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Election Strategy for Conservatives
Free Republic Exclusive! | 5-1-12 | Antoninus

Posted on 05/01/2012 8:52:08 PM PDT by Antoninus

Let's face it. The second Mitt Romney becomes the Republican nominee for president, conservatives have lost the 2012 election. The time has come to attempt to make the best of a bad situation.

Please allow me to present my analysis of our current political situation and my worst- and best-case scenarios.

Worst outcome: Obama wins, Democrats Take Control of the Congress.
If that happens, conservatives have lost everything for the next generation at least. Nothing short of divine intervention could save us from socialism at that point.

Second worst outcome: Romney wins
If Romney wins, it doesn't matter who controls the Congress. Socialism will progress, and fast. Romney will have no opposition from Republicans and Democrats will only oppose to push him even further to the left. And he will acquiesce. That's his MO. Worse, Republicans will rightly get the blame for every piece of socialist legislation that Romney signs, resulting in catastrophic defeats in 2014 and a loss of the presidency in 2016 to an even more radical Democrat commanding even more insuperable majorities in Congress than Obama did in 2008.

Least bad outcome: Obama wins with less than 50% of the vote, Republicans control Congress with solid majorities in each house.
This could happen with the emergence of a strong conservative third party candidate that bleeds votes from Romney, giving Obama a Clinton-style non-mandate victory. A strong conservative third party would also have the effect of energizing otherwise apathetic conservatives to come out and vote for conservative Republicans down-ticket, even while voting against Liberal Mitt on the top line. The resulting government produces only gridlock which keeps us in the fight with momentum leading into 2014 and 2016.

Given this, I have decided, for the first time in my life, to vote for a Third Party candidate for president in November. If no one with more national name recognition emerges, Virgil Goode will be getting my vote. I encourage others to think about it and do likewise.

Conversely, you could delude yourself into thinking that Romney isn't as bad as his record clearly shows him to be and spend your time, treasure and energy helping to elect an admitted "progressive" to the presidency. If you decide to do that, God bless you. But don't claim you weren't warned.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: election2012; vanity
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To: Kickass Conservative

Agreed, and they will change both ways. Mainly we are all venting because we are all so damn frustrated, whichever side of the divide we are on.

Sleep.

Now.

*anthem*

*Indianhead test pattern*


121 posted on 05/01/2012 10:48:04 PM PDT by Psalm 144 (Obama's record is an open charnel pit. Romney's too, but under a whitened sepulchre.)
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To: Antoninus

>>You can stuff your leftist creep where the sun don’t shine. I’m voting for a conservative. <<

No you’re not.

You are voting for obama.


122 posted on 05/01/2012 10:49:31 PM PDT by freedumb2003 ('RETRO' Abortions = performed on 84th trimester individuals who think killing babies is a "right.")
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To: D-fendr
As your vote is yours to cast as you see fit, so is mine.

I am not a member of the Republican Party. Haven't been for 14 years now and I haven't seen any reason why I should affiliate myself with them again.

Voting for either Obama or Romney is morally repugnant to me, so I will vote for the strongest conservative on my ballot. If you think that is "promoting the re-election of Obama" I doubt there is anything I could say that would change your mind, nor do I have a desire to do so.

I posted to a like minded individual and really don't care to get in a deep discussion with someone who disagrees with my reasoning.

I am really sincere when I say, who you cast your vote for or against is absolutely none of my business. Please allow me the same courtesy. We, more than likely, both have earned it.

123 posted on 05/01/2012 10:50:13 PM PDT by ImpBill ("America, where are you now?" - Little "r" republican!)
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To: freedumb2003
But we need to apply the Buckley rule — the worst righty is better than the best lefty.

The Buckley rule has helped the GOP-e keep a lid on the conservative movement for far too long and it only ever worked one way--when a moderate got the nomination. Whenever a conservative gets the nomination, the Buckley rule is forgotten. It's long past time to kick it to the curb.

And might I remind you that Bill Buckley's kid voted for Obama in '08...
124 posted on 05/01/2012 10:50:56 PM PDT by Antoninus (Sorry, gone rogue.)
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To: freedumb2003
You are voting for obama.

No, I'm not.

You are voting for Mitt Romney, though.

Only one of us is actually pulling the lever for a leftist.
125 posted on 05/01/2012 10:53:00 PM PDT by Antoninus (Sorry, gone rogue.)
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To: FightforFreedomCA
News flash, we all know it sucks to have Mitt. Shut up and vote however the hell you want, but don’t expect your emotional outburst vanity post to change anyones mind.

Snicker,...no..lol

126 posted on 05/01/2012 10:53:09 PM PDT by going hot (Happiness is a momma deuce)
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To: freedumb2003
You are voting for obama.

I'm thinking folks who keep saying that probably aren't going to be around here that much longer.

127 posted on 05/01/2012 10:54:20 PM PDT by EternalVigilance (Obama v. Romney: Zero plus Zero still equals Zero.)
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To: Antoninus

>>The Buckley rule has helped the GOP-e keep a lid on the conservative movement for far too long and it only ever worked one way—when a moderate got the nomination. Whenever a conservative gets the nomination, the Buckley rule is forgotten. It’s long past time to kick it to the curb.<<

And your plan is so much better. Antoninus proclaims “Obama 2012!”

>>And might I remind you that Bill Buckley’s kid voted for Obama in ‘08... <<

Which means exactly nothing. My cat voted for Anderson in 1980. That didn’t reflect on my vote for Reagan.


128 posted on 05/01/2012 10:55:42 PM PDT by freedumb2003 ('RETRO' Abortions = performed on 84th trimester individuals who think killing babies is a "right.")
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To: Antoninus
Same thing happens in your proposal of President Obama. And if all these things aren't enough to kick them out now…

When you're weighing options for 'least bad' and one of them is "President Obama," it's a no-brainer.

A lot of the differences in argument here I think reduce to two sides: One thinks the other underestimates how bad Obama will be; one thinks the other underestimates how bad Romney will be.

129 posted on 05/01/2012 10:56:07 PM PDT by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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To: Antoninus

Tweaked tagline ...


130 posted on 05/01/2012 10:56:47 PM PDT by EternalVigilance (The Obama/Romney math: 0+0=0)
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To: ImpBill
I posted to a like minded individual and really don't care to get in a deep discussion with someone who disagrees with my reasoning.

My apologies then, but it is an open forum, so I hope you understand I assumed otherwise. I will of course try to remember in the future.

131 posted on 05/01/2012 11:01:49 PM PDT by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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To: EternalVigilance

>>I’m thinking folks who keep saying that probably aren’t going to be around here that much longer.<<

It is skating on the edge but I did directly ping JR on a similar thread and he seemed OK even if he clearly couldn’t stomach Romney (and as I said upthread, it phsysically hurts my stomach much more than McCain ever did).

The sad reality is we are stuck with Romney. JR (and thus FR) will never endorse Romney — it is a bridge too far and I understand that. But realpoltik forces our hands in ways we would prefer not to. Even Rush has walked up to it and accepted it.

I won’t ask JR nor even FR to change its stance. It is like asking one to vomit twice because the purge felt good in the stomach.

But I won’t let a self-important yahoo make a stand without acknowledging the practical results of her stated position.

Elections have consequences.

If I ask you the time, don’t answer me by telling me how to build a birdhouse.


132 posted on 05/01/2012 11:02:14 PM PDT by freedumb2003 ('RETRO' Abortions = performed on 84th trimester individuals who think killing babies is a "right.")
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To: D-fendr
A lot of the differences in argument here I think reduce to two sides: One thinks the other underestimates how bad Obama will be; one thinks the other underestimates how bad Romney will be.

That's it in a nutshell. My position comes from following Mitt Romney's career closely since 1994. The man is a cancer and will do to the country what he did to Massachusetts.

Obama is a known quantity and a nearly exhausted force from what I've seen. On the contrary, Romney's real agenda is practically unknown and he is benefiting from being "Not Obama" which gives him what might appear to be a mandate if he wins. But recall the "etch-e-sketch" comment and tremble if you truly are a conservative.

There is no way in hell I'll endorse a candidate like that with my vote.
133 posted on 05/01/2012 11:03:48 PM PDT by Antoninus (Sorry, gone rogue.)
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To: Antoninus

The last time a non-Republican, or non-democrat won an electoral vote was 1968, George Wallace.

FR favorite got 0.5% of the vote in 2000. Ross Perot did much better, but likely threw 1992 to Clinton.

Greens, Libertarians, and plenty of other 3rd party fantasies pass almost unnoticed by the voters.

Reality check is a good thing, from time to time. As always the next Potus will be a Republican or a democrat.


134 posted on 05/01/2012 11:05:24 PM PDT by truth_seeker
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To: Antoninus

>>No, I’m not.<<

If you don’t think your vote for johnny b. goode or whomever is NOT a vote for obama then you don’t live in the real world.

Which explains a lot of your answers as well as the origination of this thread.

I thank you for creating a discussion thread that let a lot of us clarify the reality as opposed to the fantasy you and many of your kindred souls seem to inhabit. I am sorry Daddy didn’t ride in on his white steed to save you, but I must assume he knew someday you would have to stand up as a grown woman and defend your hill and your beans.

Good night — I do hope you sleep the sleep of the confident, knowing your decision will assist obama in holding his office (which I assume is your agenda). You have moved the puck down the ice admirably.

‘night


135 posted on 05/01/2012 11:09:51 PM PDT by freedumb2003 ('RETRO' Abortions = performed on 84th trimester individuals who think killing babies is a "right.")
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To: freedumb2003
it is a bridge too far

You're fooling yourself. It's a plunge into the political abyss.

Good luck and I hope the rocks aren't too jagged for ya.

136 posted on 05/01/2012 11:13:11 PM PDT by EternalVigilance (The Obama/Romney math: 0+0=0)
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To: truth_seeker
FR favorite got 0.5% of the vote in 2000. Ross Perot did much better, but likely threw 1992 to Clinton.

I didn't like Perot in 1992, but I do believe he would have won if he didn't do the "black helicopter" rant thing. He was polling in the 20s then and trending up. And he still ended up with 19% of the vote when he got back in the race.

Reality check is a good thing, from time to time. As always the next Potus will be a Republican or a democrat.

Not many get the real point of the strategy here. Promoting a third party conservative has the dual effect of drawing votes away from Romney and bringing out potential voters for down-ticket conservative Republicans. Don't forget about that second part--but this will only work if the conservative candidate can get enough buzz going.

Having such a candidate in the race also allows the conservative viewpoint to be presented by someone who actually believes it. This is important for helping to educate voters for the next election. George W. Bush was a terribly inarticulate advocate for conservative ideals. In 2008, we had another poor advocate in John McCain. In 2012 we have a complete phony in Romney who is not a conservative at all.

Things can't go on like this if we expect to see improvement. Change is clearly not coming from within the GOP.
137 posted on 05/01/2012 11:17:38 PM PDT by Antoninus (Sorry, gone rogue.)
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To: Antoninus
If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

It is my opinion, one that I share with Mark Levin, that we have a chance to support “our” Candidate in the Primary Elections, that is what they are for. Once the Primaries are over, the game changes.

Since “we” don't control the final Vote tallies, we either support the last man standing or we decide to acquiesce to our Political opponents. This Election is much more than Politics, and some here feel that the Nation will not survive Obama’s Reelection. That is just the way it is.

Choices will be made. My guy Newt is dropping out tomorrow, so I will make a symbolic Vote in the CA June Primary for Ron Paul. That is where symbolism will end for me though.

(And Yes, I understand that most of us here look at Romney as a Political opponent). We can influence Romney's Politics, just as we did with President Bush. We cannot influence Obama’s relentless attack on our Liberties.

138 posted on 05/01/2012 11:21:14 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (A day without Obama is like a day without a Tsunami.)
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To: Psalm 144
Are there still TV Stations that do the Anthem and the Test Pattern? Me thinks you are as old as I am. LOL
139 posted on 05/01/2012 11:27:06 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative (A day without Obama is like a day without a Tsunami.)
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To: freedumb2003
Good night — I do hope you sleep the sleep of the confident, knowing your decision will assist obama in holding his office (which I assume is your agenda). You have moved the puck down the ice admirably.

Good night. I hope you wake up at least marginally more coherent (and literate) than you were tonight. I could barely make heads or tails your inane twaddle.

Enjoy defending your leftist from entirely warranted attacks on his record from the right. And enjoy pulling the lever for said leftist in November. I won't be joining you. I'll be voting for a conservative.
140 posted on 05/01/2012 11:27:32 PM PDT by Antoninus (Sorry, gone rogue.)
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