"THAT which you believe"---"An open letter to Republicans"

6/23/02 | redrock

[christine]

very well said, do! ;)

[ImpBill]

The bots will come out of the woodwork on this one buddy.

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.

[christine]

anyone who wants off of my ping list, please let me know! ;)

[ImpBill]

Lott/Hastert .... Hastert/Lott ....

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.

[seenenuf]

So a translation is requested. Sorry I typed/thought in code. L0L.
Fighting Socialistic ideals, is part and parcel of what Republicans do, but to varing degrees of success.
President Bush being the leader in that work, has failed free trade in steel. He is pounding away at school testing schools, though he wants vouchers and couldn't achieve same. But, he will survived to fight another day.

Medicine and education, are now failing to provide because of prevailing Socialist ideals - being inflicted by Dems and the unions, the most out-dated and destructive force in the USA, short of the 'living wage'.
I remain hard nosed, within a conversation with a thinking Voter, and usually the conversation changes before I want it to, but, it is something that I can DO.
Those free pills and doctoring that AARP fights for is socialized medicine. Rich retireds don't want to spend
their money on their own healthcare, thus they and their
kids are loosing out on the best possible card. I find that disgusting. The Dims probably do also,, but a vote is a vote to them.
A senior discount for a seat in a movie, means that the rest of us pay more. That is Socialism, and it is robs the kids trying to get ahead. It is pervasive in everything.

Socialistic charity and means-testing should not be politically incorrect words.

So many Republicans will fight and write and fret for a perfect conservative world. There is a bigger immediate battle. We have taught the world how to do Capitalism, but we can loose it with impatience for the perfect politician.

I don't think there is a dimes worth difference in the opinions expressed on this thread, just a difference in how it is expressed, and finally a waste of time in refining and defining our ideals. Think I'll go find a
non-believer to talk with.

[Theodore R.]

Hastert is supposed to be some kind of wrestler. One would never know it considering how weak he is in leadership skills. I suspect that fewer than 15 percent of the American people even know who is his, where he is from, or what he does. It's really like there is no Speaker right now. I imagine that he is glad G.W. gets all the attention.

[PoppingSmoke]

The majority of American do not belong to either party. This is the ground that both parties actively attempt to recruit from. One day a leader will rise that will be the popular President. One day. When the steeple get tired of the daily oats feed to them. Until then it's spin, spin, spin. Hopefully, it will not be after all hell has broken out. You in this forum should be thankful. Your informed no matter what your political ideology is. There are tons of people out there who really have no clue. Scary as it sounds, they are the majority.

God Save the Republic.

[VinnyTex]

I left the GOP after the Impeachment Trial joke

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.

[thrcanbonly1]

Thanks for ping

[Luis Gonzalez]

"I had my bout with spite. I had it in 1992..."

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.

[seenenuf]

Oh krap. My kingdom for spellcheck on FR!

[Luis Gonzalez]

Don't try to confuse these people with facts!

What's wrong with you?

[harpo11]

GReetings redrock, you raise some very interesting questions. I do not have answers only humble observations.

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.

[VinnyTex]

He seems a little high strung. Maybe a few stiff drinks might be in order.

[tricky_k_1972]

Great criticism, I'm one od those so called "Pragmatic" conservatives. I Live in reallity. I know the party has problems and I'm willing to work to combat that. I will vote for those Republicans who uphold my ideals, but I will not vote for a cannidate who cannot win and there by elect a cannidate who I absolutly don't wan't. I also will not elect a canidate I don't want through the omision of my vote. If you have any constructive suggestions besides the offhand comment I'll be glad to listen.

[CDHart]

Who said the paragraph that's in italics?

Carolyn

[tricky_k_1972]

I agree, my spelling is horible.

[thrcanbonly1]

"Were parties here divided merely by a greediness for office,...to take a part with either would be unworthy of a reasonable or moral man." --Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 1795. ME 9:317

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!

[tricky_k_1972]

"horrible", damn foiled again

[rdb3]

I believe that this is an open invitation to a flame war.

I'll pass.