Now Is the Time to Put Aside Childish Things

American Thinker ^ | April 06, 2009 | Steve McCann

[neverdem]

"Divide et impera" (divide and rule) is an ancient maxim that became the basis of Machiavelli's approach to power and political theory.  It is the same modus operandi used by the left in this country over the past 16 years that has given us the most radical government in our history.

In today's world of sound bites and miniscule attention spans a simple sentence: "There isn't a bit of difference between Republicans and Democrats."  has become imbedded in the nation's lexicon and the foundation of the strategy to split what is a majority right of center country into many factions. 

History has shown that with our representative republican form of government combined with the effect of 50 individual states and an independent executive branch only a two major party arrangement is viable.  The issue then becomes what governing philosophy do these major parties espouse.  Today's Democratic party is overwhelmingly  made up of interest groups that believe a powerful central government, overseen by them, is essential to guarantee equitable outcomes.  The Republican party membership, in even greater numbers, is dominated by those who believe government (per the founders) should be limited and the rights of the individual paramount.

Virtually all polling done over the past twenty five years confirms that the majority of Americans believe in limited government and are loath to grant too much power to Washington.  Yet we have just elected a Congress and a President that is the antithesis of what the preponderance of the people claim to want.

How did we get here?  To paraphrase Shakespeare:  The fault, dear Conservatives and Libertarians, is not in our stars, but ourselves, that we are underlings.

In the 1992 presidential election Ross Perot ran on and promoted the "Perot Doctrine": ( there is no difference between the parties).  That theme resonated wih sufficient voters to give him 19% of the popular vote, the highest level ever acheived by a third party candidate, assured the election of Bill Clinton and established the basic game plan on how to split the coalition that had handed the Republicans the Presidency in three previous elections by landslide proportions.  There has been no such margin of victory for either party since.

Over the past 17 years, the Perot Doctrine has been repeated ad nauseum by conservative and libertarian talk show and television hosts (e.g. Glenn Beck, Neal Boortz, Bill O'Reilly), become a consistent theme for a myriad of columns and articles and confirmed by the so-called conservative intellectuals claiming the Era of Reagan is dead and we must all become socialist-lite.   Using this backdrop the left has seized on the ideal strategy that has given them control of the levers of power despite the wishes of the preponderance of the citizens.

Among the groups that make up the right of center majority are the single issues voters and those who claim to be fiscal conservatives but social liberals.  The Democrats quickly learned that mere words well delivered would successfully effect these voters.  For example, in the most recent election, Barack Obama, an unabashed promoter of unfettered abortion rights and gun control proclaimed himself to be a Christian seeking to make abortion rare and against all gun control legislation.   He won the Catholic vote and a much higher percentage of the evangelical and gun voters than any of the previous six Democratic nominees for President.  The same tack was used with the fiscal conservatives but social liberals; recall the campaign promise not to raise any taxes on 95% of the people and control spending.  These lies were deliberate as "there is no difference between the parties", let's go with the candidate for either the House, Senate or the White House that says the right things regardless of their actual background or the fact that by voting for any Democrat would put that party's radical wing in control of Congress.

The factions more easily manipulated are the ideological purists and the leave-me-alone fundamentalists.   The purists are constantly on alert to any real or perceived straying from their established set of beliefs, be it behavorial or policy.  If a number of members of Congress or the President stray from any of any of a series of tenets, then the entire party rather than the individual is blamed.  The key for the Democrats is to get these folks to stay at home or vote for a conservative sounding Democrat to "punish the sinners".   Thus we have the campaign to portray the entire Republican party in Congress as corrupt, spendthrift, not responsive to the people and with President Bush, an illiterate, bumbling, incompetent fool, thus besmirching the republican brand.   Again, with the Perot Doctrine ringing in their ears the purists and leave-me-alone fundamentalists simply throw up their hands and stay on the sidelines leaving the playing field to the left.

Is the elected component of the Republican party free of fault, no.  There has been, among the leadership, a lack of spine to stand up to this game plan and counter the misperceptions promoted by the Democrats and their sycophants in the media.  There also has been an eagerness to spend too much, appease the left on social issues and stray from the principles that gave this country 25 years of economic growth.  This need never have happened if these elected representatives had been opposed at every election cycle.  There should never be a candidate for the House of Representatives, the Senate, Governor or State Delegate that does not have a primary challenger to keep their feet to the fire.

