Comments on: How the GOP Purged Me http://www.frumforum.com/how-the-gop-purged-me Building a conservatism that can win again Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:50:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: graphictruth http://www.frumforum.com/how-the-gop-purged-me/comment-page-10#comment-275925 graphictruth Thu, 14 Apr 2011 01:12:58 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=26977#comment-275925 [img=http://rlv.zcache.com/1au_button-d1453259718083217817pvx_500.jpg][/img] I created an account just to say "thank you" for saying this. I've been saying "I'm a Conservative, but..." since 9/11. I happen to think that Barry Goldwater DEFINES the farthest right you can go without falling out of the rational scope of reasonable discussion. Nowdays, Barry Goldwater seems like a flaming Liberal. Hell, the John Birch Society sounds reasonable by comparison to the flaming stupid that passes for Conservatism these days. So I thank you, and by virtue of you being published here, I've added the Frum Forum to my sidebar, along with a small, tiny glimmer of hope. Now, will everyone who agrees with this post vote for someone FAR to the LEFT of Obama? Because if you hadn't noticed, he's WAY outside the Goldwater Limit. And not on the other side of center, OH no. What you said about Clinton being the best Republican President since Ike? Well, Barack (he's a KENYAN!) Obama is way too Old White Protestant Establishment Male for Ike to have ever been comfortable with. And that makes people who think he's really a socialist too crazy to even talk to. ...and that, gentles, is why I returned to Canada. Because if Obama is a Socialist, that makes Barry Goldwater an Anarcho-Syndicalist, or maybe even a left-wing Marxist. And that's just too freakin' silly for words. It's time to put the children to bed and let the grown-ups run things again. (btw, I made that illustration. I'm proud of it. I don't happen to have a local copy handy, so I linked to zazzle to get it. Not intended as spam... but it goes to beer and other good causes.)
I created an account just to say “thank you” for saying this. I’ve been saying “I’m a Conservative, but…” since 9/11. I happen to think that Barry Goldwater DEFINES the farthest right you can go without falling out of the rational scope of reasonable discussion.

Nowdays, Barry Goldwater seems like a flaming Liberal. Hell, the John Birch Society sounds reasonable by comparison to the flaming stupid that passes for Conservatism these days.

So I thank you, and by virtue of you being published here, I’ve added the Frum Forum to my sidebar, along with a small, tiny glimmer of hope.

Now, will everyone who agrees with this post vote for someone FAR to the LEFT of Obama? Because if you hadn’t noticed, he’s WAY outside the Goldwater Limit. And not on the other side of center, OH no. What you said about Clinton being the best Republican President since Ike? Well, Barack (he’s a KENYAN!) Obama is way too Old White Protestant Establishment Male for Ike to have ever been comfortable with. And that makes people who think he’s really a socialist too crazy to even talk to.

…and that, gentles, is why I returned to Canada. Because if Obama is a Socialist, that makes Barry Goldwater an Anarcho-Syndicalist, or maybe even a left-wing Marxist.

And that’s just too freakin’ silly for words.

It’s time to put the children to bed and let the grown-ups run things again.

(btw, I made that illustration. I’m proud of it. I don’t happen to have a local copy handy, so I linked to zazzle to get it. Not intended as spam… but it goes to beer and other good causes.)

]]> By: Hero Sandwich » Mondays are for Makin’ Trouble! http://www.frumforum.com/how-the-gop-purged-me/comment-page-10#comment-95727 Hero Sandwich » Mondays are for Makin’ Trouble! Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:31:47 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=26977#comment-95727 [...] one of Frum’s readers says the GOP’s current love for extremists and whackjobs has run him off. This stuff really is weird to me. The crazy building-bombing militia movement wasn’t that [...] [...] one of Frum’s readers says the GOP’s current love for extremists and whackjobs has run him off. This stuff really is weird to me. The crazy building-bombing militia movement wasn’t that [...]

]]> By: abejero | from the Big Apple to the banks of the Mekong http://www.frumforum.com/how-the-gop-purged-me/comment-page-10#comment-94533 abejero | from the Big Apple to the banks of the Mekong Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:52:16 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=26977#comment-94533 [...] thing I find interesting is the purge among the GOP of many of its bright minds who refuse to be blinded by rigid ideological purity. This religion of “American exceptionalism” needs dialogue, but that seems not [...] [...] thing I find interesting is the purge among the GOP of many of its bright minds who refuse to be blinded by rigid ideological purity. This religion of “American exceptionalism” needs dialogue, but that seems not [...]

