Pirate's Cove

Or so thinks the Politico, which proves that the Left just doesn’t get what Conservatism is about, and also shows that the “GOP elite” do not get it, either. You can see it in the headline, In GOP base, a ‘rebellion brewing’, the problem being that Conservatives do not see our politics, which you can call conservative, neo-conservative, or classical liberalism, as a top down proposition, where the elites dictate the way the movement will go. Conversely, we do not see it as a fully bottom up movement, either, but, rather, simply, you are either following the doctrines of American conservatism, or you aren’t. There can be no rebellion when there are no leaders in the GOP elite.

A quick tour through the week’s headlines suggests the Republican Party is beginning to come to terms with the last election and that consensus is emerging among GOP elites that the party needs to move away from discordant social issues.

There was Sen. John McCain’s daughter and his campaign manager who last week demanded that their fellow Republicans embrace same-sex marriage. Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman – the most devoted modernizer among the party’s 2012 hopefuls – won approving words from New York Times columnist Frank Rich for his call to downplay divisive values issues. The party’s top elected leaders in Congress, meanwhile, spooked by being attacked as the “party of no,” were recasting themselves as a constructive, respectful opposition to a popular president.

But outside Washington, the reality is very different. Rank-and-file Republicans remain, by all indications, staunchly conservative, and they appear to have no desire to moderate their views. GOP activists and operatives say they hear intense anger at the White House and at the party’s own leaders on familiar issues – taxes, homosexuality, and immigration. Within the party, conservative groups have grown stronger absent the emergence of any organized moderate faction.

Interestingly, the article is replete with the issue of homosexuality, mean gay marriage, of course. It makes it appear as if this is one of the huge, major, unbelievably giant issues withthe conservative base. Is it? Well, some care. Many others don’t. In terms of importance, I bet if I took a survey, it would be rather low on the scale of conservative cares. My view? I’ve said many times that this is an issue that belongs in the States, and not something that should be pushed by the national GOP. Better yet, leave it to private groups and individuals.

And, yet again, it is illegal immigration, not immigration, per se, that is the big issue, and it is a sub-set of national security. But, hey, maybe some conservatives do not see it as that big of an issue.

Taxes? You betcha, we are concerned, but, I would not say angry as of yet. That will surely come by the end of the year or, at least, within the next couple of years, as taxes go up to cover all the mountainous spending happening now and sure to come. The Democrats are either going to let the 2001/2003 tax cuts lapse, or rescind them. There will be no “tax cut for 95% of American taxpayers.” Congress is not even considering it. You’ll see your taxes, and your costs, go up if they pass their global warming legislation, their socialized healthcare/insurance legislation, their…well, you name it, they are making the Republicans under Bush look like peasants in their spending.

If we can break it down, what conservatives want is limited government control of our private lives and our business lives (known as the Moral and Economic cores of classical liberalism,) low taxation, responsible government, strong national Defense, and an adherence to the principles laid out in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, particularly looking at the 9th and 10th Amendments. We want it to be a nation of law, not a nation of the whim of the politician. We want elected politicians to be responsive to the People, not running around doing whatever the heck they want, ignoring what they campaigned on.

We believe in the greatness and uniqueness of the United States. We know there are problems, what nation, what state, what county, what city, what sub-division, what family doesn’t? But, we do not want to remake our country. We want it to thrive on the principles established back in the late 1700’s. And, yes, leaders are needed. Leaders who espouse, and follow, the beliefs. At times, compromise must be made, such is life. But the leaders, particularly the elected ones, needn’t be squishy. They do need to stand for something, stick to their guns, and stop apologizing, stop knuckling under to those who want to push the USA to become something its Founders never wanted.

Peggy Noonanonce wrote that the GOP is dismissive of its base. That leads to pandering and ignoring. Which was why so many loved Sarah Palin. Was she perfect? No. We aren’t looking for perfect. We are looking for leaders who stick to their guns. And Noonansaid that the Democrat Party was afraid of their base. Perhaps its high time that the GOP elite start being a little afraid, and start listening.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU