Why are we Republicans?

[gte811i]

Larry McDonald was the original Dr. No . Democrat from Georgia - his district was later won by Newt Gingrich.

Right on. Of course in order to figure that out you really have to go into the history. After the Civil war the south despised Republicans and for basically over 100 years voted straight up Democrat . . . Southern Democrat to be specific, which was probably the closest we've had to a real 3rd party for that time period and Southern Democrats were different than any other democrat. This has really only changed in the last 15-20 years. Shoot, Zill Miller (D) headlined one of GWB's national conventions . . . Zig Zag Zill was definitely a southern democrat.

 

[specsaregood]

, but, a liberty candidate has 0 chance in the democrat party.

I disagree. The correct smart liberty candidate that is able to stay on message with a specific limited message has a puncher's chance in the democrat party.

 

[parocks]

Thank you guys so much for answering my questions. I have always thought of myself as a Democrat. I grew up thinking the Republicans were for the rich, and the Democrats for the poor. I was not rich.

Somehow though, I voted for Bush twice. I live in Mo where you do not have to vote with a party affiliation. My main interest in all of you here, is to end the unconstitution wars and meddling, and to stop the attack on our liberties. 911 changed everything. I am tired of livinging its aftermath. I want America renewed.

So if its through the Republican, I am now a Republican! Except.... I'm not voting for Romney. Is that wrong?

I think a lot of Conservative Republicans like yourself, people in the tradition of Taft, Goldwater and Reagan will not be voting for Romney. They want, first and foremost, a Conservative like Gary Johnson or Virgil Goode.

When the Republican is not Conservative enough, you get judges like John Roberts.

 

[parocks]

Hell, remember when bob conley won the democrat senate primary as a liberty candidate and the state dnc pretty much backed Sen. Graham instead of their own candidate?

If we have control of the state party in a state, couldn't we be backing (pretty much) Johnson or Goode instead of Romney?

 

[TrishW]

Democrats ONLY care about redistributing wealth. Peace, civil liberties, and ending the drug war only get paid lip service too and often times dems are openly hostile to them.

With me, its not about the money. I have managed to gain a fair amount of financial success ... irregardless of the party in power. I have no problem helping those less fortunate. I do not mind paying my taxes. I do not care if drugs remain illegal.

I do care if my taxes are used to support killing. I do not want my money going over-seas when people need help right here at home. I do not want to be spied upon, nor be terrorized by our government in the name of safety.

I cannot see turning my back on the same programs that helped to lift me out of poverty. So who am I?
A Democratic-Republican or a Republican-Democrat.

I think there are a lot of me.

But you do not have to answer these questions, as long as my kind is welcome within your fold.

 

[parocks]

Well we can't be democrats, that much is certain, they are basically straight up socialist. Not that republicans are much better but at least they are *supposed* to be for republicanism, conservative in their view of the Constitution and government, for free(er) markets and low taxes and spending.

Its rigged to be a two party system, there's not much hope in getting around it. Its easier to change / takeover the republicans than it would be the democrats.

We've been a minority in the Republican Party since Taft if not longer. What we are is the Libertarian / Constitutionalist Conservative Wing of the Republican Party.

Occasionally, we have a candidate to support, and when we get a good one, we get all enthusiastic because it's so rare to see. (See: Ron Paul)

 

[SilenceDewgooder]

We've been a minority in the Republican Party since Taft if not longer. What we are is the Libertarian / Constitutionalist Conservative Wing of the Republican Party.

Occasionally, we have a candidate to support, and when we get a good one, we get all enthusiastic because it's so rare to see. (See: Ron Paul)

so do you always vote Repub or are you open to the option of voting Democrat if a like-minded candidate came along?

 

[gerryb]

If we have control of the state party in a state, couldn't we be backing (pretty much) Johnson or Goode instead of Romney?

Not worth the political capital, but we could utilize resources instead to focus on state house/senate and local races. That's the advantage of winning party leadership.

 

[specsaregood]

If we have control of the state party in a state, couldn't we be backing (pretty much) Johnson or Goode instead of Romney?

I don't think that would be good for us at this stage in the game. But I guess in theory... i guess that is sorta what romney expects in places such as NV where he had his own apparatus setup.

 

[parocks]

With me, its not about the money. I have managed to gain a fair amount of financial success ... irregardless of the party in power. I have no problem helping those less fortunate. I do not mind paying my taxes. I do not care if drugs remain illegal.

I do care if my taxes are used to support killing. I do not want my money going over-seas when people need help right here at home. I do not want to be spied upon, nor be terrorized by our government in the name of safety.

I cannot see turning my back on the same programs that helped to lift me out of poverty. So who am I?
A Democratic-Republican or a Republican-Democrat.

I think there are a lot of me.

But you do not have to answer these questions, as long as my kind is welcome within your fold.

Maybe, maybe not. You might be an Antiwar Democrat. And our future is not built with a coalition that includes too many antiwar Democrats.

You might very well be happy when the Antiwar protests start up again as soon as a Republican becomes President again.

