Posted on 08/18/2002 5:18:22 PM PDT by Auntie Mame
Dear Freepers:
I just returned from the First Annual Free Republic Network Convention in Las Vegas.
The Free Republic Network Cruise last October was the most fun I've ever had in my whole life. The Free Republic Network Conference I just attended was the most informative and inspiring two days I've ever had in my whole life.
The Free Republic Network is stretching its muscle, not by talk, but by action. The Free Republic forum is liberty's college. The Free Republic Network is liberty's workplace.
If you attended, please use this thread to post your observations, comments and highlights of the conference. I will give mine below. But before I do, I'd like to take this time to thank Bob Johnson and the FRN board for putting on this conference. It's hard for me to find the words to adequately describe how great this experience was--and how much I learned.
The Leadership Institute had a lot to offer, too much really. The key for FRN will be in how they move to organize the chapters to take advantage of the skill set the Leadership Institute offers. They could then compile local information into a national database for organizing political action at multiple levels. The Republican Party should have been doing this years ago.
That, of course, is when two freepers meet at an event for the first time. It's a bit reminiscent of the mating dance of certain large birds. There's a simultaneous tilting of heads to read the other freeper's handle, then a step back to scan the internal database for if and when you might have conversed -- there are, after all, quite a few freepers.
But once in a while, more often than you'd think, you see the Click.
I know you.
I know what you care about. I know how you react under pressure, when you're tired, angry, grieving. I've felt your lacerating humor, respected your integrity, fed from your knowledge, weighed your ideas.
I know you far better than the guy in the next office I see every day.
I know who you are.
You were my friend before I ever saw your face.
I took a slightly different approach -- I went to the slots and got hammered there...
Uh, no.
A conservative who has fully adopted Alinsky's tactics is morally indistinguishable from a leftist -- for him the ends justify the means.
A conservative who understands Alinsky and can selectively use his tactics with integrity is a formidably effective activist.
"A conservative who understands Alinsky and can selectively use his tactics with integrity is a formidably effective activist. "
Then we agree, although - more and more - we're the positions and tactics of many Big 'R' Republicans are becoming indistinguishable from those of the Big 'D' Democrats. Alinsky-like tactics are being used to shut conservatives out of the Republican party.
I started out nit-picking a point. I'll bow out here and let the thread resume its discussion of the FRN Conference.
I'm going to bring you back in, because really your concerns are those that need to be discussed. Especially because they are concerns that might cause other FReepers to ignore a chance to use the conference(s) for the good they could do, the good of furthering the Conservative movement.
When I posted earlier, I didn't mean to imply that having a woman debate abortion, or a black person debate racism, or a male sports, are rigid tactics. The purpose of what we learned from Matt Lewis was that the tactic could be used to deflect initial appearances, but it is not necessary. However, knowing how the tactic works is essential to understanding how or why someone can lose a debate, from the get-go.
There is a credibility factor that is very important when it comes to debates, especially debates of specific natures (i.e. abortion, racism). This can be applied to other things in the universe of debates/discussions. For example, you wouldn't have an accountant debate with a NASA scientist quantum physics, or the other way around. Now, of course, the accountant could be a brilliiant physicist, but I am generalizing.
Alinsky-like tactics are being used to shut conservatives out of the Republican party.
An excellent point. But I would ask, why can't we 'fight' back and use their tactics? As long as we stay true to our morals, our platforms, or logic, the tactic shouldn't matter. This is something that Matt Lewis explained brilliantly by explaining his view of x42. x42 was (and is) inarguably a brilliant politican. His morals and policies may be anethema to Conservatives, but his ability to work within politics shouldn't be ignored, and they should especially be learned from. As much as I hate Carville and Begala, Matt was right, they knew what and why they did what they did, and it worked. Now, if we apply those tactics with the logic and morality of Conservatives, we will win, and winning is good.
Winning is not only good, it is vital. The alternative is for our country to continue to devolve into Zimbabwe with good roads.
