Politics

[Red Leg]

Horseshit

Reagan was constantly talking about how big government is the problem, and how govt should serve the people and not the other way around.

He also was hard on crime and pushed for constitutionalist judges.

Edit... My only beef is he did increase budget spending on entitlements

He also strongly believed in a very large republican tent. Something the purists will not now tolerate.

 

[BSO Dave]

He also strongly believed in a very large republican tent. Something the purists will not now tolerate.

Although I wouldn't classify Reagan as a populist per se', he certainly entertained some populist ideologies that were previously non-existent in the republican party. Because of this, Reagan is responsible, in part, for trying to expand the republican party to average Americans outside of the country clubs. I truly wish he would have done more to concentrate on appealing to the working class directly. Had he started the populist movement then, when might not be in the predicament we are in now...

I am curious when you refer to the purists, who specifically are you talking about?

 

[Red Leg]

Although I wouldn't classify Reagan a s a populist, he certainly entertained some populist ideologies that were previously non-existent in the republican party. Because of this, Reagan is responsible, in part, for trying to expand the republican party to average Americans outside of the country clubs. I truly wish he would have done more to concentrate on appealing to the working class directly. Had he started the populist movement then, when might not be in the predicament we are in now...

I am curious when you refer to the purists, who specifically are you talking about?

I think you are correct about Reagan. My point is that a large portion of the current populist movement wishes to expunge anyone and everyone they term a RINO from the party. There are a litany of such comments in this thread alone calling republicans with whom the contributor disagrees communists and the like. In addition to being a public display of ignorance, I think that is a fatal mistake for our party. Reagan was referring to exactly that sort of purity testing in his quote above. His outreach was to moderate democrats as much as ny other group.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

To a lot of the preceding posts from hard core near revolution right wingers to those some consider RINOs, we must be more like the opposition and come together and vote for the best of the less than perfect candidates.

Let us swallow our pride and vote for Trump. While as a person he is far from perfect, he did a pretty good job when he was President. He will certainly be far better than the alternative. Come on guys...

What we need is leadership to pull everyone back into the big Republican conversative tent.

 

[Brent in Az]

It's unfortunate that scared & wimpy politicians made sedition illegal.

 

[BSO Dave]

A large portion of the current populist movement wishes to expunge anyone and everyone they term a RINO from the party.

In their defense, many feel that these specific republicans have betrayed themselves and the party platform... Leaving out specific names and personal emotions, wouldn't you agree that a "republican" who does not actually adhere to true conservative values is indeed a republican in name only or a RINO?

Sincere question: Do you genuinely believe that Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney are genuinely devout conservatives true to the republican platform? Do you also think they are sincerely principled individuals?

Can I assume that since you are more or less of Reagan's generation, that you possibly take any criticism of the older generations of republicans as a personal criticism?

There are a litany of comments in this thread alone calling republicans with whom the contributor disagrees communists.

I personally would never call a anyone a communist for disagreeing with my perspective. I would call them a communist for espousing communist ideologies... If you feel I am guilty of this, please point out the specific case and I will apologize...

 

[freefall]

I think you are correct about Reagan. My point is that a large portion of the current populist movement wishes to expunge anyone and everyone they term a RINO from the party. There are a litany of such comments in this thread alone calling republicans with whom the contributor disagrees communists and the like. In addition to being a public display of ignorance, I think that is a fatal mistake for our party. Reagan was referring to exactly that sort of purity testing in his quote above. His outreach was to moderate democrats as much as ny other group.

So what would you consider my Senior Senator, Lisa Murkowski to be? She DOES love to spend those military $, so I'm sure you see that as a plus. But nearly everywhere else she votes with the Democrats, campaigned with the Democrat, all that seems sacrosanct to her is abortion up til the feet clear.

 

[John Wasmuth]

Collins spends a great deal of votes with the dems,,,,,,,,, or it would appear so… maybe it’s just smoke and mirrors?

 

[Datchew]

He is what you define as a RINO. To me, also a republican, he was a simply a member of my party. On some issues we agreed and some we didn't. Unlike many here, I actually dealt with him, often frustratingly, while in the Pentagon. However, there was never a doubt he was a republican.

