Has the republican party been nuetered or something?

[teamnelson]

Ultra conservatives are winning elections in Europe, but things aren't bad enough here yet for folks to try. They don't have guns anymore, and the national culture has been replaced by the immigrant cultures. We're still hoping to "win the House back next time." Or find a "conservative candidate."

The act of neutering requires the presence of something to remove.

[Swampman]

The thing is, true conservatives can't get elected.  That only leaves liberals & not as liberals.  This isn't going to change, it's only going to get worse.

[Incitatus]

The thing is, true conservatives can't get elected.  That only leaves liberals & not as liberals.  This isn't going to change, it's only going to get worse.

What is a true conservative?  Small government.  Minimum expenditures. Minimum meddling in peoples lives. Respect for the constitution.

What else is there?

[Swampman]

a true conservative cannot get elected.

[45-70.gov]

The thing is, true conservatives can't get elected.  That only leaves liberals & not as liberals.  This isn't going to change, it's only going to get worse.

What is a true conservative?  Small government.  Minimum expenditures. Minimum meddling in peoples lives. Respect for the constitution.

What else is there?

yes

until  they want  to tell  you you cant  be  foolish and take drugs

or until they want  to dictate  a woman  and unborn  child relationship

then  they want  bigger  government
i  vote  freedom  first

[nomosendero]

"In any event, the Presidents have to govern from the center"  Roll Eyes So that's how you feel Obama is "governing"  Roll Eyes Grin

Actually on balance, a lot more than I would have guessed.  He is more or less (sometimes less sometimes more) where Bush was on issues like rendition and a broad range of Executive Power issues.  He is out Bushing Bush on Afghanistan.  That said his spending is potentially mega Bushian and that scares me since I felt that spending and the growth of government under Bush were unacceptable.  

The main issue is that the House has to be retaken in 2010.  We have seen during the first 6 years of the Bush Presidency how counter to the interests of the people it is to have, in effect, a one party system.  We saw it with the passage of the Patriot Act with no one reading it and the Obama version, the passing of the financial stimulus bill because "the sky would fall if it didn't pass yesterday" with no one reading that one.  Same damn thing, different set of incompetents.  No president, regardless of stated politics, can be trusted with that much power.  If 2010 goes OK then he will be firmly in the center.  He won't have a choice.  

The horror will be if people demand candidates who are too far to the right.  In general, they will be rejected as quickly as candidates are that are too far to the left.  We are a conservative country, but not unduly so.  Mainly, if I read things right, we want to be left alone.  That translates into conservative politics.  But mildly so.

There are always exceptions but I think that, in broad strokes, what I am saying is reflective of reality.  The primary thing, though, is to focus, with laser like intensity, on the issues that government should be involved with and in so doing keeping it small and as inexpensive as possible with the absolute minimum of interference in the lives of citizens.  

The Bill of Rights is a really good starting point.  And the founders brilliant creation of three branches of government that are always vieing for control but can never achieve it, is the core of our freedom.  And that is independent of political party.  

 

But at least we can agree on the last 2 paragraphs.

[Incitatus]

The thing is, true conservatives can't get elected.  That only leaves liberals & not as liberals.  This isn't going to change, it's only going to get worse.

What is a true conservative?  Small government.  Minimum expenditures. Minimum meddling in peoples lives. Respect for the constitution.

What else is there?

yes

until  they want  to tell  you you cant  be  foolish and take drugs

or until they want  to dictate  a woman  and unborn  child relationship

then  they want  bigger  government
i  vote  freedom  first

Everyone knows better than you how to conduct your life. 

[Incitatus]

Anyway, I have had harder words on fora with fellow conservatives over doctrinal differences than I have had with liberals.

not really.

Fact is I like it here and politics does not make for warm discussion so, with your kind permission, I will withdraw from this discussion.

See you in the Contender forum.