Government is the enemy of the people.

Government vs People.

 

[CaptUSA]

With me, its not about the money. I have managed to gain a fair amount of financial success ... irregardless of the party in power. I have no problem helping those less fortunate. I do not mind paying my taxes. I do not care if drugs remain illegal.

I do care if my taxes are used to support killing. I do not want my money going over-seas when people need help right here at home. I do not want to be spied upon, nor be terrorized by our government in the name of safety.

I cannot see turning my back on the same programs that helped to lift me out of poverty. So who am I?
A Democratic-Republican or a Republican-Democrat.

I think there are a lot of me.

But you do not have to answer these questions, as long as my kind is welcome within your fold.

Hell yeah, you're welcome! Don't worry about how someone else classifies you - you are an individual. Period.

You may need to brush up on economics a little to fully understand how those programs end up hurting more than they help, but you are in the right place.

I understand you may not care about each and every freedom issue - each one of us cares about different issues to different degrees. But as long as we work together on the ones that lead to more freedom, and you don't actively pursue taking someone else's freedom away on other issues, I think you'll be comfortable.

 

[parocks]

I don't think that would be good for us at this stage in the game. But I guess in theory... i guess that is sorta what romney expects in places such as NV where he had his own apparatus setup.

Well, yeah. I'm not saying "that is what we should do". I guess I'm saying "boy, wouldn't it be pretty easy to leave Romney off of all the lit, and if we go door to door, we could drop off our Johnson slim jim and our "vote for these terrible RINOs for US Senate and US Rep" on another piece of lit. And another piece of lit if our State Senate /Rep candidates are any good. Not saying should. Saying easy.

Romney is having a heck of a time getting people to show up at conventions. Will it be easier for him to GOTV at county committee meetings?

 

[Origanalist]

Originally Posted by Origanalist

, but, a liberty candidate has 0 chance in the democrat party.

I disagree. The correct smart liberty candidate that is able to stay on message with a specific limited message has a puncher's chance in the democrat party.

I guess you are correct, it depends on what part of the country they are in. I sure can't see anyone who proposes a liberty agenda winning in my State.

 

[parocks]

so do you always vote Repub or are you open to the option of voting Democrat if a like-minded candidate came along?

It's been a long, long time since I've voted for a Democrat. It wasn't this century. But I have voted 3rd Party more recently than that. Can't remember the details. Might've been "oh, state treasurer, I have no idea, oh look, a Libertarian, why not?"

I was considering voting for Democrat in November against Olympia Snowe. She's out now, so there's no need for that. I'm a Conservative Republican. Ron Paul is a Conservative Republican.

 

[Origanalist]

With me, its not about the money. I have managed to gain a fair amount of financial success ... irregardless of the party in power. I have no problem helping those less fortunate. I do not mind paying my taxes. I do not care if drugs remain illegal.

I do care if my taxes are used to support killing. I do not want my money going over-seas when people need help right here at home. I do not want to be spied upon, nor be terrorized by our government in the name of safety.

I cannot see turning my back on the same programs that helped to lift me out of poverty. So who am I?
A Democratic-Republican or a Republican-Democrat.

I think there are a lot of me.

But you do not have to answer these questions, as long as my kind is welcome within your fold.

You are more than welcome, but I think you know that. It seems to me that to everyone here some issues are more importent than others. We'll just argue about the rest.

 

[cajuncocoa]

I will only speak for myself, but I see Romney and Obama working for the same party and that party has nothing to do with the best interest of America or its citizens..

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to SilenceDewgooder again.

 

[TrishW]

Maybe, maybe not. You might be an Antiwar Democrat. And our future is not built with a coalition that includes too many antiwar Democrats.

You might very well be happy when the Antiwar protests start up again as soon as a Republican becomes President again.

Government is the enemy of the people.

Government vs People.

You would be right, if I was only anti-war when it involved another country. But I am also against the war our government has declared on our personal freedoms.

Are you saying that I should not be able to pick and choose my fight? Government intrusion in our life is bad, even if its good. Is that right?

OK.. I don't want to do this. The fact is you have me, whether you like it or not. LOL The same way the Republican Party has us. So I have a few warts, maybe you do too.

 

[specsaregood]

I guess you are correct, it depends on what part of the country they are in. I sure can't see anyone who proposes a liberty agenda winning in my State.

if one is smart and has the funds they have a chance in either party if they just pick the 80% issues and run on those and stick to them and don't get pigeon-holed or off message.

 

[AJ Antimony]

If Ron Paul was a Democrat, then we'd be trying to reform the Democratic party.

But generally, the GOP is more likely to welcome the liberty issues than the Democrats.

Think of it this way: It's easier to convince a GOP voter that gay marriage is acceptable than to convince a Dem voter that free markets are acceptable.

 

[Origanalist]

if one is smart and has the funds they have a chance in either party if they just pick the 80% issues and run on those and stick to them and don't get pigeon-holed or off message.

Well, if you run across any real liberty candidates running as a dem who needs support, let me know. I'm not a bigot, I hate both parties.