tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post9143861229360899879..comments2023-10-22T07:23:03.102-06:00Comments on Conservative Convictions: What Color is the Conservative Flag?Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17457956739752722879noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-1126693330991077132008-12-12T00:37:00.000-06:002008-12-12T00:37:00.000-06:00Well said....Greywolfe!Well said....Greywolfe!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-80450070671962910092008-12-11T22:06:00.000-06:002008-12-11T22:06:00.000-06:00Going overboard for my conservative principles is ...Going overboard for my conservative principles is a fault I'll gladly be found guilty of. I think I'm becoming infamous for this quote "Being extreme in defense of a righteous cause isn't extreme. Its our duty."Greywolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17381047844269105368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-91239399619202634692008-12-11T20:33:00.000-06:002008-12-11T20:33:00.000-06:00Actually Phantom, I couldn't disagree with you mor...Actually Phantom, I couldn't disagree with you more! How can someone have too much love for their country, and I am not talking about blind love. <BR/><BR/>What this country needs is people who are passionate and will take up a cause no matter what that may be (hopefully it is conservative, but nonetheless). What exactly do you find dramatic? That we are trying to change the way America perceives conservatism? Or maybe that we have a purpose more important than ourselves? That we can come together and focus on our similarities and not on our differences?<BR/><BR/>Gayle, thank you for your kind words but don't sell yourself short! One of the things that I most respect about you is what you showed in the post above.....an enthusiasm (good choice of words by the way) that so many lack in regards to conservatism and our country in general.<BR/><BR/>Too little enthusiasm is definitely possible......and it is a shame that anyone needs to defend their love for their country.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-37447746583072332062008-12-11T09:05:00.000-06:002008-12-11T09:05:00.000-06:00IMHO this doesn't go overboard at all. How can ent...IMHO this doesn't go overboard at all. How can enthusiasm regarding patriotism go overboard? If anything, we need more of it! I think it's a great idea and a wonderful post. I don't have anything to add to it though because I arrived here so late everyone else has already covered just about anything I would be able to think of, and surely has written it more eloquently as well. <BR/><BR/>Bravo to all of you!Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02540710405153666843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-71857724260268092982008-12-11T08:40:00.000-06:002008-12-11T08:40:00.000-06:00That was a bit dramatic, don't you think?Americans...That was a bit dramatic, don't you think?<BR/>Americans are patriotic yes, but the degree of enthusiasm for this goes a bit over board. IMHOAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-50123505015957016582008-12-09T11:58:00.000-06:002008-12-09T11:58:00.000-06:00I agree that there are a couple of common areas, a...I agree that there are a couple of common areas, and a couple of areas that could probably slide into the other ones. <BR/><BR/>Have a thought that we may want to leave this one on top for a few more days...Will submit it to the oversight committee.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17457956739752722879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-35404831948212179062008-12-09T09:58:00.000-06:002008-12-09T09:58:00.000-06:00Hmmm, we seem to at least be arriving at one or tw...Hmmm, we seem to at least be arriving at one or two pillars,... what say you Robert?...Dardin Sotohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06860312622246919118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-9800507689639538392008-12-09T06:13:00.000-06:002008-12-09T06:13:00.000-06:00My four:1. Preserve and protect the Constitution ...My four:<BR/><BR/>1. Preserve and protect the Constitution of the United States of America...which the new president will swear to (chuckle, chuckle).<BR/><BR/>2. Cut federal spending by eliminating unrelated amendments to bills.<BR/><BR/>3. Do away with DOE, IRS and other overstuffed agencies.<BR/><BR/>4. Get government hands off of and out of business...almost none of our law makers knows anything about it.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09693381971064363612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-57976162698614532242008-12-08T13:38:00.000-06:002008-12-08T13:38:00.000-06:00Robert: I wouldn't mess with the Bucks if I were ...Robert: I wouldn't mess with the Bucks if I were you. I might get my Ohio blood a'stirrin' up. That would not be prettyPatrick Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16377933168305160179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-45269854647609672472008-12-08T12:32:00.000-06:002008-12-08T12:32:00.000-06:00Obob, you can't help but be intellectual, and it i...Obob, you can't help but be intellectual, and it is might good to see you here. We haven't swapped football barbs this year---My Auburn Tigers were a no-show, so I haven't had much to crow about.