative REPUBLICANS are making it happen. This is not work being done by third parties. It’s not being done by independents. The GOP is being re-conservatised by Republican conservatives.
Frankly, non-Republican conservatives can either get on board or get passed by - it’s their choice.
And yes, I grant that there are times when going third party is the better option, such as with Doug Hoffman in NY-23. That’s why I, in fact, supported Doug Hoffman with my time and even with $50 that I could have used somewhere else, but chose to contribute to the cause of conservatism. But Doug Hoffman’s situation was also a special case that doesn’t apply most of the time.
In short, I oppose third parties because I think they only serve to divide conservatives and blunt our effectiveness.
Sorry, but disagreeing with you operationally doesn't constitute "misrepresenting" you.
Your problem is that you think we’re like the other parties, and we’re not. Broaden your horizons and listen a bit. You might learn something.
Titus:
It seems to me that you are the one thumping his chest. As to looking forward or looking back, I can assure you that my eyes are fixed on the future, NOT the past. I, too, supported many of the candidates you named for office, most notably Nikki Haley here in South Carolina. I did so as a strong and active member of the Tea Party movement here — but NOT as a part of the Republican party machine. I have and will support Jim DeMint the same way.
From my perspective, you seem to believe that the best way to promote Conservative principles is through the vehicle of the Republican Party. I believe the best way to promote Conservative principles is to support individual candidates who stand for (and live) those principles. Parties are notoriously complex and difficult to be held to account. Individuals are a bit easier to pin to the wall. Can’t wait to nail Lindsey Grahamnesty to the wall in 2014....
I think our goal is ultimately the same — perhaps we have different methods of going about it. I think your way is doomed to frustration and getting bogged down by the party apparatus. Maybe mine won’t make a wide enough impact or quick enough difference in our system... In any event, I’m not merely pounding my chest and attempting to make myself feel good. If I was doing that, I’d be in a cabins in the mountains somewhere on the backside on nowhere without human contact for weeks or months at a time.
:-) That’s not my “mission.” I’m looking forward — to restoring the KIND of nation our Founders desired and intended. That kind of ideal is not retro, it’s visionary.
While I’m no fan of Brad Miller, at least I don’t find him to be unethical, as Bill Randall is. Randall is nothing more than an opportunist and con artist. When he speaks, he never really says anything of value or what he plans to do....just repeats what others have said or talks about himself or his website.
If there’s ever been a “Christian” hypocrite, Randall is the worst. He’s no leader, because he’s had seven (7) campaign managers, 3 treasurers, and countless others on his “so called” staff that he hires, yet never pays and he gets angry and doesnt speak to them when they dare leave him. Once people began to “work” with him day in and day out, they learn just the type of person he is and they leave and it’s not because they’re fired. They leave because they find out what a fake he is. Also, Randall is in desperate need of anger management!
Sad thing is: his followers will tell you that everyone else is wrong and lying, except randall. While Miller needs to be replaced, randall isn’t the person we need.
Bill Randall is slime and another “slick willy”. I cannot believe how many people he has fooled. I do wish that everyone would dig in and research as I have done, to find out what an opportunist and con artist he is.
Another thing, he claims to be such a good Christian, yet his speech writer is a stand up comedian and can’t use a sentence in a joke, without using a couple of four letter words.
His treasurer drinks moonshine whiskey on church grounds. Randall knows about both of these and NEVER says anything to them about it. As long as you’ll work for randall for free, he doesn’t care what you say and do.
No he isn’t. He’s a closet democrat. No republican expects to live off the government or expects everything for free, as randall does. You all cannot imagine how much he’s embellished his resume.
He’s been telling us he had a Master’s Degree, ever since he moved to NC.....yet, he never had a degree until March of this year. Just a little embellishment there.
He tells us he’s owned his own business, yet he can’t give us the name of it.
I think you’re full of it.
I have proof of what I say, because I did my homework! Do you have proof that I’m “full of it” and did you do your homework or just take what randall said as the gospel?
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