The Party of Death vs. The Party of Slow Suicide

Washington Dispatch ^ | 9/14/03 | Patrick Rooney

[krunkygirl]

bump and read

[truthandlife]

The article is stupid. If the republicans do not pander to the center, then the democrats will pander to the center and win all the elections.

Disagree. You might want to read this for some history:

Secrets of the "Reagan Democrats”

	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996
Voting age population in millions	157.6	172.8	180.7	185.6	194.8
Democrat votes in millions	35.5	37.5	41.8	44.8	45.6
Percent of Democrat votes	23%	22%	23%	24%	23%

The fundamental reason for the victories of Ronald Reagan (1980 and 1984) and George H.W. Bush (1988) is that they ran on a solid conservative agenda that was easily understood, and believed, by conservative base voters. Both President Bush (1992) and Bob Dole (1996) lost because their campaigns lacked conservative credibility, resulting in fewer Republican votes as the conservative base abandoned them by either staying home or registering a protest vote for Ross Perot.

[Mark Felton]

"That's a nice thing to do, all right. But it's overly simplistic. The problems with public education are a symptom, not the head of the snake."

really?

That I can provide you an end objective with which you agree in the space of a short posting is remarkable.

But now you also expect that I lay out a grand battle plan that would accomodate all the public schools? That misses the original point.

The moment that individual communities believe they might be able to regain control of their own schools will be the moment in which a thousand viable solutions will begin to precipitate.

As for me I have several specific ideas. I have presented them to my Congressman. I have held press conferences. I have worked within the system and without. I now homeschool. My ideas may not be the best, but at least I am thinking and willing to act, and that is the real hurdle we face.

Our schools have bred out the can-do attitude. They have convinced average Americans that there is no real solution, except the status quo.

Sounds like the culture of the USSR at it's most defeatist.

PS: One idea I like is paying the schools the way we pay contract engineering companies. They are paid an hourly rate $80-125/hr for each billable teacher hour. From that income all expenses, textbooks, admin, building healthcare, etc must be paid. Rates will be negotiated based on objective standards of performance for the students and productivity of the teachers. Rates are negotiated between members of the community (elected parents, county officials) and the school district management. Hiring/firing authority rests with the community members. [there's far more to it all of course, but I don't have the time or incliniation to elaborate here just now, perhaps later]

[NukeMan]

You may want to check out this blog, which seems to be right up your alley (I often post there):

http://www.brothersjudd.com/blog/

As a sample discussion item, the linked article ties in nicely with the current Freeper discussion:

http://www.brothersjudd.com/blog/archives/007931.html

[Mark Felton]

LOL!

You're right. The correct answer is not an option.

[jjm2111]

"The problem with all these "let's fix the political system" articles, as you so astutely recognize, is that they're all predicated on the implicit (or explicit) premise that what's happening is somehow being imposed on an unwilling populace by a gang of Dick Dastardlys, twirling their moustaches and secretly plotting the downfall of the Republic. But I think we both know that nothing could be farther from the truth - not only do the American people not see a problem, but they're generally pretty happy with how things are these days. This is what they want, and any "solution" that doesn't take that into account is doomed to failure, because it really will be an attempt to impose on an unwilling populace. "

Very good point. Most people want the government to protect them from the bumps in life; some to more of a degree than other. However, to a degree powerful interest do trump popular will. Take proposition 187 in Calinfornia. It was overwhelmingly approved by the populace (approved even by Hispanics IIRC), yet Governor Davis sued to get it invalidated. Take school vounchers. Something like 80% of Black people want their kids out of failed, crime-ridden inner city schools. However, the teachers unions manage to any voucher programs watered down to the point of silliness. I think there's an element of both in modern American politics.

[MHGinTN]

The final assertion in the posted article is contradicted by your Jeffersonian quote! Agenda?

[Mark Felton]

"The final assertion in the posted article is contradicted by your Jeffersonian quote! Agenda?"

I side with Jefferson.

All free political bodies will naturally split between conservatives and liberals.

However, currently both parties are not motivated by liberal or conservative philosophies. While they each have elements of liberalism and conservatism ultimately they are dominated by simple greed.

I would like to see a re-alignment of those parties. There are conservatives in both parties. I would like to see the conservatives in the democrat party re-align themselves with the conservatives of the Republican party, join forces and establish a new party that will excite the displaced masses.

[madprof98]

Republicans cannot even muster enough strength to stop the obvious brutality of partial birth abortion, or object when the left removes the Ten Commandments from a state courthouse, or speak up when “apple pie American” groups like the Boy Scouts are preyed upon by homosexual activists and traitorous judges.

I think this is a valid point. The Republicans have not been effective in curbing even the most egregious examples of politically-inspired culture rot.

[staytrue]

I think reagan won because carter was an imbecile with 20% interest rates and 10 percent unemployment. Reagan won reelection because incumbents are hard to beat. Bush won because Dukakis was a short weenie who took a tank ride. Bush lost in 92 because of the recession and hostile media. Clinton won in 96 because before the convention, Dole had no money and Clinton probably had about 100 million to spend and there was peace and prosperity. Bush won in 2000 because there was no incumbent running.

Bush may lose in 2004 because of a recession.

The rule is incumbents usually win unless the economy is bad. If no incumbent is running then the election is close.
It has little to do with conservative or liberal. You have to win the center.

[Pagey]

read later bump

[rebuildus]

You missed the point of my article. There is a solution, and it's called "truth". Telling it, and living it. Using it to change your party so they represent something American again. So we can find life as a nation, not death. There is no other solution. There never has been.

[rebuildus]

Your reply sounds intelligent for a minute, until examined a bit closer. So you're saying that allowing our country to be destroyed and our security threatened via illegal immigration is okay, as long as it helps you "win the center"? Think before you react.

[r9etb]

You missed the point of my article.

And you missed the point of my reply. We can tell the truth all we want, and should do so. But until the nation decides to listen to and live by the truth, our talk will come to nothing.

[staytrue]

Think before you react.

I suggest you do the same. The conservative purists would ditch the middle and lose the game. The rinos want to win the middle, hold on, and then slowly advance the ball down the field. The conservative strategy in football terms, means going deep on every play.

[Desron13]

"This is not a call for the abandonment of the classic two-party system. But it is a call, to either choose the speed of this nation’s death, or demand a better set of choices from your party. I recommend the latter."

Sadly, it's too late. The Second Civil War is coming and the resulting breakup of the country is inevitable. The best people will be able to do is prepare and try to survive the blood bath. I wish this weren't so but you need look no further than at whets happening in Kalifornia to see the handwriting on the wall.

[truthandlife]

BUMP

[pawdoggie]

I appreciate the fact that Dennis Miller had a 9-11 inspired personal epiphany. He has become the pro-American Mort Sahl, but someone in the GOP needs to look at the guy's views on drugs, gun control, abortion, etc., and some of the details of the guys personal life (which the Democrats will surely attempt to exploit) before they present him as a candidate for national office. That having been said, it would be fun to watch him deflate that pompous old windbag Feinstein in a debate.