In the 1992 Republican primary for president, Pat Buchanon ran an excellent campaign challenging the incumbent President and defeating him in a number of states.  While he did not win the nomination, he helped bring the party back to it's basic tenets and combined with the arrogance of the Democrats in Congress and the White House allowed the Republicans to take over the House of Representatives in 1994 after an absence of 42 years. 

The election of Barack Obama and the 112th Congress is a fait accompli; however, their actions can be curtailed and potentially overturned by 2010.

First:   To our conservative and libertarian pundits, talk show and television hosts, swear off the promotion of the Perot Doctrine even if it means lower ratings.  Rush Limbaugh, his brother David, Tom Sowell and many others saw the danger in this approach and did not participate while still criticizing various actions by the Republicans in Congress and the White House.  What is needed is the education of the populace to become active within the party, reject the elected members who stray from Reagan principles and nominate those who embrace them, as only a unified party can defeat the Democrats.

Second:   To the folks organizing the "tea parties", I applaud your genuine effort to call attention to your concerns.  These parties should, while allowing you to vent, have a purpose and an objective.  That objective being the nomination of true Republican conservatives to run or challenge in every district in the country; particularly those that recently voted for faux conservative democrats.

Third:   To our Libertarian friends, the ideological purists and the leave-me-alone fundamentalists, please understand what is now happening in our country will directly affect you.  It is no longer our choice to simply dismiss what is happening will only impact others or future generations.  You must now get involved in the political process within a major party.  The promotion of third party candidates will only keep the radical government in Washington in power and make permanent the massive changes they are proposing.

Fourth:  To the fiscal conservatives but social liberals, you have seen what the Obama Administration and Congress plans to do to your taxes and government spending.  The so-called religious fundamentalists in the Republican Party share your fiscal conservatism.  They do not want to tell you how to live or be concerned about what you do in your bedroom; they want only to make certain religious freedom is maintained and honored as it has been since the founding of this nation.   Which would you rather have, a bankrupt economy and your wealth destroyed or stop believing in the absurdity that others want to impose their religion on you?

The membership of the Republican Party is overwhelmingly conservative leaning, the Democratic Party socialist.   As our political system can only function efficiently with two major parties, all of us must make certain the Republican brand is the right of center alliance.  Only then can we get back on the track of being the country of opportunity and greatness.  If not then the future is dim indeed. 

It['s] now time, per the Bible, to put aside childish things for the sake of the most magnificent nation in the history of mankind.

[neverdem]

Among the groups that make up the right of center majority are the single issues voters and those who claim to be fiscal conservatives but social liberals. The Democrats quickly learned that mere words well delivered would successfully effect these voters. For example, in the most recent election, Barack Obama, an unabashed promoter of unfettered abortion rights and gun control proclaimed himself to be a Christian seeking to make abortion rare and against all gun control legislation. He won the Catholic vote and a much higher percentage of the evangelical and gun voters than any of the previous six Democratic nominees for President. The same tack was used with the fiscal conservatives but social liberals; recall the campaign promise not to raise any taxes on 95% of the people and control spending. These lies were deliberate as "there is no difference between the parties", let's go with the candidate for either the House, Senate or the White House that says the right things regardless of their actual background or the fact that by voting for any Democrat would put that party's radical wing in control of Congress.

Nailed it!

[Post Toasties]

In the 1992 presidential election Ross Perot ran on and promoted the "Perot Doctrine": ( there is no difference between the parties).

There's a lot of freepers pretty much parroting some variant of the Perot Doctrine. Way to hand power to the 'Rats, guys.

[babyfreep]

great article!

[HiTech RedNeck]

And yet Obama is the worst Democrat for all these people. Maybe P. T. Barnum was wrong. You can fool all the people all the time, for an appropriate value of “you.”

[WOSG]

PING FOR COMMON SENSE - He nails it on what the center-right coalition needs to do.

[donna]

Once the Republican Party started trampling on my Christian beliefs, they became the same as the Democrat Party.

You Talkin’ To Me?
February 14, 2008

...And even more difficult for a politician to understand is that these three pillars of Conservatism are inextricably linked. What is good for God is also good for Country and Family. This trio of values weaves a moral fabric to live by. (snip)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1971068/posts?page=1

[Dogbert41]

You all keep talking like there’s still going to be real elections by 2010.

[Lancey Howard]

"There isn't a bit of difference between Republicans and Democrats."

Yep, that's the mantra of trolls everywhere....

[neverdem]

FACT? OR JUNK SCIENCE? ARE WE WARMING? OR COOLING?

“Conspiracy Theorists” Not So Crazy After All

Carroll: Tancredo's next crusade?

Tax Day tea parties planned across Va. (Tea Party/Tax Revolt updates and links) Keep hope alive!

Some noteworthy articles about politics, foreign or military affairs, IMHO, FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

[neverdem]

Once the Republican Party started trampling on my Christian beliefs, they became the same as the Democrat Party.

How did the pubbies do that as a party?

[neverdem]

You all keep talking like there’s still going to be real elections by 2010.

Why not?

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[nathanbedford]

Yes the author "nailed it" but he does not treat of the background factors which enabled Obama to blatantly lie to the voters and drive these wedges deep into the Republican Party.

He tells us what all of us at Free Republic already know, that Obama was a bloodthirsty abortionist, so bloodthirsty that he was even beyond Hillary Clinton in the Senate, so bloodthirsty that he would not even protect babies who miraculously survived a botched abortion. Obama's biography was plain: there were no grounds to believe Obama's soothing lies about abortion and we political junkies here on Free Republic, admittedly a self-selected class of informed conservatives, did not believe Obama's lies. But, says the author, a lot of Catholics did. Why were they not disabused ? Well, that was John McCain's job and in this and many other instances McCain simply failed his job as an adversary to point out the implications in Obama's biography.

The author does not deal with this hole in McCain's campaign and probably in his personality which explains why in so many issues McCain did not pick up the cudgels. When it was plain that John McCain was going to lose the election, we begged him to go on the attack over Reverend Wright but he would not. The author does not tell us why those of us who acted in an amicus role and filed our briefs with the electorate exposing Obama's biography were crying in an empty forest.

In failing to deal with these issues the author leaves the false impression that the majority conservative and conservative inclined electorate need only be more prudent. Voters acted as, well,like voters. There was a story to this election which, like the Perot election which put Bill Clinton in the White House, is the overriding story. The whole electorate including the Republicans have been conditioned by eight years of unremitting partisan Democrat and media attacks to seek change. The same electorate had been conditioned by two generations of education and media to accept the general proposition of white guilt for slavery and segregation. Obama offered expiation for that guilt. He was an empty suit but the emptier the suit the more room there was to pour in our own projections about the kind of change we would get.

Since there was no mainstream media, the part that has influence over the undecided voters who decide an election, that would even touch on any part of the biography which might shatter the deal Obama was crafting with the electorate (that he would not rub their noses in their guilt by acting like Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton and they would receive absolution by pulling the lever), and since John McCain would not do it, and since Sarah Palin, alone and exposed, could not do it, the gigantic sham prevailed.

That is the background dynamic of the 2008 presidential election and the election can not be understood without this predicate. Yet the equation is not that simple. The electorate was scarcely kinder to the Republicans in 2006 and there was no Obama phenomenon then. But there was the same dynamic abroad in 2006 and in prior elections which the author calls the Perot effect. Why did the Perot effect suddenly emerge in 2008? Or even in 2006?

One can go through this article and deal with the wedges which the Democrats drove into the Republican Party one by one but unless the background of the election is considered, all conclusions, superficially plausible, are essentially irrelevant. The real questions are, is this a permanent phenomenon in which the Republicans fail to get their side of the story across? We have had President Bush who simply gave up his second term and did not fight his corner. And then candidate McCain. Will they nominate yet another candidate who is too fastidious to attack his adversary? Will the Obama deal still have credibility with the electorate in 2010? 2012? Will the party remain passive and without an effective spokesman and watch the electorate be conditioned yet again by the media?

Most of which this author lays out was known in November 2006 when I wrote a vanity entitled, "Why We Lost" which anticipates this author and predicts a calamity in 2008. My point is that unless the Republican Party finds a Rahm Emmanuel of its own-I have advocated Newt Gingrich-matters will continue to drift and the party will sleepwalk into the next election and maybe even go the way of the Whigs.

Something changed the electorate in 2006 which tumbled the majority into the minority. The author has no explanation of what changed it that is new up at that time. Was it the electorate? Was it the candidates? Was it a unique set of circumstances which cannot be repeated?

To really "nail" the meaning of this election catastrophe, the author must tell us the "why" of these things below the level which he has explored. There were more layers to this onion and we must keep peeling away until we find a core truth.

[LibertyRocks]

That’s exactly what I’m thinking. Do people really think that ACORN will let their MILLIONS in Stimulus funds go unused? Whatever happened to the voter fraud investigations — that went down the memory hole right after the election...

