Free Republic

All true. And so what should I make of the fact that anyone would get rude with me, or anyone else?

I suppose the more functional response to rudeness of any sort would be to ignore it. But then that kind of goes back to my original questions about where a "moderate" is supposed to fit into the future of the Republican Party.

What is the alternative? I say that as a self identified "RINO." In the real world, politics is about coalitions.

Not just in the real world. Our parties themselves are coalition parties. A third party candidate's only role is draw votes from one party or the other.

Karl Rove is to be congratulated for holding the discipline for so long. Unfortunately in the real world we also experience diminishing returns and the old discipline is long in the tooth. It's time for a new discipline.

Granted, on individual issues, one can and does mix and match. I least I do. The Dems well remain unattractive to me as long as that party is controlled and funded by trial lawyers, and public employee unions, with a bevy of entitlement minded folks looking for a handout, and idealists who are not realistic about many foreign policy issues, along with its own stable of protectionists.

The Dems mix and match too. Yes, they are unattractive and yes they are not only the only alternative, but they are our countrymen as well. They have every right to be represented in our system and to have a dialogue with us. If the extremes of either party can't negotiate with us moderates then the moderates of both parties should get together and marginalize the extremes. If you ask me, the extremes are begging us to marginalize them. Look at what I've gotten here? And they have the temerity to blame me for their attacks on me?

A pox on their house.

I don't proclaim myself to be a "RINO". I see myself more as a traditional conservative as opposed to the current stable of "neo-conservatives" and "neo-conomists". I think the goals of the neos are great. Their roadmap for how to get there is unsustainable, radical, and not at all conservative.

I am not above playing both extremes off against each other. As for politicians, I have been around enough of them to tell you with great confidence that they are all the same thing. They are all bought and sold. That is the nature of things. Sometimes you get good ones, in their first term. But they either change into that same thing, or they're gone. I.e. Peter Fitzgerald here in Illinois.

Sorry it took me so much time to find this. I have been trying to learn the interface as I've said.

A tax cut without a corresponding cut in spending is not a tax cut. I am of the Milton Friedman school, literally, but I wouldn't want to do a "vanity" thing here (true, but do read sarcasm into it too).

Frankly I'd rather pay an inheritance tax than an income tax. I am, after all, dead anyway and I haven't seen much good come from inherited wealth. I am of the old school on that too. No one gave me a dime. I figure I am good enough to give my kids an education. After that they are on their own. They don't need to be too happy at my funeral.

No cuts in spending, no tax cuts. There are no sugarplum fairies. Fiscal responsibility sucks, doesn't it?

I never subscribed to "starve the beast" and I don't even look back on the notion with nostalgia. It's just an excuse to keep spending, not a prescription to cure big government. I balance my budget. Why can't they?

What do you want me to say? I was looking for answers sauropod. Remember?

" I wish I knew. The GOP "leadership" is not listening to the base (that'd be us) right now.

2006 is gonna be a bloodbath. There's lots of denial, some of it right here on ol'FR. "

Exactly my concerns, and the reaction I seem to have provoked here with some simple questions confirms the latter part of your statement.

I wish you knew too. Then you could tell me.

"So far I'm not all that impressed.

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That makes two of us."

I'll tell you what I am impressed with though. I do hear that it is very, very good for you to hold your sphincter so tight like that for such long periods of time.

Anyway it's your problem pal, not mine. Thanks of the laughs. It's been a slice.

La di da, la - di - da.

"ok, I'll try to take your missive seriously. "

Thank you. I don't see why this should have been so difficult but I am duly and sincerely grateful.

"You ask if there is any future in the GOP for the "moderates" and you write as if you are in the minority in the party. "

I very much am in the minority party here. Illinois, remember?

As for the rest of your statement, I couldn't agree more about "sane fiscal policy". I am no McCain fan at this point either but I'm not sure he is a moderate. In fact I'm not at all sure what he is, except another politician.

