The Goldwater Lesson (stick to our principles)

The American Spectator ^ | February 24, 2009 | Jeffrey Lord

[St. Louis Conservative]

"The Republicans have a simple choice. If they want to continue to define themselves as conservatives, they'll be defining themselves into oblivion. If they want to save themselves, they may have to create a third party of moderates."
-- Pollster John Zogby, November 16, 2008

"The Republican Party has paid a shatte ring price for the erratic deviation from our soundly moderate 20th century course. That ill-advised, badly-led swing to the extreme right has been decisively vetoed by the American voters, hundreds of thousands of Republicans among them."
-- Fred Young, NY GOP State Chair, November 5, 1964

"The undertakers are premature"
-- William F. Buckley, November 5, 1964

By now, the refrain insisting conservatism is a loser is, well, embarrassing.

To people like John Zogby.

Yet with the all-out assault of the Obama-ites on capitalism and the core tenets of a free market system, it is vital to remember the very relevant history of modern conservatives and liberals and just how we got here. It is important to look back to understand how to move forward.

The latest election of the day lost by Republicans is always said to be lost (as Mr. Zogby has done) because conservatives insisted on, well, conservatism. With the annual gathering of the Conservative Political Action Committee upon us, this year's gathering headlined by Rush Limbaugh, let's spend a moment documenting just how old and how very routine these anti-conservative diatribes are. Mr. Zogby is far from alone.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

he [Giuliani] actually ended up with more actual accomplishments on conservative principles then the idiots we have in congress. In most areas of the country he would not have to take so many lib positions.

He was my second choice behind Fred Thompson.

[BillT]

As the Repubs continue to become more and more DemocRAT lite, they lose more and more seats in congress.

This is an attempt to further drive the Repubs into obscurity not get it back in power.

[mc6809e]

BLAH.BLAH.BLAH.

All this talk about what the Republican Party should be and the role conservatives have to play in it is a WASTE OF TIME.

The Republican and conservative brands were slowly destroyed over the past 8 years.

Think first about how to change the party's image and conservative's image.

[bilhosty]

But what is a Conservative? Nevada is so Conservative (or at least it was so conservative before new Yorker's moved into las Vegas.)That they legalized prostitution gambling quickie marriages because they did not want governmnent intervention or regulation of any type including zoning and taxes and what ever. Ont the other hand Utah was and is so conservative that they would be the last state to recognize those vices. They are deeply steeped in the Judeo-christian ethic. But, on the other hand other hand a lot of christian conservatives would reject the Utah brand of Conservatism because they are Mormon. There were different strokes for different folks. there was a conservatism for everybody. politics is cultural expression and as we continue to define Conservatism as southern and small town evangelical types we lose every where else. In the last election we lost everything east of the Missouri and north of the Ohio except for Missouri. that is not because we weren't small town and southern enough. that is because we over identified with that form of being conservative.

[padre35]

Disagree, tough love is not simple common sense, Conservatism relies on it to prosper, tough love could be simply raising taxes on the wealthy to feather one’s own bed.

Which seems to be the message from the elections of 06 and 08.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

But what is a Conservative?

Conservatism views mankind as capable of both good and evil. It encourages the good and resists the evil. It rejects pie in the sky utopias in favor of the tried and true.

Hence we support a strong national defense, free enterprise, and a belief in the necessity of civic and personal virtue and responsibility.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

tough love could be simply raising taxes on the wealthy to feather one’s own bed.

That's not love.... that's theft, greed and envy.

[Professor_Leonide]

Two exceptions????

I can only think of one example of bigger being better and all the ladies here will concur.

[padre35]

Too funny.

[SolidWood]

Yes this is one exception... and the second are the ladies... two assets.

[bilhosty]

That is a very wide statement and I know of no one in the GOP that disagrees.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

That is a very wide statement and I know of no one in the GOP that disagrees.

There are plenty of moderates and RINOS who though they may give lip service to those principles, will not live up to them.

Would you believe this man if he said he would follow those "broad principles"?

Or would you conclude he's merely paying lip service to them?

Actions speak louder than words.

[calcowgirl]

I remember many pundits in 1980 stating that Reagan could not win as he was too conservative for the nation

It is an old and tired mantra.

"You need a Republican who can win the confidence of the minorities and who also understands the big business of California.

"Anyone who is tied up with one segment of the political spectrum can't make it.

"It can't be done, it's an impossible task; if a man has this image the party is going to waste a lot of money all for naught.

-- George Christopher, 1965, during his campaign against Ronald Reagan for Governor of California
(source: "George Christopher Will Run as Matter of Principle" Los Angeles Times, June 21, 1965; p.3)

[SierraWasp]

Priceless, like most of the rest of the Ronald Reagan legacy!!!

[calcowgirl]

More:

[calcowgirl]

ping to above — From the California archives.

[SierraWasp]

YES!!! Even better!!!

We MUST push on that political pendulum until it swings to the RIGHT, lest we remain in the pits in perpetuity!!!

[calcowgirl]

It really amazes me that 40 years later the CAGOP liberals are using the same darn talking points. Had people listened to them, we never would have had Reagan.

This “only a moderate can win” crappola needs to be exterminated.

[SierraWasp]

Speaking of a flood of crappola... The California board seems to have been fed a load of that new cereal called Colon Blow!!!

I've been busy all last hour poundin my refresh button and I'm still not our of 2/17/2009, yet!!! That board must really have been constipated!!! (ducking)

You've had some pretty good postings on there for days and days that I've just read... interesting... fascinating!!!

[Carry_Okie]

To be fair, the San Francisco Chronicle editorial board would surely have made that argument if only because George Christopher had been mayor of San Francisco.

"Favorite son" and all that.