As for this author’s call for Libertarians to get involved in major parties? Not sure that’s going to fly.

The leaders of the Republican Party (which the majority of Libertarians - if they HAD to choose between the two would most likely choose) honestly AREN’T any different than the Democrats. When was the last time Republicans en masse stood up in Congress against these socialist/communist bills and said — “What you are trying to do is Unconstitutional?”. They are all playing games with us, and the only choice we’ve had is “slow Socialism” or “Fast Communism!”. The people stupidly fell for the propaganda, and with no REAL choice between the candidates — because the GOP thinks they have to run a Dem-Lite to win (or that’s what they keep telling everyone) — is it any surprise that they gave the Democrats a “chance”?

Look at our Republican Congressmen who have continuously supported the UNCONSTITUTIONAL bills & laws proposed by this administration. Many of these Republicans voted FOR Obama’s “National Civilian Community Corps”, the Bill of Attainder Law, the Stimulus Packages, they are supporting the Executive Branch’s takeover of private businesses in the economic and automotive sectors (energy will be next - mark my words), etc... etc...

WHY - when our leaders refuse to listen and continually ignore the will of the people who elected them, and won’t even READ the bills put before them, much less stand up against the abuse of power going on RIGHT NOW - WHY should we support them?

The truth is, they are making statements like this because they KNOW they need to “rein us in” somehow. Make more promises, and then when the power shifts back to the Republicans (if it EVER DOES) they will simply do the same song and dance again.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH I say... I’m no longer a supporter of ANY Party (haven’t been for a few years now, even though I supported McCain & Palin) I will support the individuals running for office, but not ANY centralized party. They have proven just as corrupt as every other party out there.

Unless there are drastic changes within the GOP - IMMEDIATELY - and these changes are backed up by ACTIONS, they are going to find that the electorate of this country and its citizens will equate them more and more with the marxist anti-Freedom zealots in DC. I hope they are paying attention...

[HiTech RedNeck]

The dumbing down of the country is as good a guess as any. Maybe every generation needs to get its Obama until it learns that the hot stove will burn.

[LibertyRocks]

So, according to you, the people who point out hypocrisy that exists within the GOP are all “Trolls”? That’s absolutely ridiculous. You all are talking about the “Center Right” Coalition? Center Right MEANS moving towards the LEFT, and the GOP’s continued support of Unconstitutional and Anti-Freedom actions taken by this administration already will be remembered.

If people REALLY want to change the direction this country is in they need to stop being afraid of being TRUE Conservatives — otherwise the electorate will just continue to elect people based on those “sound-bites”, charm, and speech-making — and NOT the issues.

People have to realize how uneducated our populace really is... They don’t have a clue about the REAL differences between Socialism/Marxism/Communism, and the ideals of our Constitutional Republic, and why those two things are at odds. Unless people start to speak boldly for FREEDOM, and adherence to the Constitution our Republic will be lost...

Perhaps the GOP leaders have figured out a bargain with these Communists and they will continue some kind of “power switching” to please the masses?

As for the Dems & Reps are the same — Not COMPLETELY mind you — they just choose different issues to abuse in relation to the Constitution itself.

[x_plus_one]

Whatever happened to the voter fraud investigations — that went down the memory hole right after the election...

http://www.truthout.org/030709B

There are more voters in missouri than people.

[LibertyRocks]

Not surprising... Not surprising at ALL, really. I had a horrible feeling all those ACORN raids were for show to make the people believe they were doing something about it, and now the FEDS are DROPPING the case??? Nah, I’m sure Obama had NOTHING to do with that...

Thanks for the link... Just curious - isn’t TruthOut.org more of an alternative “liberal” site? What astounds me is that for about 10 years now Libertarians, Greens, etc... have been SCREAMING about voter fraud, and neither major party will do anything about it... COINCIDENCE? Honestly, I think not...

It all makes me sick... I TRIED to support the Republican Party, I really did. But I see no use of wasting my time trying to change the “leadership”. I have no money with which to buy their votes, and most of the beliefs I have would take AWAY the Federal Government’s power (never mind that my beliefs rely on the CONSTITUTION). God knows those in power in Washington who have held their power for DECADES now are NOT going to give up their golden calves of corruption, and “influence”. It’s way too profitable for them in seeking power over the people — and now over our industries as well.

[donna]

It all must be my imagination.