Of one thing I am certain, the longer we play this RINO nonsense and hold purity tests, the less likely we are to become a majority party again. As Reagan famously put it, "The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally - not a 20 percent traitor."

I think the beef with McCain, despite him having a solid military career, is that he essentially functioned as, voted with, and was best buddies to democrats when the chips were down.

He also was one of the first incandescent examples of Trump derangement syndrome. His dislike, perhaps hatred, seemed to overcome him and his actions were absolutely not Republican in the last few years of his life.

I think I see your meaning on the metaphorical purity test comment but if you look hard at it, you can see a lot of people upset that their elected leaders said A to get elected and then did B when it was time.

 

[WAB]

So what would you consider my Senior Senator, Lisa Murkowski to be? She DOES love to spend those military $, so I'm sure you see that as a plus. But nearly everywhere else she votes with the Democrats, campaigned with the Democrat, all that seems sacrosanct to her is abortion up til the feet clear.

I consider Lisa a personal friend but we have very little common ground on political issues. However, given that she is likely to win in either tent, I prefer that she is in ours.

I will say that she is a genuinely good person who adheres to her beliefs.

 

[Datchew]

He also strongly believed in a very large republican tent. Something the purists will not now tolerate.

Touche' on this in terms of Trump.
He's a fighter, but he's just now learning or attempting to be a uniter (hopefully.)

Reagan was a uniter that turned out to be a fighter.

 

[Red Leg]

In their defense, many feel that these specific republicans have betrayed themselves and the party platform... Leaving out specific names and personal emotions, wouldn't you agree that a "republican" who does not actually adhere to true conservative values is indeed a republican in name only or a RINO?

Sincere question: Do you genuinely believe that Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney are genuinely devout conservatives true to the republican platform? Do you also think they are sincerely principled individuals?

Can I assume that since you are more or less of Reagan's generation, that you possibly take any criticism of the older generations of republicans as a personal criticism?



I personally would never call a anyone a communist for disagreeing with my perspective. I would call them a communist for espousing communist ideologies... If you feel I am guilty of this, please point out the specific case and I will apologize...

The problem is defining a "true conservative." By that litmus test, particularly with respect to debt and deficit spending, few traditional republicans would consider Trump one. Therefore, does that make him a RINO or does that sobriquet only apply to those who do not adhere precisely to Trump's populist agenda? Currently, it is clearly the latter.

With respect to Liz Cheney, I think she suffers from one of Trump's issues in that she allows her personal animus to overtake what is best for the party. She paid for that at the polls. I personally believe that Mitt Romney is an honorable person. His voting to convict Trump in both impeachment hearings took political courage whether one agrees with him or not. I understood the first vote, even if I did not agree, I totally disagreed with his second vote. His views with respect to foreign policy closely mirror my own.

With respect to my age, I think all of us are the sum total of our education and experience. My departed mother would have added breeding to that list, but I haven't yet decided how relevant that really is. My experience and education put me at odds with quite a bit of the nonsense I read here calling for revolution or civil war. The republic has survived any number of crises and it will survive Harris and Biden. Cultural issues swing like a pendulum and this one is already swinging away at an accelerating pace from Floyd and Covid world.

Unfortunately, our society is still struggling to come to grips with the internet and tailored "news" consumption. Left and right, too many people dig into their particular foxhole to the exclusion of all other information. That creates something of a brainwashed society - right and left.

With respect to personal criticism, I take what is directed at me personally exactly that way.

However, I absolutely will attempt to explain differences I may have with another poster's political beliefs - particularly when they reflect assertions which my experience says is baseless nonsense.

If that bothers anyone, then I would urge them to block my content.

 

[John Wasmuth]

I consider Lisa a personal friend but we have very little common ground on political issues. However, given that she is likely to win in either tent, I prefer that she is in ours.

I will say that she is a genuinely good person who adheres to her beliefs.

She was elected to represent her constituency, supposedly, regardless of her own. Or doesn’t it work that way any more?

