Posted on 01/23/2013 11:49:13 PM PST by neverdem
The political right communicates wrong(ly).
The depressing spectacle of Barack Obama inaugurating a second term should not obscure this truth: Conservatives win on issues. They lose in elections because they don’t know how to frame the choices, even on those many issues on which the majority of the public is in their corner. Consider the most recent poll numbers. Gallup on abortion: “Would you consider yourself to be pro-choice or pro-life?” Answer: 50 to 41, pro-life.
Gallup on whether government “is trying to do too many things that should be left to individuals and businesses” or instead “should do more to solve our country’s problems.” Answer: By 54-39, “is trying to do too many things.” And 51 percent think the federal government “has too much power” versus 40 percent “has about the right amount of power” — and only 8 percent thinks it “has too little power.”
Impression of the National Rifle Association? Fox News, just last week: 56 percent favorable, 33 percent unfavorable. Will tough guns laws help stop incidents like the Newtown school shooting? Only 22 percent say yes, while 71 percent say “the people who commit these kinds of acts will always find the guns to commit violent acts.” And: “Which is more important: protecting the constitutional rights of citizens to own guns, or protecting citizens from gun violence?” Rights defeat protection, 51-40. And CNN, also last week, asked: Would “having stricter gun control laws… reduce the amount of violence in the country, or not?” Not: 61-39.
And by 47 percent to 40 percent, those polled support having “armed guards in every school” ahead of “stricter gun control laws.”
Okay, how about the debt ceiling? CBS last week gave three options: “Raised without conditions” or “raised with spending cuts” or “not raised at all.” The answers: 17...
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
Having better candidates who can think on their feet wouldn't hurt, especially when you know that most of the media are corrupt and hostile.
Republican politicians don’t know how to breath life into their positions and they bore me to tears, it is like listening to accountants all the time.
Anyone who has seen a bad teacher manage to bore them in classes on their favorite subjects, can see some of that when most republican leaders speak, if they bore us, you can imagine what it sounds like to people who are on the fence.
One reason we like talk radio is that the hosts can explain and discuss various conservative positions in a way that reaches us, that connects with us, that makes sense, and sticks with us, radio hosts are persuasive and somehow they seem to know a lot about the topics.
Ask the average republican politician about gun issues and he can put you to sleep and convey the feeling that he really doesn’t have the conviction or the information to convince anyone who isn’t already on his side.
“Having better candidates who can think on their feet wouldn’t hurt, especially when you know that most of the media are corrupt and hostile?”
To be able to “think on one’s feet” means that a person must have principles set in stone. THAT is the antithesis of being a politician, who is always having to consider the possibilities of compromise.
My concern is that Conservatives get tangled up in details rather than standing on bedrock - the solid foundations that most people in this nation want.
We want safety for ourselves and our families, the liberty to make responsible choices in our lives, and the presence of a benign government that will not interfere in our legal pursuit for success.
The majority of citizens in this land recongnize the above because they have common sense.
They perceive that big cities are dangerous places and that tightening up on law and order is a good path to follow. Outlawwing guns is counterproductive.
They do not like illegal aliens being given amnesty: honest people come through the front door rather than climb over the back fence.
They do not like abortion on demand or the killing of viable babies, but neither do they want a medical procedure denied to women who must have it to save their lives.
They understand the necessity of national defense but are angered at the “policemen of the world” role we’ve taken on to protect international business interests.
Most of all, they recognize how out of control and corrupt our government has become, and want to see Washington’s way of doing business altered and the govenment downsized.
Neither party has the solutions and Conservatives are having difficulty sorting through the issues, afraid of stepping on a landmine.
The answers are in the U.S. Constitution. The biggest problem is convincing people to follow it again.
I’m afraid our Founders made a terrible oversight in holding truth to be self-evident.
We need a bunch more Rand Pauls and Ted Cruzes.
Lol!
With no middle, there's no right. Actually, on a world scale there's no right, but there is a LEFT, and that international movement has members inside the United States.
The LEFT infiltrated and took over the Democrat party. But we are still patriotic normal American people in the Republican coalition.
It's best to portray LEFTIST values and ideas as alien to our nation and it's beliefs. Republicans and Conservatives should never miss the chance to note that the LEFT is not only alien, but totalitarian in its ambitions ~ no different than any other totalitarian movement in the last 350 years.
When it comes to members of the public owning firearms, the United States and Yemen, stand alone of course, but that doesn't mean we need to restrict that ownership just because the totalitarians and their running dog lackeys like things that way.
Note, on using the term 'right' the proposed layout or the French national assembly back in 1791 thought of the 'right' as consiting of 'royalists' ~ and as you all remember, we deposed the 'royalists' in 1776 and never looked back! The only people you'll ever find hankering after royalty in America are, of course, Democrat party cheerleaders.
Leaving aside the RINOs who don’t really have their hearts in it, our big problem is that we speak from a defensive position. It’s hard to project much enthusiasm if you come across as defensive, waiting for the next kick and feeling that the only thing you can do is to maintain a low profile so you won’t get kicked again.
This is largely because of the media’s constant assault on conservative views, an assault which consists equally of attacking them or of ignoring them and their popularity with average Americans.
Reagan was a good and persuasive presenter of conservative ideas because he wasn’t defensive. He didn’t come across as blustering, but simply as confident and easy in his skin.
Of course, since the time of Reagan, we have had decades of media demonization of conservative positions, and this has certainly ratcheted up in the last four years. This takes its toll; it’s hard to be confident when you are being painted as an enemy of the people. So I’d say we’ve got to work on our own attitudes to what we believe and stop feeling that we somehow have to justify our positions to people rather than confidently promoting them. But this is easier said than done in today’s hostile climate.
It was time for a conservative version of “By Any Means Necessary” five years ago!
Which articulate conservative was savaged by the GOP “establishment” this last election?
The problem isn’t communications. We have a de facto one party system with two competing factions that agree on virtually all substantive issues.
Well, that worked out well for the Republicans. They captured the mushy moderates and independents, but they so insulted their base that a lot of the people who could have made the difference stayed home. Hello, President Obama.
“I’m afraid our Founders made a terrible oversight in holding truth to be self evident.”
The Founders believed in God and inalienable rights granted by their Creator. They could not envision a time when the nation would become so prosperous the people would reject God and become self indulgent.
The average urban citizen, whether poor or middle class, can have all of the free sex he or she wants with no consequences thanks to government facilitated access to contraception and abortion. Thanks to the government safety net the urban dweller has no worries about food, medical care, housing, or education for any offspring he or she chooses to bring into the world. Even the poorest urban households can afford and enjoy the marvels of 21st century technology — widescreen HD televisions spewing anti religion propaganda packaged as entertainment, smartphones, and Internet linked computers with easy access to pornography. Public transportation, provided by the government, is low cost and easy access. For the middle class and wealthy urbanites, protection (fire and police services) is also provided by the government. In addition, for those urban dwellers not completely absorbed in sex and television, the government subsidizes, provides and maintains parks, zoos, museums, sports arenas, and cultural activities at no or low cost.
To the average urban dweller there is no need for God in today’s secular society. State facilitated freedom has replaced the Founder’s concept of God granted individual liberty. With God, there is also the requirement of personal responsibility and the constant struggle to be virtuous. The state expects no virtue, it only requires submission to its authority. Today the perceived benefits of living a Godless self indulgent life far outweigh the costs imposed by government for the average citizen. In contrast the liberty granted by God, and cherished by the Founders, requires personal responsibility, hard work, delayed gratification, and chastity outside of a marriage contact. When offered the choice between an immoral self indulgent life under government control, and real freedom with the requirement to strive to live a virtuous life as defined by God, the American people of today have chosen the former.
Think back to the 2012 election. The major Democrat theme was homosexual and heterosexual freedom. Vote for us and we will provide free contraception and birth control plus legalize gay marriage. No personal responsibility required. The second Democrat theme was benefits without cost. We will provide your healthcare, education, and social safety net and make the rich (I.e. someone else) pay for your benefits. Again, no personal responsibility required. Voters in the urban counties of the USA overwhelmingly chose subservience to the government in exchange for sexual freedom. At the same time they rejected God and personal responsibility.
The choice has been made voluntarily by the majority of the Voting population. Now we will live with the consequences.
I LOL'ed at this, but then stopped and realized you're right. Unfortunately.
“Underperform”?????
They don’t give a crap about our values. Power and prestige is what it’s all about for them—even if they have to unite with the other side to keep it for themselves.
Exactly!!
The media talks about a civil war within the Republican Party. Not true. The base is united in wanting lower taxes, less regulation, repeal ObamaCare, etc., etc., etc. Their elected leaders disagree. They want to increase their own power and "manage" big government, no reduce it. They have to say things (through gritted teeth) that appeal to the base in order to get elected, but their hate it.
They are ineffective, because they want to be ineffective. Failing increases their own personal power and future earnings.
Motto of the elected GOP: Screw the base, screw the Tea Party, screw the country. I need to get mine.
I absolutely agree with you. I often wonder why so few who go into politics are good communicators and can clearly articulate reasoned positions about liberty and freedom in a passionate, compelling and interesting manner. Sarah was one of the few who could and look what they did to her when she arose as a threat to dictatorship.
Most Republican candidates won’t articulate conservative positions because a) they don’t believe in them or b) they are weak and believe the consultants who say that such positions will scare off the voters.
Bring back American manufacturing and jobs.
Now.
Whats amazing is conservative positions are as popular as they are in spite of this.
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