[Carry_Okie]

Thank you all for your fine work and steadfast support of conservative principles. By Tom McClintock's leadership, we have at least boxed Arnold into doing a few things he wouldn't have committed to doing (something his supporters would hardly admit, as to do so would be to acknowledge Tom's leadership qualities). It remains to be seen how substantive those accomplishments will be once the details become evident. It is, after all, Pete Wilson's people who will carve that turkey.

As is always the case with support from the "vast middle" of the political spectrum, that commitment to Arnold is at best ephemeral and individually subjective. Arnold's support does not so much represent what he brings to California, as it does a reaction of fear for what the State portends to become as a consequence of liberal governance. Given the body of legislation that has recently crossed the governor's desk, we have yet to live with the consequences long enough for the people of this State to recognize the full implications of what they portend, consequences that may yet be hung on Arnold, for there is much that has passed the legislature and been approved by Davis that he would have rejected, but doesn't have the will to repeal. It's just too many issues and details to muster "the people" (what is in fact a distracted and usually disinterested electorate) to compel the legislature to reverse its course and preferences.

Arnold's victory was numerically substantial, but from what I can tell, his support was in large part projection of individual preferences onto incredibly vague positions that varied according to the nature of his audiences. He proposed expensive and intrusive environmental policies to the left and talked of fiscal prudence and the need to return business to California to the right. He truly does want to be a governor of all the people, and that is the problem. All of the people do not agree because their preferences are mutually exclusive. Politics therefore involves choices with consequences.

The campaign was so short that exposure of a close examination of those few policies he proposed was not possible. It's really too bad that his supporters here did not reflect longer upon what those policies portended. They also underestimated the power of their own choices and persuasion. I see nothing from the recall that doesn't strongly indicate that had the GOP supported McClintock he would have won.

That indicates a a troubling set of choices for the future of a conservative Republican Party. If it is truly the intent of the GOP to take the party to the left and ignore the base that supplies it its supposed principles, then it will become the party of "We're not the Democrats." Thus Democrats will have taken control of the determinants of all political choices.

What remains for us to accomplish is to learn how it is conservative principles that serve the interests of traditional Democratic constituencies. It is we who should be doing the "reaching out," not by making concessions of watered-down Democrat proposals, but by showing how and why creative conservative ideas can truly create a productive and happy society. At this, conservatives have done a rotten job, preferring to spout principles and quote the founding fathers instead of showing how the limited government they gave us can undo the mess of democratic socialism. Until we can distill those ideas and their supporting mechanics into simple and understandable terms, we don't deserve to win elections.

A lot of damage has been done to this website by the vitriol that arises from having little to defend. Let's hope FreeRepublic once again reflects the principles that made it what it has been and could again be in the future.

CO

[Carry_Okie]

Sorry, I forgot you.

[truthkeeper]

Exceptional, well-written post. Thank you for your effort.

[Vindiciae Contra TyrannoSCOTUS]

I see nothing from the recall that doesn't strongly indicate that had the GOP supported McClintock he would have won.

it is truly the intent of the GOP to take the party to the left and ignore the base that supplies it its supposed principles, then it will become the party of "We're not the Democrats." Thus Democrats will have taken control of the determinants of all political choices.

At this, conservatives have done a rotten job, preferring to spout principles and quote the founding fathers instead of showing how the limited government they gave us can undo the mess of democratic socialism. Until we can distill those ideas and their supporting mechanics into simple and understandable terms, we don't deserve to win elections.

We simply have not undertaken the "long march through the institutions" that the Marxist philosopher Gramsci spoke of as the key to the leftist success at creating a power base…. Finally, we lack the organization. Too many on the "right" are, for whatever reason, simply unable to get along with each other. Why I Believe

. Sir, on May 6th, on the floor of the house you asked the question: "Are the American people determined they still wish to have a Constitutional Republic." How would you answer that question, Sir?

A. A growing number of Americans want it, but a minority, and that is why we are losing this fight in Washington at the moment. That isn't as discouraging as it sounds, because if you had asked me that in 1976 when I first came to Washington, I would have said there were a lot fewer who wanted it then. We have drifted along and, although we have still enjoyed a lot of prosperity in the last twenty-five years, we have further undermined the principles of the Constitution and private property market economy. Therefore, I think we have to continue to do what we are doing to get a larger number. But if we took a vote in this country and told them what it meant to live in a Constitutional Republic and what it would mean if you had a Congress dedicated to the Constitution they would probably reject it. It reminds me of a statement by Walter Williams when he said that if you had two candidates for office, one running on the programs of Stalin and the other running on the programs of Jefferson the American people would probably vote for the candidate who represented the programs of Stalin. If you didn't put the name on it and just looked at the programs, they would say, Oh yeah, we believe in national health care and we believe in free education for everybody and we believe we should have gun control. Therefore, the majority of the people would probably reject Thomas Jefferson. So that describes the difficulty, but then again, we have to look at some of the positive things which means that we just need more people dedicated to the rule of law. Otherwise, there will be nothing left here within a short time. Are the American people determined they still wish to have a Constitutional Republic An Interview With Ron Paul, SierraTimes.com, 05. 23. 03

The Heritage Foundation, Hoover Institution and American Enterprise Institute are a few of the many orginazations that have offered solutions for many years. Folk have been shown time and time again how the limited government they gave us can undo the mess of democratic socialism and have repeatedly rejected it. AND GOV'T schools are determined to see that it is rejected forever.

HOMESCHOOL, or die as a nation.

[SierraWasp]

"...by showing how and why creative conservative ideas can truly create a productive and happy society."

I couldn't agree more, however, exposing the electorate to those ideas takes resources and energy. Where do we go to get that? What would motivate people like Issa and others to venture their capital to further such a worthwhile endeavor?

What good are "ways" without the "means?"

[Roscoe]

Great post.

[Saundra Duffy]

Guess what I heard on KMJ Radio last night?!! Mike Der Manouel Jr as much as admitted that Bill Jones struck some kind of a deal with Schwarzenegger for Jones to run for U.S. Senate - this after the California Republican Assembly has already endorsed Tony Strickland. Sheeeeeeesh!

[Saundra Duffy]

Guess what I heard on KMJ Radio last night?!! Mike Der Manouel Jr as much as admitted that Bill Jones struck some kind of a deal with Schwarzenegger for Jones to run for U.S. Senate - this after the California Republican Assembly has already endorsed Tony Strickland. Sheeeeeeesh!

[Saundra Duffy]

Guess what I heard on KMJ Radio last night?!! Mike Der Manouel Jr as much as admitted that Bill Jones struck some kind of a deal with Schwarzenegger for Jones to run for U.S. Senate - this after the California Republican Assembly has already endorsed Tony Strickland. Sheeeeeeesh!

[nosofar]

What remains for us to accomplish is to learn how it is conservative principles that serve the interests of traditional Democratic constituencies.

Excellent post!!