A NEW “OLD” PARTY – THE CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLICANS

It is time to form a new political party, when the old party is so corrupted that it no longer deserves the support of its members.  As a life long Republican I am saddened to see the passing of the Party of Reagan, but not nearly as saddened as he would be to see the his Party, the Party of Lincoln and Roosevelt (Teddy that is) and Bush (41 and 43) become irrelevant!  (Since third parties always loose elections and in fact guarantee the loss of the party that they “split-off from” the hope is that with enough backing the New Party – will NOT be a THIRD part but rather BECOME THE  SUCCESSOR TO THE OLD PARTY AND TAKE OVER THE EXISTING PARTY – A REVOLUTION FROM WITHIN!)

Conservative lessons learned or Parenting a Nation:

Our last two National elections have, I believe left a number of clear messages.

1. Julius Caesar was right – to divide and conquer is still a valid strategy.
2. Marx and Engels were right – democracy and free enterprise cannot be taught to those with an empty belly.
3. Goebbels was right – repeat a big enough lie often enough and it becomes the truth
4. Thatcher was right – socialism fails when government runs out of other peoples money to spend

All of the above paraphrases are mine, but the lessons belong to us all.  As an unrepentant Conservative and a putative Republican I am well aware of the fact that politics “is the art of the possible.”  It makes no sense to alienate an electorate by taking positions that CANNOT prevail if you are seeking an elective victory.

This does NOT mean that Constitutional Conservatives need to give up their dearly held beliefs and values.  It does mean that we must reinvent ourselves, rebrand our image and remarket those core values and beliefs that can prevail and de-emphasize those views that are “out-of-favor.”  We must recognize that total agreement across the board within and across any large heterogeneous group is not only impossible to achieve but will necessarily result in a verbal regression to the mean with a resultingly bland statement of beliefs and values.

So lets start with a clear statement of conservative Constitutional beliefs and values;

We the Constitutional Conservatives (REPUBLICANS) of the United States of America believe:

1. All men and women, irrespective of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, country of birth, condition of health or environment, or any other current or future politically correct modifier, are entitled to “equality of opportunity”.
2. Equality of opportunity does not mean or imply that all individuals are possessed of equal skills, intelligence, drive, interest, financial or social resources, or work ethic and we acknowledge that these differences, as well as many others exist and will result in inequalities of out comes.  And that those differences add to the richness and variety of our society.
3. Civilized and compassionate society does have an obligation to provide for the truly unfortunate, (by any measure) and to provide a “hand-up” to the less fortunate but does not have any obligation to those who seek to avoid their own responsibilities for themselves and others, in other words there is no obligation to provide a “hand-out.”
4. It is reasonable and appropriate to expect a Quid for each Quo, all actions have a cost and all members of society who benefit from the society must contribute the whole.

Our Founders (who art in heaven hallowed be their names,) created in their divinely inspired wisdom, a framework for a government for the protection of individual liberties and freedoms FROM governmental overreach.

We have wandered far from these moorings and allowed, by our inaction those very freedoms and liberties given to us all by “natural law” (our Creator) to erode! And we must reclaim them or perish!

1. The Constitution provides for just 18 enumerated and certain specified powers and authorities to be delegated by the People to the Federal Government, (See The U.S. Constitution Article I, Section 8) and expressly reserves the remainder to the States and the sovereigns  – “the PEOPLE.”  (See The U.S. Constitution Article I, Amendments IX and X)
2. Accordingly each of the following divisive issues should be banished from the national – FEDERAL debate as having been expressly reserved to the individual states or the people.

1. Marriage
2. Sexual orientation
3. Equality of outcomes
4. Family matters and arrangements, including all aspects of procreation
5. Religion (Except as expressly provided in The U.S. Constitution Article I, Amendments I) the non-establishment clause.
6. Gun Control (A natural right of the people which the Federal Government “shall not infringe”.)

We must resolve NOT to allow the terms of the debate and the very words used in description of issues to become loaded with secondary emotional uses and meanings distractive to logical free debate of issues and negotiated settlements and compromises on truly Constitutionally Reserved Federal issues.  We can accomplish this by agreeing on the meaning of words and making those meanings clear and using only those words with those meanings in the National Debate and REFUSE to participate in national political discussions of issues that are expressly not Federal Constitutional issues!

IN THIS MANNER, WE CAN AGAIN WIN THE BATTLE OF IDEAS IN THE NATIONAL – FEDERAL FORUM AND THEREBY WIN ELECTIONS AND REESTABLISH THE GOVERNMENT OF OUR FOUNDERS.  WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PROMOTING OUR INDIVIDUAL DEARLY HELD VALUES AND BELIEFS IN THE CORRECT FORUMS – OUR STATES, OUR LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES (COUNTIES AND CITIES, TOWNS) OUR PLACES OF WORSHIP AND WITHIN OUR FAMILIES!