Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues Politics In General Why I seek change

This was moved from another thread because I thought it was too far off topic.

I think it is brave of anyone to continue to associate with the Republican party in this day and age. There was a time when I, too, was associated with the Republican party, but that was when I saw it as a party of ideas, pragmatism, and the good of the country. Now, it is all about continuing power, increasing authority, and ignoring or debasing the opposition. It has ceased to be relevant, but continues, like a cancer, to suck the life out of the nation. If we don't excise it, it will overwhelm the vital organs and they will continue to shut down until the nation is dead-dead. Not "mostly dead." Either Democratic candidate is far preferable to anything with an "R" next to its name. At least that is a party that does, at least in rhetoric and policy, put the interests of the people before the party. The modern GOP is a divisive, dangerous creation that is spreading its toxicity not only throughout the country, but around the world.

The idea that the United States is separate from the world and somehow superior to everyone else is a fallacy, and a fatal one at that. Why were we attacked on 9/11? Because of hubris, and that very perception that we think we are somehow better than everyone else. Personally, I think the United States is (or can be) a shining example to the world of how democracy, diversity, prosperity and humanity can work in tandem, but we sure haven't been acting like it. We are a part of the world, and can be a good neighbor, and world leader that is respected, honored, and emulated. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't listen to others. We should act in our best interests, yes, but be aware of others and more importantly the impact of our actions on others. Americans have a generosity of spirit that is unparalleled in the world, yet those muscles are atrophying from disuse both at home and abroad. I'd like to see that spirit revived, and it certainly won't be by any current Republican leader.

That, ultimately, is why I seek change. I want the United States back on a path to world leadership, and until we get our own house in order, we will cease to have a significant, positive influence in the world. We need to right our economy by improving the lot of wage earning class of Americans that have been ignored for nearly 30 years; we need to demonstrate our ideals overseas instead of insisting that others "do as we say and not as we do"; we need to regain our place as the generator of good ideas and ideals. Then the 21st can also be and "American Century."

I was thinking just this morning, NWP, that at a very basic level I - perhaps we - have already won the general election.

Every one of the leading candidates is left of the existing conservative power structure. That means no matter who wins, the government will shift slightly to the left. back towards the center.

It's not a revolution, but it's a step in the right direction, and barring extreme circumstances, it is going to happen. More can happen, and should, and, I hope, will - but in the meantime I am grateful for this first step.

Agree with Mellowicious on moving toward the center, no matter which among the three is elected. However, I see the Republicans working slowly toward putting up a nominee that seems (to me) to be their best contender. OTOH, I see the Democrats progressively eliminating their candidates of substance. As an independent, I have been looking somewhat askance at this--this cycle, IMO, the Republicans are doing better job refining their raw material than the Democrats.

NWP,

As a recoverying Republican...GW Bush and his bunch certainly broke me from feeling a necessity to belong to any party, I go along with you NWP on all of your points about the Repub. party.

We have a lot of house cleaning, reorganizing, the need to bring in those who respect the founder's visions and written creed, and what so many died for. As you stated, we need to solidify our country first...then move on outside our borders and reconstruct our relationships with the rest of the world and attempt to promote peace and good will where possible.

We have to have elected members of Government willing to work with whomever, regardless of party affiliation to resolve our problems. Otherwise we will stay in a constant state of crisis and eventually...eventually if we can't as a nation can't take responsibility to resolve our own problems...somebody else will.

As you've said in various ways on different threads...the problems we bear may well bring an end to the United States of American as we've known it... if we don't start resolving some very serious problems.

I would like to repeat a quote that I ran across... a quote on a site that didn't have a name attached to it. It read:

"The Constitution isn't perfect, but it's better than the system we're using now." - Author Unknown by me.

I agree we need change. We have to get back on track.

But I also think -- and I know some will disagree with this -- it's not enough just to elect someone fresh with new ideas. We also have to hold accountable those that got us into this mess.

Yes, I mean impeaching Bush and Cheney. We need to cleanse our government. We need to address the lies, the corruption, the insanity of the past seven years. We need to examine how we got into this situation. And after we've done the analysis, the soul-searching, and the holding accountable of those responsible for the mess we are in, THEN we can move forward with real change.

If we can't impeach this year, I hope the candidates now running will pledge to investigate and prosecute the Bush administration.

Are you listening Sens. Obama and Clinton?

The last Presidential candidate who was "listening" to those ideas got marginalized and run out of the campaign on a rail, anniefey.

I think they need to get into office, first. Then, with the authority of the Presidency, they can open up the doors on all the dirty little secrets (except, of course, all the documents that have already been destroyed). THEN we might have leverage to prosecute. I would like to see that.

Steve, TOUCHE'...indeed he did. March 4th is coming up for Texas primaries...and as far as I know Dennis is still not on the ballot. As you probably know...the Texas DP removed him from the ballot because of refusing to sign the party loyalty oath "as written". They didn't like his rewritten version.

sad, sad, sad day for a lot of folks here.

Austin itself is not as conservative as most of the larger Texas cities. In fact, I don't think that it has much of a conservative base at all.

Just 40 miles to the SW of Austin is the Village near my home. Now this is conservatistville. Half of the county that I live in is Ron Pauls. I'm just a few miles out of his district. He does carry a strong following in my county, which could be expected.

Dennis took the Dem Party of Texas to court over that, Gregg. The court ruled in favor of the Party. Dennis is not on the Texas ballot.

One of the principal reasons, IMHO, why the Republicans are desperate to win in '08 is to prevent that from happening.

Although, it's only fair to point out I think, that Dennis Kucinich filed articles of impeachment against Cheney using solely his public statements that misled the country into invading Iraq.

Steve,

It's difficult to believe that the TDP could impose such an oath on any candidate. It's even harder to believe the courts have backed the party.

In the beginning of the presidential race, it took me awhile to try to obsorb the information necessary to just boil down the possibilities of who I might want to consider for a presidential nominee.

I have to admit that in Dennis' previous run, I ignored him and kind of viewed him an uninspiring type of person. But, by sheer accident, I caught a video of Dennis on the net about a year ago. Looking past this guy's less charismatic persona and really listening to what he was saying...well, he really grabbed my attention. I mean grabbed my attention in a way that I haven't been by most politicians in a long while.

As Dennis spoke in his video, it wasn't watered down the abstract politician BullS*it. He was talking very clearly and concisely about not just the "what we need to do's"...but HOW.

I just consider Dennis a genuine asset to this country. He's not a perfect guy, but he's not pretending to be. But the guy is an alligator and will stand up to the establishment and he doesn't cower down to all of the power machines or government officials. He makes a case...presents his evidence, and goes after the issues or parties with the intent to initiate some postive type of change. He's done that since the beginning of his political career.

One more most outstanding thing about Dennis. When he has aggressively taken on issues or persons...he doesn't back-off because of threats of lossing the next election.

I am so sorry that the majority of this country didn't get to an opportunity to see Dennis for who he is and what he has to offer this country.

CORP-MEDIA...welp, there's no question as to the many motives that they didn't want Dennis to succeed. As you probably noticedin Opensecret.org, the list of lobbyist of which Dennis has had some affilation were so few that in the grand scheme of things, hardly even an honorable mention. Of all of the presidential candidates... Dennis' name was at the bottom of the list. The numbers were so low that he almost didn't qualify to be listed.