I am posting this on dkos because some people asked for my views and more liberals would be exposed to our pleasant little site :) I am not promoting it because you all already know me so it's not really directed to you. Also I know that their responses provide comic relief to some of you and I aim to please - not that I am not interested in some serious responses.
Yesterday I woke up feeling weird and wrote a somewhat strange, though heartfelt, first dkos diary entitled I am not sorry (for being a republican) . In it I stated that it might be my last diary as well, but now I feel that I owe a follow up to anyone to cares to read it.
I was presumptious and arrogant and for that I apologize because that was not my true intent. If you really read it you'd see that I do not bask in my own rational or intellectual superiority. In fact on the blog where I usually post (SC mentioned above) I easily take the larger portion of the argumentative beatings from the Left and am forced to retreat. While there is virtually no chance of me switching sides, that does not render inter-ideological debate useless as I am always forced to reevaluate my positions and reconsider whether the defenses I use are logical, rational or even fact-based. I hope that I, at least sometimes, challenge the liberals sparring with me to have to come up with new arguments to show me the error of my ways.
__________________________
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Yes, just because I am an unapologetic Rightwinger does not mean that I do not ever admit being wrong (even if just to myself). When I just got out of the Air Force bootcamp, I remember being filled with pride watching President Bush declare war in Iraq. I thought that it would be a lightning and brilliant tour de force resulting in a spectacular victory, a stable and friendly Iraq, and the thanks of a grateful nation. I was wrong. When President Bush was elected in 2000 along with both Houses of Congress, I thought that for sure it would herald the era of small government and fiscal responsibility. Instead I got Delay telling me that there is nothing left to cut out of the federal budget. I was really wrong. I am sure there are plenty of other examples. It's only human to err.
Some of you asked me to talk about my views and that it was cowardly not to mention them so I'd like to go over why I am still a republican, what motivates me and what leads me to hold the views that I do. Maybe in another diary I'll go over the various types of republicans that I am aware of (without caricatures) to give you the other side's insight into what could be motivating them to pull the lever for the GOP.
A couple of months ago I was challenged by one of our members to come up with a set of moral absolutes. This is what I came up with in no particular order:
1. A man should be able to keep all the fruits of his labor
2. A man who deals fairly with others should expect fair treatment in return
3. A man who deals fairly with others should expect to be unimpeded in all his actions by either government or other individuals
4. A government's purpose is to provide a safe environment for men to deal and trade fairly with each other and to enforce laws to such end
5. Men should be judged by the merits of their achievements and not by any external or unmeasurable characteristics
6. Reason trumps emotion
7. Men have the rational capacity through their own mind to determine what is moral (what is Right and Good) for themselves
8. Justice (I added this one just now)
I see no reason to deviate from that list for the purpose of this rather short exploration of my views. I think the overriding principles that I believe in are fairness, reason and rationality. It does not automatically follow that all my views are reasonable or rational for I am certainly not perfect and am unable to fully adhere to my stated ideals. Nor am I particularly interested in achieving this idealized libertarian/capitalist utopia. I am a pragmatist, but like many others who have ideals they strive for (Jesus, Buddha, Confucius, Democracy, Liberty, various other philosophies or great leaders), I find it best to have them as helpful markers of understanding and judging the world around me.
When Newt Gingrich led the Republican Party to victory in 1994 through his famous Contract with America I was proud to be a member of the Party of Personal Responsibility, Fiscal Responsibility, American Dream, National Security, Common Sense, and Small Government. If you remember - the Constitutional Amendment "to require a balanced budget, unless sanctioned by a 3/5 vote in both Houses of Congress" failed by just 3 votes in the Senate. That was my ideal Republican Party. I agreed with practically everything in the GOP agenda at the time. What followed was a long string of ups and downs as I followed the progress of the Republican majority. I was disillusioned over Gingrich defeat in the hands of Bill Clinton but heartened by the newly resurgent Republican majority under George Bush. I was upset at the Republican fiscal surrender to higher government spending but hopeful.
9/11 came and took my mind off the fiscal situation for quite some time. I quit my job, joined the US Air Force, was excited over the destruction of Taliban and enthusiastically supported invading Iraq. I felt, no scratch that, knew that the Islamic Fundamentalist threat was the one of the worst threats to our Western Civilization that US has ever faced, especially if we did not respond with Resolve and Fortitude. Not only did we have to defeat the various terrorist threats around the world but also justice had to be rendered. As the war went on I became uneasy over the way it was fought. I am disappointed with the tactics and inflexibility portrayed though I certainly do not presume to know the answers. We've lost track of who we were fighting and why. Though I still think we were justified to go into Iraq, and that we should yet withdraw our troops, it is obvious there were plenty of disastrous miscalculations especially in the insurgency and sectarian violence departments.
