Grassroots Network of the Republican Party of Virginia
40% Are Self-proclaimed Conservatives for the first time in 40 years!
June 15, 2009
Conservatism as Political Pragmatism
Randall Hoven
According to Gallup, "conservatives" are the single largest ideological group. The poll was based on how people described themselves, given the choices of very conservative, conservative, moderate, liberal, very liberal and no opinion.
Forty percent of those polled described themselves as conservative or very conservative, almost twice as many as the 21% who described themselves as liberal or very liberal. Self-described "moderates" were 35% of those polled. (Four percent gave "no opinion" as an answer.) That 40% "conservative" figure is even higher than it was when Republicans took over the House of Representatives in 1994, for the first time in 40 years.
Dear Republican Party:
Here is how you do it: get 40% of the vote by being genuinely conservative, without apology. Then go after one third of the "moderates" (thus getting another 12% of the vote, for a 52% majority) by pushing responsibility, competence and integrity. Heck, maybe you'll get half the moderates, for a total of 58%, almost what Reagan got in 1984.
That is, simply be the party of honest, competent and conservative government. That shouldn't be too hard, should it?
It worked for Reagan. It worked for the Gingrich Congress. It could work for you again. Try it.
Conservatism as Political Pragmatism
Randall Hoven
According to Gallup, "conservatives" are the single largest ideological group. The poll was based on how people described themselves, given the choices of very conservative, conservative, moderate, liberal, very liberal and no opinion.
Forty percent of those polled described themselves as conservative or very conservative, almost twice as many as the 21% who described themselves as liberal or very liberal. Self-described "moderates" were 35% of those polled. (Four percent gave "no opinion" as an answer.) That 40% "conservative" figure is even higher than it was when Republicans took over the House of Representatives in 1994, for the first time in 40 years.
Dear Republican Party:
Here is how you do it: get 40% of the vote by being genuinely conservative, without apology. Then go after one third of the "moderates" (thus getting another 12% of the vote, for a 52% majority) by pushing responsibility, competence and integrity. Heck, maybe you'll get half the moderates, for a total of 58%, almost what Reagan got in 1984.
That is, simply be the party of honest, competent and conservative government. That shouldn't be too hard, should it?
It worked for Reagan. It worked for the Gingrich Congress. It could work for you again. Try it.
Views: 1
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by George Daily on -
I don't disagree with the conclusions of this post. However, I think it worth considering how the 21% who are self-proclaimed liberals have come to dominate the Democrat Party, the MSM, the education system, the popular culture and the Federal Government.
In my opinion it is because they, the liberals, are more dedicated, much more activist, better organized and never quit. Liberals are more likely to be political zealots. More to the point, liberals delivered. Liberals set out to take over the Democrat Party and they did. They delivered money and votes for the Democrat Party and can rightfully claim credit for electing Democrats.
Conservatives, on the other hand, are more likely to be individualists. To me it is an irony that I have to join a group (the Republican Party) to protect my individuality and my individual rights. But, that's the fact. There is power in numbers.
Liberals are also content with incremental progress. Conservatives tend to be all or nothing. Too often that means that conservatives end up with nothing. Sure, I would like every Republican candidate to be a Reagan Conservative. But, that's not going to be the case. I am going to disagree with virtually every candidate about something. That doesn't matter to me today. The "social issues", especially, don't matter to me today.
Today I operate under the theory that any Republican is better than any Democrat. I'm operatng under the theory that every elected Republican will be as conservative as conservatives make them. This means that conservatives have to stay involved as much after the election as before the election. Conservatives cannot control the agenda by withholding that which they have not demonstrated they can deliver. We must first show that we can deliver the money, the volunteers and the votes to control elections. When that happens all will be amazed at how conservative the political class becomes.
That's where I'm at today. Your mileage may vary.
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Permalink Reply by Sandy Cope on -
George- It was more than 21% that voted for the current Communist Regime in Washington. That number was definately alot higher back around election day. In less than 6 months, many many of those must be suffering buyers remorse, as the O is not delivering free housing, free autos, free gas and free everything else he promised. He hasn't succeeded yet in transferring the wealth to the downtrodden, nor does he have any intent on doing so. Unemployment is at 9.4% and growing, the jobs outlook is bleak. It is the youtes that have increased the number of Liberals since the 1990's, and helped put this fraud in the White House. Many of them will be looking for jobs soon, and will be finding that McDonalds is the only one hiring. So much goes for a college degree, when you find yourself graduating from lettuce to fries. They will come around.
The trend is most definately changing, and it is for the better. Virginia will begin the takeover with McDonnell, Bolling and especially Cucinelli.
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Permalink Reply by George Daily on
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Sandy,
Yes, you're obviously correct, it was more than 21%. But, you make my point! Those 21%, by their efforts, gained enough of the "don't have a clue what the hell is going on" crowd to vote for their candidate. They also took over the MSM, the schools, colleges and universities, the entertainment industry and the popular culture. We have 21% that have convinced more than 30% to drink the coolaid. My contention is that is is all our own fault.
You may be right that most or some will become disenchanted but there is zero evidence of it so far. Polls also show that even though majorities disapprove of BHO's policies a larger majority approves of him personally and think he's doing a good job! Talk about "cognative dissonance"! I don't think we have seen another politician like BHO since Reagan or possibly FDR. Barring the unforseen, I think BHO will be reelected even if Republicans win every election between now and 2012.
Sandy Cope said:George- It was more than 21% that voted for the current Communist Regime in Washington. That number was definately alot higher back around election day. In less than 6 months, many many of those must be suffering buyers remorse, as the O is not delivering free housing, free autos, free gas and free everything else he promised. He hasn't succeeded yet in transferring the wealth to the downtrodden, nor does he have any intent on doing so. Unemployment is at 9.4% and growing, the jobs outlook is bleak. It is the youtes that have increased the number of Liberals since the 1990's, and helped put this fraud in the White House. Many of them will be looking for jobs soon, and will be finding that McDonalds is the only one hiring. So much goes for a college degree, when you find yourself graduating from lettuce to fries. They will come around.
The trend is most definately changing, and it is for the better. Virginia will begin the takeover with McDonnell, Bolling and especially Cucinelli.
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Permalink Reply by Sandy Cope on
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George- When you say "They also took over the MSM, the schools, colleges and universities, the entertainment industry and the popular culture" you are correct, and they didn't just start doing it in the past few years. It has been a slow infiltration of all those institutions, over many years. That can be hard to overcome, as it is now so pervasive, but people are awakening from their REM sleep. I think O, Pelosi, Reid, Kennedy, Shummer, Dodd, Frank and a myriad of other extreme libs are overreaching big time, and badly. As dumded down as the population has become, those you say "don't have a clue of what the hell is going on" will surely become disenfranchised when they are in no better position (financially) than when Bush was the President, and in many cases worse. The longer the economic problems exist, and the stimulus hasn't created/saved allllll those jobs, the more agitated the people will become. I'm sure that O/Libs will come back again for more stimulus money for even further extended unemployment welfare, and, as I read elsewhere, it would be great to support the bill, and make sure the population knows that it is because the O has destroyed their jobs and job prospects, and that the R's really do care. It can be a great opportunity (as so many other issues) that can put the R's back in the White House, the Senate and the House. O has been gaining more and more ridicule from around the world, with his policies, and appology tours. Hell, even Chavez claims O is to the left of him. He has proven himself not to be the "great one" he convinced so many that he was, worldwide. I suspect that China and/or Russia will be his downfall, as he has made a mockery/sham of the USA super-power status. I really do believe that he sees himself as taking over the world as the leader. Look at his weak statements concerning the Iran riots. He is inviting an attack on this country. (Can someone please call Panetta, and give him some clues about who really wants an attack on the US?) You say "barring the unforseen, he will be reelected." I can't be that pesimistic. In less than 6 months he has more than angered the mobs, and those mobs can only grow. Each day, he angers still another interest group, yesterday it was the legal profession, with his words (not promise) of malpractice caps when speaking to the AMA, who he angered previously. He can't keep having it both ways. He has to come out on one side or the other.
