Basic Flaws in the GOP’s Thinking

 

The Republican Party is comprised of people who have conservative beliefs, but not all conservative beliefs are viewed with the same degree of importance.

Conservatives believe in smaller government. We want to elect a like-minded individual to office and then let them run with the ball. We have our own lives and jobs, let them do theirs and do we right and we will do ours. We expect our elected officials to honest, ethical, steadfast and live the conservative principles.

Conservatives believe in the individual not the group, not the collective. As a result Conservatives are not joiners. We are also not blind followers.

The RNC seems to believe that the vocal minority is whom they must pander to, instead of adhering the principles of the party base. The majority of true conservatives, those conservative in both social and fiscal responsibility, probably do not like belonging to a political “party” and many don’t. In those states where independents can vote in primaries without joining either party there is a large number of “independent” registered voters whom are real conservatives.

Closed primaries, Semi-closed primaries, Semi-open primaries and caucuses disenfranchise a large section of the voting public. While I understand the gaming that goes on in Open primaries and the raiding, there has to be a way that includes all voters in each step of the election process.

Conservatives are individuals. They are leaders of 7themselves, fiercely independent. The only way to appeal to this group is to listen to them and include them. 

Conservatives who demand to be group leaders tend to be from the centrist mold. These people espouse some conservative talking point but can be spotted by their constant pursuit of more “fame”, influence and the almighty dollar. They attempt to organize and then control a group, but real conservatives question every thing and will never be “controlled”.

Conservatives simply need to be provided honest information and then pointed in a direction; guided not led. The RNC should consider providing the voting public with straight data without no hyperbole or misleading statements. RINO’s and other spineless officials should not be allowed to hang their careers on Party membership; actions speak louder than words or labels. 

Larger is not better. Conservatives prefer smaller. In some areas a County-wide organization may work but conservatives are more inclined to smaller groups 10 to 30 people in neighborhood “cells” where they feel their input is actually heard. These small neighborhood groups determine how much or how little they do based on their opinions.

If the information, ideas or suggestions from the grassroots gets lost on its way up the chain, the voters will continue on but as individuals thereby reducing their effectiveness. 

The Conservative platform is like the boat. The grassroots groups are the outboard motor and the RNC should be the tiller not the rudder. The destination is a free republic that follows the tenets of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Federalist Papers.

 
 

 

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Ghost Ranger, Tex’s first novel, is now available on Lulu and Amazon.

 

 

 

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Long Lines at Polls

I’ve been voting since 1976 and I’ve never missed an election in that time.  I’ve also never experienced lines like I did this morning.  The attached photos are from my cell phone so the quality isn’t that good but you can clearly see the line is long.

My wife and I arrived at the polls around 6:40 this morning.  Already there was maybe 200 people in line and by the time the polls opened the line was up to 300.  We finally finished at 8:10 and by then the line was at least 400 people.  It stretched all the way around the building!

While I was in line I was contemplating what such long lines might mean.  The pundits are pretty much agreed that all the early voting has benefited Barack Obama.  Does heavy turnout on election day help McCain or Obama?  I confess I have no idea!

One thing seems clear.  This looks like the highest voter turnout in my lifetime!  I’ve heard predictions as high as 70% which would be unprecedented.  Many will say this is a good thing.  They reason that the most important thing is that citizens participate.  The more participation the better.

I’m all for participation but I’m concerned about people who vote without having much or any knowledge of the issues or candidates.  Howard Stern’s bit where he sent someone out to talk to Obama supporters is a case in point.  They claimed McCain’s views were Obama’s and these people were fully supportive of every McCain position so long as they believed it was Obama’s positions.  Clearly these people are not voting on issues and appear to have no idea what the issues even are!  Perhaps that is inevitable but that doesn’t make it good.

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Also see: Michelle Malkin – Election Day: America votes

NONE OF THE ABOVE

This article will probably be a great waste of my time, because the ones who read it and understand will not be the ones who need to read it.

Wikipedia says that the reason for voting

In a democracy, voting commonly implies election, i.e. a way for an electorate to select among candidates for office. In politics voting is the method by which the electorate of a democracy appoints representatives in its government.

I have read a lot of comments lately about what people will do when their candidate doesn’t appear on the ballot for the General Election in the US. Some have said they will not vote. Some have said they will vote for someone else “to send a message”. Some have said their (political) party has been hijacked. Some will vote a straight party ticket without knowing what the platform is or what the candidates stand for. Some will vote based on race, age, gender or appearance (these are the HOPEfull voters).

To these malcontents I say this, “Get over it!” If you don’t vote at all then you cede all rights to complain. Unless you vote you really haven’t earned the right to protest. As for those that talk about jumping parties, I say go ahead, but know what you are really doing. Being an active political party member does not mean that you support the candidate, it means you support the party platform. Read more