I left the Air Force (after a couple of years) and went to back to work. Now I am able to more rationally weigh the situation we find ourselves in and see where I stand:
I am disappointed with the way things are going in Iraq but I support the President and his desire to fight the Islamic Totalitarian threat. It is a mindset that holds none of our values as sacred and seeks to obliterate them. I prefer fighting that mindset and its values rather than compromising and adjusting ourselves to the new world. That is one reason I am still a republican.
I am disappointed with our current state of the government size, government spending, and fiscal discipline. It is horrific. But I know that it was republicans who tried to drag Clinton's spending down, who tried to cut taxes that he raised, who tried to cut the various useless departments. It was republicans who brought the mindset of smaller government into democratic faces to force them to fight. I believe that once they failed under Gingrich, GOP has lost its will to advocate smaller government and started believing that it was a loser issue before the American public. Furthermore they decided that their own political hides were more important than standing for principle and that led to their corrupt, power hungry selves of today. It is to that memory of their lost will, and to a fervent wish of its rebirth that I am still a republican.
I believe in self-reliance, rejecting victimhood and affirmative action, in personal responsibility, and personal morality and to those once deeply felt principles evident in the new 1994 Republican majority I salute and say that I am still a republican.
I believe in science and technology, exploration of space, and medical research. On some of those issues I disagree with majority of republicans but I will fight and hope that ultimately my views will prevail in my party for the good of the nation.
I am secular but I am not afraid of religious diversity, including conservative Christians who though I strongly disagree with on certain issues, are perfectly entitled to lead their lives without being discriminated against. I do not see mentioning God in schools or celebrating Christmas on public property as threatening to the fabric of our society and I do not approve of mindsets who prefer a wanton destruction of our traditions as if the virtue of their age makes them evil. I believe in separation of church and state but am not knee jerk about it and those elements in the Democratic party make me very uncomfortable.
I am pro-gun and pro-business and while I like to have our environment clean, I do not believe that in the battle between environment and business there should be winners and losers. Honest dialogue is required and I do not see it in either party.
I hope you get a better idea of why I am a republican and why I remain a republican. I am not sure if conservative is a proper term for where I stand but it is certainly a place on the Right. I obviously cannot go over all the possible issues in the interest of time and brevity but this seems like a decent start. I hope some of you will see that your opposition is not necessarily all evil or shameless but we do hold strong and deeply held views not always automatically related to brainwashing or wealth or self-serving.
I think that if you
really want to take back control of your party you need to make sure they get soundly defeated this fall. If they don't lose badly you will never get rid of the current leadership.
You just can't help it can you? LOL
You are being welcomed by all of your adoring opponents and you love posting over at DKos.
Slowly you will recognize it as not being the fever swamp you always thought it was (having many more people willing to discuss than scream in anger)
At this rate, 6 years from now, you will be wondering if maybe the Green Party isn't right for you.
lol
you are crazy man.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
I don't think
democrats will need my help this time around.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Admit it though
You are treated pretty well over there as long as you are polite and not TOO controversial.
(Though I admit you would be troll-rated into oblivion with a "Why Torture of Islamofacists is necessary" diary)
hehe no kidding man
though you have to admit that my views on torture of islamofascists are pretty decent.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Must I?
You really want to debate the issue again?
I'm a rule of law and innocent until proven guilty fanatic (way too many lawyers in the family) but I'll give you a forum in a bit
I am big on
the rule of law and innocent until proven guilty as well - just not for extending those rights to foreign terrorist fanatics.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Actually
Mike already linked to a post that had my main point so I'll just put it here.
The refusal to promote Lt Cmdr Swift after winning a Supreme Court decision in the Hamdan case gives grave doubt to the fairness of any military tribunal. The strong implication is that finding someone charged not-guilty or successfuly defending them could end your career.
You do this intentionally don't you?
Let's stop skipping steps. Either you are engaging in the "Begging the question" fallacy or you are being imprecise.
Do you believe in extending this right to a person who has simply been accused of being a FSF (foreign terrorist fanatic?) and if so, how does one stop being an AFSF and become an FSF? If not, then the innocent Falsely Accused FSF (FAFSF) apparently also doesn't get access to the rule of law.
simple
AFTFs by the virtue of being Foreign do not automatically get the same rights Americans get. Also AFTFs by the virtue of being terrorist and not a regular POW, do not get to have any geneva protections.
