My letter to the RNC

[CosmicCowboy]

OBSERVATIONS OF A DISENCHANTED REPUBLICAN
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE RNC

I confess to have voted almost exclusively Republican virtually all of my life…If I had to put myself in a category I would say that I am a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. On several occasions in the last couple of decades I have voted Republican not because I was necessarily excited about the candidate ultimately chosen through the primary process but because I felt like I was voting for the classic “lesser of evils”. I fear that my party’s obsession with divisive social issues is about to tip the “lesser of evil” scale. I don’t know where my vote will go, but my disgust for the pandering of the RNC to the extreme right is driving me away and I’m pretty confident I am not the only one.

Let’s start with abortion which certainly has taken center stage as we approach the convention next week…have you people lost your freaking minds? 100% opposition under any circumstances and a constitutional amendment? REALLY? How silly and pointless is this? What do you hope to accomplish? There is ZERO chance we will ever go back to abortion being illegal. ZERO. And don’t tell me that “the polls are shifting” and “50% of the people say they are pro-life”. Abortion is an intensely personal issue…Those that are already pro-choice have made a black/white decision…they will never waiver. On the other hand, there are a million shades of gray on the pro-life side. I would probably answer “pro-life” on a poll too…after all, who is for pro-death? At the same time I have to make it real for myself by asking…”what if it was my daughter?” I may be personally pro-life but I guarantee I am more pro-daughter. We intentionally raised her with good values and encouraged her to make good choices for herself and stick by them…but I guarantee you that if she chose to get an abortion and believed that was the best decision for her under the circumstances I would drive her to the doctor myself if necessary. If you don’t believe in abortion then I respect your views and applaud you for choosing to let the fetus grow to term and raising the child…but if you want to continue to get MY vote you damn well better respect my daughter’s choice too.

OK, how about the “defense of marriage” stuff? Is this ridiculous posturing really necessary? There are gay people in the world. There are a lot of them. They have been around since biblical times. So WHAT? For the most part they are ordinary people that work and try to be good citizens and pay their taxes and try to get along with their neighbors…kind of like your uhhh…average heterosexual couple. They don’t deserve “special protected class” rights but they dang sure deserve equal rights. I really don’t care what you do in the privacy of your chosen family and home and bedroom and you shouldn’t presume to let the religious fringe of the party legislate what we do in ours.

How about how this red team/blue team ideology that has basically destroyed effective governance in Washington? We share AT LEAST equal part of the blame and don’t you dare claim otherwise. We know that big decisions need to be made and that decades of bipartisan mistakes need to be corrected…we simply can’t go on borrowing (or printing) forty cents of every dollar we spend as far as we can see into the future. Sure, you pass budgets in the House (knowing they have no chance of passing the Senate), but we know it’s just posturing and jockeying for the upper hand on the next news cycle…we aren’t stupid and we are tired of the games. We sent you there to act like adults and govern. So let’s break it down…

Why this suicidal “no new taxes at any cost” position? We spend more money than we bring in. We make safety net promises we clearly can’t afford. We ordinary people know that to dig our way out of the financial hole we have buried ourselves in it will require increasing revenue and reducing expenditures, including military and entrenched social programs like Social Security and Medicare. It will be painful. It will be unpopular with some people. We know it. It’s intuitive. Red Team and Blue Team all know it. It’s time to quit posturing and start governing…and you know what? True governing involves compromise.

And the military…what are you asking these brave and dedicated people to do? Do you even know? What do you hope to accomplish in all these far flung ventures around the world? At this point, why do we even care about Afghanistan? Afghanistan is terminally ill and has been for thousands of years. We can’t cure them. Our soldiers are being murdered by the very people they are training and trying to help. Back in the heartland here we are sick of these pointless wars and we are sick of our kids fighting and dying for these third world savages that hate us. Why can’t we just admit that the world can be an evil place and we can’t solve all of the world’s problems? Iran next? Syria? Really…what do you hope to accomplish? What’s your end game? There is honor in admitting that the world can be an evil place and admitting that we can’t solve all the world’s problems. Back here at home we intuitively understand that if you mess with a rattlesnake and keep poking it with a stick it by nature will strike back, but if left alone it will typically leave us alone. Isn’t that easier than spending all these billions on intrusive and pointless “homeland security” to avoid the bite?

I won’t even address my reservations about the liberties being violated by Homeland Security. The founders of our country would be shocked and dismayed at the over reach of the Federal government with our elected representatives permission and collusion. Have you forgotten who you were sent to Washington to protect?

Speaking of our insecure homeland What about immigration and specifically immigration from Mexico and other countries south of our border? Let me give you a reality check. We have a porous border with a country/countries that have historically had a lower standard of living for the general population than we have in the US. Because of this there are a lot of undocumented people from Mexico and other countries to the south living and working in our country. It’s human nature for people to want to better themselves. For the most part they are solid citizens and just want an opportunity to work, pay their taxes, and raise their families in peace. I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, which has been a bi-cultural community as long as I can remember. Trust me, these people aren’t the boogeyman. We are never going to “seal our borders”. It’s just not going to happen. Instead of demonizing these people, lets welcome them into the system…document them and let them start paying taxes and earning citizenship…say by registering and getting documented and then have ten subsequent years of steady employment and a clean criminal record and learn basic English as a second language. Why wouldn’t we want a citizen like that?

Folks, there are lot more things I could add, but I hope your take away from this is YOU ARE RAPIDLY LOSING SUPPORT FROM YOUR MODERATE VOTING CORE BY PANDERING TO THE EXTREME RIGHT. Stand up to them. Do the right thing for your party and your country. Work with the other party to figure out some workable solutions to our problems. Back home we are all sick of this red team / blue team gridlock. For a change, “take one for the country” and not for the team.

Sincerely,
XXXX

[coyotes_geek]

:tu

[Drachen]

Wow. I feel like shaking your hand after that.

[clambake]

:clap :toast killer letter

[coyotes_geek]

Dear Cosmic Cowboy,

Thank you for your interest in the Republican Party. Your opinion is very important to us. Would you like to donate $100 to help stop Barack Obama's destructive socialist policies? With your help we can make America great again by securing our borders, strengthening our military, protecting the institution of marriage and fighting for the lives of unborn children.

God Bless America,
RNC

[Drachen]

dear cosmic cowboy,

thank you for your interest in the republican party. Your opinion is very important to us. Would you like to donate $100 to help stop barack obama's destructive socialist policies? With your help we can make america great again by securing our borders, strengthening our military, protecting the institution of marriage and fighting for the lives of unborn children.

God bless america,
rnc

lol

[Trill Clinton]

Dear Cosmic Cowboy,

Thank you for your interest in the Republican Party. Your opinion is very important to us. Would you like to donate $100 to help stop Barack Obama's destructive socialist policies? With your help we can make America great again by securing our borders, strengthening our military, protecting the institution of marriage and fighting for the lives of unborn children.

God Bless America,
RNC
:lol

[symple19]

Dear Cosmic Cowboy,

Thank you for your interest in the Republican Party. Your opinion is very important to us. Would you like to donate $100 to help stop Barack Obama's destructive socialist policies? With your help we can make America great again by securing our borders, strengthening our military, protecting the institution of marriage and fighting for the lives of unborn children.

God Bless America,
RNC

:lol

[ElNono]

I thought when you get older you get more conservative... :p:

[ElNono]

Wild Cobra will be in shortly to tell you how much of a RINO you are, tbh...

[symple19]

Oh, and great job on the letter. i'm impressed

[Homeland Security]

1) Your a RINO.
2) Your a librul troll.
3) We wood win elekshuns if you RINOs wood stop stabbing are consurvativ canadits in the back.
4) Your an atheeist.
5) Your a babay killer.
6) Your a fag lover.

[symple19]

I thought when you get older you get more conservative... :p:

(sarcasm noted)

Not necessarily

I've continued to move left as I've gotten older. My family is full of hard-core conservatives, so that's what I fell in line with since it's what I was around all the time... I can even remember reading Limbaugh's "The Way Things Ought To Be" when I was 13

However, once I got out on my own and started to see that life wasn't a fluffy white episode of Leave it to Beaver, I (thankfully) started to question my familial/all-white private school indoctrination.

Now I'm socially liberal, and quite moderate on everything else. I would call myself a hardcore independent now, lol





But yeah, most people do go to the right as they age, especially the religious ones

[clambake]

CG's autobot response really pissed on that parade.

great letter cowboy!

[TeyshaBlue]

"fucked and unfuckable" in 5.....4.....3.....2....

[coyotes_geek]

My sarcastic RNC response to CC's letter aside, I do agree with CC's letter damn near word for word. And I salute him for caring enough to actually write it and send it in. More people should care and write to their leaders.

That being said, I was mailed an official republican party platform survey (I've voted in the last couple GOP primaries) and just from the tone of the questions on that survey you can tell they've already decided what feedback from the masses they want and it's nothing like what CC put in his letter. Pretty much every question was along the lines of "How important is it for Republicans to expose Barack Obama's radical left wing policies?"; "Do you support Barack Obama's deliberate actions to weaken our military?", and my personal favorite "Are you personally committed to stopping Barack Obama"? The whole survey was so full of crap. Like CC, I too think of myself as a fiscal conservative / social moderate and it's pretty obvious the RNC isn't interested in our positions.

[FromWayDowntown]

Cosmic Cowboy, you should know that this sort of reasonableness is entirely unwelcome here.

[clambake]

My sarcastic RNC response to CC's letter aside, I do agree with CC's letter damn near word for word. And I salute him for caring enough to actually write it and send it in. More people should care and write to their leaders.

That being said, I was mailed an official republican party platform survey (I've voted in the last couple GOP primaries) and just from the tone of the questions on that survey you can tell they've already decided what feedback from the masses they want and it's nothing like what CC put in his letter. Pretty much every question was along the lines of "How important is it for Republicans to expose Barack Obama's radical left wing policies?"; "Do you support Barack Obama's deliberate actions to weaken our military?", and my personal favorite "Are you personally committed to stopping Barack Obama"? The whole survey was so full of crap. Like CC, I too think of myself as a fiscal conservative / social moderate and it's pretty obvious the RNC isn't interested in our positions.

i wasn't criticizing you at all. after reading cowboys letter.....you brought me back to reality too soon.

[coyotes_geek]

i wasn't criticizing you at all. after reading cowboys letter.....you brought me back to reality too soon.

No worries. I was working on that response before you posted anyways. :toast

[CosmicCowboy]

I knew better than to send it to the RNC. I sent it as an op-ed to the WSJ. Hopefully they read it and like it.

[EVAY]

OBSERVATIONS OF A DISENCHANTED REPUBLICAN
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE RNC

I confess to have voted almost exclusively Republican virtually all of my life…If I had to put myself in a category I would say that I am a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. On several occasions in the last couple of decades I have voted Republican not because I was necessarily excited about the candidate ultimately chosen through the primary process but because I felt like I was voting for the classic “lesser of evils”. I fear that my party’s obsession with divisive social issues is about to tip the “lesser of evil” scale. I don’t know where my vote will go, but my disgust for the pandering of the RNC to the extreme right is driving me away and I’m pretty confident I am not the only one.

Let’s start with abortion which certainly has taken center stage as we approach the convention next week…have you people lost your freaking minds? 100% opposition under any circumstances and a constitutional amendment? REALLY? How silly and pointless is this? What do you hope to accomplish? There is ZERO chance we will ever go back to abortion being illegal. ZERO. And don’t tell me that “the polls are shifting” and “50% of the people say they are pro-life”. Abortion is an intensely personal issue…Those that are already pro-choice have made a black/white decision…they will never waiver. On the other hand, there are a million shades of gray on the pro-life side. I would probably answer “pro-life” on a poll too…after all, who is for pro-death? At the same time I have to make it real for myself by asking…”what if it was my daughter?” I may be personally pro-life but I guarantee I am more pro-daughter. We intentionally raised her with good values and encouraged her to make good choices for herself and stick by them…but I guarantee you that if she chose to get an abortion and believed that was the best decision for her under the circumstances I would drive her to the doctor myself if necessary. If you don’t believe in abortion then I respect your views and applaud you for choosing to let the fetus grow to term and raising the child…but if you want to continue to get MY vote you damn well better respect my daughter’s choice too.

OK, how about the “defense of marriage” stuff? Is this ridiculous posturing really necessary? There are gay people in the world. There are a lot of them. They have been around since biblical times. So WHAT? For the most part they are ordinary people that work and try to be good citizens and pay their taxes and try to get along with their neighbors…kind of like your uhhh…average heterosexual couple. They don’t deserve “special protected class” rights but they dang sure deserve equal rights. I really don’t care what you do in the privacy of your chosen family and home and bedroom and you shouldn’t presume to let the religious fringe of the party legislate what we do in ours.

How about how this red team/blue team ideology that has basically destroyed effective governance in Washington? We share AT LEAST equal part of the blame and don’t you dare claim otherwise. We know that big decisions need to be made and that decades of bipartisan mistakes need to be corrected…we simply can’t go on borrowing (or printing) forty cents of every dollar we spend as far as we can see into the future. Sure, you pass budgets in the House (knowing they have no chance of passing the Senate), but we know it’s just posturing and jockeying for the upper hand on the next news cycle…we aren’t stupid and we are tired of the games. We sent you there to act like adults and govern. So let’s break it down…

Why this suicidal “no new taxes at any cost” position? We spend more money than we bring in. We make safety net promises we clearly can’t afford. We ordinary people know that to dig our way out of the financial hole we have buried ourselves in it will require increasing revenue and reducing expenditures, including military and entrenched social programs like Social Security and Medicare. It will be painful. It will be unpopular with some people. We know it. It’s intuitive. Red Team and Blue Team all know it. It’s time to quit posturing and start governing…and you know what? True governing involves compromise.

And the military…what are you asking these brave and dedicated people to do? Do you even know? What do you hope to accomplish in all these far flung ventures around the world? At this point, why do we even care about Afghanistan? Afghanistan is terminally ill and has been for thousands of years. We can’t cure them. Our soldiers are being murdered by the very people they are training and trying to help. Back in the heartland here we are sick of these pointless wars and we are sick of our kids fighting and dying for these third world savages that hate us. Why can’t we just admit that the world can be an evil place and we can’t solve all of the world’s problems? Iran next? Syria? Really…what do you hope to accomplish? What’s your end game? There is honor in admitting that the world can be an evil place and admitting that we can’t solve all the world’s problems. Back here at home we intuitively understand that if you mess with a rattlesnake and keep poking it with a stick it by nature will strike back, but if left alone it will typically leave us alone. Isn’t that easier than spending all these billions on intrusive and pointless “homeland security” to avoid the bite?

I won’t even address my reservations about the liberties being violated by Homeland Security. The founders of our country would be shocked and dismayed at the over reach of the Federal government with our elected representatives permission and collusion. Have you forgotten who you were sent to Washington to protect?

Speaking of our insecure homeland What about immigration and specifically immigration from Mexico and other countries south of our border? Let me give you a reality check. We have a porous border with a country/countries that have historically had a lower standard of living for the general population than we have in the US. Because of this there are a lot of undocumented people from Mexico and other countries to the south living and working in our country. It’s human nature for people to want to better themselves. For the most part they are solid citizens and just want an opportunity to work, pay their taxes, and raise their families in peace. I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, which has been a bi-cultural community as long as I can remember. Trust me, these people aren’t the boogeyman. We are never going to “seal our borders”. It’s just not going to happen. Instead of demonizing these people, lets welcome them into the system…document them and let them start paying taxes and earning citizenship…say by registering and getting documented and then have ten subsequent years of steady employment and a clean criminal record and learn basic English as a second language. Why wouldn’t we want a citizen like that?

Folks, there are lot more things I could add, but I hope your take away from this is YOU ARE RAPIDLY LOSING SUPPORT FROM YOUR MODERATE VOTING CORE BY PANDERING TO THE EXTREME RIGHT. Stand up to them. Do the right thing for your party and your country. Work with the other party to figure out some workable solutions to our problems. Back home we are all sick of this red team / blue team gridlock. For a change, “take one for the country” and not for the team.

Sincerely,
XXXX


:toast:toast:toast:toast:toast

CC: It is a letter that I wish I had written.

Well done!

[EVAY]

I knew better than to send it to the RNC. I sent it as an op-ed to the WSJ.

And thanks for sending it in to the WSJ.

Please, if they publish it, even online, let us know. I would love to comment positively on it.

[EVAY]

The sentiments in CC's letter mirror almost exactly the conversation that my husband and I had over lunch.

I have decided that I will not decide how to vote until the debates are over. Right now I cannot abide either slate.

[EVAY]

I thought when you get older you get more conservative... :p:

Recognizing the sarcasm myself...the thing is, many of us DID get more conservative as we got older.

What we didn't get though, was brain-dead.

Unfortunately, being conservative doesn't mean what it used to mean. Today it means ideological purity or exile!

[SnakeBoy]

So when the RNC doesn't listen to your demands what are you going to do about it? become a democrat?

[jack sommerset]

The letter George wanted us to believe he wrote. God bless

Dear RNC

You dummies. I was going to vote for McCain until you put that dummy women on the ballot. Now I vote for Obama and back him and the democratic party on every issue. You guys are dumb, dummies.

[clambake]

So when the RNC doesn't listen to your demands what are you going to do about it? become a democrat?

you think someone has to become a democrat to vote for a democrat?

[EVAY]

I have almost always considered myself an Independent, though I often voted republican in congressional races and then did the 'lesser of two evils designation' for national office.



Now I am an angry independent, because the republican party that I used to appreciate (fiscal responsibility, smaller government) has been replaced by a party that only cares about deficits when the other guy is in office and wants to control every aspect of personal behavior by governmental fiat.

Does that make me a democrat? NO. But it does make me want to teach the republicans that they are not going to get the votes of moderates!

[EVAY]

^^^^And without the votes of moderates, they are going to lose the elections!!

[Brazil]

:lol kids fighting and dying for these third world savages that hate us

ask yourself why the rest of the world hate you

[EVAY]

People often observe that the American voters are 'center-right'. What the RNC appears to have lost sight of is the 'center' part of that.

[CosmicCowboy]

:lol kids fighting and dying for these third world savages that hate us

ask yourself why the rest of the world hate you

I thought I addressed that i n the snake analogy. If we don't mess with them they won't mess with us. Did you miss that part?

[ElNono]

Unfortunately, being conservative doesn't mean what it used to mean.

I was going to add that but opted to just keep the sarcasm... apparently the term 'conservative' was hijacked at some point or another to peg it something closer to fringe...

[baseline bum]

Dear Cosmic Cowboy,

Thank you for your interest in the Republican Party. Your opinion is very important to us. Would you like to donate $100 to help stop Barack Obama's destructive socialist policies? With your help we can make America great again by securing our borders, strengthening our military, protecting the institution of marriage and fighting for the lives of unborn children.

God Bless America,
RNC

:lol

That was practically the reply I got from Cornyn when I wrote him and asked him to kill the bank bailout in 2008.

[ElNono]

On another note, isn't this part of the internal battle with the Tea Potties?

[Brazil]

I thought I addressed that i n the snake analogy. If we don't mess with them they won't mess with us. Did you miss that part?

I didn't miss that part, you are saying these people are salvages and you compare them with some rattlesnake. Don't mess with the salvages. :lol

don't get me wrong I share most of what you are saying except a few things like your natural and uncontrollable condescending attitude that explain a big part of why these salvages hate you.

Everything is relativism, everybody is the salvage of somebody. A lot of people in Europe consider that american are salvages because of 280 M fire arms in circulation, the death penalty... Fire arms, death penalty... are btw some of the values American share with a lot salvages around the world.

For the rest it is a solid letter cosmic

[Warlord23]

That's an impressive post by CC, kinda surprising because I honestly had him pegged as a red-team cheerleader. However, today's Republican party doesn't seem to be aiming for your vote. They probably figure you'll at worst vote third party and at best hold your nose and vote Republican. Their #1 objective is to rally the hardcore part of the base, and the simplest way to keep that crowd motivated till election day is to continue talking about "baby killers", "the evil of socialism", "the gay agenda", etc.

[ElNono]

I didn't miss that part, you are saying these people are salvages and you compare them with some rattlesnake. Don't mess with the salvages. :lol

don't get me wrong I share most of what you are saying except a few things like your natural and uncontrollable condescending attitude that explain a big part of why these salvages hate you.

Everything is relativism, everybody is the salvage of somebody. A lot of people in Europe consider that american are salvages because of 280 M fire arms in circulation, the death penalty... Fire arms, death penalty... are btw some of the values American share with a lot salvages around the world.

For the rest it is a solid letter cosmic

I think he's talking about the Middle East in general, not Europe or any other modern, democratic society. Specifically, the religious clusterfuck that is Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt... the usual suspects...

[Brazil]

I think he's talking about the Middle East in general, not Europe or any other modern, democratic society. Specifically, the religious clusterfuck that is Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt... the usual suspects...

I know he is not talking about democratic socities still I don't see any resaon ton consider midle east people as salvages other than feeling superior.

[SnakeBoy]

:lol

That was practically the reply I got from Cornyn when I wrote him and asked him to kill the bank bailout in 2008.

lol me too...and I still get emails and letters from the GOP asking for money.

[ElNono]

I know he is not talking about democratic socities still I don't see any resaon ton consider midle east people as salvages other than feeling superior.

The more you keep saying "salvages" the more you reinforce his point, tbh... :lol

[LnGrrrR]

:tu

[LnGrrrR]

Dear Cosmic Cowboy,

Thank you for your interest in the Republican Party. Your opinion is very important to us. Would you like to donate $100 to help stop Barack Obama's destructive socialist policies? With your help we can make America great again by securing our borders, strengthening our military, protecting the institution of marriage and fighting for the lives of unborn children.

God Bless America,
RNC

:lol

[LnGrrrR]

My sarcastic RNC response to CC's letter aside, I do agree with CC's letter damn near word for word. And I salute him for caring enough to actually write it and send it in. More people should care and write to their leaders.

That being said, I was mailed an official republican party platform survey (I've voted in the last couple GOP primaries) and just from the tone of the questions on that survey you can tell they've already decided what feedback from the masses they want and it's nothing like what CC put in his letter. Pretty much every question was along the lines of "How important is it for Republicans to expose Barack Obama's radical left wing policies?"; "Do you support Barack Obama's deliberate actions to weaken our military?", and my personal favorite "Are you personally committed to stopping Barack Obama"? The whole survey was so full of crap. Like CC, I too think of myself as a fiscal conservative / social moderate and it's pretty obvious the RNC isn't interested in our positions.

I donated to the Obama campaign in 2008, and have callers today saying things like, "Do you want to make sure that the REpublican party can't use dirty smear tactics... etc etc". I hang up the phone when I hear that... I'm pretty sure if I want to donate, I know where to do so.

[ElNono]

I'm glad I don't have a landline and I don't get robocalls...

[Wild Cobra Kai]

My letter to the WSJ roundfile, tbh...

[Brazil]

The more you keep saying "salvages" the more you reinforce his point, tbh... :lol

How so tbh?

[scott]

Well done CC

[The Reckoning]

:lol kids fighting and dying for these third world savages that hate us

ask yourself why the rest of the world hate you



war makes savages of men, regardless of nationality. that's all afghanis have known since alexander the great. it's a shame, really, and they deserve better, but it's not our war.


lol salvages.

[howbouthemspurs]

Rock on dude!

[Wild Cobra]

Hate to say it CC, but unless you send an actual letter with an actual stamp, I'll bet nobody read it. How did you like the 'bot' reply you received?

[Spurminator]

I knew better than to send it to the RNC. I sent it as an op-ed to the WSJ. Hopefully they read it and like it.

Hope you get published. Great letter. :tu

[ElNono]

How so tbh?

Salvage (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/salvage?s=t) vs Savage (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/savage?s=t)

[FromWayDowntown]

Hate to say it CC, but unless you send an actual letter with an actual stamp, I'll bet nobody read it. How did you like the 'bot' reply you received?

As good as CC's letter is, this gets my vote for post of the thread.

[TeyshaBlue]

As good as CC's letter is, this gets my vote for post of the thread.

:lol

[Clipper Nation]

Here's my letter to the RNC...

Dear RNC,

Thanks for exposing yourselves as a bunch of lying crooks by changing all the convention rules at the last second to ensure a Willard "victory".... it's a freeing feeling to no longer care about any candidate in your crook party, because none of them will ever get my vote from now on.... congrats on re-electing Obama, btw...

Sincerely,
A Proud Libertarian

[Clipper Nation]

People often observe that the American voters are 'center-right'. What the RNC appears to have lost sight of is the 'center' part of that.

As well as the "right" part of that, along with other things such as constitutionality, education, honesty, integrity, and basic human decency....

[Yonivore]

Hate to tell you this, CosmicCowboy but, if you're looking for a convention wrapped around a distraction of social issues, it isn't going to be the RNC. Head on up to Charlotte where they've lined up quite a stable of offended liberals.

Dem Convention becomes anti-Akin affair (http://washingtonexaminer.com/dem-convention-becomes-anti-akin-affair/article/2505601#.UDhLnsFlTrT)

I think the RNC conventions plans to be about the economy, jobs, and energy independence.

[Clipper Nation]

I think the RNC conventions plans to be about the economy, jobs, and energy independence.

No, it's a corrupt coronation of Willard in which any dissenting views will be shut out, tbh..... just an echo chamber for neocons such as yourself, tbh....

[ElNono]

"My circus is better than your circus" :lol

[ElNono]

As good as CC's letter is, this gets my vote for post of the thread.

:lol

[Drachen]

well, as fucking reasonable as the OP was, we all knew some jackasses on all sides would trash it and pull the whole "the country will die a fiery death if the other side wins" bullshit. I am just glad that we got mostly through 2 pages before that started.

[Winehole23]

that's well turned, CC. :toast

[SnakeBoy]

but I guarantee you that if she chose to get an abortion and believed that was the best decision for her under the circumstances I would drive her to the doctor myself if necessary.

I guarantee she, and you most likely, would be haunted by that decision for the rest of your lives.

[DMC]

The letter would be great if either party gave a dying rat's ass about any of that. It's all talking points. As you see with Obama the courage of their convictions fades quickly after they are sworn in.

Also, the crux of your letter is mostly "we cannot do anything about it so let's stop trying".

Let's put two of your suggestions together:

1. Forget trying to seal the border
2. Forget fighting enemies in their countries

So now we have an even more porous border and enemies that have time to catch their breaths long enough to build against us again. So they send some nice gifts across our borders that aren't being guarded because only god fearing Mexicans with the best interest of our country are crossing and really want to be tax paying productive citizens instead of milking the system while remaining off the radar.

You cannot stop hammering these ass clowns in that shit hole in the Middle East. Yes we lose soldiers, it's the cost of doing business on a world scale.

What you propose, in fact, sounds more like something Ron Paul would propose and we all see how well he fares.

But let's cut to the heart of why it's futile: Money

Both sides make a shit ton of money for their wealthy contacts. Those wealthy contacts need to sell goods and services to a military that's at war because things always need to be replenished. They sell goods and services to border patrol and to the DEA. As long as there's a boogey man, there's going to be someone selling the goods and services to rid us of them, and like cancer the money is in treatment instead of a cure. As long as there's ongoing action there's incoming money and money elects money. This is how it's always been and how it will always be.

[DMC]

I guarantee she, and you most likely, would be haunted by that decision for the rest of your lives.
I'm haunted by a lot of things. It's what makes us who we are. I don't run from it.

[ElNono]

You cannot stop hammering these ass clowns in that shit hole in the Middle East.

Sure you can. We're playing whack-a-mole, and it's pointless. To really make an impact you need to turn Pakistan, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, etc etc etc into one giant parking lot. And it's obviously not going to happen.

In the meantime, the risk of one fucker slipping through Mexico is still there. Heck, they were one sloppy guy away from blowing up Times Square.

I just can't agree with the notion that 'we took the fight there'... they're not really interested in fighting. They'll disappear... then they'll come back and hide again... and keep stretching this much like they did with Russia. The difference obviously is that it costs millions per day to the US, and it costs them next to nothing to pull that off.

And the bottom line is that nobody likes us there. Iraq is halfway back into the shithole it was, and it'll only get worse. Now they're helping Iran sidestep the imposed sanctions...

Get the boots off the ground and put that money on more intelligence work, and get that shit over with. Declare victory and move on.

[CosmicCowboy]

The letter would be great if either party gave a dying rat's ass about any of that. It's all talking points. As you see with Obama the courage of their convictions fades quickly after they are sworn in.

Also, the crux of your letter is mostly "we cannot do anything about it so let's stop trying".

Let's put two of your suggestions together:

1. Forget trying to seal the border
2. Forget fighting enemies in their countries

So now we have an even more porous border and enemies that have time to catch their breaths long enough to build against us again. So they send some nice gifts across our borders that aren't being guarded because only god fearing Mexicans with the best interest of our country are crossing and really want to be tax paying productive citizens instead of milking the system while remaining off the radar.

You cannot stop hammering these ass clowns in that shit hole in the Middle East. Yes we lose soldiers, it's the cost of doing business on a world scale.

What you propose, in fact, sounds more like something Ron Paul would propose and we all see how well he fares.

But let's cut to the heart of why it's futile: Money

Both sides make a shit ton of money for their wealthy contacts. Those wealthy contacts need to sell goods and services to a military that's at war because things always need to be replenished. They sell goods and services to border patrol and to the DEA. As long as there's a boogey man, there's going to be someone selling the goods and services to rid us of them, and like cancer the money is in treatment instead of a cure. As long as there's ongoing action there's incoming money and money elects money. This is how it's always been and how it will always be.

And, the crux of your post is mostly "we cannot do anything about it so let's stop trying".

[DarrinS]

So who should the fiscal conservative, social moderate vote for?

[Winehole23]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/GaryJohnsonProfilePic_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg

[Sportcamper]

BTW- Nice Letter...:lol

[PublicOption]

....don't forget to remind everyone that raped women can get pregnant.

[CosmicCowboy]

....don't forget to remind everyone that raped women can get pregnant.

Only if they can figure out how to get around the Holy Involuntary Rape Force Shield.

[EVAY]

So who should the fiscal conservative, social moderate vote for?

If one of us found out, would you be interested in knowing?

[SnakeBoy]

http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/GaryJohnsonProfilePic_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg

:lol Hey I'm Gary Johnson, I'm just like Ron Paul except even more of a failure at effectively communicating my message.

[Clipper Nation]

:lol Hey I'm Gary Johnson, I'm just like Ron Paul except even more of a failure at effectively communicating my message.

Ron Paul's failed to communicate his message? That's news to me, since thanks to him, nation-building, monetary policy, and the Fed are now all mainstream political issues....

If Paul was such a failure, the GOP wouldn't have disenfranchised delegates and barred him from speaking to avoid any possibility of him being nominated from the floor....

[Winehole23]

:lol Hey I'm Gary Johnson, I'm just like Ron Paul except even more of a failure at effectively communicating my message.If people don't vote for who they like and agree with, we're stuck with the fecal duality forever. Me, I'll vote for the guy i like and agree with (at least halfway) over the evil of two lessers, every time.

[Winehole23]

also, he's not just like Ron Paul. Two different dudes, man. Gary Johnson is pro-choice. He isn't anti-immigrant. Those are two big differences..

[Jacob1983]

Ron Paul isn't anti-immigration. He just doesn't think you should go into foreign countries and fuck with people and force them to live under a democracy. I just laugh at these war mongers that spread fear and lies about the bad guys in the Middle East. These fuckers that come over to America and do terrorism only do it because of blowback. It's not about America's freedoms. They don't like it when America goes into their country and forces them to do it the American way. I mean seriously, how many of these Neo-cons would like it if China came over to America and had troops and bases and was in America to liberate us from the bad guys?

I don't give a fuck about Obama or Romney. They can eat shit if you ask me. I'm voting for Gary Johnson or Ron Paul as a write in. Fuck the GOP and Democrats.

[boutons_deux]

"force them to live under a democracy"

bullshit. US invades, murders in foreign countries to make the world safe for US corporations, not to promote democracy.

[DMC]

Sure you can. We're playing whack-a-mole, and it's pointless. To really make an impact you need to turn Pakistan, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, etc etc etc into one giant parking lot. And it's obviously not going to happen.
We don't need a scorched Earth policy. Those countries implode once their people see weakness in the regimes. Sure they become unstable and, for a time, worse for their own people but that's their problems.


In the meantime, the risk of one fucker slipping through Mexico is still there. Heck, they were one sloppy guy away from blowing up Times Square.
Right, and the risk of cancer is still there regardless of the treatment/prevention but not nearly as great with the treatments/preventions as without.


I just can't agree with the notion that 'we took the fight there'... they're not really interested in fighting. They'll disappear... then they'll come back and hide again... and keep stretching this much like they did with Russia. The difference obviously is that it costs millions per day to the US, and it costs them next to nothing to pull that off.
If you were there, you'd have an easier time agreeing I think. Better that bombs are hitting their buildings instead of hitting ours. Sure the will come back, but that could be happening here instead of there.


And the bottom line is that nobody likes us there. Iraq is halfway back into the shithole it was, and it'll only get worse. Now they're helping Iran sidestep the imposed sanctions...
We aren't there to fix them. We are there to disrupt them. When these countries get some semblance of order, they become dangerous. They aren't nearly as dangerous to us when they are killing each other with car bombs. Other than oil, there's nothing there we want/need.


Get the boots off the ground and put that money on more intelligence work, and get that shit over with. Declare victory and move on.You don't do shit without boots on the ground. Intelligence work got us 9/11. Now their countries are in shambles and they see our jets and helicopters on a daily basis. They see our men on the ground on a daily basis. You cannot pull out and declare victory, it doesn't mean anything to villagers with no national pride.

[DMC]

And, the crux of your post is mostly "we cannot do anything about it so let's stop trying".

No, you cannot use that because it doesn't work. My point has nothing to do with "do nothing". I think we are doing something, and that something needs to be done. It's naive to think taking the liberal approach on these issues will improve the situation because it wont. We cannot allow porous borders. We cannot allow people to benefit from breaking the law. Sure I would do the same if I was born in Mexico, but Mexico isn't our problem. If our immigration policy is too tough, revise it to make sense. We aren't a charitable organization and a good number of these people are just milking the shit out of a system they never intend on contributing to.

If someone breaks into my home because they are hungry, I would feed them if I didn't kill them first, however I don't want the laws changed to allow them to do that.

[ElNono]

We don't need a scorched Earth policy. Those countries implode once their people see weakness in the regimes. Sure they become unstable and, for a time, worse for their own people but that's their problems.

Baloney. Those guys were fighting well before we got there, and will be fighting after we're gone. That's simply what their culture has been since pretty much forever. Be it due to religious circumstances or otherwise, that's simply who they are. And they hate our guts because we're buddies with Israel, among other things.


Right, and the risk of cancer is still there regardless of the treatment/prevention but not nearly as great with the treatments/preventions as without.

What does that has to do with the fact our borders are still porous as hell and being in the Middle East doesn't change one iota over that?


If you were there, you'd have an easier time agreeing I think. Better that bombs are hitting their buildings instead of hitting ours. Sure the will come back, but that could be happening here instead of there.

The point I think you're completely missing is that they don't care. Their buildings were being hit before we got there, and they'll find a way to start another conflict after we're gone. They just don't give a shit. On the other hand, they do know *we* care. London cares. Madrid cares. Israel cares.


We aren't there to fix them. We are there to disrupt them. When these countries get some semblance of order, they become dangerous. They aren't nearly as dangerous to us when they are killing each other with car bombs. Other than oil, there's nothing there we want/need.

Disrupting doesn't work because there's simply no end to it. Only one side goes through attrition and it's not them. The US simply cannot afford to stay there running operations forever. This isn't conventional war, where one side surrenders, the US installs a few bases and moves on. I thought Israel figured this out a long time ago. It's a futile proposition to go on a long term campaign. There's also too many actors that are more complicated to go against (ie: Pakistan).


You don't do shit without boots on the ground. Intelligence work got us 9/11. Now their countries are in shambles and they see our jets and helicopters on a daily basis. They see our men on the ground on a daily basis. You cannot pull out and declare victory, it doesn't mean anything to villagers with no national pride.

And they saw Russians before our guys. Then they saw the Russians leave and had their own civil war. Now they're seeing us, and will see us GTFO sooner or later. They absolutely don't care and won't stop.

The 'declaring victory' part was meant for the americans, who needs to feel warm and fuzzy about such military interventions. I don't expect the Middle East in general to give a crap either way.

[SnakeBoy]

also, he's not just like Ron Paul. Two different dudes, man. Gary Johnson is pro-choice. He isn't anti-immigrant. Those are two big differences..

Well he is trying desperately to be the new Ron Paul. Just listen to the guys ad...

xrU6hTWyj6s

Romney isn't anymore anti immigrant than Johnson. They both propose expanding legal immigration. The only difference I can see between them is Romney claims he'll build a fence (something I don't believe he actually means to do, a pander to the tea party). Johnson avoids the issue of amnesty or path to citizenship enitirely from what I have seen on his website. Same goes for border security.


Life is precious and must be protected. A woman should be allowed to make her own decisions during pregnancy until the point of viability of a fetus.

Well he's "sort of" prochoice.

[ElNono]

Well he's "sort of" prochoice.

Well, that's what Roe vs Wade established... including the 'viability' wording... To me that sounds he's fine with Roe vs Wade and that would put him in the pro-choice camp...

[SnakeBoy]

Well, that's what Roe vs Wade established... including the 'viability' wording... To me that sounds he's fine with Roe vs Wade and that would put him in the pro-choice camp...

Well maybe that's what he means. Seriously, how hard is it for a person that thinks they should lead this country to put a little more than one or two sentences explaining their views.

[ElNono]

Well maybe that's what he means. Seriously, how hard is it for a person that thinks they should lead this country to put a little more than one or two sentences explaining their views.

On the other hand, we have entire websites full of empty words...

[Drachen]

Well maybe that's what he means. Seriously, how hard is it for a person that thinks they should lead this country to put a little more than one or two sentences explaining their views.

I just went to his website and it has a page with bulletpointed explanations for each of his issues. Are you looking in the wrong place?

[elbamba]

also, he's not just like Ron Paul. Two different dudes, man. Gary Johnson is pro-choice. He isn't anti-immigrant. Those are two big differences..

My understanding, although I could be wrong, is that he was a pretty good govenor as well. Popular and succesful.

[CosmicCowboy]

So....in a "safe" state like Texas...is it cool to "waste a vote" on Gary Johnson? Seriously, their platform is a lot closer to my beliefs than either of the classic 2.

[Drachen]

So....in a "safe" state like Texas...is it cool to "waste a vote" on Gary Johnson? Seriously, their platform is a lot closer to my beliefs than either of the classic 2.

This has been my thought process ever since I started voting. I would like to think that if I lived in a swing state I would still vote for the best option, but I can't guarantee that I wouldnt fall into the trap of "lesser of two evils".

[CosmicCowboy]

Thank you for your interest in writing for The Wall Street Journal’s opinion pages. Unfortunately, the op-ed you submitted does not meet our present needs.
We hope that you will be able to place it elsewhere.

Cordially,
Editorial Features Staff

[clambake]

Thank you for your interest in writing for The Wall Street Journal’s opinion pages. Unfortunately, the op-ed you submitted does not meet our present needs.
We hope that you will be able to place it elsewhere.

Cordially,
Editorial Features Staff

typical

[ElNono]

CC, it was a great letter regardless. Props.

[ElNono]

typical

derp, derp, the VRWC is fucked and unfuckable, derp

[clambake]

gfy

[SnakeBoy]

So....in a "safe" state like Texas...is it cool to "waste a vote" on Gary Johnson? Seriously, their platform is a lot closer to my beliefs than either of the classic 2.

Well given the fact that it is highly unlikely that Romney will win I don't think it really matters. Although it would be nice if Obama loses the popular vote. I don't think it would change how he governs but it might make the rest of the party do a little introspection.

I'll do as I always do and vote R at the top of the ticket and L down ticket when there's that option. What really needs to happen is the formation of a libertarian leaning version of the tea party to try and move the GOP by being active in primaries and change the party at the local level.

[Drachen]

Well given the fact that it is highly unlikely that Romney will win I don't think it really matters. Although it would be nice if Obama loses the popular vote. I don't think it would change how he governs but it might make the rest of the party do a little introspection.

I'll do as I always do and vote R at the top of the ticket and L down ticket when there's that option. What really needs to happen is the formation of a libertarian leaning version of the tea party to try and move the GOP by being active in primaries and change the party at the local level.

Isn't that what the tea party was supposed to be and then it was immediately co-opted by social conservatives?

[SnakeBoy]

Isn't that what the tea party was supposed to be and then it was immediately co-opted by social conservatives?

Not exactly, but that's what I had hoped it would be. The TEA party started out of dissatisfaction with both parties but it wasn't organized or founded with any particular set of principles wich made it an easy target to be "co-opted".

The problem with libertarians is they tend to be idealogical purists which mean they have one foot in my world and the other foot firmly planted in crazy land.

Non idealogical moderates (i.e. normal people) on the other hand tend to bounce around in supporting different parties so they are unlikely to ever form an organized effort to change the GOP.

[Clipper Nation]

Isn't that what the tea party was supposed to be and then it was immediately co-opted by social conservatives?
Bingo.... the Tea Party was a Ron Paul movement, until gross neocons like Dick Armey, Glenn Beck, and Sarah Palin got their hands all over it.....

[Clipper Nation]

The problem with libertarians is they tend to be idealogical purists which mean they have one foot in my world and the other foot firmly planted in crazy land.
No, it means we aren't hypocrites and actually grasp the harrowing economic reality of our current system, tbh.....

[SnakeBoy]

No, it means we aren't hypocrites and actually grasp the harrowing economic reality of our current system, tbh.....

It means you are and will always be irrelevant.

[Clipper Nation]

It means you are and will always be irrelevant.
If we were truly irrelevant, the RNC wouldn't have a fear of Ron Paul so strong that they're rigging the convention against him, tbh....

[ElNono]

lol ron paul

[CosmicCowboy]

Ron Paul =/= tea party.

[Clipper Nation]

Ron Paul =/= tea party.
Not anymore, but before the Tea Party was co-opted by the neocons, its origin was a 2007 Ron Paul moneybomb fundraiser, tbh...

[SnakeBoy]

Not anymore, but before the Tea Party was co-opted by the neocons, its origin was a 2007 Ron Paul moneybomb fundraiser, tbh...

Well if Ron Paul started the tea party he's done as good a job managing it as he did with his racist newsletter.

[Clipper Nation]

Well if Ron Paul started the tea party he's done as good a job managing it as he did with his racist newsletter.
You mean the newsletter that he was PROVEN not to have written? Try again, B... :lol

As long as we're talking about mismanagement, does anyone really buy the excuse that your boy Willard had no idea where all his money was being invested? And I assume it was just a coincidence that Bain's shell companies happened to be in countries with loose tax laws and banking regulations?

[SnakeBoy]

I mean HIS newsletter which he managed as well as HIS Tea Party.

[Wild Cobra]

Snake...

Aren't you normally a little more reasonable?

[elbamba]

Thank you for your interest in writing for The Wall Street Journal’s opinion pages. Unfortunately, the op-ed you submitted does not meet our present needs.
We hope that you will be able to place it elsewhere.

Cordially,
Editorial Features Staff

You should submit it to the ExpressNews and other local papers. You might also try submitting it to some online sites like Huffington Post / HotAir. Could not hurt and you might reach more people.

[SnakeBoy]

Snake...

Aren't you normally a little more reasonable?

What am I beng unreasonable on?

[Wild Cobra]

Not anymore, but before the Tea Party was co-opted by the neocons, its origin was a 2007 Ron Paul moneybomb fundraiser, tbh...
Lars larson had a Tea Party event here in Oregon in 2001. maybe it was 2000.

[EVAY]

Thank you for your interest in writing for The Wall Street Journal’s opinion pages. Unfortunately, the op-ed you submitted does not meet our present needs.
We hope that you will be able to place it elsewhere.

Cordially,
Editorial Features Staff

Bummer.

Sorry, man.

Maybe send it to the RNC. They certainly won't print it either but they might NOTICE it at least.

[EVAY]

^^^Might be ammo for the few remaining sane RNC members.

[RandomGuy]

OBSERVATIONS OF A DISENCHANTED REPUBLICAN
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE RNC

I confess to have voted almost exclusively Republican virtually all of my life…If I had to put myself in a category I would say that I am a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. On several occasions in the last couple of decades I have voted Republican not because I was necessarily excited about the candidate ultimately chosen through the primary process but because I felt like I was voting for the classic “lesser of evils”. I fear that my party’s obsession with divisive social issues is about to tip the “lesser of evil” scale. I don’t know where my vote will go, but my disgust for the pandering of the RNC to the extreme right is driving me away and I’m pretty confident I am not the only one.

Let’s start with abortion which certainly has taken center stage as we approach the convention next week…have you people lost your freaking minds? 100% opposition under any circumstances and a constitutional amendment? REALLY? How silly and pointless is this? What do you hope to accomplish? There is ZERO chance we will ever go back to abortion being illegal. ZERO. And don’t tell me that “the polls are shifting” and “50% of the people say they are pro-life”. Abortion is an intensely personal issue…Those that are already pro-choice have made a black/white decision…they will never waiver. On the other hand, there are a million shades of gray on the pro-life side. I would probably answer “pro-life” on a poll too…after all, who is for pro-death? At the same time I have to make it real for myself by asking…”what if it was my daughter?” I may be personally pro-life but I guarantee I am more pro-daughter. We intentionally raised her with good values and encouraged her to make good choices for herself and stick by them…but I guarantee you that if she chose to get an abortion and believed that was the best decision for her under the circumstances I would drive her to the doctor myself if necessary. If you don’t believe in abortion then I respect your views and applaud you for choosing to let the fetus grow to term and raising the child…but if you want to continue to get MY vote you damn well better respect my daughter’s choice too.

OK, how about the “defense of marriage” stuff? Is this ridiculous posturing really necessary? There are gay people in the world. There are a lot of them. They have been around since biblical times. So WHAT? For the most part they are ordinary people that work and try to be good citizens and pay their taxes and try to get along with their neighbors…kind of like your uhhh…average heterosexual couple. They don’t deserve “special protected class” rights but they dang sure deserve equal rights. I really don’t care what you do in the privacy of your chosen family and home and bedroom and you shouldn’t presume to let the religious fringe of the party legislate what we do in ours.

How about how this red team/blue team ideology that has basically destroyed effective governance in Washington? We share AT LEAST equal part of the blame and don’t you dare claim otherwise. We know that big decisions need to be made and that decades of bipartisan mistakes need to be corrected…we simply can’t go on borrowing (or printing) forty cents of every dollar we spend as far as we can see into the future. Sure, you pass budgets in the House (knowing they have no chance of passing the Senate), but we know it’s just posturing and jockeying for the upper hand on the next news cycle…we aren’t stupid and we are tired of the games. We sent you there to act like adults and govern. So let’s break it down…

Why this suicidal “no new taxes at any cost” position? We spend more money than we bring in. We make safety net promises we clearly can’t afford. We ordinary people know that to dig our way out of the financial hole we have buried ourselves in it will require increasing revenue and reducing expenditures, including military and entrenched social programs like Social Security and Medicare. It will be painful. It will be unpopular with some people. We know it. It’s intuitive. Red Team and Blue Team all know it. It’s time to quit posturing and start governing…and you know what? True governing involves compromise.

And the military…what are you asking these brave and dedicated people to do? Do you even know? What do you hope to accomplish in all these far flung ventures around the world? At this point, why do we even care about Afghanistan? Afghanistan is terminally ill and has been for thousands of years. We can’t cure them. Our soldiers are being murdered by the very people they are training and trying to help. Back in the heartland here we are sick of these pointless wars and we are sick of our kids fighting and dying for these third world savages that hate us. Why can’t we just admit that the world can be an evil place and we can’t solve all of the world’s problems? Iran next? Syria? Really…what do you hope to accomplish? What’s your end game? There is honor in admitting that the world can be an evil place and admitting that we can’t solve all the world’s problems. Back here at home we intuitively understand that if you mess with a rattlesnake and keep poking it with a stick it by nature will strike back, but if left alone it will typically leave us alone. Isn’t that easier than spending all these billions on intrusive and pointless “homeland security” to avoid the bite?

I won’t even address my reservations about the liberties being violated by Homeland Security. The founders of our country would be shocked and dismayed at the over reach of the Federal government with our elected representatives permission and collusion. Have you forgotten who you were sent to Washington to protect?

Speaking of our insecure homeland What about immigration and specifically immigration from Mexico and other countries south of our border? Let me give you a reality check. We have a porous border with a country/countries that have historically had a lower standard of living for the general population than we have in the US. Because of this there are a lot of undocumented people from Mexico and other countries to the south living and working in our country. It’s human nature for people to want to better themselves. For the most part they are solid citizens and just want an opportunity to work, pay their taxes, and raise their families in peace. I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, which has been a bi-cultural community as long as I can remember. Trust me, these people aren’t the boogeyman. We are never going to “seal our borders”. It’s just not going to happen. Instead of demonizing these people, lets welcome them into the system…document them and let them start paying taxes and earning citizenship…say by registering and getting documented and then have ten subsequent years of steady employment and a clean criminal record and learn basic English as a second language. Why wouldn’t we want a citizen like that?

Folks, there are lot more things I could add, but I hope your take away from this is YOU ARE RAPIDLY LOSING SUPPORT FROM YOUR MODERATE VOTING CORE BY PANDERING TO THE EXTREME RIGHT. Stand up to them. Do the right thing for your party and your country. Work with the other party to figure out some workable solutions to our problems. Back home we are all sick of this red team / blue team gridlock. For a change, “take one for the country” and not for the team.

Sincerely,
XXXX

Welcome to the club.

I believe I have been saying as much for the better part of a decade.

Unfortunately, I don't see the slide to the right in the GOP as reversible.

About the only reasonable thing to do, is to simply be a Democrat, and move the party a bit closer to the center, and moderate the more extreme left-wings anti-free market tendencies, IMO.

Let the extremists in the GOP start losing a lot of elections, and they will see the value in comprimise and getting moderates on their side real quick. Of course, they could just see it as an "end of the world" plot by satan and instigate armed rebellion. I genuinely wouldn't put it past them. They are quite that detached from reality.

[RandomGuy]

Thank you for your interest in writing for The Wall Street Journal’s opinion pages. Unfortunately, the op-ed you submitted does not meet our present needs.
We hope that you will be able to place it elsewhere.

Cordially,
Editorial Features Staff

Rupert Murdoch's newspaper not interested in voicing dissent from an honest conservative about something? Shocking.

[CosmicCowboy]

Welcome to the club.

I believe I have been saying as much for the better part of a decade.

Unfortunately, I don't see the slide to the right in the GOP as reversible.

About the only reasonable thing to do, is to simply be a Democrat, and move the party a bit closer to the center, and moderate the more extreme left-wings anti-free market tendencies, IMO.

Let the extremists in the GOP start losing a lot of elections, and they will see the value in comprimise and getting moderates on their side real quick. Of course, they could just see it as an "end of the world" plot by satan and instigate armed rebellion. I genuinely wouldn't put it past them. They are quite that detached from reality.

Not just no but HELL NO.

[RandomGuy]

Not just no but HELL NO.

(shrugs)

Feel free to start a centrist party then, because the GOP is going to continue to shit on moderates, and do so more and more as time goes on.

If you think the GOP is going to change, and move to the center any time soon, I am truly sorry. You have my condolences. I gave up on that a long time ago.

[Spurminator]

(shrugs)

Feel free to start a centrist party then, because the GOP is going to continue to shit on moderates, and do so more and more as time goes on.

Well, only if it works.

[TeyshaBlue]

(shrugs)

Feel free to start a centrist party then....

You probably ought to get cracking on that little project as well.

[RandomGuy]

You probably ought to get cracking on that little project as well.

Already addressed this above.

[elbamba]

Welcome to the club.

I believe I have been saying as much for the better part of a decade.

Unfortunately, I don't see the slide to the right in the GOP as reversible.

About the only reasonable thing to do, is to simply be a Democrat, and move the party a bit closer to the center, and moderate the more extreme left-wings anti-free market tendencies, IMO.

Let the extremists in the GOP start losing a lot of elections, and they will see the value in comprimise and getting moderates on their side real quick. Of course, they could just see it as an "end of the world" plot by satan and instigate armed rebellion. I genuinely wouldn't put it past them. They are quite that detached from reality.

Do you believe that far-left democrats represent the moderate view that many individuals who are fiscal conservatives but social moderates hold?

Would not the USA benefit from extremists in both the Donkey and Elephant parties losing power?

If I join your side but still believe in a divine being, can I ever reattach to reality or do I have to give up my faith or be considered socially inferior?

[101A]

Move from EXTREME RIGHT (GWB according to Dems) to EXTREME LEFT (BHO according to Republicans) - and nothing really changes.

How can that possibly be?

The "extremes" are only out there to stir up debate and argument. The parties actually do the exact same things, for the same people (with functionally insignificant differences).

[timvp]

Missed this the first time. Good ish, tbh.

[ChumpDumper]

Boortz said pretty much the same thing today.

[Wild Cobra]

Boortz said pretty much the same thing today.
LOL...

Did I get you to listen to Neal?

[ChumpDumper]

No.

[Wild Cobra]

No.
Liar.

[DarkReign]

Missed this.

Great post, CC.

Encapsulates modern "conservatism's" problems quite well. Just flat-out abandon moral issues wholesale and Republican's will rise again.

[101A]

Damn, miss DR;

Getting more and more important at his job; never posts anymore.

[ChumpDumper]

Liar.Nope. It is possible to exist without your assistance.

The world does not revolve around you and your Google Earth searches.

[DarkReign]

Damn, miss DR;

Getting more and more important at his job; never posts anymore.

:toast

Reading your thread right now. Like it.

I am not more important, but the company has certainly grown damn near exponentially in the past 4 years. I just really dont give a shit about politics anymore. At the end of my posting cycle 2 years back, I vowed to just take and take and take.

Its funny, when all you worship is your own self-interest, success isnt so very hard once you get used to the idea that youre a heartless prick in real life and not just believing youre one online.

[101A]

:toast

Reading your thread right now. Like it.

I am not more important, but the company has certainly grown damn near exponentially in the past 4 years. I just really dont give a shit about politics anymore. At the end of my posting cycle 2 years back, I vowed to just take and take and take.


Its funny, when all you worship is your own self-interest, success isnt so very hard once you get used to the idea that youre a heartless prick in real life and not just believing youre one online.

LOL is used too much ... but seriously ... LOL

[Koolaid_Man]

I knew better than to send it to the RNC. I sent it as an op-ed to the WSJ. Hopefully they read it and like it.

Dude I cant believe you're still alive I was for sure you committed suicide...



As CBS' Jan Greenburg writes in her article (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57547239/adviser-romney-shellshocked-by-loss/):


Romney was stoic as he talked the president, an aide said, but his wife Ann cried. Running mate Paul Ryan seemed genuinely shocked, the adviser said. Ryan's wife Janna also was shaken and cried softly.


...and Kool cried too....:lol thank you to the Neapolitan Coalition...

93 % of the Black vote
73 % of the Asian note
71 % of the Mexican vote
55% of female vote
40% of the white vote

Checkmate!!!

[Mikesatx]

You should resubmit to the journal. I didn't see the date of the original post and thought it was written after the election. People prioritize issues and mine is the economy. I have my social views but don't feel the need to push them onto others. Hard to argue for the government to get out of your wallet but stay in the bedroom.

Great letter!

[RandomGuy]

OBSERVATIONS OF A DISENCHANTED REPUBLICAN
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE RNC

I confess to have voted almost exclusively Republican virtually all of my life…If I had to put myself in a category I would say that I am a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. On several occasions in the last couple of decades I have voted Republican not because I was necessarily excited about the candidate ultimately chosen through the primary process but because I felt like I was voting for the classic “lesser of evils”. I fear that my party’s obsession with divisive social issues is about to tip the “lesser of evil” scale. I don’t know where my vote will go, but my disgust for the pandering of the RNC to the extreme right is driving me away and I’m pretty confident I am not the only one.

Let’s start with abortion which certainly has taken center stage as we approach the convention next week…have you people lost your freaking minds? 100% opposition under any circumstances and a constitutional amendment? REALLY? How silly and pointless is this? What do you hope to accomplish? There is ZERO chance we will ever go back to abortion being illegal. ZERO. And don’t tell me that “the polls are shifting” and “50% of the people say they are pro-life”. Abortion is an intensely personal issue…Those that are already pro-choice have made a black/white decision…they will never waiver. On the other hand, there are a million shades of gray on the pro-life side. I would probably answer “pro-life” on a poll too…after all, who is for pro-death? At the same time I have to make it real for myself by asking…”what if it was my daughter?” I may be personally pro-life but I guarantee I am more pro-daughter. We intentionally raised her with good values and encouraged her to make good choices for herself and stick by them…but I guarantee you that if she chose to get an abortion and believed that was the best decision for her under the circumstances I would drive her to the doctor myself if necessary. If you don’t believe in abortion then I respect your views and applaud you for choosing to let the fetus grow to term and raising the child…but if you want to continue to get MY vote you damn well better respect my daughter’s choice too.

OK, how about the “defense of marriage” stuff? Is this ridiculous posturing really necessary? There are gay people in the world. There are a lot of them. They have been around since biblical times. So WHAT? For the most part they are ordinary people that work and try to be good citizens and pay their taxes and try to get along with their neighbors…kind of like your uhhh…average heterosexual couple. They don’t deserve “special protected class” rights but they dang sure deserve equal rights. I really don’t care what you do in the privacy of your chosen family and home and bedroom and you shouldn’t presume to let the religious fringe of the party legislate what we do in ours.

How about how this red team/blue team ideology that has basically destroyed effective governance in Washington? We share AT LEAST equal part of the blame and don’t you dare claim otherwise. We know that big decisions need to be made and that decades of bipartisan mistakes need to be corrected…we simply can’t go on borrowing (or printing) forty cents of every dollar we spend as far as we can see into the future. Sure, you pass budgets in the House (knowing they have no chance of passing the Senate), but we know it’s just posturing and jockeying for the upper hand on the next news cycle…we aren’t stupid and we are tired of the games. We sent you there to act like adults and govern. So let’s break it down…

Why this suicidal “no new taxes at any cost” position? We spend more money than we bring in. We make safety net promises we clearly can’t afford. We ordinary people know that to dig our way out of the financial hole we have buried ourselves in it will require increasing revenue and reducing expenditures, including military and entrenched social programs like Social Security and Medicare. It will be painful. It will be unpopular with some people. We know it. It’s intuitive. Red Team and Blue Team all know it. It’s time to quit posturing and start governing…and you know what? True governing involves compromise.

And the military…what are you asking these brave and dedicated people to do? Do you even know? What do you hope to accomplish in all these far flung ventures around the world? At this point, why do we even care about Afghanistan? Afghanistan is terminally ill and has been for thousands of years. We can’t cure them. Our soldiers are being murdered by the very people they are training and trying to help. Back in the heartland here we are sick of these pointless wars and we are sick of our kids fighting and dying for these third world savages that hate us. Why can’t we just admit that the world can be an evil place and we can’t solve all of the world’s problems? Iran next? Syria? Really…what do you hope to accomplish? What’s your end game? There is honor in admitting that the world can be an evil place and admitting that we can’t solve all the world’s problems. Back here at home we intuitively understand that if you mess with a rattlesnake and keep poking it with a stick it by nature will strike back, but if left alone it will typically leave us alone. Isn’t that easier than spending all these billions on intrusive and pointless “homeland security” to avoid the bite?

I won’t even address my reservations about the liberties being violated by Homeland Security. The founders of our country would be shocked and dismayed at the over reach of the Federal government with our elected representatives permission and collusion. Have you forgotten who you were sent to Washington to protect?

Speaking of our insecure homeland What about immigration and specifically immigration from Mexico and other countries south of our border? Let me give you a reality check. We have a porous border with a country/countries that have historically had a lower standard of living for the general population than we have in the US. Because of this there are a lot of undocumented people from Mexico and other countries to the south living and working in our country. It’s human nature for people to want to better themselves. For the most part they are solid citizens and just want an opportunity to work, pay their taxes, and raise their families in peace. I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, which has been a bi-cultural community as long as I can remember. Trust me, these people aren’t the boogeyman. We are never going to “seal our borders”. It’s just not going to happen. Instead of demonizing these people, lets welcome them into the system…document them and let them start paying taxes and earning citizenship…say by registering and getting documented and then have ten subsequent years of steady employment and a clean criminal record and learn basic English as a second language. Why wouldn’t we want a citizen like that?

Folks, there are lot more things I could add, but I hope your take away from this is YOU ARE RAPIDLY LOSING SUPPORT FROM YOUR MODERATE VOTING CORE BY PANDERING TO THE EXTREME RIGHT. Stand up to them. Do the right thing for your party and your country. Work with the other party to figure out some workable solutions to our problems. Back home we are all sick of this red team / blue team gridlock. For a change, “take one for the country” and not for the team.

Sincerely,
XXXX

random bump.

[boutons_deux]

random bump.


RNC, Repugs, right wing hate media ignored and went 100% Trash MAGAtt, and lost 2020 and 2018, will lose the House in 2024 if Dems play it right, run against Repug fascism IN NAME