Unfortunately some (but not all and not a majority of) social conservatives have aided this rift by supporting big spending and fiscal irresponsibility. We social conservatives need to be policing our own and keeping our bad actors in line. I am thinking of pols such as former Senator Stevens and current Rep. Young. Not to pick on Alaska but they are examples that came immediately to mind. Any Republican on an appropriations committee needs special scrutiny.

Though I am sure there are some who want us to shut our borders and bury our heads in the sand, from my reading most libertarians want a strong national defense while at the same time not getting into matters around the world that do not concern us. It’s the Jeffersonian principle of “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.” In many (certainly not all) places in the world the presence of McDonald’s and WalMart will do more to spread liberty and freedom than the full force of the U.S. Military possibly could.

We need conservative Republicans that embrace all of it – strong national defense, fiscally responsible limited government conservatism, & conservative social values. As a package this platform is powerful – with a champion who can passionately communicate & promote it, it’s almost undefeatable.

I think we may all get a little wrapped up at looking at his administration through rose-colored glasses sometimes. I’m guilty of it too, at times, but it’s no excuse to try and rewrite history just to lay claim to a great conservative legacy.

I definitely agree with the national/local split and placing issues where the belong on that spectrum.

On a national level, libertarian principles are much more in line with national electoral successes. Truly and honestly holding to the principles laid out in the Constitution (especially the 10th amendment) means the Federal government is a rather boring and minuscule creature. And it should, if libertarians are honest, include the repeal of the wretched Roe v. Wade if for no other reason than it was decided blatantly unconstitutional.

The local level is where conservatives should, if the government legitimately has a role, emphasize the cultural issues. Even from a pragmatic standpoint, social issues can be more effectively won on the local level. Why waste time trying to get both Massachusetts and Alabama to agree on drug laws in the U.S. Congress? Work it out in the states!

2 cups heavy cream

2 eggs, beaten

1 1/4 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup purée bananas

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

In a saucepan, combine the milk, cream, eggs, sugar and salt. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon. Refrigerate the mixture until cool. Combine the cooled custard with the bananas, vanilla and nutmeg. Pour into freezer container. Freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.

1 (12-ounce) container prepared icing (any flavor)

1 package almond bark (vanilla or chocolate)

Bake cake according to directions on box. After it cools, crumble it into a mixing bowl and mix in icing. Shape into balls, place on a cookie sheet and freeze until solid.

Meanwhile, melt bark accordinig to package directions.

After balls have frozen, dip in melted bark and place on cookie sheet, letting them sit until bark has set.

* 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 2 cups canned pumpkin, mashed
* 1 cup sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
* 1 cup half-and-half
* 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
* 1 piece pre-made pie dough
* Whipped cream, for topping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place 1 piece of pre-made pie dough down into a (9-inch) pie pan and press down along the bottom and all sides. Pinch and crimp the edges together to make a pretty pattern. Put the pie shell back into the freezer for 1 hour to firm up. Fit a piece of aluminum foil to cover the inside of the shell completely. Fill the shell up to the edges with pie weights or dried beans (about 2 pounds) and place it in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the foil and pie weights and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust is dried out and beginning to color.

For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand mixer. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the sugar and salt, and beat until combined. Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, and melted butter, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, and ginger, if using, and beat until incorporated.

Pour the filling into the warm prepared pie crust and bake for 50 minutes, or until the center is set. Place the pie on a wire rack and cool to room temperature. Cut into slices and top each piece with a generous amount of whipped cream.

The liberty codified in the constitution is the ideal; to “conservatives” and “libertarians” alike.
“Liberty” describes a life with value, sovereignty, and responsibility. “Capitalism” as a term (from the marxists) seeks to denote a singular motivation of greed. The marxists have succeeded mostly by giving Liberty a poor euphamism; calling everyone “capitalists” , claiming we need to “spread the wealth”.
Allow people to understand Liberty as opposed to the murderous history of socialism and there is no other choice.