Replacing the Republican Party

[DCPatriot]

That's all you've got lately, @Oceander

What part of @aligncare 's post did you think hilarious?  Pray tell? 

[Oceander]

That's all you've got lately, @Oceander

What part of @aligncare 's post did you think hilarious?  Pray tell? 

That's all aligncare (and you) merit. 

[Jazzhead]

And that has done what exactly to move us back from the brink of the Liberals dream of Utopia in America?

Even with those numbers we can't get enough state houses to vote for an Article V convention.  By your numbers it should be a cake walk.

Yet here we are being told our best option is to let the Republicans govern as Democrat lite because "it's the only way".

The fact of GOP majorities is not a call for radicalism.   It is a call for effective government,  grounded in conservative principles, but not radicalism.   An Article V convention is radicalism. 

[txradioguy]

That's right,

McConnell is not a camera or a microphone's friend.   He comes across to the public-at-large as a doddering, pitiful voice/face of the GOP.

Jesus.....even car shows know how to do it.   No Rosie O'Donnell's in bathing suits and heels walking around that Beemer.

But he has the power...and that's what counts.  He controls the money...he decides who gets it for their re-election and who doesn't.

Just look at how he's doing things down in Alabama and how he acted like a Mob Boss in Mississippi and Kentucky in 2014.

Until there is a serious campaign to oust him and send him back to Kentucky...not much is going to change in the U.S. Senate.

The reality is Mitch runs the place much in the same way Dingy Harry Reid did.

[INVAR]

I marvel at the fact the party hacks and liberals here don't bother arguing the merits of Codevilla's essay, but rather do the same stupid and boring shit the Democrats do to anyone that doesn't march in lockstep with them.

[DCPatriot]

That's all aligncare (and you) merit.

Sorry you feel that way.

....NOT!   

[txradioguy]

The fact of GOP majorities is not a call for radicalism.   It is a call for effective government,  grounded in conservative principles, but not radicalism.

There isn't much in the way of Conservative principles being employed in the Senate...House or much of anywhere these days.

And when it is employed by a state...you're the first one there to decry it's use.

Stop trying to play both ends of the field here. 

An Article V convention is radicalism.

Radicalism? Seriously?  It was given to us by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution for just this kind of scenario.

It seems that for you anything outside of the status quo is "radicalism".

[txradioguy]

I marvel at the fact the party hacks and liberals here don't bother arguing the merits of Codevilla's essay, but rather do the same stupid and boring shit the Democrats do to anyone that doesn't march in lockstep with them.

It's the last pages of Animal Farm come to life.

[Oceander]

Sorry you feel that way.

....NOT!   

Thank you for proving my point. 

[TomSea]

I supported Pres. Trump for his unabashed Americanism, his agenda, and his toughness. If you want to characterize that in a negative way, fine. But that doesn't describe me. I'm well aware of his shortcomings; but, I didn't vote for the perfect man, I voted for someone whom I believed spoke for me.

It helped also that I thought he would win against Hillary and her 'rat pack.  Turns out I was right.

It's sad, I'd pray that @Jazzhead  and @INVAR  may at some time, recognize the Christian values that the Trump administration is trying to follow, rather than negate that idea or call Muslims our friends and neighbors. I'd like to hear that said about Christians.

[INVAR]

How's this working out for you now?

I'm sure that is exactly the same thing the Crown was asking the Continental Army in Valley Forge 1777-78

[INVAR]

It's sad, I'd pray that @Jazzhead  and @INVAR  may at some time, recognize the Christian values that the Trump administration is trying to follow, rather than negate that idea or call Muslims our friends and neighbors. I'd like to hear that said about Christians.

Why would I follow the advice of an Idolator who made a NY liberal Democrat his god and savior?

[txradioguy]

The crucial difference, now as 160 years ago, is that the New Party would cast aside its links to the establishment, would incorporate new concerns, and that it would mean what it said.

It would also be a litmus test for who was truly serious about moving us back towards following the Constitution and who was only giving it lip service at election time in order to get sent back to DC.

[txradioguy]

It's sad, I'd pray that @Jazzhead  and @INVAR  may at some time, recognize the Christian values that the Trump administration is trying to follow, rather than negate that idea or call Muslims our friends and neighbors. I'd like to hear that said about Christians.

What "Christian values"?

[Jazzhead]

What "Christian values"?

My God - I agree with both Txradioguy and INVAR!

Pray tell, TomSea - what Christian values does Donald Trump exemplify??   I see some common ground with conservative values  - but his connection with Christianity eludes me. 

[Oceander]

My God - I agree with both Txradioguy and INVAR!

Pray tell, TomSea - what Christian values does Donald Trump exemplify??   I see some common ground with conservative values  - but his connection with Christianity eludes me. 

Why, he's more pro-life than Jesus, dontchaknow. 

[DCPatriot]

My God - I agree with both Txradioguy and INVAR!

Pray tell, TomSea - what Christian values does Donald Trump exemplify??   I see some common ground with conservative values  - but his connection with Christianity eludes me.

Country was Founded upon "Christian Values".   Constitution was written surely with "Christian Values".

Just steering the country back to the Constitution and enforcing current immigration laws are exemplification of those values.

[Mom MD]

I supported Pres. Trump for his unabashed Americanism, his agenda, and his toughness. If you want to characterize that in a negative way, fine. But that doesn't describe me, I'm well aware of his shortcomings. But, I didn't vote for the perfect man, I voted for someone whom I believed spoke for me.

It helped also that I thought he would win against Hillary and her 'rat pack.  Turns out I was right.

Unabashed Americanism?  Has he brought his manufacturing jobs (his line of clothing etc) back on US soil yet?  If he did I missed it.  He gives a lot of lip service to Americanism but I havent seen him put his money where his mouth is.

[libertybele]

I supported Pres. Trump for his unabashed Americanism, his agenda, and his toughness. If you want to characterize that in a negative way, fine. But that doesn't describe me, I'm well aware of his shortcomings. But, I didn't vote for the perfect man, I voted for someone whom I believed spoke for me.

It helped also that I thought he would win against Hillary and her 'rat pack.  Turns out I was right.

So far ... Trump spewed what people wanted to hear (like many politicians).  Building a wall launched his campaign and it was a promise that he kept repeating throughout his campaign.  Obviously he didn't realize that he had to get $$ and approval by Congress to build that wall, nor did many of his supporters.  We have NO wall and NO $$ is included in the current budget and future budget for a wall.  Same with trade, illegal immigration, Muslim migration, repeal of Bammycare, etc. 

So far his ability to swing the 'art of the deal' has fallen flat.

He defeated Hillary and he appointed a conservative justice; thanks Ted.  Just sayin'.

[Mom MD]

Agreed.   It is frustrating to see the GOP fail to capitalize on its majorities in Congress and in state governments,  but the solution isn't nihilism.   The GOP remains in the ascendency,  and THE platform for those who favor conservative and Constitutionalist policies.   It is, however, like any large party, a coalition,  and that typically compels compromise and incremental change rather than that of the revolutionary variety.   

The party's resiliency is apparent;  within the last decade it has undergone two "counterrevolutions" to Reaganism, first the TEA party and most recently the Trump phenomenon -  two movements without, it would appear, a whole lot in common, yet the party now claims the majority of seats at the national and state levels.

The party's current difficulties have little to do with the fundamental soundness of conservative ideas,  but rather with the predictable reaction to Trump's cult of personality.   Trump commands loyalty and the ability to articulate a clear, simple set of priorities,  but the trajectory of his Presidency has been one of extreme polarization.    In any normal year, the GOP in Congress would have been able to reform the ACA,  but with unified Democratic opposition triangulation has become impossible and GOP leadership has unable (except for Gorsuch)  to achieve the absolute unanimity required to pass legislation in the face of such opposition.

