pudge's Journal: Quote of the Month

Let's grow up, conservatives. If we want to take the party back -- and I think we can -- let's get to work. -- Barry Goldwater, 27 July 1960.

I am not on the McCain-bash bandwagon. This isn't about McCain. But let's face it: the GOP has not been run by strong conservatives up and down the ticket since Newt Gingrich left. We've not been in the wilderness quite as much as conservatives had been in 1960 -- no conservative President, nor even nominee, in almost 30 years, and Democratic domination of the Congress for almost as long -- but we soon may be.

Alf Landon, Wendell Willkie, Thomas Dewey, Dwight Eisenhower. It's more un-conservative than Bush, Dole, Bush, McCain. But even though I'd defend Dole's and McCain's more-conservative-than-not credentials, and the left tries to paint the Bushes as conservatives, it's not just about the top of the ticket, but the control of the party, and the Bush years were, by any objective standard, anything but conservative on most issues.

I don't know how to fix things exactly, but one thing is clear: if you sit on the sidelines, you're contributing to the problem. Get to work.

Cross-posted on <pudge/*>.

Subject

[Stargoat]

Take back? The original Republicans were a rather progressive and, dare I say it, liberal group of Abolitionists. They were in favor of massive government projects (like the Transcontinental Railroad) and free land. One of the original Republic slogans was "Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Speech, Free Men"

Barry Goldwater and his "conservative" supporters corrupted what was once an honest and ethical group of people.

Re:

[pudge]

Take back? The original Republicans were a rather progressive and, dare I say it, liberal group of Abolitionists.

In the same way that today's conservatives are a liberal group of anti-abortionists, yes. So?

They were in favor of massive government projects (like the Transcontinental Railroad) and free land. One of the original Republic slogans was "Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Speech, Free Men"

Oh please. Comparing "free land" in the mid-1800s to anything we've got going today, except for perhaps radio spectrum, is inane.

Barry Goldwater and his "conservative" supporters corrupted what was once an honest and ethical group of people.

You're an idiot.

Re:

[Stargoat]

The GOP under Eisenhower, and even Nixon, was a different party, and better party, than today's GOP. After the poison in the Democratic party that was the Dixiecrats switched to the GOP, the GOP lost its way. The Republican party does need to be taken back. It needs to focus on balancing the budget and shrinking the bloated government. Eliminate the Department of Education, the Department of Homeland Security, and strengthen the southern border. But if enough Republicans think that anti-abortion and ab

Re:

[pudge]

Eisenhower and Nixon, representing bigger socialist government, are the way to get to shrinking the bloated government?

Riiiiiight.

My take

[smittyoneeach]

The GOP needs to make a commitment to the Constitution, and not to being Democrat-lite.
The question becomes: how do you delegate chronic social program costs to the states?

Re:

[pudge]

The GOP needs to make a commitment to the Constitution, and not to being Democrat-lite.

The question becomes: how do you delegate chronic social program costs to the states?

Slowly, transparently, over time.

Ron Paul

[nocomment]

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