A day in the life of President Bush (12/25/06): photos, White House holiday decorations (2001-2006)

www.whitehouse.gov/news ^ | 25th December 2006 | Snugs

[cibco]

We will work on it. {;0)

[onyx]

I know! Happy New Year!

[Wolfstar]

I saw a couple of your "spot on" posts, and thought "she IS enjoying her vacation.

Hi onyx. :)

Every now and again, I take the opportunity to ask someone who throws around terms like "RINO" and "true/real conservative" more egregiously than most if they would please define the term.

With RINO, I usually get "Republican in name only" as the definition, meaning that the person completely missed my point and intent.

With "true/real" conservative, I have yet to come across someone who actually defines what that term means to him/her.

To tie it all together, I keep wondering why it is that someone can be a "RINO" for not being a "real" conservative, when the name and history of the party is REPUBLICAN. It is not and never has been the Conservative Party. True, just as the Democrat Party has trended Left for generations, so has the Republican Party trended Right. And conservatism is a Rightist political movement. But -- and here's the key so many "real" conservatives fail to get -- conservatism is not the only Rightist political point of view. It is entirely possible to be have a genuine, classical republican point of view (deliberate small 'r') and fit quite well in the modern conservative-leaning Republican Party.

[onyx]

Exactly so. You're right on all counts, and I enjoy reading your posts --- often learning something new. I loved that the one poster admitted to you that he had forgotten what he was talking about. LOL!

[Wolfstar]

I loved that the one poster admitted to you that he had forgotten what he was talking about. LOL!

LOL! An honest person, and I told him so. All too often posters keep trying bluff and bluster their way through when confronted by such a challenge.

[onyx]

LOL -- I saw that too. I am sick to death of the word RINO -- it's used and misused here all too often and widely and almost always as a dismissive or put down, by the "real and true" conservatives. I sure hope the "real and true" will not be supporting whomever I decide to support because I view them as a kiss of death, and I'd have to rethink my choice.

[Wolfstar]

I am sick to death of the word RINO -- it's used and misused here all too often and widely and almost always as a dismissive or put down, by the "real and true" conservatives.

Exactly.

I view them as a kiss of death

You are dead-on accurate with this statement. Here in the beach cities district, I've seen such people first hand. They are invariably politically obtuse; clueless as to how government, campaigns, and politics work; yet adamantly certain only their point of view is valid.

They have zero ability to step outside themselves to examine how and why it is that others have different points of view. Not necessarily to agree mind you, but even to examine another's way of thinking.

They also are incapable of getting the point that there can be valid gradations in political positions, some of which are not very far removed from their own positions. If a position is not presented in exactly the manner they are capable of responding to, then it is rejected out of hand. Anyone who is essentially not a political clone of themselves is not just different, or possibly mistaken, noooo...they are BAD. They are the enemy.

People given to such rigid thinking scare the bejeebers out of most ordinary folk who pay scant attention to politics. Time and time again in this moderate district currently represented by Jane Harman, I've seen such people refuse to support solid Republican candidates. They continually tilt at windmills by chasing the least electable hard-right candidate in the primary. Then they whine and pout when their candidate inevitably loses, so they either don't vote, or they vote Libertarian to "send a message" that is never received because politics doesn't work that way.

I am deeply dismayed to see this phenomenon spread across the country.

[cibco]

Happy New Year to you too!!

[onyx]

You have provided me with the answer as to why Jane Harman continues to win reelection. For another example, I hearken to the AZ congressional seat that Kolbe vacated. The red meat conservative won the primary and the posters here were thrilled... up until he was blown away by the democrat, but of course they blamed the RNC for not funding him enough money.

Well, those red meat neophytes need to learn that a candidate must have the power and tools and organization in place to raise his own money!

[onyx]

Thanks!!!

[Wolfstar]

You have provided me with the answer as to why Jane Harman continues to win reelection.

Until the Dims redistricted at the beginning of this decade, the 36th Congressional district was almost evenly divided between Republican and Democrat registered voters. Any candidate not too far to the right or left, and who, as you indicated, was well organized and funded, had a good chance to win the district. This began to change in the late 1980's as the hard right, completely misunderstanding Reagan's message, began to try to mainstream itself. They are still trying.

Only one of their own is good enough for their votes. No Republican is ever good enough. If you ask me, they are the real RINO's. They demand that the Republican Party remake itself in their mold, yet they really dislike Republicans.

[snugs]

Have just seen your great post whilst re-reading recent doses thank you so much Sara God Bless you and yours and blessings for the New Year to you and Poland.

A question Sara what is Polish bread? We have a local shop selling it as we have a lot of Polish people working in Ashford. Is it a soft bread and what do you serve it with?