]]> By: jedwards95 http://www.frumforum.com/how-the-gop-purged-me/comment-page-10#comment-93486 jedwards95 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:19:18 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=26977#comment-93486 Finally a republican with some common sense - oh wait, you're not a republican anymore. Great article and I couldn't agree more. Even though I've always been a democrat, I too wonder what happened to the GOP. At least there used to be conversation between the two parties and both "seemed" to have good intentions. These days, it's all about talking points and getting re-elected. When are people going to realize that Rush, Hannity, Beck, Palin and their like aren't at all interested in what's good for America? All they care about is higher paying sponsors and/or a better book deal. They never offer real solutions, just berate anyone who does. Just like the new nuke treaty. Reagan proposed the exact same 30% cut 20 years ago, but Rush won't tell you that. These guys have taken Howard Stern's playbook and run with it. The more simplistic and outrageous the statement, the more people tune in. Are we really a nation of morons? We do we continue to kick ourselves in the ass? We should be thinking 20 years ahead, not one news or election cycle. Finally a republican with some common sense – oh wait, you’re not a republican anymore. Great article and I couldn’t agree more. Even though I’ve always been a democrat, I too wonder what happened to the GOP. At least there used to be conversation between the two parties and both “seemed” to have good intentions. These days, it’s all about talking points and getting re-elected. When are people going to realize that Rush, Hannity, Beck, Palin and their like aren’t at all interested in what’s good for America? All they care about is higher paying sponsors and/or a better book deal. They never offer real solutions, just berate anyone who does. Just like the new nuke treaty. Reagan proposed the exact same 30% cut 20 years ago, but Rush won’t tell you that. These guys have taken Howard Stern’s playbook and run with it. The more simplistic and outrageous the statement, the more people tune in. Are we really a nation of morons? We do we continue to kick ourselves in the ass? We should be thinking 20 years ahead, not one news or election cycle.

]]> By: vff_on_the_move http://www.frumforum.com/how-the-gop-purged-me/comment-page-10#comment-93365 vff_on_the_move Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:19:17 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=26977#comment-93365 I was encouraged by Philmon's suggestion - " I’d be quite happy to have the word “marriage” replaced in civil contract with “civil union” or whatever". While I am straight, my politically active gay friend agrees with philmon and I about the Government getting out of the religious sacrament of marriage and just focus its power on "civil unions". I think civil unions should be for both gays and straights. Then if the couple wants the religious sacrament of marriage they could ask their church for that. Each Church would then have its own rules. Gays would probably be able to marry if they belonged to a Unitarian Fellowship but not if they belonged to a Catholic Parish. That to me means religious freedom and a separation of Church and State, which I think are blurred by current laws. I was encouraged by Philmon’s suggestion – ” I’d be quite happy to have the word “marriage” replaced in civil contract with “civil union” or whatever”. While I am straight, my politically active gay friend agrees with philmon and I about the Government getting out of the religious sacrament of marriage and just focus its power on “civil unions”. I think civil unions should be for both gays and straights. Then if the couple wants the religious sacrament of marriage they could ask their church for that. Each Church would then have its own rules. Gays would probably be able to marry if they belonged to a Unitarian Fellowship but not if they belonged to a Catholic Parish. That to me means religious freedom and a separation of Church and State, which I think are blurred by current laws.

]]> By: maryvirginia http://www.frumforum.com/how-the-gop-purged-me/comment-page-10#comment-93355 maryvirginia Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:18:55 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=26977#comment-93355 Hate, hate, hate. Republicans are full of hate these days. That's why I left. And self-righteousness. Yuck, self-righteousness, the sign of a closed mind. Hate, hate, hate. Republicans are full of hate these days. That’s why I left. And self-righteousness. Yuck, self-righteousness, the sign of a closed mind.

]]> By: Rabiner http://www.frumforum.com/how-the-gop-purged-me/comment-page-10#comment-93211 Rabiner Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:20:22 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=26977#comment-93211 Philmon: Sure I'll agree with "Marriage is a social institution that is recognized by the government as a contract" but also say Marriage is a civil institution in this country that is encouraged through tax benefits and other legal protections. No person advocating Gay Marriage in the mainstream expects churches to perform these ceremonies. That is the role of the government rather than religious organizations. It's ironic that you question Progressives' motives and say their "entire goal in life seems to be to force their version of morality onto everyone using the coercive power of the state" when it is Conservatives that are unwilling to allow segments of the population time and again have equal access to legal protections, legal standing, and representation. It was Progressives who were successful in enfranchising women in the 1910s. It was Progressives who were successful in passing Civil Rights legislation in the 1950s and 1960s. It was Progressives who have been fighting for the last 20 years to allow GLBT population the ability to serve in the military without being deceitful, the ability to marry, and the ability to adopt children in all States. Philmon:

Sure I’ll agree with “Marriage is a social institution that is recognized by the government as a contract” but also say Marriage is a civil institution in this country that is encouraged through tax benefits and other legal protections. No person advocating Gay Marriage in the mainstream expects churches to perform these ceremonies. That is the role of the government rather than religious organizations.

It’s ironic that you question Progressives’ motives and say their “entire goal in life seems to be to force their version of morality onto everyone using the coercive power of the state” when it is Conservatives that are unwilling to allow segments of the population time and again have equal access to legal protections, legal standing, and representation. It was Progressives who were successful in enfranchising women in the 1910s. It was Progressives who were successful in passing Civil Rights legislation in the 1950s and 1960s. It was Progressives who have been fighting for the last 20 years to allow GLBT population the ability to serve in the military without being deceitful, the ability to marry, and the ability to adopt children in all States.

]]> By: philmon http://www.frumforum.com/how-the-gop-purged-me/comment-page-10#comment-93175 philmon Thu, 08 Apr 2010 21:40:23 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=26977#comment-93175 "Marriage is both a social and CIVIL contract. " Not exactly. Marriage is a social institution that is recognized by the government as a contract. My position is that gays can enter into any kind of arrangement they like and call it anything they like -- but to further nuance my position as I have stated on my own blog in the past ... I'd be quite happy to have the word "marriage" replaced in civil contract with "civil union" or whatever. Gays and "Hets" would each be free to call each whatever they like. Then the government could enforce those contracts without officially expanding the definition of a word for everyone, against the will of the majority -- due to the demands of some. I used to think that the government would never force religious organizations (or as our founders called them, "Establishment(s) of Religion" ) to perform gay marriages, but I'm not so sure anymore. Progressives are the royalty of rationalization, and their entire goal in life seems to be to force their version of morality onto everyone using the coercive power of the state. They find ways of justifying things. Each new "reform" becomes the jumping-off point for the next one. Maybe they wouldn't. But I could easily see a minister preaching his or her believe that such behavior is wrong being accused of a hate crime and arrested for it. Things like this have happened. Not in this country yet. But there are those in this country who seem hell-bent on emulating countries that have. It would completely violate the first amendment, I know. But we do have people (such as Rahm Emmanuel) who believe that the First Amendment is "highly overrated", people who want to completely abolish the second amendment, and the tenth amendment has been trampled to the point where it is practically meaningless anymore. When you have Congressmen who can say "I don't care about the Constitution" when it comes to passing legislation they want to pass because THEY believe "it's the right thing to do"... the Constitution might as well not exist. “Marriage is both a social and CIVIL contract. ”

Not exactly. Marriage is a social institution that is recognized by the government as a contract.

My position is that gays can enter into any kind of arrangement they like and call it anything they like — but to further nuance my position as I have stated on my own blog in the past … I’d be quite happy to have the word “marriage” replaced in civil contract with “civil union” or whatever. Gays and “Hets” would each be free to call each whatever they like. Then the government could enforce those contracts without officially expanding the definition of a word for everyone, against the will of the majority — due to the demands of some.

I used to think that the government would never force religious organizations (or as our founders called them, “Establishment(s) of Religion” ) to perform gay marriages, but I’m not so sure anymore. Progressives are the royalty of rationalization, and their entire goal in life seems to be to force their version of morality onto everyone using the coercive power of the state. They find ways of justifying things. Each new “reform” becomes the jumping-off point for the next one.

Maybe they wouldn’t. But I could easily see a minister preaching his or her believe that such behavior is wrong being accused of a hate crime and arrested for it. Things like this have happened. Not in this country yet. But there are those in this country who seem hell-bent on emulating countries that have. It would completely violate the first amendment, I know. But we do have people (such as Rahm Emmanuel) who believe that the First Amendment is “highly overrated”, people who want to completely abolish the second amendment, and the tenth amendment has been trampled to the point where it is practically meaningless anymore.

When you have Congressmen who can say “I don’t care about the Constitution” when it comes to passing legislation they want to pass because THEY believe “it’s the right thing to do”… the Constitution might as well not exist.

]]> By: blogenfreude http://www.frumforum.com/how-the-gop-purged-me/comment-page-10#comment-92823 blogenfreude Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:02:15 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=26977#comment-92823 Blame yourself. Did you object to Nixon's Southern Strategy? Did you complain when Reagan activated bigots and religious zealots to vote for him? Did you say anything when GWB ignited the worst elements of your party to step up? I doubt it. So reap what you have sown. You had power, but you sold your soul to get it. The GOP is now mainly sociopaths, the criminally insane, and the home-schooled. And it will die - not tomorrow, but soon enough. Blame yourself. Did you object to Nixon’s Southern Strategy? Did you complain when Reagan activated bigots and religious zealots to vote for him? Did you say anything when GWB ignited the worst elements of your party to step up? I doubt it. So reap what you have sown. You had power, but you sold your soul to get it. The GOP is now mainly sociopaths, the criminally insane, and the home-schooled. And it will die – not tomorrow, but soon enough.

]]> By: Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » The Party Left Me http://www.frumforum.com/how-the-gop-purged-me/comment-page-10#comment-92692 Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » The Party Left Me Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:42:43 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=26977#comment-92692 [...] This tale of a Republican who left his party was posted at David Frum’s site the other day. [...] [...] This tale of a Republican who left his party was posted at David Frum’s site the other day. [...]

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