I have a theory about what we call conservative and how we support candidates. I think the left has drawn us into a quagmire of defining conservatism by too many definitions.
I have a more optimistic view; just stick to the basics of limited government based on following Constitutional principles.

We are religious, but so are main-stream democrats. Yet, this aspect is used to demonize conservatives. We play into their hands by defending and drawing lines. You can see that the left doesn’t really have a problem with a President-Elect who claims God. In like manner, the NRA, the military, gays, et al.

I don’t really care which party CLAIMS God; it’s how we live our lives that reveals our character and religious/moral conviction. Stand for honesty, and walk the walk. Over time, voters will see that.

And, because the left controls the media, we play a game that we can not win…by design.

Take heart; the traditional media are gradually withering in influence and impact as new media continues to grow as a primary source of information.

However, if we stood more on fiscal responsibility and supported only those fiscal conservatives who ran for office, I think that we could recruit sound candidates who would tend to the countries business and, basically stay out of our lives in other regards.

There will be a huge leadership vacuum in the Conservative movement, just waiting for new leaders to step in (Pence in the HOR comes to mind).

Going forward, this tactic may be the only way to reduce the size of government.

It can happen if enough Americans are convinced that it is the correct course of action. Cheer up!

genso on January 15, 2009 at 11:15 PM

C’mon people when do we revolt when do we march?!

Mercy4Me on January 15, 2009 at 6:36 PM

When we get some more of that global-warming shit, cause it’s like -15 here

Those presses will be printing on overtime now… just spend and spend and spend and soon, very soon, we will have ’stagflation’ in spades. And when you go to a bar, buy all the beers up front because their prices will go up over the course of an hour. Just like Germans did… during the 20’s, and they chose a charismatic fool with grandiose ideas to get them out of it.

You’ll need those beers.

Trust me on that.

ajacksonian on January 15, 2009 at 7:13 PM

Yep. There are only three ways to find all this money Obambi and the Dems want to spend: tax it, borrow it, or print it.

They might go back to the 90% marginal tax rate of the ’60s (“tax the rich”), but that won’t generate the cash; it’ll just kill incentive.

The Chinese aren’t going to lend us much more than they have, and will be sorely tempted to call in their chits any time now.

So they’ll turn to the printing presses. Better buy a wheelbarrow; you’ll need it to carry your lunch money to work—if you can find a job.

Just a side thought,,, I wonder how many middle of the road Germans voiced support for Hitler when he became Chancellor,,, hoping he would succeed??!

JellyToast

A good question deserves a good answer.

That question most certainly should have been a popular thesis in post-War Germany.

The contemporary assessment at this point from witnesses is disappearing into dust.

Personal journals would indicate only one opinion at a time, though convincingly. What the German Zeitungs recorded would only reflect what propaganda their publishers wanted to promote. But even that would be of interest when comparing the zeitgeist of late 1930s to mid-1940s. German immigrants who made it to America to escape the socialist revolutions in Germany during the 1930s were anti-Hitler. Those who had nothing to lose by leaving for hope in America left behind those who had material reasons to stay.

The comparison with Weltkaiser Obama Wannabe will be interesting to note.

The way to prevent demoralization during Obama’s rule is in preparation. Be prepared. Conservatives know the conservative platform and agenda, and which leaders actually promote conservatism. Prepare a functional existence accordingly, and ready for strategic battles with tactical maneuvers to put the wrench in Obama’s Werks while promoting conservatism: the living energy.

I just can’t care anymore. It might be the cold medicine talking, but I’m seriously just numb on the inside after reading the list posted above. Sensory overload, denial, I’m not sure what it is anymore, but my brain is shutting down.

I’ve always been proud to be an American, and have tried my hardest to instill that pride into my children. I’m not so sure I feel the same way anymore. And that hurts.

Anna on January 15, 2009 at 6:45 PM

I feel your pain. It’s a tragic thing to see your nation that you love, work to make better, serve and defend go through tough times despite everything you have done to make it better. That’s what’s hardest I think is that it’s the incompetence and corruption of a relative few in positions of power that have brought so much harm to this nation. Sometimes many, even a small majority of the people (or sheeple in this case) willingly allow these people to inflict this harm on us either through ignorance or blind devotion to failed ideals and causes. It’s up to true believing Americans like you, I and so many others here on HA to keep the faith and fight the good fight. Vote, speak out for our traditional values and teach them to our children, support our armed forces, etc. America lives on inside us I would like to think but I would also like it to continue when I step outside my front door. I’m rather fond of this country and I’m not quite ready to see her go away just yet.

We as a nation have been through tough times before and have come through and hopefully this one will be no different and we’ll be stronger for it.

Yes, I understand the illegal amnesty aspect to increasing the taxpayer base. What make no sense is what it costs to the healthcare system.

In the end my cynical view is that this is yet another way in which pols hope to buy a voting block with our money. It just depends on who can offer the most to get them.

Cody1991 on January 16, 2009 at 12:24 AM

Cody, the immigration reform is going to happen because this is the only way our “leaders” see to solve the declining workforce/social security bankruptcy problem. They don’t have enough political courage to cut payouts, raise the SS deductions, and reduce other entitlements to fix it, so they want to legalize millions of young wage earners to fill the coffers again. It is also a way, by bankrupting the state-supported healthcare system, for the to nationalize it.

Obama first mentor Ayers with Obama, used Tax payers money to rebuild Chicago, under the need to provide housing to people who needed it. His new mentors are the Clintons. …

As for what has happened in the past in elections, I feel that this financial crisis and the ensuing attempt at socialization will wake up a lot of people to more responsible government. If this happens, we have to be prepared to leave the trivial out of our agenda.

Alana on January 15, 2009 at 10:21 PM

Alana, I always enjoy your posts because you make sense.

People are fed up. The people I see are angry and confused. They aren’t politically sophisticated, but they do have common sense.

There is no room for the Dems to push before people start pushing back. The racial situation isn’t good, and it’s coming to a head.

Our government is so disconnected from the lives of those who elected them that I can barely comprehend their stupidity.

We cannot punish the middle classes forcing them to pay for more entitlement programs, and we can no longer punish those generations who have already paid for the “sins of the fathers.” It’s gone on too long, and it should never have happened to begin with. One thing ordinary folks understand is that they will ultimately be forced to pay the most.

We are also expected to take care of Mexico’s rejects without ever asking the critical question which is simply this, ‘Why should Mexico not be held accountable for its own citizens Why does no one ask this question?’ It’s madness. And it cannot go on much longer without reaching a boiling point.

genso on January 15, 2009 at 11:15 PM

It’s not just fiscal matters, it’s governing responsibly in all matters, something we’ve failed to do for the last decade. Certainly fiscal responsibility is the most glaring but it also has to do with immigration, energy, climate change, oversight in the financial sector, foreign affairs, etc. Everything, we just haven’t governed well and the lack of leadership in the GOP has been frightening.

Be careful of collecting gold. Roosevelt confiscated all private gold by executive order. Since this seems like a replay of that crisis, it may not be prudent.

genso on January 15, 2009 at 10:59 PM

Trying to take my gold will have the same result as trying to take my guns. Both are valuable and provide security and no govt is going to take either. No. Way. In. Hell.

However, if we stood more on fiscal responsibility and supported only those fiscal conservatives who ran for office, I think that we could recruit sound candidates who would tend to the countries business and, basically stay out of our lives in other regards. Going forward, this tactic may be the only way to reduce the size of government.

genso on January 15, 2009 at 11:15 PM

Fiscally conservative, socially liberal candidates tend to not do well in elections. Nixon, perhaps, was the last Republican president to fit this mold.

Overall, libertarianism polls well on internet chat rooms, and nowhere else. And I say this as someone would would like to see more libertarianism in our government.

Consider also the relative fates of CA prop 8 and MA prop 1. Social conservativism can win in the bluest states, economic conservativism does not appear to be able to.

And looking at lower level office holders – like for example the Gov of California – I don’t see a good track record on either cutting spending or reining in the reach of government for these economic conservatives.

goat on January 15, 2009 at 5:51 PM

After reading your list, goat, I suddenly have the urge to gouge my eyeballs out with a pencil.
Does anyone besides me notice how ambiguous most of the items on this list are? If I ran my budget that way, I’d be living in a refrigerator box by next month.

And I thought things were gonna get all boring after the election…

And, because the left controls the media, we play a game that we can not win…by design. However, if we stood more on fiscal responsibility and supported only those fiscal conservatives who ran for office, I think that we could recruit sound candidates who would tend to the countries business and, basically stay out of our lives in other regards. Going forward, this tactic may be the only way to reduce the size of government.

It looks like Inhofe launched a YouTube channel, too.

Jim Inhofe Press Office

Fight on, Senators!!

18-1 on January 15, 2009 at 9:58 PM

Well, given what you said about the media, it is, perhaps, the only thing that will stir enough for action. At least enough action to vote for fiscal conservatives in 2 years.

Yakko77 on January 15, 2009 at 10:22 PM

Be careful of collecting gold. Roosevelt confiscated all private gold by executive order. Since this seems like a replay of that crisis, it may not be prudent.

genso on January 15, 2009 at 8:47 PM

I can’t argue with anything you wrote.