Looking at Romney, Gingrich, Santorum and others, it is obvious we do not have a Reagan today and we certainly do not have the same quality of party he had to work with.
There are some great champions for conservatism on talk radio and the internet and true conservatives owe a debt of gratitude for their insight and encouragement. They have captivated the hearts of millions of listeners who highly esteem their words and wisdom. Their influence has made a difference in awakening multitudes from their drugged sleep of the opiate of the modern media.
However, I wish some of them would stop trying to convince real conservatives that the only option they have in an election is for anyone with an R attached to their name. I constantly hear how the Republican party needs rebuilding, revamping and revitalizing as was done under Ronald Reagan, arguably the greatest President in modern American history. He did an outstanding job in strengthening the party and turning it around. However, looking at Romney, Gingrich, Santorum and others, it is obvious we do not have a Reagan today and we certainly do not have the same quality of party he had to work with. The Democrat party went over the cliff decades ago and is incorrigible with no hope of change. Unfortunately, the Republican party may have finally reached the same state. THIS IS NOT REAGAN'S REPUBLICAN PARTY. Times have changed and so have people and their values.
When something is broken, you fix it. When it is broken beyond repair, you replace it. I am tired of being lied to by Republicans who pretend to be conservative long enough to get into office and then after winning, conduct business as usual. People are FINALLY beginning to wake up to reality. Theodore Roosevelt once said, "The American people are slow to wrath, but once that wrath is kindled, it burns like a consuming flame." I am hoping and praying this wrath will be kindled into a fire that burns out the corruption in Washington. Yet, we will continue to hear the "wasted vote" mantra, with pleas to not abandon the ship, but I for one am tired of plugging the holes on a sinking ship. I long for a vessel that stays true to course and can weather the storms, based on conservative, constitutional principles, not the platitudes of a party.
Again, I know what Reagan did in his day, but this is a new day. There is a real grassroots conservative movement that is steadily gaining momentum and has the potential to take back this country, replace the liberals in Congress with sane, common sense average Joes who know what makes this country work, and repeal the Marxist healthcare Frankenstein brought to life on 3-21-2010. This recent problem with government forcing religious institutions to cover abortions through employee insurance benefits is a reminder that Obamacare will spread its tentacles and do what it does best: dictate and control. Obama must not only be replaced in November 2012, but EVERY member of Congress who refuses to repeal this so-called healthcare monstrosity must be replaced also.
It is time to face reality and stop propping up this party dominated by liberal elites. Even now, leadership in the Republican party has accepted the current healthcare monstrosity and are going to try and make the best of it, trim it where possible, "make it more conservative", cut their losses and go on. The current Republican establishment has no plans to repeal it. There must be a transfusion of some new blood in DC. Remember, this is the party that ran John McCain, and who in their right mind would consider him to be a conservative? Conservatives who voted for McCain did not vote FOR McCain; they voted against Obama. If a real conservative with or without an R attached to their name, holding to constitutional principles, guided by Biblical values, runs for any level of office, I can vote for that person in good conscience, and the vote will be based on principles, philosophy of government and their value system, not on the letter following the name. If the Presidential Republican nominee turns out to be a quasi-conservative, then every real conservative should support a third party conservative, if that candidate is a true blue conservative. Solidarity among all real conservatives would produce a winning vote, not a wasted vote. True liberty means freedom to vote conscience guided by principle, and not follow the dictates of the elite ruling class of any party.
The Republicans proved their impotence when, as the majority party for a brief time a few years back, they made no real substantive changes. The changes made were superficial and short lived. Had they really grabbed the bull by the horns, (or should I say donkey by the ears?) acted like real conservatives who were concerned about this country and not their own careers, they would have established policies to cut spending, restore liberty and limit government. They also might still be in power, since they would have won the respect and loyalty of true conservatives, who are tired of being lied to, taken for a ride, driven off a bridge and left to drown, in a Kennedy-sort-of way
Real freedom loving, God fearing, patriotic Americans are sick of liberalism, but are also now just as sick of faux conservatives. The Republicans had their chance, but blew it. The authentic conservatives left in this party are the ones with enough character and sense to see that they need to stop clinging to a name, heritage, and tradition and be guided once again by principles, not platitudes. It is time to reject those who only want another term in office and a lucrative retirement. Time is short, freedom is shrinking and November is coming. It's now or never. If a real change is not made in November, then it’s over for this nation. America, prepare to meet God!
The conundrum we all face is that a ‘conservative’ third party is not a viable option. America evolved into a two party style of politics a long time ago. The two entrenched parties have designed a system that purposefully makes the rise of a third party impossible.
This is exactly why the T.E.A. Party aligned themselves with republicans. The best option, in our estimation, was to attempt to drag one party toward true conservatism. We succeeded here in Garland County, Arkansas: We won 22 of 23 contests and turned the control of the courthouse to conservatives for the first time since Reconstruction.
This cycle the fight begins on the national level: And guess what? The establishment GOP is just as protective of their turf as progressive Democrats are. The establishment GOP’s clarion call that Romney’s the one is patently ridiculous. We’re supposed to rally around a candidate that couldn’t beat the eventual loser of the last general election. A candidate that has more in common with the opposition than any other on the slate. A candidate that 60% of registered republicans don’t care for.
The only reason he ’won’ Maine is because the State Republican Party jiggled the results. He will lose Michigan unless they do the same there. The T.E.A. Party is concentrating down ballot this election; seeking to expand the majority in the House and re-take the four seats we need to take Senate control. We will succeed.
Then we immediately begin the process of further weeding out the RINO’s in the 2014 mid-terms in order to get a real conservative on the next general election ballot in 2016.
The best advice I can give anyone is this: Scrutinize your potential candidates carefully. Our motto here is “You are either running for an office or you are supporting someone who is running for office. Once you choose that person, support them. Man phones, host events, walk neighborhoods. This is what it takes.
"and others" nice try, but we know that you are excluding Ron Paul on purpose. the question is, why? He is THE Constitutional Consevative candidate.
I don’t know that anyone is excluding Dr. Paul with the exception of the establishment GOP. Look at the shenanigans the state GOP pulled in Maine just to keep Dr. Paul from notching a victory there.
The only comments I’ve ever posted here regarding Dr. Paul are that I don’t think he’s ever adequately explained his endorsement of those overtly discriminate newsletters that were published in his name a generation ago. The Obama team will rip him to pieces if he doesn’t find an excellent narrative regarding those. I’ve also said that his earlier declaration to run an independent campaign if not nominated will split enough of the conservative general election vote to hand a second term to Obama a‘ la Ross Perot in ‘92. Such a threat does more harm than good.