Posted on 05/29/2008 11:42:58 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
To continue the thought, I believe you would add "Then support the R nominee in the general, no matter what", or some variant thereof. Please correct me if this statement is in error.
The problem with this stand is simply that endorsing the R nominee no matter his stance is abrogating one's core principles in favor of party status. No matter what the nominee stands for, even when it contradicts the core tenet of one's political beliefs, the R means that the nominee gets the full support of the voter under this scenario.
In this case, a vote for McCain is a full endorsement of McCain-Feingold's stand againt the first amendment, plus an endorsement of every other questionable or downright wrong legislative act bearing the Arizonan's signature and/or name. I assume that your stumping for McCain will highlight each and every one of these transgressions in a wholly positive light?
This election is based on the Republican party fishing for the least conservative candidate that the conservatives will accept. The primary scheduling and setup, plus the party's handling of the candidates during this time made this perfectly clear. The outcome of this election will dictate for many years what kinds of candidates bubble to the top of the R cess pool.
May I assume you want to see nothing but more luke-cool conservative RINOs like McCain? "R-at-any-cost" voting will guarantee it.
So when you stand on principle, are you having a "hissy fit", too?
Perhaps you should try to understand that it's not about "taking votes for granted", but rather defining the unacceptable. R-at-any-cost means that no candidate, no matter how liberal and anti-conservative they are, will be deemed unacceptable by the electorate.
To see what Alexander Hamilton thought about this subject, check my tagline.
He doesn't disagree with you, but he's not going to put it that bluntly. There is no good outcome in November, and the only certainty is that the Republican party has to be rebuilt, and it's going to take living through some major hurt for that to happen. Rush is saying don't believe the hype that tells you otherwise.
Core principles are not relevant after the primary.
To tenaciously hold to them and vote for a third party or not vote because there is no candidate that meets all of your requirements is a cop out. It is hard work, but after the voters have chosen two candicates in the primaries, one must weigh and measure which of the two to vote for.
We are not Israel where we have many splinter groups and tons of candidates. We are America with two parties in the Presidential election
“If you have a leftist as the President of your ‘Conservative’ party, what happens? He rules as a leftist pushing leftist policy. The RNC won’t oppose him becaue he’s their meal ticket. The Republicans in Congress won’t oppose him because they want access to the White House and as much quid pro quo as they can get. McCain and the RNC then muscle the state Republican leaderships to support McCain’s agenda. Republicans on forums like this one fall in line behind the (R) at about 75 to 25%.”
Maybe so but I believe the closed wallets of Conservatives is hurting the Repub. Party. Nothing gets their attention like money. What are they going to do when, year in and year out, we don’t contribute?
And, don’t forget how Harriet Miers and the illegal immigration bill were dealt with...Conservative voices WERE heard.
A McCain presidency doesn’t look as bleak when I think of it in these terms.
If they are not relevant, then they are hardly core.
It is harder work to make an unpopular decision based on true core principles (such as support for the first amendment) and to stick with it than it is to throw away your beliefs because of a candidate's party affiliation.
Good luck with your fungible tenets, FRiend.
McCain is never going to be as beloved as Reagan and even Bush so why would others try to emulate McCain?
We must rebuild. We have the foundation and it's very likely that this year we were hurt by the Independents and crossover RATS.
Let's look at the bright side. If McCain is elected he'll be the oldest president to ever be elected. At least he's not young. We must do better in selecting our candidates. It's our fault--no one elses.
The process is open to everyone. Why don't you run?
This leaves only 3rd party unless a miracle happens such as McCain being forced out - the only one of GOP candidates for whom I could not hold my nose and vote.
Your reasoned post deserves repeating.
Boy, are you being deceived. The CP party is no more noble than anyone in the R party and I'll take any R any day over a CP.
I got sucked in by these charlatans once, too. I donated to them agreeing with what they had to say.
My eyes were opened when I heard their radio ads during the 2000 and 2004 elections.
They were running against Bush--not Gore or Kerry. They were trying to convince voters that Bush was more dangerous than Gore or Kerry.
Now I realize these CP candidates are cowards who will not run as Republicans where they might actually get elected and have the opportunity to govern.
They'd rather beat their chests proclaiming they're more moral than Republicans at the same time turning our country over to total socialists. You're wasting your time, money and hopes. They are thieves and cowards.
The collective core makes a determination in the primaries. After that, the set of values is revised and for this election determined. One must choose between the two selected candidates and value sets.
To do otherwise is to throw away or just plain waste your vote. To not vote for the primary selected candidates is to make yourself totally irrelevant in the process.
Your personal values are not diminished by the process.
This statement is absolutely absurd. There were plenty of conservatives running. There weren't enough rank and file conservative Republicans who chose them.
The greatest danger to this country comes from the open borders, the hordes of illegal aliens roaming across the land, and immigrants from enemy nations. The planes on 9/11 did not take of from Iraq but from American soil.
I would not want someone in charge of WOT like McCain - he lies like a sociopath, has difficulty answering questions, talks to himself, does not know the difference between a Shi'ite and a Sunni, and supports radical Muslims such as Hashim Thaci.
For each voter, a decision whether the candidate is acceptable must be made based on that voter’s core principles. Obviously, compromises can be made on some or even most issues, but the voter’s core principles must draw the line between the acceptable and unacceptable candidate.
It is no more irrelevant to not vote in a particular race than to vote against oneself - and by voting in self-opposition, reinforcing that no candidate, no position, is an unacceptable option.
Discarding one’s personal values by voting in self-opposition certainly does diminish one’s values.
Neither are the two current so called major parties the way. Like the pied-piper they have gleefully led the nation into this depth of morass and corrupt principles and decadent way of life. Rush Limblows livelihood exists and thrives on confusion and fighting. I can remember my history, that the Republican Party once was the third party in this nation. They may just find themselves on the outside looking in once again.
You know, I’ve actually arrived at a point that if McCain picks a running mate I really really like (e.g. Jindal), I could possibly vote for him. But bitchy comments like yours accusing me of being a one-issue anti-Hispanic racist, when in reality immigration is not even in my top 3 issues, is going to push me back into the Barr camp. I’m not as emotionally invested in this election as you people. I’m not afraid of the Obama boogeyman. And you’re doing a horrendous job of winning friends.
You’re right to a degree I suppose. I do despise many things that McCain stands for, but the absolute last straw is his die hard amnesty support.
That is what makes it impossible for me to vote for him.
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