To: Tourist Guy
It isn't enough to run--one must win. There's the rub, especially in a society addicted to cradle-to-grave nanny government.
Libertarians run every year promising to slash spending and eliminate government programs. Their overwhelming lack of success speaks volumes about the electability of any serious Republican politician who would run on the same platform.
# 105 by JCEccles
It isn't enough to win. A society addicted to cradle-to-grave nanny government doesn't need another liberal winning under the Republican label.
If I'm going to get a liberal whether I vote Republican or Democrat, I'll vote 3rd party. I won't just stay home, I want those mainstream politicians to KNOW that I voted AGAINST their socialist policies.
Republicans ran in the 1994 elections promising to slash spending and eliminate government programs. Their overwhelming success volumes about the electability of any serious Republican politician who would run on the same platform.
The Contract with America won both houses of Congress for the Republicans. When it became clear that Republicans lied about being conservatives they went from a projected 20 seat gain to losing the Senate when ONE MAN changed parties.
Bill Clinton lied, and everyone knew it. He committed treason, and everyone knew it. With all that, George Bush just barely scraped up a victory over Clinton's proxy, Al Gore. Why?
The people of our nation are by and large conservative, and the people don't trust Republicans to be conservative. When they were caught lying, Republicans lost faith with the people.
If the candidate won't roll back governmental power, why vote for him? If the candidate makes it plain that he supports big government, what good is he to us?
Once people realize that there is no difference between the two parties, they will join me in voting against both Republicans and Democrats, socialists all.
Third party candidates CAN win. All it takes is consistent adherence to your principles, and sooner or later you will gain the trust of the people.
At the risk of being wrong, I think only one third party candidate has ever won the Presidency. And I don't think any third party has quickly won control of Congress. The Republican Party has a large contingent of voters who routinely and mindlessly vote the straight or nearly straight Republican ticket. There is also a large contingent of conservatives who routinely vote Republican because they believe there are no other viable options for conservatives to cast a vote that will have an opportunity to elect someone reasonably close to their views; look at Jim Robinson for an example.
Now consider the fact that most of the conservative third parties are simply splinter groups of conservative Republicans who have lost faith that the Republicans will ever be more interested in restoring the Constitution than maintaining themselves in office.
Without debating the finer points, if we can reasonably agree on these two fundamental observations, here is how I see the current status of our ship of state. The Titanic is speeding directly toward the iceburg, but there is still time to steer the course back to iceburg-free waters. Short of a mutiny, only the Captain, and with his consent the crew, can alter the course of the ship. Someone or somebodies are going to have to persuade either the Captain or the crew who may be able in turn to persuade the Captain to change course. And they are going to have to do so while there is still time to turn. At some point before the Titanic hits the iceburg, there will be time to turn, but it won't matter any more; the Titanic will still hit the iceburg. If the passengers over-throw the Captain and install a new skipper, there can be no assurance that the crew will follow the orders of the new Captain and actually change the course of the ship. Some of the crew (the third parties) recognize the danger and are warning passengers to abandon ship. The overwhelming majority of the crew see no need for a change of course and control all of the lifeboats. The splinter groups of the crew have a plan but few people to man the oars even if they manage to find a lifeboat or two. And I would submit that we are so close to the iceburg that we are way beyond the training period required to install a new Captain and train a new crew. I'll let you answer two question: "Is there enough time to elect a new captain and train a new crew before we reach the point of no return?
And my second question: "Is there a means at hand that could quickly convince the existing Captain and crew to change course immediately?"
History is all about recording events of the time. Few of us actually think about the critical importance of time in our lives. I loved my work as a physician, and I made a lot of money at it. But when I had an incredible stroke of financial good fortune that made it possible for me to never need to work again to support our family's daily needs, I spent the better part of two years deciding whether medicine and the income from it were more important to me or the use of my own time. Medicine is a demanding mistress who knows no limits on the consumption or demands of time. I chose time. I wanted the freedom to use my time as I saw fit and not have to feel guilty about slighting or rationing time for medicine, time for my family or simply time for me to make other choices. I made the choice to retire at 44 so that I could make my own choices of how to spend "time". Time and good health are the two most precious commodities of life. They are the essence of life. And the United States is running out of time. If the United States hits the iceburg, there will be survivors when the ship breaks up. But there are simply not enough life boats, many Americans will go down with the ship when it breaks up and sinks. Changing course is the only alternative that will save all of the passengers and the crew. How much time is left? Will the passengers be better served and more likely saved by convincing the current Captain and crew or by training a new crew and overpowering and replacing the existing Captain and crew?
I have staked out a claim on a lifeboat. Is there anybody willing to get on board? And I have offered what I believe to be a workable plan to change the hearts and minds of the current Captain and crew? Tell me of your plan to turn the ship? How many lifeboats can you supply?
Putting all our eggs in one basket carries some risks. So does leaving any stone unturned in the pursuit of freedom. I am working on an alternative plan, one potentially stronger than the Contract with America alone. I don't think there is enough time to change both the Captain and the crew. But if we could find a charismatic, persuasive leader, perhaps he could convince the existing Captain, crew and passengers of the need for a change of course. Or alternatively, perhaps we could prevail on this leader and persuade him of the urgency of the problem, thereby getting him to replace the existing Captain. The test of his leadership skills would be to convince the crew and passengers of the choice for free waters over those of a watery grave. I know such a leader and I know how to finance his campaign. My Plan B should be available in less than a week, two at the most. In the mean time, please share your thoughts on how to turn the Titanic back into free waters.
MY VOTE IS FOR SALE! I THINK IT IS A SELLER'S MARKET AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO BECOME BUYERS, IF YOU ARE WILLING TO JOIN ME AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS!