Death by Compromise.
On the topic here, I’ve been thinking about this for a while. Gordo, I have to disagree. Here’s how I see it:
The problem isn’t that the Republican Party isn’t pro-choice. The problem isn’t that they’re anti-gay marriage. The problem is that they’ve become as pro big government and big spending as the Democrats. The people that would vote strictly on abortion or gay rights or environmentalism issues aren’t going to be voting Republican. Ever.
And the otherwise conservative folks that think that the Republican must change their stance on these issues in order to regain any power are simply airing pet grievances because it’s hard to acknowledge that that core principle of liberty isn’t being represented by either party. They’re complaining about cosmetic issues.
To get out of the hole, Republican leadership (if anyone can identify them) needs to step to the front. They need to make it very clear that if you’re a politician and you are not for smaller and less intrusive government and you are willing to “look the other way” when it comes to this nations sovereignty or Constitution, then you should be looking for another party.
I’m sure there’s a lot happening behind the scenes to evaluate whether or not Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins can be beaten in their primaries and their challengers still win their state’s general election. That’s the wrong strategy. That’s politics. It’s time they started standing on principles. Tell Snowe and Collins that they won’t be getting any support from the NRC in their re-election bids. Tell them in a very public forum. The Republicans would likely lose those seats, but I think it’d send a clear message that as a party they are returning to leading by principles rather than politics.
Show the people that you actually stand for something. I think the electorate would respond. It may take some losses to prove to us that you’re on track. When you can stick to your guns in the face of defeat, people notice. People trust that you really mean it.
Right now conservatives just don’t trust the Republicans. That’s why they’re losing. Not because they’re not pro-choice.
The problem isn’t that the Republican Party isn’t pro-choice. The problem isn’t that they’re anti-gay marriage. The problem is that they’ve become as pro big government and big spending as the Democrats. The people that would vote strictly on abortion or gay rights or environmentalism issues aren’t going to be voting Republican. Ever.
And the otherwise conservative folks that think that the Republican must change their stance on these issues in order to regain any power are simply airing pet grievances because it’s hard to acknowledge that that core principle of liberty isn’t being represented by either party. They’re complaining about cosmetic issues.
To get out of the hole, Republican leadership (if anyone can identify them) needs to step to the front. They need to make it very clear that if you’re a politician and you are not for smaller and less intrusive government and you are willing to “look the other way” when it comes to this nations sovereignty or Constitution, then you should be looking for another party.
I’m sure there’s a lot happening behind the scenes to evaluate whether or not Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins can be beaten in their primaries and their challengers still win their state’s general election. That’s the wrong strategy. That’s politics. It’s time they started standing on principles. Tell Snowe and Collins that they won’t be getting any support from the NRC in their re-election bids. Tell them in a very public forum. The Republicans would likely lose those seats, but I think it’d send a clear message that as a party they are returning to leading by principles rather than politics.
Show the people that you actually stand for something. I think the electorate would respond. It may take some losses to prove to us that you’re on track. When you can stick to your guns in the face of defeat, people notice. People trust that you really mean it.
Right now conservatives just don’t trust the Republicans. That’s why they’re losing. Not because they’re not pro-choice.
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
I never specifically said anyone was pro-choice, I said they had an image problem for embracing the horseshit that is creationism in the classroom. It is straight-up sunday school, and that makes the moderates nervous and the liberals point and laugh... rightly so, and to great effect.
Edited By GORDON on 1241577957
Edited By GORDON on 1241577957
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
I think it'd have as little impact on the Republican party as Peta does on the Democrats if the Republicans appeared to have any hint of core values that conservatives could get behind.
Personally, if they keep it at the local level, I don't care what they push for in schools. If we could get the ball rolling on vouchers, it'd be a moot point.
Personally, if they keep it at the local level, I don't care what they push for in schools. If we could get the ball rolling on vouchers, it'd be a moot point.
"... and then I was forced to walk the Trail of Tears." - Elizabeth Warren
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And people wonder why the GOP has gotten the image of being anti-science.
And people wonder why the GOP has gotten the image of being anti-science.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
And this person is also running with the idea.
http://sensuouscurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2009....n-party
http://sensuouscurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2009....n-party
As our party is going though a much-needed period of introspection, please consider that there was a time when this party stood for the Constitution, the rule of law, national defense, free enterprise, limited government, low taxes, balanced budgets, and individual rights. We still honor those principles; but those who now govern have no concern for or even understanding of such matters.
While the other party has been winning elections and undermining everything we have traditionally valued, what issues dominate our political discourse? Our party has been talking about sex and religion.
When we say “sex,” we mean topics like abstinence, promiscuity, homosexuality, pre-marital relations, contraception, sodomy, nudity, pornography, masturbation, same-sex marriage, sex education, abortion, and morning-after pills. Does that list sound familiar? It should, because those are the issues that too often dominate your campaigns.
Except for late-term abortion, where the other party has an extreme position that could be exploited (except that it’s lost in a sea of other sex-related issues), there is absolutely no reason to discuss such matters as part of our party’s policies. The Constitution doesn’t give the federal government any authority over those issues. If they need to be addressed, it should be done only at the state level.
When we speak of religion, we mostly mean the current movement to insert religious doctrines into public school science classes, especially creationism and its love-child, intelligent design. It seems to us that this is a latter-day substitute for prayer in public schools, which is essentially a dead issue these days, but still a hot-button item. There are other religious issues, like objections to certain areas of biological research.
Our obsession with creationism and blocking biological research has earned us the reputation of being an anti-science party, which is a burden our adversaries are delighted to exploit — notwithstanding their Luddite opposition to nuclear energy, oil exploration, aerospace technology, etc. Aside from that, religious issues should not concern the national government — especially when we have so many vital matters — our traditional principles — that must be addressed before the republic is lost forever.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
The last two elections when I went to choose who to vote for, if their campaing website featured God or their church on their issues page in any point not directly related to the First Amendment, I struck them off the list of candidates I was willing to vote for.
I voted for almost no Republicans for this very reason. Over 90% of them featured religion as their primary way of making decisions. Fuck that, I want no part of your attempts at Theocracy. As much as I hate Democrats - and I hate them quite a lot, like light-them-on-fire-if-given-a-chance sort of hate - in recent elections I've come to hate Republicans even more.
Edited By TPRJones on 1241633648
I voted for almost no Republicans for this very reason. Over 90% of them featured religion as their primary way of making decisions. Fuck that, I want no part of your attempts at Theocracy. As much as I hate Democrats - and I hate them quite a lot, like light-them-on-fire-if-given-a-chance sort of hate - in recent elections I've come to hate Republicans even more.
Edited By TPRJones on 1241633648
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
The Supreme Court has been less than impressive as of late. I'll take a new justice if he thinks the word "fuck" isn't how Satan puts evil into the minds of children.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."