Therefore while I would grant them the "A" for accused and the possibility of being "FA" or falsely accused, the standard of proof for those characters need not be as rigorous as for US citizens nor should their conditions and rules be comparable.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
I hope that is not the case n/t
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Wow
I'm honored to have stimulated your 2nd Dkos diary. Thanks for giving me credit there, jerk :). I like watching the reactions to you in DKos threads, a balance between, "Come on guys, let's kick 'em around while we have the chance!" and "Everyone gather around the poor conservative, and if we rub his belly enough he won't bite us anymore. Perhaps he will even come home with us." They always think they gave you some kind of novel argument which will cause an epiphany and your sudden conversion. Amateurs.
You do play nice there. It is fun to watch you duck and weave as a rhetorical strategy whenever something asks for specifics. Nice job.
Anyhow, I see people at Dkos doing an ok job with your points, but you never really answered my original objections, and since I helped you draw these out, I think I should get some of the action. Here is my comment
:
So, how about it. Universals or not?
Although they have a joking tone, they are serious objections. For example, I think thaere are times when emotion is rightly prioritized over reason. Arts for example require passion and emotion. My example in the comment says the same thing in a smart-ass way. Hopefully you can seperate the content form the delivery. Ask if you need help or substantiation or clarification.
Slightly off topic
In the comments, the topic of a home based business came up, re: it makes time for the kids. I'd add the suggestion that you consider a small business, not just a home based one.
The spouse and I are escapees from Corporate America who successfully landed in a small (micro?) business that we've been cultivating ever since. Although the pay is less than we made previously, the benefits far outweigh the change in income, and we found that our consumption equalized fairly quickly and painlessly. We have since met several other couples in the same scenario, and they just take the kids along with them to work and fit child care and training right into the schedule. I highly recommend the independent track but think that many people assume it stops at a home-based business, when a brick-n-mortar office/storefront is also a very viable alternative.
Also, good dKos diary, but Specter's imagery of curious liberals peering through the bars at this odd creature will not leave my mind. . . .
__________________________don't ask me, I'm just improvising
Political Compass Score: Econ L/R -0.12 Social Lib/Auth -1.33
well
the image of my future business, whatever it is, involves the internet so that would fit in nicely with the home business model. Though of course I won't rule out anything.
I really need to start looking into it because I'd love to escape from "Corporate America" :)
I am glad your business is working out for you though.
Some of the people on dkos are fairly cool.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
I've had my own business since 1990.
My partner and I have grown it from the two of us to 12 employees.
My father was a fireman and a plasterer so he always had his own business, too. My brother, my sister and I all own our own businesses. I said to my mother, "Isn't it amazing? We're all entreprenuers, just like dad."
My mother said, "I don't think it has anything to do with being 'entrepreneurs.' I think you all have a problem with authority."
Leave it to a mother to speak the truth.
__________________________If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
come on
you are just being nice to your mother :)
I am impressed with your entrepreneurial spirit! Not bad for a lib.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Everyone in the family is a liberal Democrat.
My sister sold her company for $63 million. She's still a liberal.
I'm sure you'll scratch your head over that one, Ender.
__________________________If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
you rich s.o.b.
hehehe I never underestimate people's ability to feel unreasonably guilty over their own success!
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Why just with terrorists?
What is it about 'terrorism' vs just plain murder, rape or arson? Would a foreigner accused of these crimes also have fewer rights? If not, how do you define 'terrorism' in such a way that the president can't simply accuse anybody of 'terrorising' society with their thieving ways?
Facts say otherwise
It is the economy, stupid.
Or donate to liberal democrats
running for public office.
What could be worse than a liberal democrat with money that cares about his country and what direction it takes!
__________________________It is the economy, stupid.
well for one
terrorists are not simple criminals. They are waging war so they are combatants. This is why I think "illegal combatants" is a great and fitting term. They wage war without following the rules of war, without any attempt to follow rules of war, by deliberately targeting civilians.
Criminals don't wage war on nations. Terrorists would be soldiers if they had scruples or represented a country interested in having any kind of relations with the rest of the world.
So 1. they are not Americans and 2. they are illegal combatants. For those two reasons I don't think they should have any rights whatsoever.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
wealthy liberals
are acting against their own interests, seemingly out of some sense of guilt.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
That's not me. It's my sister.
And she doesn't feel guilty. Neither do I.
__________________________If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
Once again, you talk about something you know nothing about.
And you look foolish.
Your narrow preconceptions display your ignorance.
__________________________If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
good for you
Because many "capitalists" do - like Bill Gates.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
seemingly
__________________________a clueless declaration of your bumper sticker understanding the real issues.
It is the economy, stupid.
you can't tell me
that most liberals would knee-jerkedly attack wealth out of preconcieved notions about it. Not only that but they will attack you if you are not interested in "social justice" and redistributing it to all the unfortunates.
I am not saying all liberals are like that but it is the prevailing value system on the left. Class warfare is alive and well.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Why do you attribute compassion and generosity
... with guilt?
