Perhaps because Republicans have politicians who jump at the “opportunity” to “work with” the Democrats in a “bipartisan” effort to pass legislation which the Democrats can’t pass on their own and Conservatives consider anathema?

Or are you addressing the MSM constantly blaming the Republicans for opposing Liberals? In that case you SHOULD know why they are blamed, though why they don’t have an effective response after all these years of the Drive By media arm of the Democrat party is, indeed, a question.

That “large majority” presumes the polls aren’t skewed on this issue. And many, if not most of those who support “universal background checks” do not know anything about the issue, they even believe the lie that 40% of sales are unchecked*.

Also, Senator Coburn isn’t elected by the large majority of the country. He’s elected by a majority of Oklahomans.

* this lie comes from a “survey” of 251 people who were asked if they “thought” they bought a firearm from someone who was not a dealer. 36% of the 251 people thought they had. The “survey” was taken early in the Clinton Administration (1992 IIRC) before the Clinton Administration stopped issue of Federal Firearms Licenses to people who conducted business from their homes (often called “kitchen table dealers”). It was also before the Brady Handgun Violence Protection Act was signed into law on November 30, 1993 with an effective date of February 28, 1994. So the survey was conducted before the Brady law was in effect with the requirement for a background check and LONG before the FBI brought the Brady required National Instant Check System active on line in November, 1998.

“We really need to make Republican members of Congress sign a pledge that
they will not engage in gang violence against the party. This
secretive bipartisan gang work is getting out of hand.”
Who is the party? Reince Priebus? John Boehner? Eric Cantor? Mitch McConnell? If they are working against them, I am for it. Unfortunately, what I see is that they are working FOR them, against US.
Fortunately, I think that is what you are saying, that they are working against the interest of the people “which brung them to the dance”. As such, the people of these states should turn them over until they get someone who can really represent them.

Tom Coburn…now there is a shocker. Uh oh…Tom..not a good choice working in secret with the likes of Schumer. I think we have pretty good gun laws that cover what they are talking about. What I don’t know about is gun shows.

At any rate…Chicago has the stiffest gun laws in the country and there are murders every day…and the same goes for Schumer’s state…strict gun laws…murders everyday.

BTW…just a comment but now that Washington and Colorado have made pot legal…oh my oh my…how are they going to explain the rise in gun violence now that they have legalized it. So much for Columbine. Pot is a mood alterating drug that is accompanied by symptoms such as paranoia.

I totally agree! Most politicians get so good at political-speak that they can’t say anything clearly.

Is Newt Gingrich a “squish” now? I just got an email today from him, talking about how he has always found it unworkable and inhumane to deport 12 million illegals. I said that a few years ago and the hardliners here thought I was a squish. Now Newt Gingrich is talking about it in his email to me today! And better yet, he’s still angry at Romney, he’s still running for President against Romney’s ashes!

You gotta read this to believe it all…

He’s still running his campaign against Mitt Romney. But he wants people to know, now, that he’s not for mass deportation, he’s in line with Marco Rubio, and he’s all in favor of keeping grandmothers who have been here for 25 years in America:

“My position was that people who have come here recently, have no ties to
this country, should go home. But the-size-fits-all deportation of 12
million people, without regard to their circumstances, would constitute a
level of inhumanity the American people would never accept.”

So Romney was to the right of Gingrich and now Gingrich is to the left of Romney but he’s correct because he’s saying what Marco Rubio thinks now, sort of, which is what I thought three years ago, and now it’s important, and Romney lost the election because he was too far to the right and turned off Hispanic voters, and unfairly attacked Newt Gingrich.

Is that the story this week? What’s it going to be next week?

Wow no wonder everyone’s confused. Here’s the whole post, which was contained in an email to me from Newt Gingrich today, in case I’m missing anything…

http://www.gingrichproductions.com/2013/02/an-immigration-debate-based-on-reality/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=an-immigration-debate-based-on-reality

Now, you said this two or three years ago, that we weren’t going to deport all these people, someone here at Redstate called you names. But it’s now Newt Gingrich’s official position on the issue. So what happened?

Exactly carolina! peace…

What we really need is for Republicans to sign a pledge to uphold the Constitution…oooops, they already swore an oath on the Bible for that.
Oh well. So since that is worthless, maybe we should ask them to sign a pledge to stick to conservative principles, regardless of the liberal propaganda media outrage. The MSM is never gonna pat ‘em on the back no matter what anyway. So damn the torpedos. Full steam ahead!

In any case, Gingrich is using a strawman here. No one wants mass-deportation. However’ I’m definitely not in favor of a path to citizenship in accordance with Senator Lightweight’s plan, that relies on the integrity of Big Sis, above all.

This is a responsibility of the local Republican committee, local media and local conservative community organizations. This is where good digital communications comes in. This is what AM should be teaching local red state activists to do. To me this is a problem with our poor grass roots programs. Red States and blue states need local activists with specific goals. The reasons for action will be different but the techniques, networking, and often the objectives will have much in common.

It is also a failure of conceptual leadership. Perhaps it is not possible to develop this external concept leadership without the grass roots organizing. I was reading through the American Majority home page and was quite impressed with their successes and spent a while studying there syllabus for activists. It seems thorough, except for one glaring omission. It doesn’t appear to address the why of activism. Perhaps it shouldn’t. But of course if training of this caliber doesn’t address why then we need something else.

It isn’t just enough to say “better schools” or “conservative representatives”, that won’t take votes away from Patronage Economy Democrats. We need coordinated demands.

Democrats have succeeded because they pander to specific constituencies with a single focus. The gay rights began as a rejection of sodomy laws. No one was talking about changing the definition of marriage, they were focused on one thing. And they were successful. Now, they are focused on one thing and are continuing that success. This is a good example of a coordinated grass roots movement that has broad reach. Who are our leaders who have the vision and focus to direct large coordinated efforts to target conservative objectives. For example school choice? How can we not build a nation wide network of community activists demanding vouchers and systems to direct all federal money to the child, not the state? Why is it so hard to see the value of this to Hispanic and Black communities? This is one objective that could link red and blue state conservative activist organizations in a common cause.

You asked why there is only a one way street for compromise. I suggest that is because only the democrats have a solid, capable grass roots network.

Not holding people accountable for what they do that is illegal is the main cause of violence in this country. Personally I think Newt will say anything that sounds good, and thinks will get him elected.

It isn’t necessary to deport everyone. Simply make it costly, impractical or expensive to stay, If you have something of value, like jobs, liberty, property rights that are not widely available, why not charge a premium for those who want to enjoy these things?
Free market right? No reason why non-citizens should benefit from our programs, like Social Security but there is also no reason why we shouldn’t tax them for the right to stay. If they can go home and do better, they will. Otherwise they will pay the premium and stay. At which point who cares?

Nah, Newt says what he thinks, before saying another thing altogether the next day. It’s his nature.

Do you mean an annual fee for earned legal status? Interesting…

Is it really legal? Where I grew up, people smoked pot until they could legally buy booze. Most everyone gave it up after that, or by their mid twenties. It is only legal for adults. It isn’t legal for people under 21, which means there is now an even bigger black market for pot, which means cash, which means guns. And I bet it will mean more people getting arrested too. But that is just a guess.

Did it pass? Did it cut anything.
Personally, I am not interested in what money you won’t spend in the next Congress. They ONLY cuts that count are the cuts from spending that takes place during this congressional session. I can’t balance my budget by borrowing today, but promising to borrow less in the future. That won’t work.

But I can balance my budget by doing without everything except necessities right now, until my spending and my income are in line.

If we judge people in Washington based on whether their good ideas pass, dear me, we must really trust in their collective wisdom.

It is a complete pipe dream to demand the complete elimination of the federal deficit in one fiscal year, that is for sure. And it’s even worse when we demean the importance of having actual methods to actually cut it at all in the first place.

Huh, I don’t think I’ve ever heard that particular idea (charging for legal status). I’ll have to think it over, but I think I like it..

Can you point to any instance in human history that gun violence rose after marijuana legalization? Why are you REALLY against marijuana? Why do you care what recreational substance people put into their bodies? We need less government, less regulation. After a long, hard workweek, why should the government dictate whether I can light up a joint or crack a beer?

I read that Coburn personally contributed money to Joe Manchin’s 2012 re-election campaign; figure that one out! Needless to say that pretty well summed him up; so this comes as no surprise. And OK needs to rid itself of him! Then this with Schumer on pro -gun control law; it does make one wonder what those who we voted for to “protect our rights” are up to.”

And the loser pot head section opens their mouth, who would have thought that would happen……….

There are a lot of dead people all over the world, killed because of dope or as a result of its use, that may argue with your pot is not bad mentality. And we do not care what losers do with their body, does not mean we should make it legal. Everyone likes to show the failure of prohibition as the example as to why pot should be legal, problem is with the example, it costs taxpayers many times the money to deal with the affects of rampant drinking then it did to enforce laws. Alcohol kills many time over the amount of people now then under prohibition. Alcoholism is much higher now, etc etc etc. We are worse off now with the legalization of alcohol then we were when it was illegal. So that is why we care what dope heads put in their body.

And a piece of advice, if you do smoke the weed, grow up. And if you would spend half the time and energy on bettering yourself and your community as you obviously do worrying about those who want to keep weed illegal, you would be much better off and your community would be as well. Such a pathetic thing to worry about legalizing weed.

I didn’t start it, Erick didn’t start it, The Junior Senator from Florida started it first.

Excellent point. We need to hammer it home at every opportunity and in every way possible. When the dispute is about the direction of the country, merely slowing our descent into statism/collectivism is NOT compromise. True compromise would result in NO net movement in the wrong direction, and real right turns would be movement in the constitutional, limited Government direction.