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

In addition to being a public display of ignorance,

Snide comment.. Oh well, I do it too

 

[barryk]

It’s a sad day when people start killing each other over political disagreements. We need a leader who will unite our country in the pursuit of common goals. Ronald Reagan comes to mind if anyone knows where to find a leader from that mold.

I agree no civil war.....worse case scenario. Common goals....therein lies the problem. My values....my beliefs...my love for this country....totally opposite from a great number of people in this country.....and I mean way off! Don't know if the potential leader exists that can unite people with completely different values. For example, how do you unite an American and a Marxist....one has to change their beliefs, values, and goals......and I refuse to. We might be reaching a point of no return in this country.

 

[barryk]

To paraphrase Vice-President Harris, if a proud boy tries to break into my house, they are getting shot.

Please....do you really believe she owns a gun...........perhaps an air gun......or a squirt gun as a child.

 

[barryk]

I agree that the country is still great enough that millions want to come here to make a better life for themselves and their children. I admire that!

However;

View attachment 636895

On top of this was a report that some 320,000 kids have come through the border with our border officials not knowing if they are with their parents or who they are with. Reports of groups of kids as young as 8 coming through drugged so they seem to be sleepy. And the border patrol trained to move them through to make way for the next group.

Trump was accused of keeping kids locked up at the border. At least under his administration they were trying to reconcile which children belonged to which parents.

The current chaos is obviously feeding a huge child slavery black market. That is not Great. It is degrading our country.

Closing the last lead refinery. Shutting down our clean fossil fuel industries. Selling our strategic oil reserves to China. Handing Billions of dollars to Iran. Inviting Putin into a minor incursion into Ukraine. Taxing our cooperations to levels pushing them off shore. Using all the alphabet government agencies to punish your political rivals (including what they arecdoing to Tulsa Gabbard). Forcing people to choose between their careers and an untested vaccine. Forcing businesses to close. Allowing left wing organizations to burn down cities while prosecuting peaceful Conservative protestors. Allowing Antisemitism to run amuck. Coddling up to China. All working in the opposite direction of Making America Great Again.

Absolutely!

 

[ActionBob]

I agree no civil war.....worse case scenario. Common goals....therein lies the problem. My values....my beliefs...my love for this country....totally opposite from a great number of people in this country.....and I mean way off! Don't know if the potential leader exists that can unite people with completely different values. For example, how do you unite an American and a Marxist....one has to change their beliefs, values, and goals......and I refuse to. We might be reaching a point of no return in this country.

The only way is to educate the Marxists before they become true to the faith (and it is a Religion) Marxists.

One cannot be a Socialist or a Communist if they 1. Understand economics.
2. Are a basicly an honest person.

Tough to find a Marxist that has both those characteristics. I don't spend enough time observing them, but I think OAC suffers the first but could possibly meet the criteria of the second. I doubt the rest of the squad can.

We MUST change the education system to stop indoctrination of our children.... it may be too late.

 

[freefall]

I consider Lisa a personal friend but we have very little common ground on political issues. However, given that she is likely to win in either tent, I prefer that she is in ours.

I will say that she is a genuinely good person who adheres to her beliefs.

What ARE her beliefs, other than "I wish to have someone to carry my suitcase and open doors for me for the rest of my life"?

 

[Datchew]

The only way is to educate the Marxists before they become true to the faith (and it is a Religion) Marxists.

One cannot be a Socialist or a Communist if they 1. Understand economics.
2. Are a basicly an honest person.

Tough to find a Marxist that has both those characteristics. I don't spend enough time observing them, but I think OAC suffers the first but could possibly meet the criteria of the second. I doubt the rest of the squad can.

We MUST change the education system to stop indoctrination of our children.... it may be too late.

Only one key point - Marx was firstly and primarily an atheist. A raving anti-theist.
The economics ignoramus portion was afterward.

If you read any of his biographies, some go so far as to posit that he was a dedicated satanist.
You are right in saying that it is a religion. And this is why the primary enemy of marxism is Christendom.