A third party movement to replace the GOP would be destruction for its own sake, and a pivotal victory for liberalism.   

If the GOP is in ascendency and is THE platform for conservatives, then why praytell does it do nothing to advance the conservative agenda?  They control the white house, senate, house and a majority of the governorships but have failed to pass any of the conservative agenda. That leaves 2 conclusions. They are either not really conservative, or they are ineffective.  I tend to think both are true.

[DCPatriot]

Unabashed Americanism?  Has he brought his manufacturing jobs (his line of clothing etc) back on US soil yet?  If he did I missed it.  He gives a lot of lip service to Americanism but I havent seen him put his money where his mouth is.

Putting Trump and Hillary side by side.....who's the "Unabashed Americanism" candidate/POTUS?

Instead, of picking on something so petty, one must compare today's economic and environmental policies with the past eight years and then under a Hillary Clinton administration.

And if you STILL can't 'see' the truth in @aligncare 's post....then you need to address what's keeping you from it.

[Mom MD]

Putting Trump and Hillary side by side.....who's the "Unabashed Americanism" candidate/POTUS?

Instead, of picking on something so petty, one must compare today's economic and environmental policies with the past eight years and then under a Hillary Clinton administration.

And if you STILL can't 'see' the truth in @aligncare 's post....then you need to address what's keeping you from it.

Sorry @DCPatriot.  That doesn't fly.  I will give you that Trump is better than Hillary and even that Trump is more of a patriot than Hillary.   I even held my nose and voted for the guy so you can't accuse me of being NT.  But to say he exhibits unabashed Americanism is a bridge too far.  He gives lip service to a lot of things but his actions don't match.

[driftdiver]

If the GOP is in ascendency and is THE platform for conservatives, then why praytell does it do nothing to advance the conservative agenda?  They control the white house, senate, house and a majority of the governorships but have failed to pass any of the conservative agenda. That leaves 2 conclusions. They are either not really conservative, or they are ineffective.  I tend to think both are true.

@Mom MD
Good question and I think its because its led by globalists.    They have gotten the majority based on conservative candidates with traditional American ideals but those candidates don't hold the reins.   Its people like McCain, McConnell, Ryan that need to be replaced.   Many of the leaders at the local level believe in the conservative agenda.  I've spoken with some of them and know it first hand.

[Mom MD]

@Mom MD
Good question and I think its because its led by globalists.    They have gotten the majority based on conservative candidates with traditional American ideals but those candidates don't hold the reins.   Its people like McCain, McConnell, Ryan that need to be replaced.   Many of the leaders at the local level believe in the conservative agenda.  I've spoken with some of them and know it first hand.

Exactly. The leaders of the party are not conservative.  Therefore the party is no longer conservative.  I would love it if real conservatives could take our ball and go play somewhere else.  It may not work, but supporting a party that no longer supports us is not working out so well either.

[INVAR]

If the GOP is in ascendency and is THE platform for conservatives, then why praytell does it do nothing to advance the conservative agenda?  They control the white house, senate, house and a majority of the governorships but have failed to pass any of the conservative agenda. That leaves 2 conclusions. They are either not really conservative, or they are ineffective.  I tend to think both are true.

McConnell told us to sit down and shut up and then said later that Conservatives in the Tea Party needed to get punched in the nose.  The GOP rewrote the rules to make sure the Conservative grassroots could never challenge the Establishment unless the candidates are groomed by the leadership itself.

The Rockefeller GOP is NOT Conservative and loathes us as much as the Democrats do, if not moreso.  Social Conservatives/Christians are an embarrassment that the party wishes would shut up and go away, except come election day.

If Conservatives want a voice in the future - they need to go elsewhere and start new, or our ideology will forever be rendered irrelevant.  The longer we are associated with the GOP, the more Conservative principles will be watered down into Liberalism.