Rant

A Conservative Republican Being Honest

Posted 40 months ago|4 comments|379 views

TAGS

Conservative , Republican , Objectivity

Written by

Shibboleth

I notice a great deal of us like to talk about politics. I am a conservative republican, which makes me fairly unpopular to most on this site. However, I'd like to do something here that is very rarely done. I would like to talk about problems that I see with my own party. I am choosing to do so for a few reasons:

1. Its almost futile to point out the problems of a party of which i do not belong. Why would a democrat or a liberal listen to me for advice on how to improve their party? I clearly do not have my opposition's best interest in mind.

2. Anyone can sit around and pretend they are sounding the alarm about what is wrong with this nation. It takes a little more effort to look inward and examine your own failings and to look at how your beliefs might be mucking up the waters.

3. I hope it goes a long way in showing that I am not simply a party hack. I realize that my party doesn't have all the answers. I also realize that my party has dropped the ball in many ways.

4. I'd like to see us all get past name-calling and blaming. Okay, we get it. Bush sucks. Let's talk about the issues and come up with some ideas on how to fix it.

With that said I'd like to call out my party on few things.

1. How is it we claim to be that party of "life" and the defenders of its sanctity in terms of abortion, but we are the first ones to strap a guy to an electric chair in the name of justice.

2. How is it we claim to be the party of "smaller government", yet under republican control we managed to increase spending? We created the Medicare Drug Benefit. We created the TARP bailout program.

3. Why is it that my fellow conservatives claim to be the defender's of the constitution and personal freedoms, yet we fight so hard to keep gays and lesbians out of mainstream society? We fight to restrict the freedom of certain musicians and film makers, why? It was our candidate for president who crafted campaign finance reform which limits freedom of expression.

These are just some areas that I find a conflict of principles in my party. I wonder, how many of you that call yourself liberal democrats (or independents) would be willing to turn your sharp wit and criticism toward your own party? Or do you really feel that you are all perfect?

I have been a little hard on some of you, maybe too hard. However, I think this rant more or less shows that my critical mind is dedicated to finding fault wherever it may lie. Even if it lies in my own camp. Can you say that?

I guess this is a response to all that I have read on this site. I see so many of us respond out of pure blind devotion to our parties. It almost seems like we are brain-washed. I think some of us have lost our objectivity and our ability to see things in a honest perspective. Am I the only one?

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Coloranter Raver
Denver, CO

40 months ago: Shibboleth: Despite your rantings on my rantings, I'm going to rave on yours here. In ever more proof of my being an independent, I can read what you've written with that lens and see an honest reflection on a political party that sacrificed its true principles in order to win the vote of the "moral majority" without which it most certainly would not have won. Look at how unpopular McCain, a more realistic Republican was with the Christian Evangelicals. They hated him until he put Sarah Palin on his ticket. If he had put Joe Lieberman on his ticket he would have completely lost their vote--which is why he didn't because he actually might not have won a single state. Anyway, my rave here is that you've really identified the problems within the party which I see mostly as being a need to return to the values of the origin of the party whose first president was Abraham Lincoln.

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Steelsteve
Mullica Hill, NJ

40 months ago: Shibbolet, i have answers to your questions, so i'll answer them for you, that doesn't mean i support them, i'm just playing a bit of devil's advocate (on some of them i believe in)

ok, for your first one, we're the party of life to give every unborn child, so far without sin (unless you count baptism) a chance for life, however, we also claim that capital punishment is for people who have had a chance and messed up their life...
though i personally don't believe that it's morally sound, that is the argument for capital punishment

for your second problem, the current administration panicked on the economy when they should have cut taxes across the board instead of these bailouts. this i wholeheartedly agree with you but we can't change the fact that it happened. it's one of the sad things about the republican party, they are sometimes too hasty to think things through

now, for the third problem, you say that the republican part is the defender of the constitution and personal freedoms, but we 'restrict' the freedom of other people. now i don't know if you have any pure examples, but i believe the argument is that some things are corruption of the youth, by saying that somethings in life is either ok or encouraged, like divorce or homosexuality (which i believe that's fine with girls, kind of worried about guys, double standards are everywhere). they claim that morality is a problem in this country and that people aren't supposed to do these things

Now, that i've explained that a little, i agree with you with all of these problems, after all freedom of speach is necessary. the only problem i find is that the media is already bias, and that they are trying to pull the media back to the center.

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Shibboleth

40 months ago: Coloranter Raver,

I hate to give you more fuel for you fire of hatred (haha), but the problem wasn't Palin. It was McCain. The truth is most of us conservatives wish she was on top of the ticket. Not that she would have won, because she kind of seems a little... empty, but some one who believes in the same principles. She has good principles, I just don't think she was, or ever will be, ready for the national stage. That doesn't mean I have to attack her, it just means she's not an inspiring figure... like Obama.

Truthfully, I like Obama. I think he is smart and very charismatic. When he gave his acceptance speech, I actually felt proud to think that he, a man who can speak in complete sentences, is about to our President. I have not written him off, I think he deserves every chance to screw this country up as much as Bush did. (haha)

I guess what I really would like to say, to you, is that I think we all can debate ideas and beliefs, but why do you and so many other have to get into character assassination and name calling? Just debate the ideas. In fact, in most of your posts I only hear name calling and accusations. I never hear a clear and defined problem statement or solutions.

You have a sharp mind, and I respect you to a certain degree. I just want to raise the bar a little. We are starting to sound like Hard Ball with Chris Matthews here.

Take Care.

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Coloranter Raver
Denver, CO

40 months ago: Ok Shib: Let's debate the issues. But, if that's the rule, I'm going to hold you to it as well. It would be dishonest for me not to say this, but it's a common NRJ tactic to accuse those critical of their side of calling people names, while simultaneously doing the very same thing. They survive on a double standard which no one on their side is ever willing to call them on. It's the double standard that I loathe most in their methodology. It's the irony in calling your show "The No Spin Zone" and then doing nothing but spin that bothers me.

So, if you agree to try to hold me accountable, I will try to hold you accountable.

Cheers!

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