[Califreak]

>Look at our Republican Congressmen who have continuously supported the UNCONSTITUTIONAL bills & laws proposed by this administration. Many of these Republicans voted FOR Obama’s “National Civilian Community Corps”, the Bill of Attainder Law, the Stimulus Packages, they are supporting the Executive Branch’s takeover of private businesses in the economic and automotive sectors (energy will be next - mark my words), etc... etc...<

I’m one of those who says there is no difference between the two parties, but when I say it, I’m referring to the overall stench of corruption that emanates from both sides.

True, democrats have had more than their share of scandals it seems.

But why are so many republicans going along with these ridiculous and often unconstitutional ideas?

I wasn’t one of the people who stayed home to punish the RNC because “both sides are the same”. I sucked it up and did the right thing(to me, anyway)to try and keep Zero out of there.

I feel like maybe there are a dozen good ones left-if we’re lucky.

Maybe they are getting to be so much alike in their desire to control us and reign us in because they know we’re getting onto their outrageous corruption.

I read that one of the tea parties might be cancelled. I think they’re afraid of these tea parties or anything else that will increase public awareness and might wake some people up out there long enough to vote for the change we really needed instead of that mess of Che’nge we were stuck with.

Funny, they never seem to have a problem with thousands of illegal aliens swarming through the city and screaming for what doesn’t rightfully belong to them.

Perverts can march in SF & do sex acts.

This stuff doesn’t threaten the government.

It threatens America.

They don’t care about America.

They just want to be in government forever, getting all their fantastic sums of money for certain laws and votes.

All the AIG stuff and bailouts are peeling back more layers and layers of fraud. The more that is revealed, the madder people get.

The class warfare meme is put out there as a diversion. They’re even doing it on FNC. Our own government encourages it to shift the blame.

I’m almost to the point where I feel that ALL of them need to go NOW.

[LibertyRocks]

You put that well, and I agree with what you’ve said. Especially how you explained the real meaning behind the phrase “No difference between them”. Obviously, there are differences in some policies (abortion for example), but as you said; the corruption blankets BOTH parties in Washington, and has for quite a while now...

The support for Unconstitutional Laws and policies, as well as the corruption are BOTH part of the “they’re all the same” explanation... OBVIOUSLY, it’s a generalization, but there is plenty of evidence behind it.

I’m getting tired, and have a headache so I may not have worded this right. I still hope people get the gist of the message here...

[cva66snipe]

One things for certain. The GOP has no real leadership and hasn't for two decades now. They almost had it right in 1994 by taking the DEMs to task and won both houses. By 1996 I was embarrassed to even watch the Republican Convention. It was sickening and disgusting. The GOP could have had it all. Even in 2000 there could have been hope had DEM Lite not put in the Oval Office. The downward slide continued.

Then it reached the point where Barney Frank led both the GOP houses and GOP POTUS into the Abyss and they followed taking the nations future with them. There is no difference between those leading the GOP and the DEMs. None whatsoever. I am ashamed of my senator Senator Alexander and hope this term is his last. My congressman Wamp is not running again thankfully and I will not support his run for governor. Good Republicans? Yea there's some. John {Jimmy} Duncan, Jeff Sessions, and Marsha Blackburn come to mind. And there are losers who need to go. Specter, Collins, Snowe, Graham, McCain, to name a few.

Most who want no discord in the party are the biggest shills come election time for Republicans who are as bad as any Dem dared be. I even know DEMs who voted Independent because their own party and GOP were running such pathetic choices. Not all DEMs voted for Osbama especially in southern states. To cure the nation the GOP may well have to Whig and be gone. Let the Liberals go home to the Dem Party and real opposition to Liberalism be formed in a new party.

If that could bring the nation back around and head off a war most of us see is in the making that's fine by me. The nation can not go on with two political parties so close in agenda as their current DEM and GOP are. It's unhealthy for the nation and as we are finding out the springboard for a possible dictatorship to be set up.

[HiTech RedNeck]

If we must drift left, let us drift left with dignity. Republicans as a whole display a world more dignity than Democrats as a whole.

If the GOP old timers will not come up with a good candidate for 2012, then one must be forced on the GOP. The US Constitution’s process for electing a president forces a two party oligarchy. Spoiler candidates on the right bring us the worst of the pack.

