Power and Control: The Heart Of The Matter

Friday, November 21, 2008

The Heart Of The Matter

I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. - Ronald Reagan

So when will the party get back to its roots? Not soon I fear. Not soon.

11 comments:

Unknown said...: What I don't get is why you're not voting a straight Libertarian ticket? Sounds like this is the Party for you.; Friday, November 21, 2008 at 7:16:00 PM UTC
Unknown said...: As for the Ronald Reagan quote you give, here are some other quotes by President Reagan that contradict your suggestion that he was entirely Libertarian in his views. Yes, he certainly held Libertarian views, but not entirely. He knew that monetary (or economic) issues had to be balanced with that of social issues.

On Abortion:

"Now I don't have to tell you that this puts us in opposition to, or at least out of step with, a prevailing attitude of many who have turned to a modern-day secularism.

Are we to believe that something so sacred can be looked upon as a purely physical thing with no potential for emotional and psychological harm?

Abortion on demand now takes the lives of up to one and a half million unborn children a year. Human life legislation ending this tragedy will someday pass the Congress, and you and I must never rest until it does."

- from a speech given in Orlando, FL on March 8, 1983

On Drug Abuse:

"Let us not forget who we are. Drug abuse is a repudiation of everything America is."

On Religion:

"Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged."

"Without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure."

"If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

"We are never defeated unless we give up on God."

...and these things, ladies and gentlemen, are the very same beliefs, attitudes, and convictions that social conservatives hold and cherish.

With social conservatives, you not only get a group who support fiscal responsiblity and lower taxation, you also get a group who want to keep God in the public square and promote the traditional nuclear family.

In other words, you get the whole package.; Friday, November 21, 2008 at 7:53:00 PM UTC
M. Simon said...: On abortion:

Forget the seculars. What about the Jews who consider the baby a part of the woman's body until it exits the body? You have read my posts on that.

On drugs:

The prevailing policy among the medical profession (just got an e-mail on it, but I blogged it over a year ago and for years previous to that) is that chronic drug use is self medication. When was self medication illegalized? Oh yeah. When the FDA took over the Drug Industry and now serves as an arm of the cartel. And before that when opiates were illegalized in the run up to alcohol prohibition.

From 2005:

A well known secret

As a Jew I don't want God in the public square. Since the expression is mostly the Christian conception, I'm personally offended. In fact the Jesus stuff was pushed on me in public school (yeah I'm that old) and it caused me to be very mistrusting of Christians. Evidently I'm still not totally over it.

So yeah. Put God in the public square if making enemies is what you want. Or let God be in your heart, keep silent, and lead by example. Which is why I ♥ Sarah'cudda.

I'm rather Jeffersonian in my attitude towards Church and State. A wall of separation.

But if you want the Republicans to be the Jesus Party fine. Social Conservatives are the majority in the party and they can take it in whatever direction suits them best. I'll find another party that wants my support and my vote. I was a Libertarian for a long time. Losing elections does not bother me a bit.

Bush, thank the Maker, put the war against the Islamofascits on the correct footing and that will last decades. That is what I wanted most from Republicans and they delivered. My hope in 2004 was that Bush would get 4 more years. My prayers were answered. I can ask no more and evidently the Republicans can't deliver on any of my other wishes (economic conservatism, cultural liberty) so I have no further use for them.

I'm not ready for a clean break. I will be watching where the party goes in the next year and then make my decision. But I'll tell you I'm not inclined to stay. And there are an awful lot of lib-Republicans so inclined. The loss of even 1/3 of them will put the Republicans out of business for 40 years or perhaps permanently. Fortunately the Democrat Coalition can't hold together either.

I see two parties in America's future - the Nanny State Party - Cultural and Economic and the "Leave Us Alone" Party. When the "Leave Us Alone" Party rises I'm with it. Totally.; Friday, November 21, 2008 at 8:35:00 PM UTC
M. Simon said...: In the 2004 election in Illinois Bush got 45% of the vote. Alan Keyes got 30% of the vote. I'd have to look back at my blog post to get the details right but the numbers are roughly correct. There was a huge Republican undervote for Keyes and quite a few Republicans like me voted for Obama.

That should give you an idea of what you are up against.; Friday, November 21, 2008 at 8:57:00 PM UTC
M. Simon said...: And what was my rallying cry in the 2004 Senate election?

Better the Communist than the Theocon.

I knew what I was doing.; Friday, November 21, 2008 at 9:04:00 PM UTC
M. Simon said...: Because the Libertarians are idiots on foreign policy and they couldn't run a successful political campaign if their lives depended on it.

I should know. I was a Libertarian for about 15 years including Sec/Treas of my local group for 3 years.; Friday, November 21, 2008 at 9:29:00 PM UTC
Unknown said...: You've been self-medicating, haven't you? Dial 9-1-1, and the paramedics will be there shortly.

You must be having a bad trip...considering you admit to VOTING FOR OBAMA in 2004. Now, THAT'S is a revelation. You helped him take the first step on the road to the Presidency.

You, sir, are not even in the same league as President Reagan. Regardless, this is good to know.

You rail against social conservatives for voting their conscience on issues that are important to them, which is no less than what you do - issues, I might add, that are more in line with America's historical and traditional heritage.

So, instead, you voted for the "Communist" (Obama), instead of the "Theocon" (Keyes), as you say.

Nope. No bias there. But, fiscal issues are sooooooooo important to you. Right.

Clear as mud, but please, keep grinding that axe.

If things are as bad as you say. Where are the theocratic re-education camps?; Friday, November 21, 2008 at 9:49:00 PM UTC
M. Simon said...: He was only a Senator at the time. 1 out of 100.

And it is obvious I knew what I was doing. I had no illusions.

In any case it appears that more than 1/3 of those who voted for Bush that year agreed with me. Your problem is not me. I merely voice some of the sentiment of those who only speak with a vote.

And yes I'm self medicating. I smoke about 3 or 4 cigarettes a day. Is it normal to call 911 for that?

Given the choice between the fiscally profligate brand and the theocon brand the American people chose the fiscally profligate brand. (I did not do that this year because I could see that the brand did not apply to the R candidates. I ♥ Sarah'cudda. Apparently the rest of the American people were not so perceptive.)

But hey. Tell yourself what ever you want to. Normally it takes a party 8 to 12 years of being the underdog until they come to their senses. So I figure you will get it around 2020. No rush.; Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 1:00:00 AM UTC
Anonymous said...: my only problem with that sentiment (12 years in the wilderness till they come to thier senses) is that in that time the socialists will have cemented themselves into permanancy. they allways rig the game and like muslims who take over a nation never give up power or allow dissent once they are in power. this is not the democrat party of my parents any longer.; Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 3:34:00 AM UTC
Anonymous said...: o shit I just posted that last comment and skated over to belmont club and his latest post on germany and the nazification of germany completely puts words to my fear of the new dem party and obama that I expressed in the previous post.; Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 3:40:00 AM UTC
M. Simon said...: Belmont Club Link on the Nazification of Germany.; Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 3:54:00 PM UTC