Posted on 06/22/2002 9:46:05 AM PDT by quidnunc
This summer will mark the 47th year since I took my first Republican job: as public relations director for the party in Minnesota. Since then I have rarely strayed from politics, or my party. I served as a staffer to two GOP congressmen, to a GOP governor, as a federal appointee to Richard Nixon and as a corporate executive who supported in Washington and Springfield much, if not all, of the Republican agenda.
You can describe me as a conservative. Thus I am qualified to say that although I dearly love conservatives, they tend to be querulous, disagreeable and threaten revolt when Republican office-holders don't please them. So it is now with George W. Bush. Here is a president who has surprised us all with the firmness and resolve he showed after 9/11. I must tell you I voted for him with less enthusiasm than I had for many of his predecessors. But his administration has pleased me often — most notably on two issues: defense of America and social policy.
Yet, Bush has to get re-elected in a country that is evenly divided on philosophy. Thus he must occasionally — on matters that sometimes offend conservatives — dip into the other side's ideology for support. He has done so on three notable occasions: on the issue of steel protectionism, where he departed his free-market proclamations; on the signing of a campaign finance bill tailored by his enemies, and allowing his attorney general (in the words of Libertarian Nat Hentoff in the Washington Times) "to send disguised agents into religious institutions, libraries and meetings of citizens critical of government policy without a previous complaint, or reason to believe that a crime has been committed."
In a perfect political world, where conservatives are in the majority, these things would be sufficient to encourage a boycott of the polls. Either that or a protest vote for the Democratic opposition. But we are not in a perfect world. We conservatives have a president who didn't receive a majority of the votes, and has one house of Congress against him. He must make compromises to get re-elected. Conservatives who do not understand the nature of politics ought to stay in their air-conditioned ivory towers and refrain from political activity altogether. If they cannot adjudge the stakes in this election and the difference between Bush and an Al Gore or a John Kerry (D-Mass.) or a Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.), they are foolish indeed.
-snip-
To read the remainder of this op/ed open the article via the link provided in the thread's header.
America isn't about to collapse, no matter how much its enemies long for it.
"uncited and unquoted" per your request: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10051
http://www.priestsforlife.org/articles/contractwithamericanwomen.html
In the beginning, God said
And it was.
Now, since we are made in His Image, albeit fallen and therefore dimmed, we nevertheless retain some of that creative power within us to do good.
The things that come out of our mouth have the ability to build up that which is broken down. If someone we meet has been through the valley of the shadow, we can, if we choose to do so, bring them hope...we can remind them of their worth and value as human beings. We can point out the good things about them, and help them regain sight of hope.
Words of kindness from a Pastor, a teacher, a parent, a neighbor might be the fuel that powers an individual to a life of productive service to their nation and their world.
Of course the flip side is that we also have a frightful power to destroy with the words of our mouth.
If a child accidently spills their soda pop on the couch in the living room, we can snap and tell them they are worthless...perhaps inflicting a wound which they will carry til the day they die.
Our spouse might never forget the harsh words spoken in the heat of an argument...and plant the evil seed that results years later in a bitter divorce that destroys everything good that was ever developed from the union.
I say all of this because there have been seeds of bitterness sown here of late; in this place we love and value.
A spirit of division and malice has taken root.
It is a spiritual attack on much that is good...threatening to destroy what has in the past, and has the potential in the future, to aid greatly in the restoration of the greatest free republic the earth has ever seen.
I would ask everyone here to stop and take stock. I do not exclude myself from this request.
It is my opinion that the moderators, and Jim, should take a new approach to how they handle the problems we are faced with here:
I believe that every post that is delivered with malice should be history.
I believe that every one of us knows a malicious post when they see it...if some moderators can't figure it out, then I believe Jim should find moderators who do have that much discernment.
Just my opinion.
If, in the heat of battle, I have allowed myself to slip into maliciousness against anyone here, I apologize. I will try to do better.
But realize that I care deeply about conservative principle, about my beliefs, about my country, about my party, and also about the future of Free Republic.
Regards to all,
EV
Wouldn't it have saved you a lot of trouble if you had simply controlled yourself and explained who it was you were referring to? Maybe you're just incapable of such self-discipline.
It can't be pleasant for you to spend so much time turning nearly every person you encounter into an enemy - and you've made more than a couple tonight.
But I guess that's just "tough noogies".
You ought to try the words "I apologize" on for size.
Yep.
But if they are gonna fight dirty, they are going to soil everything around them.
This thread has turned into something which makes me want to shower every hour.
Yeah, although given the subject matter its bound to be kind of controversial. Yeah some of the dissing gets old, but it also goes to show that debate (arguing?) is alive and well and we all have a pulse.
While surfing a couple weeks back I stumbled across a columnists who wrote an article around the subject of FR. She was suprised by the amount of debate that goes on among conservatives. I dont think theres much debate that goes on at DU and the rest besides sloganeering, so I tend to think what we do is better than no debate at all.
I have not invaded the sacred world of the Keyes threads But I have lurked there. Your sanctimonious posturing is a odious to say the least. I have in the past tried every approach to the EOP's. I have tried serious debate, I have tried humor, I have tried reason. To no avail. I have given up because you and you ilk have no concept of the reality we face as a nation. I have decided that the best course is just to laugh at you and approach you with the ridicule you and your like minded allies so richly deserve. I am SICK of being told what a “true conservative” should be. I am SICK of being called a “BushBOT”, a “STATIST”, a “Jack booted thug”, A “hater of the constitution”. I am SICK a bunch of 3rd part whackos that have the unmitigated GALL to LECTURE we naive Republicans on what it takes to win and then to threaten us with losing their votes if we don’t “see the absolute TRUTH” they are oh so patiently trying to impart.
If I may, you are deserving of an apology and your reply is typical of Freepers that I admire the most. Sincere, honest, well, you know the rest. Thanks.
Were our constitution not under attack by both the right and left at various times we would be living in the utopia envisioned by our founders. When the blueprint for our future is violated, some are more incensed than others.
The printed word (this forum for example) often lacks the tone that might accompany the thought being expressed at the time. I've read responses that I took the wrong way simply due to the words chosen by the person writing. I've learned to chalk it up to each person's style when reading their replys sometimes. I would not want to see tpaine banned for rudeness as he seriously defends the constitution. It has been under attack and continues to be and I'd find it very difficult to abandone those dug into the trenches trying to defend it. I've thickened my skin toward the guys who might one day jump on a grenade on my behalf, 'cause I'll never know who that person might be.
You need to watch "A Christmas Carol". Soon.
Just by itself it makes quite a yarn.
A new "requirement" would necessitate the creation of a new rule OR a change in the manner that the old rules were applied.
New regulations or a change in the manner that the old rules were applied would necessitate publication of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and a public comment period. Any new regulations created with a predetermined outcome and without changes in existing law would be subject to court challenge.
Pursuant to what law could a President order such a regulatory change to take place?
By the way, I am a Republican, not the member of any third party.
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