What is one to make of all the hubbub this Republican primary season? Most of the talk has centered around the tea party, Sarah Palin, Republicans in name only (RINOs), and the reaction of the Republican establishment. Well, there is much to talk about.
The Republican establishment has clearly been shocked by the rapid ascension and influence of the tea-party and more general tea-party sentiment during the primary season. And rank and file conservatives new to the political process have been shocked at the unfriendly welcome they have received in Republican circles.
For a long time the mantra has been that for the Republican party to succeed, the party needs to engage and motivate the base. You need to get them involved. Or so they said.
As it turns out, the Republicans wanted the base to get involved–just not so much. What they really wanted is for real conservatives to turn out to vote but certainly not run. Newly involved fiscal conservatives are finding out that the Republican party wants their votes, just not them.
Welcome to the club.
This is the position that culture-of-life conservatives, like me, have found >>>
September 16, 2010 at 6:33 am
Why do that when it's so much easier to blame the cultural conservatives if Repubs don't win, or don't manage to do what the fiscal conservatives want?
No idea what those of us who are fiscal and cultural conservatives, let alone the functional libertarians, are supposed to do. Send money, probably.
September 16, 2010 at 1:36 pm
President Washington of blessed memory was so right about political parties. All institutions, even the best, deteriorate into a closed loop of power. As individuals we must vote for the best candidates and not obsess on party labels.
Mack
September 16, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Power has to be taken; it is never relinguished willingly.
September 16, 2010 at 4:54 pm
I'm serious here. The US needs a "Christian Centrist" party; one which is socially "conservative" (although I would prefer the term "morality based") and fiscally responsible.
September 16, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Remember the great words of Gandhi: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”
I took this from the Stephen Hawkins article posted here earlier.
Looks like the culture of life is in the fight now.
September 17, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Looks like an American version of ACT to me – lots of great policies and good ideas BUT full of loonies.