What you stated in your post was one reason Huckabee was a non-starter for me.

If 40% are self-identifying as conservative, in order to win elections, Republicans are going to need to convince another 11% of the electorate that their platform is one that is worth pursuing.

The problem is that some Republicans have hijacked the term “conservative” and created its meaning to be one of religion instead of what the word really means: limited.

We speak of conserving, we speak of limiting – government, abuse of resources, money, time, energy. Conservative has nothing to do with religion. Disenfranchising the other 60% of the population because they don’t hold a religious view is rather absurd, especially if you want to win elections and make change toward individual freedom.

Good people with solid values about limited government, safety of our nation and personal responsibility do not have to endorse a religious viewpoint. Hard to believe as it might be, there are some stand up citizens who have never believed in a god or a religion. Astounding as it might be there are some who never speak of their religious views and are upstanding politicians. The law of averages tells you that out of 535 members, it’s not possible that all believe in a deity or religion.

Isn’t it infringing on the individual freedom of another human being’s conscious mind to, not only assume for them that the god you believe in certainly exists for them, but that they would have to endorse your specific acceptance of such deity and/or religion? Isn’t that viewpoint antithetical to freedom itself? Isn’t freedom of religion one of our establishment clauses?

No freedom loving American wants any other American to not have his faith or to be silenced because of his faith. The question to ask yourself is this: if I want to have the freedom of my beliefs, why is it that I am insisting that others share that belief?

Isn’t freedom, individual freedom, personal responsibility, safety of our nation and limited government what truly unites ANY human being?

“Conservatives” don’t own right, goodness, charity, benevolence – so why do they keep acting like they do?

Great Americans who contribute and will continue to contribute to America’s freedoms don’t need to be religious to do so. And if you think they do, then what does it say about where you are in terms of extending freedom of the individual’s conscious mind to decide for self how his life should be lived?

What does it say about your position that mirrors the liberal democrats who want to control our lives with their version of religion?

Conservative isn’t about religion but about limiting government’s reach into our lives. If beyond limited government, personal responsibility and safety of the nation are your agenda, then you’re behaving as liberals behave: thinking you own righteousness, seeking to control others & their choices and doing so through force.

And why should any of the other 60% of our population vote for another candidate who just wants to behave like liberals do, doing the same thing liberals do, forcing their values & morality on the rest of us.

The fact is: we don’t. Judging from emails I receive, a lot of us don’t.

We need not care if you’re black, white, Jewish, Hindu, gay, straight, man, woman – any differentiation is merely used to seek favor and entitlement.

Our personal choices in life of religion, food, car, family, etc. are irrelevant. If you believe these are relevant to politics, then there’s something else at work other than upholding and advancing personal freedom.

We’re all Americans seeking individual freedom so we can create the life we want to live. When we make choices only with the consent of others, we uphold the Constitutional foundation of contract, agreed upon by any two people. What is more representative of freedom than that?

We live in a Republic; we are chartered by a Constitution. I am a Republican and I uphold the Constitution. I defend individual freedom and individual choice irrespective of whether or not I agree with the choice. If your choice does not inhibit my freedom of choice, what care do I have that you make it?

What care do you have that others make choice that you don’t agree with? What is your agenda?

Republicans can take back the terminology of conservative to its meaning of limited government.

Erick’s post does little to narrow the confusion of what a conservative actually is. I attend meetings where many in the room are convinced they are the true conservatives and others are not. If you have an opinion that differs, you are out. How will conservatives ever exercise enough legislative strength to accomplish anything if they remain so exclusionary?

In reading Erick’s blog, the only requirement to be a conservative that is spelled out is to be pro-life and a Christian. Good luck with that.

Where do I find a party or group that is dedicated to the US Constitution, conservative fiscal policy, minimal taxation, small government, a strong military, strong foreign policy, individual accountability, and freedom? At this point, I do not see a group that focuses on these positions alone.

I could really care less that you have an opinion regarding social issues. Isn’t it about time our government gets out of the business of social issues?

I would much prefer to state a collection of core principles and find people who will endorse (and vote consistently with) them, and downplay the branding language as much as possible.

The difference between being a majority and being a minority is found in the middle. People who are not fans of Rush can be convinced to vote for principles when they won’t vote for a brand.

This, of course, suggests that we can agree on a clear statement of principles. I haven’t seen that yet, so I will offer a starting slate:

1. Term limits – 12 years lifetime service in Congress.
2. Balanced budget – exception only in case of a formal declaration of national emergency.
3. Tax reform – repeal the 16th Amendment and institute principles of consumption tax.
4. Congressional integrity –
– no exepmtion from any laws
– no special retirement or other programs for members
– no votes on final passage until a bill is public for 7 days
– every member must sign an affidavit that he/she has read and understands the bill he/she is voting on
– every bill must have a statement of Constitutional authority

There are lots of other “conservative” issues, but these should be common to all, and should become inviolate. If these were adhered to, most of the nonsense we are seeing with health care, earmarks, global warming, etc., would disappear.

Gregory Wilson
Delegate, ’72 GOP MI State Convention
Delegate, ’76 GOP National Convention Kansas City and first MI vote for Ronald Reagan
Delegate TX State Convention ’78
Delegate CO State Convention ’96 and ’98
In the intervening years was living overseas as am at present so not involved as a precinct delegate.

(Redneck originally referring to the red collar of the Presbyterian Minister).

Both can be good people, but their priorities can be different. True among Conservatives as well, but as a general rule what you wrote made excellent sense.

I find myself thinking that Newt Gingrich is conservative but not a Conservative, however.

Start declaring the Hinz rule on him.

A certain minimal level of respectfulness (or lack of disrespectfulness) should be expected regardless of what you think about a person. I’m not being disruptive or insulting or anything like that – your meaness is uncalled for.

I’m done with this exchange. Have a good night.

Stupidity on the other hand can’t be. You want to make authoritative statements on subjects you know nothing about and then whine when you’re called out, have at it.

As far as whether or not you care what I have to say, that’s really not the issue because frankly you’ve been doing this precise thing for so long that you obviously aren’t capable of understanding a logical argument based on facts and defined assumptions anyway.

With respect to your whine about about “respect”, cut the crap. Respect is earned. You haven’t. And frankly if you want to talk about open disrespect, I would note your coming here and trolling about subjects you know nothing about and are too lazy to do even minimal research on. You are pathetic.

You aren’t backing down, you’re just behaving like a jerk. I dont’ enjoy being insulted and so did not bother to deal with anything you had to say regarding McCain. I didn’t mind your comments the other day regarding Huckabee – you brought up pertinent facts and were at least marginally civiland I realized I had been wrong to credit the Governor with honesty and straightforwardness and to accept his claims at face value.

But when you start off by calling me stupid, I don’t care to even hear whatever you had to say. It doesn’t deserve to be considered if you can’t be even minimally respectful.

Sense you’ve now turned over to being kinder and gentler along with no longer “loathe” anyone, we’d like to get some info from you.

John McCain is having a fund raiser you know….

Sorry had to do it….10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1 We have lift off….LOL. I kid I kid.