That says a lot more about you than it does about Bill Gates or my sister.
It intimates a rather dark side in you.
__________________________If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
compassion and generosity
are not always related to guilt but in the liberal thinking that I see displayed wherever I look they are definitely connected.
If you are wealthy you are supposed to feel obligated to help others because they are the reason you succeeded in the first place. If that is not one of the most absurd precepts I've heard, it ranks up there. Don't tell me that kind of thinking is not present on the liberal side.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Of course I can tell you you're wrong about that.
Once again, you don't know what you're talking about. You deal in these vague generalities about people you don't really know excet from what you hear from clowns like Limbaugh, Hannity or O'Reilly.
Republicans love to claim that Demaocrats are all about class warfare. Humorous when they have been stealing from the middle class to line the pockets of the top 1%. Bush IS the War President. He declared war on the middle class and continues to this day. He wasn't kidding when he said to his group of wealthy Republican donors, "Some call you the rich, I call you the base."
__________________________If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
that mantra
of stealing from the middle class to give to the rich is pure idiocy. Don't expect me to care about that one.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Jeez...
You are an ignoramous. Completely.
You know nothing about the people whom you so easily pigeonhole into your misinformed/uninformed boxes.
I feel sorry for you. Not out of guilt, but because you think you know a lot more than you really know. You're very naive when it comes to knowing and understanding people. And that borders on an odd form of arrogance.
I know a ton of conservatives. I would never pigeonhole whole groups in vague generalities the way you continuously do.
Come back when you have a broader base of life experience.
Your crap is stupid and insulting. And the sad part is that you don't even know it.
What a narrow little world in which you must reside.
__________________________If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
I don't expect you to care about it.
It is beyond your miniscule comprehension.
__________________________If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
blah blah blah
a lot of bluster to hide the reality of your representatives constant class warfare bulls**t.
As if calling me names would change that. As if.
Has nothing to do with life experience. Many on the left are transparent and everyone can see it.
I never said all liberals are the same but pretending that the mindset I am illustrating is not present is better than anything you accuse Bush of lying about.
Naive my ass.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
after using one of the most
idiotic and false talking points you move on to insults. Bravo.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Philantraphy
is driven by guilt?
Offering an opportunity is a sign of guilt?
I guess that means the Page program is out in your book.
Wouldn't want taxpayers to help pay for children to learn how government really works, now would we.
__________________________It is the economy, stupid.
do you have special
knowledge of Bill Gates and his motives that we don't know about.
__________________________It is the economy, stupid.
you confused
philantropy with government programs. Not surprising.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Your ass is naive, too.
You're not nearly as wise as you think you are. Some day you'll grow up. Or not.
__________________________If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
Whatever.
Your lack of experience with those you love to pigeonhole marks you for a narrow-minded fool.
Wear it proudly.
__________________________If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
Yes why on earth
would we want the government to support good citizenship, or equal rights for women, or equal opportunity...... all so philantrhopic and well from your pov socialist in nature.
I believe you have confused good and responsible government with communism, or socialism.
One of these days you are going to have to come into the 21st century and realize that a strong and civil society needs government.
__________________________It is the economy, stupid.
The poor rich. I feel so sorry for them.
They are being unfairly targeted by the working class mob.
Kind of reminds me of the upper crust English gents that once thought they ruled this country and were surprised by the fightingn spirit of the lower class mob rule that later became known as the American Revolution.
__________________________It is the economy, stupid.
Hey as long as you've got
the money. In Ender's world that's all that matters.
__________________________It is the economy, stupid.
your problem
is that you are too quick to be condescending to others. I might be offensive but I don't always adopt your arrogant air. If that's your wisdom leaking out then I don't want any part of it.
I mean what I say and sometimes I am wrong but for all the republican stereotypes I am not the one who is the elitist here.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Your bullsh** is insulting in the extreme.
And you are so ignorant of the real world, and so self-assured in your ignorance, that I actually feel sorry for you.
Call it a fault of mine.
__________________________If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
A True Liberal!
It is the economy, stupid.
Sounds like a hate crime. ;-)
Terrorist vs Murderer (or wirefrauder as the case me be) sound pretty nebulous.
So, would you call racist organizations terrorists? i.e. if there were some German foreign national funding storm front or Operation Rescue would they count?
Still not sure what you consider to be the legal elements that define terrorism btw.
I think I was a bit more clear
than what you are implying. Terrorists are similar to the military and they fight to destabilize nations, attack nations, attack civilians in different nations. They are organized and pursue an organized agenda of mass murder.
Criminals could be organized but they do not go to war against other nations and even murderers don't operate on such scales.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR