I have run a successful privately owned business for many years. It is still thriving today, in spite of the dismal economy.
In business, in any negotiation, my grandfather taught us that you never enter in to a business agreement unless you are willing to walk away with nothing. That way, you are never negotiating from a position of weakness.
This principle does not apply to choosing a President. In assessing a candidate, it seems painfully obvious that we are not always going to get the total package we want. There are always going to be positions, issues, etc. that we cannot all find consensus upon.
I think it is highly advisable that conservatives begin to define the areas we are not willing to budge on versus the issues we are willing to delay or ignore for a while in an attempt to get behind a single candidate and stick with them. Obviously, for me, Mitt Romney is not that man. There are too many issues in which he has proven repeatedly he is far too left/centrist leaning for my taste.
I don’t know yet who I actually prefer. But I think the dialogue needs to be opened and examined with the choices we have. Without it, with even a hairline fracture in our ranks, we may be doomed to another 4 years of the socialist in the White House and this is not acceptable.
I have not been here as long as most of you and I don’t want to appear to be preachy, but the reality is, with the exception of Romney, almost any candidate will be an improvement over Obama.
As a voice and source of information for millions of conservatives across the country, it seems it is incumbent upon those of us here to keep our “wish list” in open discussion and decide, if we can, what is negotiable and what is not.
If I am off-base or over stepping my bounds, please slap me (softly) and I will retreat back into my little corner of the world.
Oh vey today, no? ;). I agree that it would be great to have a conservative list of “no go” policies that will rule out a candidate, but we can’t all agree on which ones. I think we all agree on health care, for instance, but not on abortion policy or illegal aliens etc. Even organizing conservatives is like herding cats.
“If I am off-base or over stepping my bounds, please slap me (softly) and I will retreat back into my little corner of the world.”
Ah, yes, you are a noob, as you are entirely too polite and diplomatic in expressing your opinions on the arena floor. Actually that is refreshing. Welcome to Free Republic, and with regard to your tagline you will find quite a few politically conservative Jews here. Pinging MestaMachine and Nachum to perhaps show you around. Come on in and get comfortable.
With regard to your points, they are quite valid, but time is running out.
I know many just like you..who had strong business foundations, good sales, good management, good principles of business..and yes can even hire when they can find someone dependable and knowledgeable enough to do their job.
I see your dedication of focus in Building the economy,just like sales this Christmas season are doing extremely well for the retail sector. Have even heard it on here, it will make Obama look good. Would they rather see misery of Americans in order to pull out an election?
The President is just window dressing, he is a salesman of the highest order working with presidents, prime ministers, dignitaries from around the world who are selling whatever they have for sale, as well. A President needs to make Americans feel safe, feel positive in viewing their prosperity of future. Instilling Confidence is key! I am confident the R will win the election. Too many on the L like Frank [17/8] are running for the Hills while the time is right. Their history has caught up with them.
How can we go wrong with our cutting edge technology wanted by every other country as soon as it comes to market. I see so many defeatists here; BUT you get it! They want to be led, while you take the reins and you lead, perhaps wishing it could be easier; but you take those hurtles and succeed despite all odds.
Obama is not powerful enough to bring down a country filled with people like you! The Right gives him too much credit.
I like you, you're cool to me.
FTD