I heard something on the radio recently which bothered me, and illustrates one of the reasons why I left the Republican party. The talk show host is active in the republican party, is a prominent Young Republican, etc. He was bemoaning our poor republican leadership in the state house and senate. He was saying that what we need are republicans in office who are stronger leaders in setting the direction for the republican party. I disagree strongly with that statement. I think what both parties need are elected officials who are better public servants. I don't want the elected officials to be determining the direction of their party. I want the people of that party to be determining the direction of that party. If the elected officials disagree, they can participate in the process as equals. But I strongly dislike having a class of career politicians deciding the direction of the party and ignoring the peons. I believe as the Founding Fathers did, that we should have citizen legislators. Stay a few terms in office, if you like. Then return to your career. Be something other than a life long politician. Then we'd have people making our laws who actually understand how they affect the common person.
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
I understand your viewpoint, Arbi, and I am all for term limits and other means to end the life-long tenure that some of our politicians now enjoy. But I do think there is a place for Leadership in Politics. I think that John Adams, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and other great Americans all exercised leadership.
I think the person you heard was expressing a desire for someone like Ronald Reagan or Newt Gingrich, who in the 80's and 90's gave the party inspiring and gifted leadership--vision for what the party was there to accomplish. That is what is really sought, I think--a vision for what the purpose of the party is, and for what policy measures could further those goals.
Side note: IMO, the Republicans are actually doing much better on this front than the Democrats. Anyone know what the Democratic Party stands for? Anyone?? Bueller?
The Repubs at least have some things that they stand for--what they really need is a strong leader who can articulate those goals in an inspiring way.
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I'm not voting for Ron Paul because it's not expressly prescribed in the Constitution.
Republicans have many good things that they stand for. But they don't always stand up for them. For instance, the Republican party used to be the party of small government. But under the Bush presidency we have had a vast expansion of government. And yes, we do need statesmen like George Washington or John Adams. They were people who had strength of conviction, and were willing to fight for a cause, no matter what it cost them personally. I've been hearing so much "anyone but Hillary" the past little while that I see the Republicans making the same mistake that the Democrats did with Kerry - they weren't really for him, they were against Bush. You need to be for something in order to excite people to action.
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
The republicans simply need someone who is intelligent and who can get things done. That someone is Mitt Romney. If Guliani or McCain get the nomination, I'll be voting for a third party candidate. Folks will tell me that gives another vote to Hillary, but I suppose this election is where I draw the line in the sand. It's either Romney or a Constitution party candidate.
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no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing... the truth of God will go forth till it has penetrated every website, sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done
Mahonri, would you vote for Rep. Ron Paul if, by some miracle, he gets the Republican nomination?
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing... the truth of God will go forth till it has penetrated every website, sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done
