Fletcher "Rocky" Johnson's Page

I want to apologize to everyone in this group for not participating in the Monthly PWC RC meeting last night. I am still recovering from the flu and certainly did not want to infect anyone there by shaking hands and talking with all of you.

I am looking forward to helping in any way I can and joining a team that will bring back conservative principles back to the forefront of discussion.

Einstein defined insanity as: "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Politics as usual is not working for either side; it is a tired argument. We need to do something different. Blaming Democrats or even comparing Democrats with the GOP does not accomplish anything and I think people in general are tired of the childish, sophomoric arguments. Rather than continue to waste our time and money on blaming who is at fault, I suggest we divide up the issues into two groups, "Concrete" and "Belief" (I will explain below) and attack the issues not each other.

We all have beliefs. Beliefs are formed from within. Beliefs are core to our soul and will never be changed by legislation. Laws can be made to curb beliefs, but those who believe will just break the law. Challenging beliefs only stands to create strife. Nobody wins an argument among "beliefs"; they are simply polarizing and a waste of effort.

Taking a quick blurb from a statement made by Cletus “Clete” Shultz helps me define what I am trying to say, “Unfortunately, we sometimes become so passionate over individual secondary issues (and in defending our own "personal take" on those issues) that we "fight" over those and lose sight of the much broader issue, "will it be our party or their party"?” I certainly do not suggest that we make light of these “Belief” issues or indicate that they are less important, they are just issues that cannot be changed by discussion or legislation. By definition, they are beliefs, and therefore based an individual set of morals.

I suggest we start concentrating on what I call "Concrete" issues that can be argued on a level playing field and therefore changed; Economics, Immigration, Security, Education, Healthcare, Medicare, Taxes, Federal Budget, Energy, and Social Security to name a few. These are "concrete" issues that can be argued on a level playing field and therefore solvable, bipartisan. Like Tom Whitmore says, "reaching across the aisle" is a good thing, but not at the expense of the "Correct Thing".

In respect to what I call the "Belief" issues; Abortion, Affirmative Action, Animal Rights, Birth Control, Cloning, Death Penalty, Environmentalism, Global Warming, Gay Rights, and Religion it is difficult to get a broad consensus among our nation.

As conservatives, we should look for candidates that share similar "beliefs" and similar conservative plans for legislating the "Concrete" issues. This ought to be our agenda. Leadership with a positive plan to solve the "Concrete" issues; Leadership with similar beliefs that promote a more socially conservative agenda.

So let us form a Conservative plan to promote an agenda within the GOP that solves the “Concrete” issues. In my opinion, only when this agenda is formulated and focused on “Concrete” issues will we be able to reach out to our base, the middle and the conservative leaning left. We must stay on track and not get pulled into arguments based on beliefs. Focusing on issues that are “Belief” based will only serve to extend arguments that have no end and take up money and time.

I make no apology for such a long diatribe. Lets focus arguments for the “Concrete” issues and find future candidates who reflect this focus. We also need to find candidates who share conservative values on the “Belief” issues and will stand up and vote according to overall leadership and not personal benefit. This is how the GOP was formed and how it will again can lead.

Rocky Johnson
Gainesville District
Prince William County