Posted on 06/13/2002 8:27:39 AM PDT by christine
That's what I figured. You have no answers!
>>>There are other, more effective means available.
Like what?
>>>BTW, Reagan wasn't/isn't some kind of god, he wasn't even a particularly great president, unless you look at him in relative terms.
Never considered Reagan a god, but in historical terms, he was a great President and did more for the conservative movement then any president in my lifetime. In fact, Reagan was the most conservative President we've had since Calvin Coolidge.
When will you wake up to the fact that the GOP is either unwilling or unable to provide any significant political victories for the Constitutional Conservative's cause?
Why do you insist we all keep betting on the same dead horse?
What was the last significant reversal of unConstitutional law that took place in Congress (which the GOP controlled during 6 of Clinton's 8 years)?
The "Republican Revolution" of the early 1990's did see Newt scoring some success with his "Contract with America" (most of which Clinton worked against until he could get them passed as "his" ideas), but these were not victories for the Constitution (although the unsuccessful Term-Limits point was at least in the spirit of limiting governmental abuse). Ronald Reagan discussed closing the Dept. of Education, but was unable to overcome the Democrat-controlled House he faced (he had 53 in the Senate for most of his 8 years). Heck, look at the very document itself. Most amendments before the 13th contained the phrase "Congress shall not", and most after the 13th contain the phrase "Congress shall have the power" (and none say "shall not"). That basically (coincidentally?) covers the lifetime of the GOP, and it empowers government more than it limits it.
Maybe the Republican leadership doesn't understand what that document is all about. So please, it's your turn to prove that you understand what that document is all about... tell us where the GOP has scored a Constitutional victory by restoring our out-of-control government to some of those original limitations. Please. Give us a reason to vote for the GOP in 2004, so that we can at least be happy we'll be voting for a man of character to live in our White House, and not some... well, Socialist Democrat, for lack of a lower name to call someone.
You're so obsessed with the "game" of politics, as most of the politicians are, that you're forgetting exactly what it is that we're fighting for. The entire article is one long cry for SOMETHING to be done to favor the Constitution, and since it does not seem to be happening in the political realm, it simply must happen elsewhere. While you devout party apparatchik whine that "giving" all 3 Houses (HR, Sen, WH) to the Dems would be shameful, those of us who support the article's premises DON'T REALLY CARE. It doesn't seem to matter which party is in power, the Constitution suffers. The GOP takes us for granted and ignores their oath. We're merely saying that the only appropriate ballot reaction is to move on. If they get their collective heads out, and actually DO SOMETHING to restore Liberty, THEN we might come back. However, the GOP has been given their last free pass. Now they must prove themselves to get our "mere" half-a-million votes (not to be ignored when the last margin was a thousandth of that number).
Don't like it? Get Lott and company to start doing the right thing. Otherwise, we'll have to go elsewhere, and you guys can cry for 4 years that it's "our fault". Again, WE DON'T CARE. All we want is our Constitutional Liberties and Limits restored. By politics (which has never happpened), by open armed revolt (the last resort, but at least it has successful historical precedent), or by simply "walking away" and declaring independence, since there is no other Constitutionally-limited Land of the Free for us to escape to (unfortunately, every time that has happened in history, those who wished to be left alone were attacked, and it came to armed conflict once again). We're hopeful and peaceful enough to keep trying the first option... but History stands against us.
BTW, it was not a very large percent of Colonials who revolted, so the high-nosed comments about the GOP's 49% being larger than the Constitutionist's 1% are basically just exposing your historical ignorance. You Summer Soldiers and Sunshine Patriots have always existed, and will always wait until the hard fight is nearly won before you'll throw your hat in the ring. It's in your nature.
Sorry this rant is so long, but I'm trying to explain why the mantra of "ya gotta WIN before you can CHANGE things!" doesn't motivate us anymore. Simply put, you and your 49(%)-ers' have failed to score any touchdowns. Your guys set up the system so that we 1%-ers can affect the outcome. Don't start crying about it now that we've grown weary of watching you fail to uphold your own oath to the Constitution.
that's it in a nutshell.
The rant was long and you convinced me of nothing. So the political systrem in America doesn't movtivate you and some other folks from the one-percent crowd. You've given me a list of problems from your point of view. Some I agree with you and some I don't. The thing you haven't done, is to offer any substantive solutions to the problems facing America today. Moaning and groaning solves nothing.
Before effectual change can be made, that returns us to more of the original intent of the Founding Fathers, we've got to have the political power that can bring such changes around. When LBJ and the Democrats were passing all their liberal programs in the 1960`s, they had overwhelming majorites in both chambers of Congress. When FDR and the Democrats were passing all their social changes in the 1930`s, they had overwhelming majorities in both chambers of Congress. Only in the last several years have conservative-Republicans been in the majority. But as we all know, that majority has been very very slim. The Contract with America did accomplish some concrete things, but it was only a start.
For th last twenty years Wash-DC has been working under political gridlock, which has led to stalemate after stalemate in the legislative process. If you want a return to more constitutional republicanism, first you'll have to work to elect conservative minded individuals to office and build a soild majority base, just like the Democrats did with the New Deal and the Great Society.
>>>You Summer Soldiers and Sunshine Patriots have always existed, and will always wait until the hard fight is nearly won before you'll throw your hat in the ring. It's in your nature.
You're so full of shit, its pathetic! I've been fighting in the political arena, in one way, shape or form since the late 1960`s. As I said, you have no answers to solve the probelms of political gridlock and national apathy towards politics that exists today.
So go awaay and discuss philosophy and ideology with your fringe extremist friends and leave the real political battles to the people who care. You obviously don't care. Politics has been with mankind since the earilest days of civilized society and it will never go away. What you want is some perfect utopian society based on perfection. That will never happen!!!
Conservative Republicans will continue to work to retake the Senate this fall. Politics is a slow process and that means you take one step at a time. If you want to run to the political finish line, by drumming up support for a revolution, go for it, but remember, you won't be getting support from most of the American people. This is 2002, not 1776!
Wrong. I just want a government that adheres to the basic laws of the land, and is Constitutionally-limited in power, size and scope. I want to return to the 140 year precedent of unConstitutional income taxes. I want a government that treats every individual free citizen (not group identity) equally based on their behavior, without regard to their race's history, their gender, their income, their wealth, or the material things they own (most especially guns). This is not a Utopian dream, this is Constitution, Liberty, and Justice 101. It does not take 'perfect people' to achieve this, just Constitution-respecting Representatives. It's a shame that you can't understand that simple fact over your zeal for the millenia-long and 'glorious' history of party politics (a root cause of DC's turn away from the Constitution). It's also a shame that you invoke Reagan's name, when he was one of the few pols who (almost always) put his love of Freedom before his party affiliation.
I've been asking you, how would you get us there? You have given no answers!!!
>>>This is not a Utopian dream, this is Constitution, Liberty, and Justice 101.
Tell us, how you want us to get there.
>>>It's also a shame that you invoke Reagan's name, when he was one of the few pols who (almost always) put his love of Freedom before his party affiliation.
A shame? You've lost the argument, so you revert to attacking another FReepers sceen name. Just like Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and the other Founding Fathers, Ronald Reagan was a consumate politician. They all knew how to play politics and they all knew how to win. You obviously know how to lose and nothing more.
When you have something relevent to say and some answers to the problems facing America today, come back and present them for us all to see. Until then, I'll be around.
excellent post, teacher! :)
Worthless post.
You guys haven't offered any solutions to the problems facing America today. No answers to anything. All you do is whine and complain.
So exactly what would you do to get America back on track? Give me just three solutions.
Why is it that when Democrats control only one branch of government they pretty much enact everything they want, but when Republicans control only one branch of government they're helpless and useless.
All this talk about Republicans needing to control the WH and both chambers of Congress to affect change is a testament to their ineffectiveness.
I thought Republicans controlled the WH and both chambers of Congress for most of 2001. How come they didn't take the opportunity to repeal the death tax and some gun-control? This stands as a testament to their unwillingness.
And Republicans went right along with them and have continued funding for them even to this day...
For th last twenty years Wash-DC has been working under political gridlock, which has led to stalemate after stalemate in the legislative process.
If there was gridlock in Washington for 20 years the federal budget would not be $2 trillion.
Reagan and Bush Sr. failed to exercise judicious use of their veto. Republicans failed to stop socialist legislation when they held a majority in both Houses.
They can't solve what's beyond their comprehension.
The presidential debate between Al Gore and GWB can be summed up in one phrase, "My government program is better than his government program."
...what would you do to get America back on track? Give me just three solutions.
I'll give you six.
The most idiotic post of the day award goes to Alan.
That's your bogus wish list.
The first solution for you third party wannabees, should be how do you intend to get your candidates elected to public office, so you can start building a governing majority? Without a governing majority you can't get anything accomplished. Implimenting a political agenda isn't easy. And to date, the American people haven't shown any interest in the political agenda of libertarians, constitutionalists, reformers, natural lifers and other third parties. Even Ron Paul had to run as Republican for the House. He couldn't get elected as a Libertarian.
You'll have to dig deeper into your bag of tricks for some substantive answers. That last round of rhetoric, answered nothing and was very weak. I keep telling you political fringers, attacking the political system and elected officials, only goes so far. Actually, you guys are nothing more then a protest vote. It's easy saying what you want to do, it's alot more difficult getting things done.
I think you're right Roscoe.
All of the agencies and programs I listed were supposedly enacted as solutions to a perceived problem. Not only have none of them solved and problems. They've created new ones.
Without a governing majority you can't get anything accomplished.
The president can use his veto power to influence Congress. He can veto as much as he wants until Congress either overrides his veto or acquiesces to his demands. Unfortunately, we haven't had such a Republican president in office since Warren G. Harding in the 1920's.
That last round of rhetoric, answered nothing and was very weak.
Your question was, "...what would you do to get America back on track? Give me just three solutions." I answered your question.
...you guys are nothing more then a protest vote.
The only thing that will make the Republican party more conservative is competition. My vote isn't a protest vote. I vote for what I want. You incorrectly assume that I'd vote Republican in a race without a Libertarian candidate. More often than not the Republican candidate is promising more government and I don't support that.
What solutions do you have for the problems facing America and how do you intend on implimenting them?
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