The Mainstream Media is trumpeting a massive defeat for the Republican Party. Of course, this is in part an attempt by the MSM to influence that outcome by setting up expectations. Adding to the predictions has been a lackadaisical performance by the Republicans. Did I say “lackadaisical?” change that to “unbelievably poor” performance by the Republicans.
Republicans were swept into power in 1994 on a platform of the Contract with America. A modest contract that promised reform:
- FIRST, require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply equally to the Congress;
- SECOND, select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
- THIRD, cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;
- FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs;
- FIFTH, ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
- SIXTH, require committee meetings to be open to the public;
- SEVENTH, require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
- EIGHTH, guarantee an honest accounting of our Federal Budget by implementing zero base-line budgeting.
So, how did they do. Well, congress is still privileged, waste and fraud run rampant and has been increased since the Democrats took back the reigns of power in ’06. In fact, the election of a majority of Liberal Democrats and their fellows has altered the process. The current House and House Leadership is rife with incompetence and self serving rules. In fact, it can be said that this is literally a “do nothing” congress.
Given the above I am convinced that conservatives must act, must act swiftly and must act strongly if they are to have any effect on the outcome of the coming election and on future elections.
Future elections I hear you say? What future if the Democrats win all three branches of government. And that is precisely the kind of rhetoric that has cost the conservative movement in the past and will continue to nail it in the future.
The problem, as I see it, is that we are playing with the Democrat’s rules. This has to stop if we are to have any chance at electing our own. We can’t run against diversity and multiculturalism, we have to run for merit and selection based on criteria blind to color and culture, religion and national origin. We can’t run against spending, we have to run for fiscal responsibility and the debt that our children will owe. We can’t run against surrender to the terrorists, we have to run for a strong military with a strong, forceful foreign policy that very clearly repeats Theodore Roosevelt’s dictum “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Our enemies must know that we will not hesitate to use the stick when words fail. And we must get across to the world that we will have no patience with delay and deceit; Taqiyya be damned. If someone says they will do something, we will damn well expect it to be done without any unnecessary delay.
This stance of conservative principles has no chance in a strictly partisan environment with the populace seemingly leaning towards Democrats. But there is hope on the horizon, why not work to elect conservative Republicans AND Democrats? Conservatives don’t have to belong to a party, they can be independent, and should be… we are likely the largest single group of voters out there, when we get out and vote. Thus, if neither party can take us for granted, we can push for conservative nominee’s of both parties and get them elected. I suspect that if the majority of congress critters Congressmen and Senators don’t pay attention to us for two very major reasons. First, Democrats don’t pay attention to conservatives for the most part because they know we typically vote Republican. Secondly, Republicans don’t pay attention to conservatives for the most part because they know we typically vote Republican. That has to stop.
Many is the pundit that has observed that the black vote goes 90% to Democrats and the Democrats pay attention only at election time. More than one (pundit) has noted that if the Blacks withheld their vote, even once, than both Parties would scramble for the Black vote.
I propose not that we withhold our vote, but that we concentrate on finding solid conservative leaders regardless of which party and push like hell to get them elected. Only when both political parties realize that conservatism is a force to be reckoned with will we be again paid attention to.
And, if I need to say it, it is not our conservative values that have to be sold, those values are held by the majority of Americans. It’s not like we have to push unrealistic ideas such as crippling our economy to lower so called greenhouse gasses.
One or two election cycles with solid conservative leaders running should be enough to tip the scales. But this will require blood, sweat and tears. We have to sell the idea that our platform is the best for American interests. We have to push for more oil drilling and nuclear energy and jab a stick in the eyes of the OPEC nations. We have to show America how earmarks hurt them and how most current members of congress care about one thing and one thing only, getting their fat butts re-elected. We need tax reform such as perhaps ending withholding so that every body has to send a check to the IRS every payday. When people have to write their own checks every month the country will rise up against reckless earmarks and extravagant spending.
In short, we need a new way of looking at the the big picture. Are we Conservatives first, or are we Democrats and Republicans first and we’ll compromise on the rest. I suggest we Reclaim Conservatism from the Republican party and launch an all out political battle to elect true conservatives to office. Get them going after our vote and most of our troubles will be significantly reduced, or fade away.