I agree. But to a veteran (and a proud member of the VFW) like me, I believe the term "comrade" to be even more applicable. Although the term has been hijacked by the left, the original meaning of "comrade" is that of one who shares one's interests or activities, and is socially or politically close. A friend is someone you would ask over for steaks and beer. A comrade is someone who might have seen you bleed during war and who you would trust with your life.
(But, if you think I'm going to start using this term that smacks more of Karl Marx than Thomas Jefferson on this conservative website, you've got another think coming) ;)
I need to wait until I'm pregnant to debate abortion?
strela, re: #108...then, how about "FRiend"?
I like. Me bang rocks together to show agree. Yes.
Well, I would like to warmly thank you for your observations in posts #84 and #100. To characterize them as nit-picking is a bit too modest. I'd call them "profound".
...As an example, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to have a man debate a woman about abortion. Know your limitations. If you're that man and you're asked to debate a woman about abortion, politely decline, and suggest a woman in your organization would probably be happy to debate....
This is one of the scariest things I've read in a long time. So men are not to be allowed to fight for the most profound issues in Civilization? We'll let them rail anonymously on the internet , of course, but when debating out in the open men must wear a muzzle? I presume we will also allow them to rush into collapsing buidings to save our lives---upper-body strength and all. But otherwise...
Jesus was a man. I guess the Pope is out of the winner's circle too.
It will be interesting to see how the Clash of Civilizations plays out in the all-too-near-future. In China, India--the largest democracy on the planet--and, of course The Empire of Mohammed--men vastly outnumber women in sheer numbers and cultural influence.
In the United States we have turned every human activity into some form of advertising campaign---We are all consumer products that must be sold. Women do most of the shopping. Men are being culturally marginalized. It's profoundly disturbing.
Like you, I shall bow out of this discussion....
The main reason I hesitate to draw out this debate is because I wasn't in attendance at the conference. I didn't hear all Matt Lewis had to say that might mitigate his advocating (for lack of a better term) media apartheid w/r/t issues that polarize. But, if you insist: Your explanations only seem to dig a deeper hole. To emulate Carville and Begala for their enthusiasm is fine. Carefully studying them as opponents is necessary. But to say we have something positive in the way of "tactics" to learn from such dissembling Marxist demagogues stretches the bounds of credibility. The only salient tactic that they display was likely learned, as most FReepers have already concluded, by studying Goebbels and Geuring - repeat a lie until it becomes accepted as truth. These men do not serve at the pleasure of a left leaning media because of any ingenious tactics or brilliant insight. They essentially lie for food.
Yes, winning is good. But remember - Bush won in 2000, not Gore. When the rubber hit the road in campaign 2000, Carville was muzzled and Begala was put out to pasture with a nice cushy CNN gig. When whatever debt the DNC thought it owed them was paid - even that disappeared.
I've always found that consultants (i.e. Matt Lewis) can be valuable in prodding us away from the status quo, but we need to take much of their advice witha grain of salt and a boulder of reality.
I'm reading lots of scary stuff like that around here lately.
Here's were I think our disconnect is. I do not intend to emulate the lying, thieving, unmoralistic minds and actions of Carville/Begala/x42. But I intend to use their tactic of repitition of the truth in order to get my point across to the inattentive average Joe. I also will use other tactics of theirs using, instead of their lies, the truth. Is that satisfactory?
See, I'm thinking that you may not be willing to understand and learn from Hitler just because he was a Nazi. Hitler made some brilliant moves, but he also made mistakes that cost him greatly. The left has done the same, and I intend to use what worked for them.
"To emulate Carville and Begala for their enthusiasm is fine. Carefully studying them as opponents is necessary.
And you respond with this:
"See, I'm thinking that you may not be willing to understand and learn from Hitler just because he was a Nazi."
I'm not only irritated, but somewhat frightened.
Repetition of the truth, repetition of lies... both the same mindless tactic, both devoid of human reason - and human reason is the very foundation of conservatism. But, hey, if it brings you a win, what does it matter? It's obvious that the liberal faction of the Republican party has already gone down this road, past the point of no-return.
It's a pretty pointless game when both teams wear the same color, use the same playbook, and both run to the same side of the field to make a goal. When that happens, it's time to fire both teams.
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