<BR/><BR/>Ohio State/Texas will be a good game, although I think State is a bit overmatched...Sorry, I have to call it like I see it...<BR/><BR/>Come back often and I will try to be nice to your Buckeyes...Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17457956739752722879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-40593893127613212862008-12-08T11:36:00.000-06:002008-12-08T11:36:00.000-06:00I stopped to say howdy, not give a dissertation. ...I stopped to say howdy, not give a dissertation. I'll be more intellectual in time.Obobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06261733108326045809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-75714256319232968172008-12-08T09:43:00.000-06:002008-12-08T09:43:00.000-06:00So that I don't suck up excessive space (slurp, sl...So that I don't suck up excessive space (slurp, slurp), I'll keep my list short:<BR/><BR/>1. Individual liberty - with more people becoming appendages of collective groups, individuality is the key to a return to the rest of my points.<BR/><BR/>2. Smaller government - To pick up on a point where TP left off, smaller size, smaller budgets, smaller everything. And the size should be constrained by...<BR/><BR/>3. Original Constitutional intent - The purpose of the Constitution is to limit the government to certain functions, empower the states with other responsibilities (and be more integral in our lives then the feds), and secure individual rights and liberties. We've forgotten it.<BR/><BR/>4. The Free Market Economy - We have never really had pure capitalism in this country. The government has always functioned as a form of regulator, under the idea of "promot[ing] the general welfare". While, due to the fact that we have to be able to balance our economy with government controlled and government commanded economies, the government has some role in protecting the individual from some excesses by companies that have tapped the political system to gain advantage, the idea that the federal government's job is to manage the economy is what has placed us in our current dilemma. Hand in hand is the need to open trade in the global economy, and avoid any stupid-assed isolationist scheme in the process. The way we bring the world to our way of thinking is to trade with them, import their products, and export our freedom.<BR/><BR/>Okay, a little more long winded than I planned, but it's the intrusion of government in our economy that is crippling us now.Patrick Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16377933168305160179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-52418638487401119662008-11-23T11:10:00.000-06:002008-11-23T11:10:00.000-06:00Jennifer is right on target, IMO.Let us recall tha...Jennifer is right on target, IMO.<BR/><BR/>Let us recall that the Constitution LIMITS government, but only when WE force elected officials to adhere to the constitution by taking the government to court when they don’t. This is why conservative non-profit organizations and lobbyists are important; who among us can afford to sue the government every ten minutes? Since the Constitution limits the role of the federal government, and places responsibility for “human services” squarely within the realm of states’ rights, that should be a guiding principle for conservatives.<BR/><BR/>When states spend more than revenues allow (such as in CA), the answer is NOT to ask for federal assistance, but rather to curtail spending. Just because the people of a state may “want,” universal health care doesn’t mean that they can afford it. If health care is a #1 priority, then obviously citizens will have to decide what to give up in order to have health care. We may refer to this as “responsible financial management.”<BR/><BR/>We are not a sovereign nation if we cannot control our borders or protect our people from attack by foreign sources. This is an important role for the federal government, and as it pertains to the security of our borders, it has failed miserably. I would rather see Border States getting federal money so that they could patrol their own borders with state law enforcement officers, than continue to suffer from the malfeasance of federal agencies. We need an adequate national defense structure, but we must also resolve this problem with illegal immigration. As far as foreign intervention is concerned, such involvement must follow the “clear and present danger” rule. There is NO reason for the US to send troops to Bosnia, or Georgia, or anywhere in Africa if there is no threat to the American people from any of these locations.<BR/><BR/>SamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-5417206974354362572008-11-23T09:46:00.000-06:002008-11-23T09:46:00.000-06:00Wow narrowing it down to four is not impossible bu...Wow narrowing it down to four is not impossible but requires some thought!