Cross Posted @ GM’s Corner
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Great post GM!
[...] Roper has written a great post, shared at Reclaim Conservatism. Here’s a taste: Are we Conservatives first, or are we Democrats and Republicans first and [...]
Thanks Jim!
Not only is it a great post, this is a great site too GM, is it yours or are you a contributor??
I am going to set a link to this site in my American Conservative Blogroll, I hope you guys have the update data up to date, no pun intended, but if it is, every time you post it’ll pop you to the top of American Conservative…
If you need some help on setting the links to the pingers and search stuff that will get you out there on the web, let me know, be glad to help ya set em up, takes about 2 minutes for a WP guru such as myself…
Great post GM! I totally agree with everything here. Problem is, FINDING THAT true conservative to push, to promote and elect. When we’re stuck with the likes of McCain, who we must vote for simply because he’s the less of the other evils, we are in a quandary. If we are true conservatives, we would probably vote for Ron Paul…but instead we bash him. And write him off as not having a chance…we reap what we sow.
Locally, in my state, we have no true conservatives even considering a run. Instead we have the same old choices with some new, even more spend-a-holic liberals “meat” to challenge the old.
It will be tougher and tougher to find people who want to go through it all. Not only do we have the left to deal with but we have the MSM. It is they who pushed McCain and got him the nomination. It is the left that trumpets the message of the left so that people think McCain wants a 100 year war or that the economy is the worst of all time (even with numbers similar to Clinton’s who they hailed as great).
It will take a revolution.
Thank you Big Dog! (you know for what)
Good point. The media has an agenda that effects the outcome of every election in the country. Since most the media is to the left, it leaves us even more of a challenge to contend with. And it adds to the bleakness of it all.
Question is how do we overcome it all, short of a revolution? Or a nuclear attack from our modern enemies?
Indeed, GM, that sounds good. But in this country, currently, at least somewhat, our leaders are sort of determined by elections — and the winners thereof. Conservatives aren’t winning those. And when solid conservatives run in elections, they are attacked by all big-government types: the media, Democrats, AND the Republican Party. I’ve seen it up close and personal.
I believe that the conservative viewpoint is still the majority in this country — and that’s actual conservatives, not McCain “conservatives.” I believe the vast majority DO want to be left alone and want small government. I think the problem is that these people are not voting. I don’t know what it will take for them to vote, but when you consider just the population of the voting public, I think that the big-government types FAR outweigh conservatives. So right now, I don’t think it matters who the leader is — there’s not enough people showing up to get them elected.
Ogre, perhaps that’s the conversation we need to have here: What will it take to get conservative voters to vote?
One thought that I had on reading your comment was how different a “sell” it is between “the government is the answer to everything” and “the less government the better.” Even a bad idea is easier to communicate than the concept that doing nothing may be better. Look at the advertising model. Ad writing 101 teaches you to sell the sizzle, not the steak. Perhaps conservatism needs to communicate the benefit of less government. Sure, people understand that, but they need to hear it in a way that brings it home to them on a personal level.
[...] Posted @ Reclaim Conservatism and GM Roper’s [...]
EXCELLENT, GMan! I particularly like your point about standing for something, rather than simply being against “the other guy.” I think that’s an attitude which motivates people more – because I do believe (still) that Americans are positive people.
Thanks for writing this – and now I’m going back to the birthday festivities for Daddy (and thanks again for your lovely comment on his happy birthday “card”!)
Outstanding, GM!
Thanks Doug, Kat, Ogre, Raven and Large Pup! And you too Fred
I’ve been voting for Republicans for years. I’ve been doing so with increasing alarm, as I have realized that that Republican leadership is out of step with 70 percent of Americans on the issue of enforcing our immigration laws. I mean, consider Sen. McCain. Now that I’ve become cynical about the immigration issue, I’m seeing Republicans with a more jaundiced eye generally. Do you really think the ones now in office would put up with having “genuine conservatives” in their midst? I doubt it.
Outstanding post and site. I’m impressed!
[...] GM Roper’s excellent article on what conservatives really want at reclaim conservatism (a new blog just added to my blogroll! – Thanks GM!). Possibly related [...]