I also agree with you that the R's are where they are, with all fault laying at their feet. If we do have the chance to regain in big ways, particularly in the Senate and the House, I don't want to have to live with old Dem. lights (I'd like to see them primaried by better candidates, such as the Fla. Senate race between Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist (un-reliable Republican), to replace Mel Martinez (another un-reliable Republican), or new Dem. lights that it will take years to get rid of again. Obviously the Senate is more important because of the terms. Why would anyone vote for something they already voted against in 2006 and 2008. We say, hold their feet to the fire, and then go down the path of "the lesser of 2 evils." If there is no other better R to run, OK, I'll vote for the R, and against the current Communist rulers, but, the better way would be to excite and engage those that are ready/willing to be people that don't get drunk when they drink from the elite Washington power chalice.
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Permalink Reply by George Daily on
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"When you say "They also took over the MSM, the schools, colleges and universities, the entertainment industry and the popular culture" you are correct, and they didn't just start doing it in the past few years. It has been a slow infiltration of all those institutions, over many years."
That's why I wrote that they never quit and are satisfied with incremental change.
"You say "barring the unforseen, he will be reelected." I can't be that pesimistic."
FDR was elected four times and became a saint even though absolutely nothing his administration did improved the economy.
"If there is no other better R to run, OK, I'll vote for the R, and against the current Communist rulers, but, the better way would be to excite and engage those that are ready/willing to be people that don't get drunk when they drink from the elite Washington power chalice."
I'm all for finding and supporting better (conservative) candidates (they'll be hard to find in Vermont, Maine, etc...). I simply contend that if conservatives determine elections, candidates will become conservative to be elected.
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Permalink Reply by Constitutional Reset AKA Russell on -
Yes. Try it.
Also, the Purity Pledge bomb may be bested with another pledge that is even stronger where strength is needed most.
It is not just for candidates but for all party members and could/should eventually become a requirement for ALL voters in that the OATH asks for no more than our law already binds us to.
Consider:
“I, _______, do solemnly affirm that I will support and defend the Constitutions of the United States and Virginia(or my state) against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; AND
(A) to bear arms on behalf of the United States and Virginia(or my state) when required by the law, or
(B) to perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law, or
(C) to perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law;
(D) In particular I will diligently perform my obligations defined by 18USC4, VA18.2-482 and VA18.2-481(5) (or my state’s law)
And that I take this vow freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of citizen, voter and member of the Republican Party; and trusting with firm reliance on the Providence, Witness and Counsel of "The Laws of Nature and Nature's God" I pledge my life, my fortune and my sacred honor. "
The vow is an amalgam of US and VA laws for oath of office & citizenship with particular reference to two particular laws establishing that we are LOYAL PATRIOTS and bound by law to zero tolerance of misconduct that is probably defined as a felony by US or Virginia Law. Also note the vow's essential repetition of the vow taken in our nation's birth certificate by its duly-authorized sovereign legislative authority.
Such a vow could serve to weld the members of a political party to an honor which includes zero tolerance of criminal misconduct by their associates.
Perhaps, the Republicans, like the Democrats, have been looking for unity in all the wrong places -
Perhaps, both parties, have been looking for moral ascendancy in all the wrong places as well.
The pattern the voters have of alternately rejecting both Democrat and Republican argues that both parties aim at what proves to be the wrong target.
Perhaps all we really need is what we already have – but have not yet recognized with gratitude.
See http://our.gop.com/forums/FindPost4262714.aspx
See "Honor can be Contagious & Profit" at http://tinyurl.com/yest2r5
See 'Election 2010 "E pluribus Unum" & The "Mutual Victory Pact" Strategy' at http://tinyurl.com/ydkyjjy
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Mahatma Gandhi
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