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I will admit, I have a lot of thoughts about this article.
The 1st of which is to recognize the overall correctness of the direction it talks about. And history will absolutely show @HeathMayo and those who build @Principles_1st were on the front lines sooner than most. https://twitter.com/SykesCharlie/status/1291722822071582721
The 1st of which is to recognize the overall correctness of the direction it talks about. And history will absolutely show @HeathMayo and those who build @Principles_1st were on the front lines sooner than most. https://twitter.com/SykesCharlie/status/1291722822071582721
And they saw the PATH sooner than most.
Frankly, I was kind of surprised that this article, as good as it is, is nowhere near as clear-eyed and visionary as @Principles_1st. See their Declaration of Principles: https://www.principlesfirst.us/our-principles.html
Frankly, I was kind of surprised that this article, as good as it is, is nowhere near as clear-eyed and visionary as @Principles_1st. See their Declaration of Principles: https://www.principlesfirst.us/our-principles.html
Absolutely, the @BulwarkOnline is correct when it says conservatism has a future.
At a basic level, there will always be a natural tension between progressive thought that wants to improve our current situation and conservative thought that wants to be careful in how we do that.
At a basic level, there will always be a natural tension between progressive thought that wants to improve our current situation and conservative thought that wants to be careful in how we do that.
And when one end of the spectrum goes too far in its efforts and passion, the other usually ascends as enough rational people mpve away from the hyperpartisanship.
That is the natural flow of thought, especially in a Constitutional Republic.
That is the natural flow of thought, especially in a Constitutional Republic.
Unfortunately, beginning with the emergence of Pat Buchanan a 1992, and other efforts that the @BulwarkOnline article properly identifies as not a conservatism related to American values, and corresponding mistakes on the left, we succumbed to more and more hyperpartisanship...
... until 2016 gave us probably the two worst choices for president, ever.
A very LARGE portion of that fault lies with us, #WeThePeople, for being too focused on voting for people who said what we wanted to hear, or worse, not voting at all.
A very LARGE portion of that fault lies with us, #WeThePeople, for being too focused on voting for people who said what we wanted to hear, or worse, not voting at all.
The good news is the 2016 election, I think, will prove to be and erasing of the chalkboard and an opportunity to recommit to basic American constitutional values. Liberal and conservative.
I have been very encouraged by the number of progressive colleagues and friends and family that I know who have found a renewed respect for States Rights. For the rule of law. For the Constitution. For a Supreme Court Justice like John Roberts and even, gasp, Neil Gorsuch.
And I have been so amazingly impressed by the number of conservatives who have rejected a corrupt party and corrupt ideas to stand on this small little island called #NeverTrump.
And not just stand there, but actually do something that moves the needle.
And not just stand there, but actually do something that moves the needle.
The various ways @ForTheRuleOfLaw @StandUpRepublic @Principles_1st fought for the kinds of conservatism that are consistent with the best parts of Eisenhower, Reagan, Goldwater, Bush 41 and 43, Buckley, Will, etc., makes my heart swell exponentially.
This is the courage to be Horatio at The Gates, and I only hope I can show as much courage when I am in the spotlight. We will owe an unpayable debt of gratitude to the likes of @EvanMcMullin @mindyfinn @BillKristol @HeathMayo and so many others when all is said and done.
My call to anyone who will listen always will be to find a way to contribute. Find a way to do something that moves us away from this Zombie GOP and to something consistent with American values. Is that finding actual conservative candidates? Is that helping to register voters?
Find a way to "contribute a verse" even if it is on a smaller stage or even unseen. Just do something that you KNOW moves towards what has always made America great - that synergistic combination of equality, freedom and opportunity that @HeathMayo mentioned the other day.
But I do take issue with some of the article from @BulwarkOnline.
The 1st, as you can see above, is that it doesn't look far enough down the road, doesn't take a more strategic and visionary position, especially in light of the path that @Principles_1st has already shown us.
The 1st, as you can see above, is that it doesn't look far enough down the road, doesn't take a more strategic and visionary position, especially in light of the path that @Principles_1st has already shown us.
The other, though, is one that I think is a real problem. Something that frankly leads us to what gave us Buchanan and Trump.
I think John McCain said it best:
I think John McCain said it best:
But also a statement from Richard Nixon, said at probably the most humbled moment of his life.
Seriously. we have got to get away from demonizing those we disagree with politically. No matter how negative we perceive their actions or statements to be, that undermines the ideas of a Constitutional Republic - of the UNITED STATES of America.
And down that path lies Pat Buchanan and Donald Trump. Always and every time.
As @BulwarkOnline noted, people like Buckley and Reagan worked very hard to fight against that kind of mentality.
We must work as hard, if not harder.
As @BulwarkOnline noted, people like Buckley and Reagan worked very hard to fight against that kind of mentality.
We must work as hard, if not harder.
That 320 million strong group of loud, opinionated and unique people that McCain was speaking of? That's what makes us great - as long as we have a unified vision that we *all love our country* even if we are diametrically opposed, philosophically.
So as we move forward, I would challenge every one of you not just to do something, but to do it in the spirit that McCain mentions. We need to embrace and love the Americans that we disagree with because their passion is as true as ours.
