Posted on 11/11/2008 6:11:43 PM PST by MadIsh32
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) -- For all Americans, this election represents another glass ceiling broken, and in the words of my 16-year-old, "That's very cool." The election of the first black president is an inspiring and transformational moment for our country.
I am happy for President-elect Barack Obama, and for many who supported him. They and, in many cases, their ancestors fought for this day for centuries as they experienced first-hand the unthinkable wrong of segregation. As an American, I wish him every success.
Beyond the presidential race, it goes without saying the Republican Party took a shellacking nationally. Some on the left will say our electoral losses are a repudiation of our principles of lower taxes, smaller government and individual liberty. But Tuesday was not in fact a rejection of those principles -- it was a rejection of Republicans' failure to live up to those principles.
I believe in the Biblical notion of taking the log out of your own eye before worrying about the splinter in someone else's. Accordingly, let me focus on my own party and the way Ted Stevens personifies what went wrong in the election.
As a senior ranking Republican from Alaska, he was a proud champion of pork barrel spending and bridges to nowhere, and stayed so long that he developed a blind eye to ethical lapses that would be readily seen by scout leaders and soccer moms alike.
Republicans have campaigned on the conservative themes of lower taxes, less government and more freedom -- they just haven't governed that way. America didn't turn away from conservatism, they turned away from many who faked it.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Sure.
Smart people only :)
No Palin until she proves she is more then a lightweight
However that does mean guys like Flake, Ryan, Ron Paul and other RLC (Republican Liberty Caucus) and CFL (Campaign for liberty) people
The Activism sidebar is reserved for News/Activism of the FR chapters. Not this.
An excellent piece. Thanks.
I think there is a need to educate people about what the Conservative principles really are. The last thing we need is for folks to equate Conservatism with the GOP, at least not unless and until the party gets it’s act together.
Talk radio does this to some extent - but for the most part they preach to the choir. We need to evangelize in order to get the message to young people, Hispanics, women, and others who are not going to listen to AM radio three hours a day to figure it out for themselves.
Straight talk from people like Sanford and Palin will be important, we need to make sure they have a platform.
Little difference between Republicans that act like Democrats, and authentic Democrats.
Like a murderer that kills someone, and then denies it. He's still a murderer.
Another tragic victim.
This fella’s good. Palin/Sanford? ;)
ping
We need to unite behind the Constitution Party. Get Mark Levin and other pundits to sign on. We can do it. We can make history, and we can take back this country from the damned communist.
“I love Mark Sanford and I love my second home (soon to be only home) in the perfect state of South Carolina.”
I had the pleasure of visiting your state of South Carolina last spring. I had a wonderful time, the weather was beautiful (and almost too hot for this Alaskan), and I was absolutely thrilled with my carriage tour of Charleston. I’ve always been facinated by the south and its history. We were fortunate to been guided through our tour by a man who had grown up there. Oh, the stories he told!
S. Carolina is a beautiful state. However, I have wanted to write a letter to your local newspapers about the litter problem. It was everywhere! Not just highways, but every country road I drove down (and I am not exaggerating) was littered so badly it was absolutely sickening.
Do you know why SC has such a problem? It really is a blight on an otherwise lovely state.
Nonsense!!
Probably true!!!
What part of the state were you in other than Charleston? We’re in the upstate area (Greenville/Spartanburg) and never see anything like what you describe as far as litter goes. Last time I was in Charleston, it didn’t look terrible in that way.
LOL
Will Hispanics vote against abortion and gays or for a government that panders to them for more goodies?
Lets be honest, any voting block will vote for the goodies
Moving right on social issues will cement us as a permanent minority party. Keep those planks in the platform, but lets not become a party of government telling you how to live your life
Still on your anti-Sanford jihad, I see.
Yeah, we should be the party that says it's not a big deal to kill your children.
Great idea.
Republicans should refocus on individual liberty and protection from the government, which is the most direct and necessary antidote for the recent rise of Big Brother socialism.
The absolute protection of the individual's right to life must be a cornerstone of that philosophy, along with an unrestricted internet and media, the right to keep and bear arms, fighting for freedom of religious worship, speech, and practice (the right to refuse to dispense drugs for abortion and euthanasia, the right to speak up for religious beliefs without being prosecuted for being "anti-gay", as is done in Canada and elsewhere, et cetera) - the right to choose one's one health care and investments rather than being dictated to by the government.
I going to waste my vote on a party that wishes to establish a theocracy in this nation.. Thank you but no thank you.. Let me know when the Constitaption Party gets more than 1% of the total vote in the next Presidential Election.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.