[cva66snipe]

LOL being led in agendas by the likes of Barney Frank is about as undignified as the GOP can get. Dignity died in the GOP in 1996. Since then the GOP has been beggars at the DEMs table wanting crumbs that fall. The GOP's continued left slide would make any free elections beyond 2012 unlikely. The GOP has a few good leaders. But their side of the party lost control of the party about mid 1995. What I'm saying is this. The GOP is two parties within itself which no longer have much in common with each other. The GOP voting records in congress say as much.

[Quix]

It’s CONCEIVABLE that there will still be elections in 2010.

Though I doubt it.

There may be martial law by Dec . . . . followed by OVERT WWIII I’d say it’s a near certainty within 18 months.

The global dictatorship can’t be THAT far behind.

Any “election” would be ANOTHER Selection of ANOTHER stooge

AT BEST.

MARANATHA!

[HiTech RedNeck]

Let almost any Republican speak for himself or herself, and it’s a different story. Why is Obama cringeworthy all the time, while Bush was only some of the time?

[Quix]

I feel like maybe there are a dozen good ones left-if we’re lucky.

---

INDEED.

However, they won’t be going anywhere but worse & worse until after literal ARMAGEDDON.

[cva66snipe]

Let almost any Republican speak for himself or herself, and it’s a different story. Why is Obama cringeworthy all the time, while Bush was only some of the time?

Bush hadn't quite reached the lows of Osbama. LBJ on domestic and some foreign policy? Yes Bush reached that point but he didn't reach Obama's lows. But I also doubt W is too uncomfy with his replacement. As well Osbama is a much larger threat to our freedom thanks to the previous GOP congressional majority and Bush's expanding of Executive Branch programs and powers. Bush and congress just made it much easier for Osbama to step in and take over. I don't think history will look kindly on that.

[Quix]

There is still some discernable difference between the parties in some local areas to some degree.

Functionally on the national level . . . the leadership has been co-opted by the globalists for decades.

In the Senate, the leadership and the bulk of the Senators—certainly the key Senators—have been stooges of the oligarchy for decades.

The House leadership has been stooges of the oligarchy for decades.

The trumped up differences between the two parties has largely been a good-cop/bad-cop game of the oligarchy to distract us from their skull-duggary under the table.

Yeah, I’d still vote GOP as the smaller government issue is still important, though now futile.

However, I believe that certainly family folks have to prayerfully ponder how much to engage in essentially futile efforts in behalf of a very compromised GOP

vs

getting themselves and their families ready for what’s looming on the near horizon.

I wish I did not feel that way.

The evidence to me is too overwhelming to mince words.

The GOP is not going to be sane nor patriotic any time soon. Probably not until after literal Armageddon.

It’s just not. The oligarchy will insure that one way or another.

IT IS TIME TO PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS AND REALIZE THAT GOD ALONE—GOD PUT FIRST AND FOREMOST IN ALL WAYS AND AREAS OF LIFE—IS THE ONLY HOPE FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND GROUPS.

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD.

OK, flame away.

[LowCountryJoe]

Are not the 'fiscal conservatives but social liberals' and the 'leave-me-alone fundamentalists' the same the damned thing? Because I really do consider myself in both camps and never one fell for Obama's bullshit...especially the part about giving goodies to the 95% at the expense of the top 5%.

I don't think that the author quite nailed it there; more like smashed his thumb on this particular swing of the hammer.

[roamer_1]

26% you morons. The national Republican membership is down to 26%, and still we hear about center-right coalitions and compromise. It is indeed time to put away childish things and get a friggin clue.

The only way you will ever see another success is to turn hard to the far right. It is the only way you will get Conservative support, and that includes the Libertarians.

Don’t look to the Conservatives to compromise. We never have, and we never will. We have left, and are leaving you in droves because you refuse to honor the agreements made under Reagan.

The only way to reclaim what you have lost is to return to Reagan, and the Reagan Coalition which founded the Conservative Right as it is today, and at this point it is becoming unlikely that you can even do that at all. No one trusts you to fulfill your promises anymore.

[Swing_Thought]

The issue then becomes what governing philosophy do these major parties espouse. Today's Democratic party is overwhelmingly made up of interest groups that believe a powerful central government, overseen by them, is essential to guarantee equitable outcomes. The Republican party membership, in even greater numbers, is dominated by those who believe government (per the founders) should be limited and the rights of the individual paramount.

