Comments on: To Define “Conservative”

By: Republibot 3.0

Republibot 3.0 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:30:18 +0000

Third parties are generally perceived as vote-splitters because they represent the more extremist section of a party jumping ship. A lot of people think that Bush lost in ’92 because Perot robbed him of the loonie vote. Similarly, Gore was done in by Nader getting the tree-hugging loonie vote.

Ostensibly, this is entirely due to a radio station in Florida, WMNF.

If there were a *Real* 3rd party, though, not just an ad-hoc one that was clearly only gonna’ be around for one cycle of elections, it might play out differently.

By: David Marcoe

David Marcoe — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:55:59 +0000

Jake, the GOP, or any organization of that size, is going to seem glacially slow in changing its course, but I can report that it is learning, because I know some of the people who happen to be teaching it the lessons. I also know the GOP is recruiting all of its first-choice candidates and that a lot of really good conservative candidates have thrown their hats into the ring and are doing well in the polls. There is progress being made and you don’t hear about it because no one’s paying attention.

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:55:25 +0000

I don’t think in Gore’s case re. Nader’s standard meddling.

By: Stacie.Make.Do.

Stacie.Make.Do. — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:39:55 +0000

Do third parties always result in a Democrat win?

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:19:39 +0000

Yay, Gary’s here — wilkommen!!!!

By: Republibot 3.0

Republibot 3.0 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:02:52 +0000

If I were trying to come up with a battle plan, what I’d say is this: Start a conservative party from scratch – call it whatever you want, but I’d suggest “The Conservative Party,” and find yourself a state with a small population and relatively old-fashioned values. (I’d suggest Wyoming right off the bat, but DO NOT go to Utah, wherever you go!) Run your Conservative Party candidates against Democrats and Republicans alike. Since it’s a small, unimportant state, you can probably win relatively easily and relatively cheaply, and – bang – you’ve got representation in Washington. You’ve suddenly become a national party, albeit kind of a footnote of one, which no one thinks much about.

Then you make up a platform of values you WILL NOT compromise on, and ones that are important, but talkable, and ones you really don’t give a damn about. You can develop some staying power by (A) not screwing up your home state and (B) functioning as a congressional swing vote for democrats and republicans on your ‘talking point’ issues when they come up. This makes you not an enemy to the established powers, but a potential added weapon to both, and it gives you some independence.

The problem, really, is that when new conservative parties start up, they get co-opted by the Republican party, and digested by it. Democrats have the same problem with extremely liberal minor parties.

Maybe – just spitballing here – maybe it’s time for Conservatism to separate itself from the Republican Party and go its own way? Just a thought to explore, not saying I’m in love with the idea.

By: Gary Eaton

Gary Eaton — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:38:02 +0000

Jake’s right….I’d add more , but he hits the nail on the head for me.

By: Republibot 3.0

Republibot 3.0 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:43:04 +0000

My own definition of Conservative is to examine all the evidence and make up your own mind in as unbiased a manner as possible, and if there’s not sufficient evidence to make a clear judgement, you go with the more traditional option.

Think it through, and if you can’t reasonably decide, go with what your grandparents did. Don’t re-invent the wheel unless you need to.

By: Jake Was Here

Jake Was Here — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:01:47 +0000

New conservative rallying cry: FUCK THE GOOD OLE BOYS

By: Jake Was Here

Jake Was Here — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:11:50 +0000

People are fighting smarter and more boldly, but none of them are in the Republican Party’s inner circle.

I’m beginning to think that we should stop calling squishy conservatives RINOs, as it diverts us from the real problem — that most of the Republican establishment are Conservatives In Name Only, and yet these are the very people that hold all the political clout in the conservative arena. The real conservatives no longer have a party that speaks for them, nor do they have the money, clout, or name-brand recognition to establish a viable separate party.

I’ve been forced to vote for people, like John McCain (just to name an obvious example), who don’t really speak for me and don’t seem interested in representing me in DC. I can’t in good conscience vote for Republicans anymore — I’m just going to vote against the Democrats. And something tells me that if the Republicans are content to go on with seeming merely the lesser of two evils, they’re going to lose what support they still have.

I think that at some point, people are going to get sufficiently nihilistic to start saying, “Ah, to hell with it, let’s just go with the worse of two evils and get this fucking mess of a country over and done with already.”