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I have a question for you Torie and I mean absolutely no offense by it. I'm very curious, and would like to have a full understanding of not only your view, but the view of other moderate Republicans on FR.

What does a moderate, such as yourself, happy with the status quo, hope to contribute to an independent, grass roots, conservative, website, working to roll back decades of governmental largess, root out political fraud, corruption, and championing causes which further conservatism in America?

What is the message you would like conservatives to glean from you, what do you hope to contribue to our thinking, and what do you take away from the FR experience as a moderate?

People, such as myself, that hold deeply conservative principles realize that we have no longer have a home in the Republican Party. Carl Rove went to California and said so in plain English. "If conservatives cannot adapt to the new "Big Tent" political platform of the new Compassionate Conservative Republican Party, they should leave". There is a war raging in the Republican Party right now in California, between conservatives such as myself, and a man, Bush, who, with his cohorts have high jacked the Republican Party and are running with it to the far left of Democrats, something that may never be repaired.

I don't think this fact has hit moderates, such as yourself, yet. Many of you will be satisfied with the doppleganger replacement Republican Party. And perhaps this tactic will work for Bush and socialist Republicans. Perhaps the vaccancy left by conservatives, such as myself, will be filled with the left, the moderate, and minorities. It's a gamble on his part for sure. But I don't think it's very kewl of moderates to slam conservatives that see the situation clearly and resent the smug tone in D.C. that says "Who are you going to vote for Gore?", I wouldn't take talk like that from a man I was madly in love with, much less some pizzzant political party.

So we part company on Bush, I see him as death on a pale horse to the Republican Party's conservative base. While I don't have an answer as to how to fix this mess, other than writing in who I feel best represents my views, I don't see how lying to myself about the facts is going to do a thing to further conservative causes, nor do I see how compromising my conservative principles is going to futher conservatism.

I try to influence folks with my point of view on particular issues through argument. I enjoy the debate. I am also here to learn, and my views on some issues have been influenced, say on CFR which comes to mind. Some of my "moderation" is merely strategic, some of it substantive. I also want lurkers to see that not all that participate here believe things that turn more moderate voters off, even if they are conservative on some matters, such as economics. I am also into politics as a sport, and enjoy conversing about campaigns. I hope that helps.

If Jim Robinson thinks I am a negative influence, or detract from the purposes of his forum, I assume he will let me know. He hasn't yet. Maybe he just hasn't noticed me. :)

"...independent, grass roots, conservative, website, working to roll back decades of governmental largess, root out political fraud, corruption, and championing causes which further conservatism in America?"

Yes, and this is a long term proposition. Securing the blessings of Liberty does not happen overnight when you first have to root out a century or more of liberalism. I'll take a moderate Republican Bush any day over a socialist liberal such as Gore or Hillary.

People, such as myself, that hold deeply conservative principles realize that we have no longer have a home in the Republican Party. Carl Rove went to California and said so in plain English. "If conservatives cannot adapt to the new "Big Tent" political platform of the new Compassionate Conservative Republican Party, they should leave". There is a war raging in the Republican Party right now in California, between conservatives such as myself, and a man, Bush, who, with his cohorts have high jacked the Republican Party and are running with it to the far left of Democrats, something that may never be repaired.

I don't think this fact has hit moderates, such as yourself, yet. Many of you will be satisfied with the doppleganger replacement Republican Party. And perhaps this tactic will work for Bush and socialist Republicans. Perhaps the vaccancy left by conservatives, such as myself, will be filled with the left, the moderate, and minorities. It's a gamble on his part for sure. But I don't think it's very kewl of moderates to slam conservatives that see the situation clearly and resent the smug tone in D.C. that says "Who are you going to vote for Gore?".

Well said Miss Pie.

--- and as we see, this smug attitude has spread far from D.C. It may indeed be true that our only option is to 'hunker down' & let the socialists elect Prince AL's & Queen Hillarys. -- At least with such 'leaders' we have clear enemies to fight.

-- Can you imagine the unified screams of FR outrage if AL had proposed the Homeland Security Dept?