In this passage, the writer puts his finger on the single most important distinction between D and R that should be (but hasn't been) made by GOP candidates. This is exactly where the GOP failed in 2008, because, whatever nice can be said about him, nobody can argue that John Sidney McCain never met a problem that he didn't think the federal government could fix. He was an absolutely horrible GOP presidential candidate BECAUSE his core values are in direct opposition to what GOP core values should be. As such, he presented a visage to the country that nobody liked. Small government conservatives had to hold their noses to vote for the guy and they wishy washy moderates needed to win a majority were more easily enthralled by the hope and change candidate.

Limited government versus the nanny state. This IS the issue, folks. Gains can be made in 2010, and the white house possibly recaptured in 2012 only if THIS argument is made effectively.

[1010RD]

Outstanding and spot on! A must read for FReepers.

[1010RD]

Obama is real. The Republicans are better by many degrees.

[iopscusa]

Obama should never have been elected. The failure of the GWB DOJ to prosecute obvious voter fraud, the nomination of McCain along with the financial meltdown scam sealed the deal.
McCain's campaign was pitiful but really is just a symptom of the sickness that plagues the GOP.

[nathanbedford]

A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand.

We all know that and we all believe that. However the banner for fund raising at the top of this thread proclaims in red white and blue, "United We Stand." Virtually every poster who appears as we proceed down the threat puts the lie to that banner. Poster after poster, not excluding myself, forecasts the destruction of the party or their own permanent disaffection if Republicans do not return to core conservative values.

This is an anecdotal picture. Another picture is that the party actually nominated John McCain and that was not exclusively because crossovers came into the primaries. The people voted for John McCain in primaries probably do not frequent Free Republic and that is significant. The undeniable and crucial fact is that the party is deeply and angrily divided. I have posted ad nauseum about the causes for this, hoping that a review of the causes would bring the cure.

The author in his way is attempting to address the problem and offer some cures himself. He wants a cure no less than we do because he is right when he admonishes us that America is a two-party country and a third-party will only bring the Liberals to everlasting power. There are very rare exceptions such as the demise of the Whigs and the emergence of this party. The historical reference will be useful later when we note that the country was consumed over the issue of slavery and a leader emerged. The parallels to today are obvious.

The author recommends primary challenges, among others, and I fully agree but we have to get around the problem of open primaries. You will note the solution is a bottom-up solution. Most of the author's solutions, apart from his hortatory appeals, are bottom up because he believes:

The election of Barack Obama and the 112th Congress is a fait accompli; however, their actions can be curtailed and potentially overturned by 2010.

I am not that sanguine that much of this can ever be reversed and the Constitution restored to its proper, or should I more realistically say, to its most recent position before Obama has so massively distorted it. I am not inclined to believe that a bottom-up solution can be effected in time. That is not to deny that the tinder is so dry and the sparks shooting out of Obama so ubiquitous, that a spontaneous combustion could easily change everything. A lot of people feel that they have been duped, they see their birthright being stolen from them and their children, above all, they are afraid.

I believe our short-term solution is what all of the posters on this thread have been calling for: leadership. Conservative leadership, leadership which is charismatic and fearless. At no time since the Vietnam/Watergate era has the nation been so ready to rise up in righteous indignation. It only requires a leader.

When Michael Steele became head of the Republican National Committee the inherited about $20 million, more even than the Democrats had. If I were that Chairman the first thing I would do is commission a series of polls to identify the issues which resonate, which overcome the wedges that the Democrats have driven into the Republican Party, and which suggest wedges which might be driven into the Democrat party. If Michael Steele has commissioned those polls, they must have told him to remain silent because he has had really nothing to say which would put the party at the head of an outraged citizenry. Even Newt Gingrich who has no responsibility as party leader has undertaken to acquire a series of polls, funded through his own organization, which reveal several issues with overwhelming support for the conservative side and opposition to the liberal side. One quick example, making English the official language.

If I were the chairman of the Republican National Committee right now I would be organizing every threatened industry in America from coal to health care soliciting not millions but hundreds of millions from these threatened industries to organize campaigns against the socialist takeover of their meal tickets. Without overstepping or breaking the law, much can be done in this area. Do the heads of these banks want to keep their jobs? Let them be supine before Obama and see what happens! There is money there. There is no reason why political operatives of this world cannot organize massive 527 campaigns against Obama right now on behalf of oil, coal, healthcare, banking, insurance,-the list is practically limited only by the kinds of occupations there are in America-and run those campaigns in parallel but not coordinated synchronization with the Republican issues.