Frankly sauropod, I think other interests were at play in the "pills for Grandma" bill. Follow the money on that one.

How do we get fiscal responsibility? No one seems to be even giving that lip service.

"Why should I take anybody seriously . . ."

Do what you think you've got to do there, sauropod. I am not your keeper.

I assume you're too old to learn about manners. You can't teach an old sauropod new tricks. And there's a reason you're extinct.

My apologies, trisham. I did not mean to suggest that "we" have been "destroyed" here at FreeRepublic.

I'm talking about the Republican Party here in Illinois. We hold a single statewide office. Our last governor was just convicted. Several House seats are in serious jeopardy and our Party is in serious disarray.

But of course you knew that was what I was referring to.

You may not care that we are in disarray, and that is your right. But you ought to be interested in learning something from our experience.

You may not care that we are in disarray, and that is your right. But I'm here asking questions so that I can try to do something about. Maybe you actually have an answer that might help Republicans? Maybe you don't.

So far I'm not all that impressed. How's that for "vanity"?

Thank you, Serb. I can respect the "keep vanities to a minimum" and I am certain that there have indeed been many, many discusions about this before. I am equally certain that there will be many more.

I think it is an important issue. In fact I think it is critical. I have stated my reasons. My reasons are based on my personal observations, which are relevant and truthful and unlike "non-vanities", if that's the correct term, something I know first hand.

If I am going to get mugged for that, then so be it. I can handle it. Like, gee, it really hurts to get mugged on an anonomous internet bulletin board? (rolleyes) And, gee, someone who mugs me is really brave and tough. Right?

Again, how about a constructive statement about the points raised?

I have mixed it up on other threads. The thoughts I've expressed here were from another thread.

You've said you don't relate to moderates. I'm interested in the reasons why. Maybe you could convince me? Why not mix it up here with me?

I don't understand you "very self-serving". It's just an internet bulletin board. Why speculate on my motives? Either talk to me, or don't talk to me. Worrying about what is in my mind is, IMHO, rather stupid. No?

I swear to you that I have never been here before. I have posted on smaller boards.

Why don't try to answer my questions and engage me in constructive discussion, instead of trying to pick a fight? Then you might actually be remotely qualified to make that judgment.

I dare you to engage me in constructive discussion. I don't know why I should have to dare you to do that, but so be it.

"I think you are a troll."

How so?

YOU don't like "vanity posts." YOU say I am a bit presumptuous. It seems to YOU.

Remind you at all of a pot calling a kettle black?

"Almost funny."

Translation: Trisham believes that there is no room for an honest discussion about what the Party is, and what it should be. Anyone who disagrees with Trisham can go f*** off.

It isn't your Party, pal. I have been an active Republican in Illinois for several decades. I am very sorry to report that is exactly the attitude you exhibit here that has pretty much destroyed us here. And I fear that it is getting worse, not better.

Worse yet, I see the same kind of thing happening on a national level and I don't like it. Not one bit. I don't want to see get trounced in November but I don't see any way around it. People get pissed off when confronted with the attitude you display here. VERY pissed off.

You think that's good? You think that bodes well for us?

A little Zen might do you some good. I for one would like to show you what a little Baguazhang might do.

What have you got against Zen there trisham? Have you tried it?

Who are you to say that I am "no Republican?"

I am "left" in terms of Republicans. "Left", "moderate", why do you care how I define it?

Are not "a determinent" of what?

I don't identify with the far right in the party. BFD?

Interesting.

I have been marked "TROLLTIME" simply because I claim to be "moderate". And I claim to be "moderate" because I am not Christian.

I.e. I took a view that was somewhat against my party on the Schiavo matter. I say somewhat because I do not know exactly what the party view was, while I do know the view of the Christian right.

Also I took great offense here, in Illinois, when the right wing of our party rid us of contenders and brought in carpetbagger Alan Keyes. Hence I am a moderate, of the ilk of a James Thompson, Jim Edger, and various other Illinois Republicans.

Why is this offensive?