<BR/><BR/>1. Adherance to Constitutional principles following those principles in thier actual intent and not using liberal interpretation as a means of watering down or rewriting the Constitution. Taking to heart especially the Tenth Amendment which states that, "The powers not delegated to The United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States repsectively, or the people."<BR/><BR/>2. The second goes hand in hand with my number 1. Limited government which does not interfere in the lives of the people. The intention of government is to provide certain protections from harm such as the defense of the Nation, and an atmoshphere of well being which allows each citizen to prosper and achieve according to his or her abilities in aspiring through our freedom and liberties to grow and make our lives successful through individual responsibility for our own lives and those of our family.<BR/><BR/>3. Keeping the Nation safe through a strong defense. One thing that we have to remember is that as the worlds only super power we have an obligation to defend this Nation but also to protect those who look to us for guidance. We are not the worlds police force but we cannot be an isolationists Nation either. We must determine carefully where we are needed but keep open the ability to move when needed also!<BR/><BR/>4. Allowing through less government intervention the free market and free trade to shape and prosper both the markets and the economy. Yes there must be certain government over sight but this idea that every badly run company must be bailed out or restructured by the government is dangerous and inexcusable in a free society. When there is a problem allow the market to find market solutions and get government out of the way so that the economy can grow and prosper.<BR/><BR/>Our current problems came not from the free market but from government intervention that forced the market to make stupid economic investments especially in housing. Had government NOT forced the irresponsible lending the collapse would have never happened because the economy would have grown in a clear and correct manner instead of an over inflated manner which created the bubble that crashed in September.<BR/><BR/>I could go on, but your limit was four, so they are what I would make as my priorities.The Liberal Lie The Conservative Truthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07082308076603570611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-43096214770374524762008-11-23T09:18:00.000-06:002008-11-23T09:18:00.000-06:00(cracking knuckles) I'll take a poke at this one. ...(cracking knuckles) I'll take a poke at this one. True Conservatism as I see it holds many of the same tenents that truth and Jennifer have illustrated. But I would have to go with a bit more. For the sake of brevity I'll use four points also.<BR/><BR/>1. A return to the original plan. I support an Amendment to the Constitution that clearly enunciates the first and second Amendments. This could be done by reading period articles and letters that were written by the framers of the constitution. It's a bold move, but if we truly want to restore this country then we need to take it back. The two biggest weaknesses we have is that they have controlled freedom of speech, religion, and our ability to defend ourselves from individuals and our benevolent government (allow me a second to wipe up the sarcasm).<BR/><BR/>2. The federal government has granted itself extraordinary powers by misinterpreting the commerce clause of the Constitution time and time again. To stop this we need to get the Federal courts under control. We must push for strict adherants to original intent as a litmus test for any federal judge. Only then can our lawmakers/moneychangers be kept in line. Did I just call them crooks? Yep, guess I did.<BR/><BR/>3. Education, Social Services, and the IRS are all Departments that should be abolished at the federal level. With respects to the previous posts, the problem is the amount of power that is held in Washington. If you abolish the first two and put them into the states hands it is a good start, but only when the tax code can no longer be used as a club will you be able to hamstring the Federal government. I suggest the Fair Tax. It makes more sense and is more "fair" than anything else.<BR/><BR/>4. Further on Education. First and foremost it is the Parent's responsibility to teach their kids. To that end, we must first teach parents what their true value is. Teach them how to be exceptional and strive to make themselves and their own families more self-sustaining. Then they can teach their children and we can finally start nailing the coffin lid shut on liberal poisons in our schools.Greywolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17381047844269105368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110704082323083773.post-64344933568426097622008-11-23T08:57:00.000-06:002008-11-23T08:57:00.000-06:00I agree with tearing up the current trade agreemen...I agree with tearing up the current trade agreements. I am not against free trade, but the current agreements seem to have backed us into a corner.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com