Do or Die Time For Conservatives?
Posted on February 1, 2008
At last night’s debate we heard a lot about the “house that Reagan built”. Just to let you in on something, my wife and I are having a little girl in May, and her name will be Reagan. Yes, she is named after the greatest president in our lifetime. What true conservatives need to fear is the reality that changing times has started to chip away at the core principles established from the Reagan revolution.
Everyone is throwing Reagan’s name around like crazy. It is an honor, but its been flung around so carelessly recently that it in many cases, is an insult. If I hear McCain say that he was a foot soldier in the Reagan revolution one more time, I will scream. The truest to standing for the core beliefs that Reagan held, in my opinion, was Fred Thompson. He had the core. He just didn’t have Reagan’s ability to communicate it. One by one the core conservatives dropped like dominoes. Conservatives are left with less than ideal choices now. Too bad the general populace get hypnotized by soundbytes, and charm.
Anyway…..Bryan Preston inspires the title and sums up a lot of folk’s feelings in a concise quote.
I think it’s do or die time for conservatives. Either we rally to Romney or we reconcile ourselves to McCain and all that that means. It’s one or the other. We have a few more days to make up our minds.
Yep….since too many sat on their hands and twiddled their thumbs while the true conservatives struggled for money and support…we are now left with a last minute “do or die”. No matter what we choose, we choose less than the best.
After a big win for McCain in Florida, followed by a Rudy and Arnold endorsement, we are seeing the core conservative pundits start to scramble. Mark Levin and Sean Hannity endorsed Romney today. It seems that reality is sinking in, and many think Romney is the only lifeboat left.
Levin:
Let’s face it, none of the candidates are perfect. They never are. But McCain is the least perfect of the viable candidates. The only one left standing who can honestly be said to share most of our conservative principles is Mitt Romney. I say this as someone who has not been an active Romney supporter. If conservatives don’t unite behind Romney at this stage, and become vocal in their support for him, then they will get McCain as their Republican nominee and probably a Democrat president. And in either case, we will have a deeply flawed president.
Yes, Sister Toldjah reports on the State of the conservative union, and its not good.
How do you spell…I yi, yi!!!????
Dan Riehl nails the emotion of many root conservatives:
Do people really want a vote for Huckabee, of all people, to end the Reagan era of Republicanism? Because, that, and nothing else, would be the result. Without Huckabee, Romney toasts McCain.
Well, Dan…all the leftover candidates are hard to swallow. We are down to four. A good argument could be made, if you subtract a lot of looniness, that Ron Paul is the only core conservative left. Another argument is being made for Huckabee, but I’ll save the juicy details of that for a post of its own.
Basically what it comes down to is that conservatives have painted themselves into a corner. Indeed, it is now do or die. We can either put the most liberal option we have to compete against other liberals, or choose the best other option. Conservatives are left in quite a divide on what that lesser evil is. Meanwhile McCain grabs victory supporting moderates.
Many core conservatives are united on one thing now….anyone but McCain. Basing things in reality as conservatives do, many conclude the only other option is Romney.
Most are rushing to Romney because they feel we have little time. It drives me crazy how quickly everyone assumes “inevitability”. Of course we want to base things in reality, but have we not learned during this election to not follow conventional wisdom? Wasn’t Rudy supposed to be inevitable?
Common sense leads me to say…go with the back-up plan! Vote Romney! I say this mostly because of how much compromise to my bottom line values I would have to do to hold my nose for McCain over some worse socialist like Hillary. However, supporting Romney takes a lot of trust that really doesn’t exist for the man. This leaves me a bit divided.
Most are saying to get behind Romney to stop McCain. However, as we all know…Romney hasn’t always embraced the social side of conservatism. In fact, to many it seems he embraced it at the most convenient of times. Trust is the factor.
On the other hand, with his many other flaws, Huckabee is a genuine social conservative. He is through and through pro-life, whether you think he goes too big government on that or not. He has the foundation of the house of Reagan. He is a likable and humerus, good guy. He holds a basic, simple Baptist, southern, moral guy. Why, besides electability, would people trust Romney and not Huckabee?
Yes, Huckabee has a history of raising taxes. However he has recently embraced the popular conservative option of the fair tax. Why not trust that this conversion is honest if we are to trust that Romney’s conversions are honest?
If we are to look at the “house that Reagan built” we should look at it like a house, not a three legged stool. The social side takes priority. Family and the social issues are the foundation stone. Without it, the rest will fall. Where I’m left divided is where reality comes in. Huckabee doesn’t have much chance.
Jim Robinson of freerepublic argues:
….if we can keep Huckabee in the race all the way through, thus preventing McCain or Romney from gaining enough delegates to win the nomination, then maybe, just maybe a deadlocked convention might seek out another candidate. One who can re-unite the Reagan Coalition, save the GOP, and put us back on the conservative track. Of course, my personal favorite to be that man would be Fred Thompson.
In conclusion, I’m confused more than ever. I think many others feel the same. Reality says to me that a vote for Mike Huckabee is a vote for McCain at this point. Another side kinda holds out hope for a brokered convention. That isn’t based in much reality.
When it comes down to it, we don’t have much time. Huckabee, like all other candidates has flaws, and his only hope right now is on Super Tuesday in the southern states. My vote has already been cast for Fred in Florida, and that meant nothing in reality. As far as I’m concerned we will just have to wait and see who Americans choose. I can’t endorse at this point. All I can say is…anyone but McCain.
Wow! What a bunch of thoughts without a clear conclusion.
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20 Responses to “Do or Die Time For Conservatives?”
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You’re editorializing. I would say fiscal issues take priority. You won’t make much progress on social issues if we spend ourselves into a depression. I’m sure others would say that neither matter if we’re conquered.
It’s still fairly likely. As long as Romney, Huckabee, and Paul (yes, he’ll continue to accumulate delegates) hold their own on Tuesday, a brokered convention is virtually guaranteed.
Want a True Conservative?? Fred Thompson is on the ballots on Super Tuesday you people are smart guess what you should do ??? Ok let me tell you VOTE FRED THOMPSON this is our last chance !!!
I am voting for Fred on Tuesday…..we may have lost conservatism to populism and a media blitz that ignored FDT as much as possible, and an influx of neocons (post 9-11 conservatives) that have a more moderate stance on things.
Anyone but McCain or Huckabee, which leaves me with my choice. Unfortunately I’m in Indiana and Super Tuesday may have decided it by then. If that’s the case, maybe I’ll vote for Fred just to make a point.
I am not really concerned about a depression because we can overcome as we have before. It will be tough but we will just have to tighten our belt and put our faith in the merciful God like Job did. I am concerned about the collapse of morality because it is self distructive. Of course the collapse of morality does have effects on our financial standing which explains our huge debts as greed is trumping good sense. I back Huckabee mostly because of his social conservative stance but I think his economic views are sound and valid also. His idea to tighten our belt and avoid quick fixes in favor of improving our countries infrastructure sounds like a better path than proposed by either McCaine or Romney.
I’m still pissed off at Gov. Arnuld for the way he’s turned out, here in CA., and now I have to choose between McCain & Romnney as my champion against a couple of rabid Socialists??
It took me over 20 years to evolve from a Reagan Dem (The 1st Prez I was eligible to vote for, when he beat Carter.) into a Moderate Republican, and now the Party is in disarray.
Even poor El Rushbo is having a freakin’ coronary, for cryin’ out loud! ;-D
I think it was Thomas Sowell who, in bemoaning the possibility of 20 consecutive years of 2 families running this great nation, said that surely thers are other qualified people out there?
Billary & O’Kennedy maybe be the best the Dems have to offer, but Romney & McCain can’t be the best WE have to offer, can they?
What is keeping the very best from putting it all, politically and personally, on the line for their country in its time of need?
My primary is past and I voted for Fred Thompson. I was saddened to see that he wasn’t going to be the nominee.
I am working under the assumption that McShamnesty will be the nominee. (Could be Romney in which case ignore the following)
If it is McCain, I will not vote for him under any circumstances. A lot of people out there are saying the same thing and are talking about staying home in November.
That I refuse to do. There are a large number of local races that I will not walk away from.
What I intend to do if McCain is the nominee is write in Fredrick Dalton Thompson for President and possibly Duncan Hunter for VP.
Yes, this is a forlorn hope. However the goal is to try and make a significant blip, big enough to force the RINO’s running the party to take notice.
There’s also talk of forming a new party. This hasn’t been done since the Republican Party was formed back in the 1800’s, and the Whig party was dissolved.
People say this is impossible, that you can’t start a new party. We won’t know until we try. Think long term, maybe ten years down the road.
We’ll see how things stand in 2010.
My $0.53
As much as I don’t want to vote for McCain, how does writing in FDT do anything other than put Hillary or Obama in? Conservatives didn’t rally to Fred, for various reasons and that showed in the voting. It sucks, I wanted Fred but how does that make less conservative voters come around?
McCain is a liberal on everything except Iraq. He will amnesty 15 million new Dems who will destroy Republicans at the polls.
It is better if a liberal Democrat destroys our country rather than a liberal Republican.
It was Clinton who gave Republicans control of congress. Hopefully Hillary will do the same.
“Conservatives For Hillary and Against McCain”.
Will you stand strong for our Party ??
Conservatives are in agreement; there was no other truly conservative candidate for the nomination of the Presidency in 2008 than Fred Dalton Thompson. The Republican Party is leaving us with its big government candidates who don’t believe in restrained spending or federalism. Our nation is at a crucial crossroads with threats at home and abroad. If we are going to protect our nation’s identity and our sovereignty, then we must force the Republican Party to return to the conservative prinicples that will lead us forward. It is with that in mind that we urge all conservatives to VOTE FOR FRED DALTON THOMPSON during your state’s primary. And if he isn’t on the ballot, WRITE-IN FRED THOMPSON. It is imperative that we sent a message to our party and our nation, that it is time to return to ideals of our founders and our constitution. It’s time we send a message to our party and the media that this should once again become a serious process among professionals who are serious about the task at hand and not just looking for power and prestige. It’s time we return to citizen servants who seek to further the cause of democracy and not just their self interests.
Will you take the pledge? Will you to Write-in Fred Dalton Thompson in your state’s primary and force the Republican Party to remember that we are a party of principles and conservatism? Leave your comment below and let’s take back our party and remind everyone that there was only one true conservative in the race.
http://www.writeinfred.com
Good lord, I was a Fred supporter too until he dropped out, but you people who plan on voting for him in your primaries may as well vote for McCain, since he is who your vote will help elect.
The priority for conservatives needs to be to stop McCain, and that means voting for Romney. There are only two happy endings available to us. In order from best to worse, they are:
1. No one gets enough delegates and we get a brokered convention that gives us Thompson or Gingrich.
2. Romney prevails.
To reach either of those happy endings, conservatives need to vote for Romney in the primaries.
I didn’t make the world. I just live here.
A vote for Thompson on Tuesday is (like Huck) a vote for McCain. Unless Fred would pull 25+%, he won’t be back in, and that is impossible now.
So… sure! Vote for Fred and watch McCain win. It’s called politics at this point. We missed our chance with Fred. It’s too late to dream now.
Romney has said he would support and sign a renewal of the “assault weasons” ban. That makes him an outcast. At this point I don’t even think either Clinton would be that stupid again.
Fred is still getting my primary vote. Sure he doesn’t have a chance, but I don’t see a real difference between Romney and McCain.
I plan to vote for Romney in the primary in hopes that McCain will not get enough delegates to become the candidate.
Since I live in California, a winner take all electoral college vote state, my actual vote for President isn’t worth spit as a Republican and never has been. I plan to vote in the National Election for Thompson/Hunter.
This is what we get for allowing open primarys where the opposition gets to vote for our candidates and choose for us. This is also what we get for allowing the media, who are rooting for the Democrats, to control the coverage and dictate to us who is going to win and lose well before 90% of the people have had a chance to vote.
Thompson was (and now Romney is) shut out on purpose by the media: never given any impartial coverage. He was labeled lazy, no fire in the belly etc etc. In the debates he was asked hostile questions to present him in the worst light, or shunted to the shadows while the fawning media focused on the Republicans weakest candidates, Huckabee and McCain. The ones that THEY want THEIR candidate to run against
Shame on us for being such dupes. I hope we have learned a lesson.
I’m still voting Fred on Tuesday. My vote doesn’t count for anything in NYS anyway.
I miss Fred
I am always confused that so many will trust Romney’s conversion to conservatism but won’t even consider Huckabee.
I’ll only vote for Huckabee. He’s gonna build the fence, signed the no new taxes pledge and is socially conservative. And unlike Romney doesn’t have to remember what his stance was last week.
Electability? Who cares, do the right thing. Fred was apparently waiting for the writer’s strike to end- he’s gone.
By the way, for all the talk about taxes. Yes Huck raised taxes 4 times, but don’t forget he lowered them 94 times. He’s the only communicator/speaker who comes close to the Great One.
You wanna make a statement? Vote for Huckabee. And to Rush who apparently hates Huckabee, I can only ask why? What is your problem? Why are you so sold on a guy who tried to out-lib Teddy? I’ve quit listening to him.
Ann C, Sean H, and the rest have tried to force Romney down my throat for weeks now. To them I say ’shut up’!
Enough already.
Scott,
Some of us are unsure of Romney as well.
It’s rather hard to trust Huckabee considering the direct reversal of his view on immigration. That, combined with his justifications being entirely personal/subjective ie his heart and demeaning others as un-Christian, make for a potent combination for not trusting him on the matter.
I agree, do the right thing during the primary, which is why I’m voting Romney, if it still makes a difference, rather than write in Fred Thompson.
You leave out that his tax raising left the state with a net tax increase and that he’s dodged and misled rather seriously about the tax raises. He may be a good speaker, but it’s in the service of being a demagogue and snake oil salesman.
I’m not voting for Huckabee because I no longer even trust him as a pastor. As a politically conservative, prolife Christian, I’m very offended at how he’s used the faith in his campaign.
And other Christians have tried to force Huckabee down my throat, basically saying I must not be a Christian or a conservative because I don’t support Huckabee.
So yeah, enough already. We’re voting for a politician, not a pastor and a pastor that gets cozy with the likes of Kenneth Copeland isnt much of a pastor IMO.
All the conservatives have left the race. Our next President will be a liberal. May God help us all.
Because a conservative President will have been in office for 8 years, the war in Iraq is unpopular, and regardlesss if Bush had an influence on the current economy and the weak dollar, the tide is against us. Wether we like it or not, the next President will no doubt be a Democrat. That is one thing you can bank on! The sooner we resign ourserlves to that fact, the sooner we can start concentrating on re-inventing the GOP for the 2012 election. Otherwise, our core values will never be respresented!
With the security of American principles and the welfare of our families at stake, conservatives and patriots must stand ground. For more information, visit http://kustomlady-truthbetold.blogspot.com/