Posted on 03/24/2007 6:19:35 AM PDT by Josh Painter
I do agree with this. I don't BLAME Reagan for the fact that the country was more socialist when he left office. But he could do nothing about it. I think the forces propelling us toward socialism are really beyond the control of politics, to tell you the truth.
I will not believe Senator Thompson is going to run until it comes from his own lips. I would like him to toss his hat into the ring.
ANYTHING Prostitute Novak reports... is not trustworthy, period.
Now, I have to get back to DU. We've got a really good thread going over there where we have proof Rudy Giuliani sacrifices baby seals to pacify the Global Warming gods!!
I respect that. But we all have different drives. What drives me is no more or less valid than what drives you.
As you can probably tell by their silly comments, the Rudybots are VERY nervous.
"Run Hillary, Run" bumper sticker which is on the FRONT of my truck.
Thats great , where can I get a run hillery run bumper sticker.
My old truck needs one on the front bumper. Thats just such a cool idea.
The America that exists is not the America you think you live in. You vastly underestimate the number of losers, perverts and opportunists; and you miscalculate what conservatives will do when confronted with the lesser of two evils.
You are making your calculation from your personal dreams and desires instead of any realistic appraisal of the facts, and that is well and good, because your political philosophy is the right one under God. Your dreams, if realized, are what is best for America.
Politics is not philosophy. It is not black and white. It is shades of gray. It has been since the dawn of man, and will be for the foreseeable future. Success in politics requires more than just an understanding of what you stand for. It requires a realistic appraisal of the macro environment as it exists (not as you wish it to be), and the development of a strategy to win given that environment.
For example, I have said many times that I would support Ron Paul if I was guided purely by my political philosophy and had no political judgment. But being an academic trained in science, I understand completely that you cannot let your theories get in the way of the evidence that is before your very eyes. Here is the evidence, and there is plenty more:
http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=312
Translation: conservatives running as hard right conservatives cannot win in 08. That means if the Republican party wants its power back, it is going to have to adapt to the mocro environment. It is very risky, but it is the only way this party can survive. So the only question remaining is whether you want to be relevant or irrelevant. I choose relevant, and history tells us that most conservatives, when confronted with this choice, will as well, regardless of what you "think."
Since you are in politics, can you please explain to me why we have this front-loaded system? Why not just have all of the would-be candidates spend X number of months getting their messages out via the Internet, then Y number of months making appearances, and then actually having their nomination decided at the convention? Why should the voters of some states have more say in choosing the nominee?
I agree with you on this point. I do not like the front-loaded system. I did not create it or support its creation. I used my influence, limited as it is, to prevent it. I lost. I am not going to take my marbles and go home at this point. I am going to work within the framework of the party as I have in the past, hold their feet to the fire as best I can, and try to retard the advance of socialism (a quixotic pursuit to say the least).
Others will decide to bolt the party. Not many will at the end of the day. You'll find there is a lot of bluster out there, but at the end of the day in a democracy, you live with the best coalition you can get.
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