But these companies must believe that there will be uncoordinated but strong congruence support in the Republican Party in Congress and on the stump so that these companies which venture Harry and Louise campaigns are not left to the mercies of Barney Frank. Why should they trust the Republican Party now? We need a leader who can sell them.

It is human nature, or at least the nature of the electorate, to suffer passively for a season and then erupt over a seeming triviality. The American public is in exactly that state right now. When the moment comes, the uproar will be furious and the internicine quarrels between social and fiscal conservatives and all the rest of it will drop quietly by the side and the people, with or without the Republican Party, will march.

There is so much to be done and so much can be done that will change our circumstances. These are by way of illustration only of the potential that is out there which could turn this country around.

But above all, we need a damn leader!

[sergeantdave]

“However, I believe that certainly family folks have to prayerfully ponder how much to engage in essentially futile efforts in behalf of a very compromised GOP”

I’d recommend conservatives start in their own backyards and clean out the liberals in their local governments. I’ve been going to local meetings for years and conservatives rarely show up, while the audeience is usually infested with four to six Marxists demanding more bureaucracy and higher taxes.

We won’t take America back until a conservative political base is established and that starts with your local government. That’s the the way the Founders did it. The head (central government) cannot operate without the body (local governments). It’s that simple. Conservative local governments can start a thousand brushfires by legally sabotaging federal mandates that will exhaust federal and state manpower, supplies and logistics.

Run for a local council seat. It’s not that expensive. Go to meetings, volunteer for planning commissions and zoning boards.

[gogogodzilla]

If you need these voters to win... then it behooves that party to *ACTUALLY RUN CANDIDATES* that fill their bill.

Failure to attract those voters with good candidates is no fault of anyone except those that did so.

[LibLieSlayer]

THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “SOME” REPUSSYKINS AND dims. That is the truth.

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

The House repubics have been prtty good... credit where it is due.

LLS

[LibLieSlayer]

“we need a damn leader!”

There it is in its entirety! Not even a full sentence and you nailed it!

LLS

[metmom]

ping

[RoadTest]

This is a good call to arms. Not perfect, but very good.

Someone(s) in last November’s Presidential election made very sure we would have no alternative to a Socialist, or, at least, a Liberal candidate. Electing McCain wouldn’t have been far off politically from electing Obama.

It’s obvious that the overwhelming powers of our culture (press, educators, entertainers and even churches) are arrayed in well-coordinated battle array to impose Socialism on us all.

I applaud every effort to reverse this travesty.

[x_plus_one]

I TRIED to support the Republican Party, I really did.

The fastest way to change the republican party is from the inside out. Find a way to have some input in your county Republican committee. Run a website, help with fundraisers,write a newsletter, do something to eliminate influence of rino's. Purging voter rolls of Acorn voters helps, fielding candidates for local elections is critical. Grassroots republicanism works everytime it's tried.

Don't let the Brahmins in the Republican Leadership Council depress you. They are the problem with the GOP.

[1010RD]

You’ll get no argument from me. Where’s the leader?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Quix]

Certainly much could have been done at the local level.

And, probably many local levels are worth the effort for some reasons, still.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

That theme resonated wih sufficient voters to give him 19% of the popular vote, the highest level ever acheived by a third party candidate

Facts are important, especially when putting up a column that is supposed to provide insight. This fact is wrong. In 1912, the Theodore Roosevelt of the Progressive Party gathered 27.4% of the popular vote, in 1860 Stephen Douglas of the Northern Democrats carried just one State but had 29.5% of the popular vote, in 1856 Millard Fillmore of the Know Nothing Party had 21.6% of the vote.

Good points, bad facts.

[Reeses]

only a two major party arrangement is viable.

Most countries have multiple viable parties to choose from. Why do we only have Pepsi vs. Coke? While 3 parties is politically unstable, election rules could be arranged to promote 4 parties by reserving some seats for the top 4 vote getting parties. Suddenly being in a party that attracts 10% of the vote means something. The Pepsi/Coke bi-opoly would split into the Socialists, Democrats, Republicans, and Conservatives, each with roughly 25% of the vote.

I've given up on the Republican brand. I recently moved so need to register to vote again, but this time I'm choosing independent. Being publicly listed on the voter rolls as a Republican will just be used against me with no upside.

[rdb3]

There's a lot of freepers pretty much parroting some variant of the Perot Doctrine. Way to hand power to the 'Rats, guys.

And they're the principled ones. Makes me wonder...

Amazing << Hear this. Feel this, and tell me that this isn't music.

Oh, dear...