Posted on 06/23/2002 10:25:55 AM PDT by redrock
"This is free ground. All the way from here to the Pacific Ocean. No man has to bow. No man born to royalty. Here we judge you by what you do, not by who your father was. Here you can be something. Here's a place to build a home. It isn't the land--there's always more land. It's the idea that we all have value, you and me, we're worth something more than the dirt. I never saw dirt I'd die for, but I'm not asking you to come join us and fight for dirt. What we're all fighting for, in the end, is each other."
What is it that you believe???
A real question....since so many times on this forum, and others, the Republican 'mantra' has become a simple one.
Defeat the Democrats..whatever the cost..the Democrats are the enemy...(sort of Orwellian in it's simplicity)..repeated time after time...and anyone who dares to ask questions of George Bush's policies and actions is loudly shouted down.
But here's a 'news flash' for ya.......It may be that the Democratic Senators...Representitives.....leaders ARE the enemy of maintaining a Constitutional Republic.
But...the average member of the Democratic Party...is not.
The average member of the Democratic Party is just brainwashed..(for want of a better word)...
Just like the average member of the Republican Party is in danger of becoming.
"This is a party, this Republican Party, a Party for free men, not for blind followers, and not for conformists. "
So..I'll ask my very simple questions once again......
And Republicans who wish to rant and rave about 'third party' this or that...go right ahead.
But George W. Bush barely won the last election.....
You NEED staunch conservatives ( nowadays I guess we would be considered 'radical'.....) to help re-elect him....and others of the party..
CONVINCE us.........that at a certain point you will be willing to fight for 'old time values'.....
CONVINCE us ...that you have not become slavish followers of GWB...in much the same way as some did with Clinton....that you will ask the 'hard questions' (and demand the answers).
CONVINCE us.......and you will not do so by the constant dismissal of our very real concerns.
CONVINCE us.......
-----------------
So where do we 'draw the line'????
Should we elect rapists or murderers...if they are members of the Republican Party..and could 'help retake the Senate'???
At what point do you say 'this far and no further'???
Must every single American 'prostitute' themselves in order for one political party (one which on CLOSE examination is no different than the other one) to 'control' government???
I have certain values and beliefs...based upon my Belief in God.
Should I just throw those Beliefs and Values away...and close my eyes....just so the Republicans can win???
The basis of this Nation is a hardcore belief that the values and ideals (sorry to use that word..ideals...seems that word anymore has the same effect on Republicans as a Cross does to evil) that founded this Nation are important....
You hit the nail on the head.
I left the GOP after the Impeachment Trial joke. 32 years of work, money, and votes for the GOP as a loyal party member.
When the "leaders" of the party became willing to openly trade honor and integrity for "political capital and power" I accepted the fact that I could vote for whomever I wished as a citizen not aligned with any "party".
Someone else stated he registered GOP so he could vote in primaries. I have gotten to the point that it really doesn't matter. I vote on election day for the candidate the most meets my beliefs. Granted it will usually be a Republican but they can't count on either my vote or my physical/financial support any longer.
The GOP as a political party is so similar to the DemocRATs. And the NEW BASE of the GOP is likewise the same as the base of the Democrats in that anything done to acquire political capital and power is OK.
Don't kid yourself the NEW BASE of the GOP only wants conservatives around on election day for their votes. They know they can't win without us but once the election is passed they can't distance themselves fast enough from us.
anyone who wants off of my ping list, please let me know! ;)
Not much difference. In fact most of the "out front" leaders of the GOP, including GW Bush, could care less about "principled conservatism".
I said it before and will risk repeating it. The base of the GOP is no longer conservative ... it is "pragmatists". They wear their conservatism like a coat and remove it whenever the heat gets to be too much.
The "pragmatic" base of the GOP would really like to see the "conservatives" disappear from the political scene.
God Save the Republic.
What joke? In order to convict in the senate, 67 Senators are needed. The GOP had 54-55. As one Democrat Senator said, "we don't care if you have Clinton on tape raping a Nun, we're not going to vote to convict."
End of story. You can bitch all you want, but that's the facts jack.
The legacy of those "principled conservatives" who broke from the GOP in 1992 to stand by their convictions, will forever be known as the Clinton presidency.
Most are not as willing to admit it as you have...it takes a big man.
What's wrong with you?
Few men, even of the greatest and highest virtue and principle can easily turn their heads from the lure of gold and subsequent power. IMHO, it takes an even greater man to stand firm and staunch against the vagaries of self interest and promotion. Heck, we have a generation of elected government officials who seem to believe that it is all about them and their political careers rather than "we the people." And their narvana, or the nectar they seek, is our hard earned tax money.
Politics offers ample opportunity for men and women to faithfully and honorably serve their oath of office or to faithfully serve their own ambitions.
Both political parties and their elected officials suffer from men and women who would do anything to serve their own ambitions. Hence, we see no overwhelming desire on their part to enact term limits on themselves.
More interesting to me is to see these characters accumulate vast amounts of wealth, perks, influence, prestige and an overriding sense of self-indulgence and self-importance which would have our Founding Fathers rolling in their graves to see what has become of their plans for our young Republic's continued success. Do we ever hear them complain about their medical plans, or their pension plans that we pay for? No way. Do we ever see any action on their part for responsibility and accountability? Does anyone in government ever get the boot, or the pink slip?
Sadly, for our Constitution and the memory of our Founding Fathers for their constant wariness and vivid warnings to us as mere citizens towards those who reach powerful positions in government, these Congress dudes have seemingly made career preservation their primary oath of office.
Carolyn
I do not need to convince anybody to vote one way or another. That is not my job. I am not running for office.
I have only one responsibility. To uphold my own personal principles.
The "line" that must never be crossed is the Constitution. Deliberate violation of the Constitution for aquisition of power and money is not redeemable. Violators must be prosecuted and jailed. They must not be voted back into office merely becaue they are Republicans or Democrats.
Grow Up America. Start acting like adults, and act with honor. Stick to your principles.
People who think this country will collapse without the existence of Republicans or Democrats have no faith in themselves or the strength of a constitutional republic. They are childlike and REQUIRE somebody to take care of them.
7 posted on 6/23/02 10:41 AM Pacific by semper_libertas
My thoughts exactlly. Bravo!
I'll pass.
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