There is no God given right to US citizenship. They should be grateful for any courtesy we extend them.

I like Senator Coburn. If Oklahoma doesn’t want him he’s welcome in Maryland anytime.

“As long as our members in the Senate know that primary challenges are
not a significant threat, they will continue to do as they please,
knowing that in the end the base will turn out to vote for them. Until
we in the base unite to become a strong and visible support mechanism
for anti-establishment candidates willing to primary well funded
incumbents, nothing will change.

“And that means pulling out our wallets to give, and give and give
until even the low-information lever-pullers know who our candidates
are.”

It
also means that “conservative activists” have to become “voting
members” of their local Republican Party committees. Half of these
local precinct committeeman slots are vacant, on average, in every
locale. Where I live, in Maricopa County Arizona, only 51% of the slots
are open. We have a pretty good conservative majority in the slots
now, but our goal is to get more and more of these slots filled so we
can start passing near-unanimous resolutions by the county committee and
by the legislative district committees within the county (and by the
other county and LD committees) condemning those in Congress who will
not stay true to their oaths of office and will not fight tooth and
toenail for our liberties. For example, next month I plan to introduce
the following resolution:

“Resolution of the Maricopa County, Arizona Republican Executive Committee

WHEREAS
the 2012 Republican Party Platform states, with respect to the national
problem of immigrants coming to the United States of America in
violation of the country’s immigration laws, or remaining here in
violation of the country’s immigration laws, and state laws relating to
immigration, that “we oppose any form of amnesty for those who, by
intentionally violating
the law, disadvantage those who have obeyed it” and “[g]ranting amnesty only rewards and encourages more law breaking . . . ,”

“BE
IT RESOLVED we hereby condemn any elected Republican office holder,
including our Republican delegations in the U.S. House and Senate, who
have supported in the past, now support, or support in the future any
legislation granting amnesty and United States citizenship for those
who, by intentionally violating the law, disadvantage those who have
obeyed it.”

Will this do any good? Doubtful. But it’s a start.
And what if we could get conservative majorities on every local
district, county and state committee in the nation? And get all of them
to start passing these kinds of resolutions? What if, for example, all
of the Republican Party committees across Oklahoma passed resolutions
denouncing Coburn’s latest “reaching across the aisle” move?

What
if we could get conservatives all across the country to start flocking
in droves into their respective monthly Republican Party committee
meetings. And figuring out how to become voting members of the Party?
Eventually, we’d have real good conservatives in all the county, state
and RNC officer positions.

Not to mention a full-strength Party
where it needs to be at full-strength: at the precinct level. Where
we could organize and unite for effective GOTV.

As we did in my
legislative district. We got 84+% of Republicans to the polls, while
the state average turnout percentage was 77%.

The old saying that all politics is local is correct.

Go here to learn more: http://precinctproject.us and http://theprecinctproject.wordpress.com

I hope this helps.

Thank you.

CW

I’ve been meaning to ask, CW, is the committeeman system in place in all 50 states? I can find nothing about becoming a committeeman here in Michigan.

Also, while I can’t hold a candle, CW, I have been on a mission since December to get us in the chorus off of our RedState barstools and into active participation within existing organizations. We have an abundance of opinion. What doesn’t seem to be clear is a path forward for turning well worn arguments into reality.

None of this matters if we keep electing the same buffoons over and over again. We need to assemble now.

And I voted for GWB both times, as I thought the alternative would be far worse. Yet, I feel that it was partly President Bush’s big Government lite policies that paved the way for the Democrat victories of 2006 and 2008. I we don’t leave the GOP, we need to take it back before a change in direction is no longer possible.

GJ…here is what I know. Marijuana allows your natural inhibitions to excel. So…if I am a pothead and I don’t like someone saying something…my pot is the enabler to justify that I will pick up a gun or a knife and get rid of that person…or at the very least do something to that person that I would not do..if I were not smoking it. Secondly, pot causes paranoia and if someone is worried that everyone is out to get him/her…well, why not pick up a gun and shoot them?

Most of the shootings that our dear Prez is talking about…the people were under the influence of mood altering drugs or they were having withdrawal symptom .. antidepressants, tranquilizers, etc.

Oh…one other thing that pot does for you…you don’t particularly give a darn about anything…everything is hunky dorey…and that way it is easy to CONTROL the collective.

I was a precinct delegate in Michigan back in the 1970′s. There were 2 ways at that time to become a delegate. 1.) Run in the primary election (then it was in March). For this you need to see your town or city clerk and have your name put on the ballot. I needed a minimal amount of registered GOP voters to sign my petition and prestodigitation and a little shoe leather later my name was on the ballot. I was the only one running and won. The second time my opponent was the GOP National Committeeman from Michigan, Peter Fletcher -RINO and I lost by 6 votes!. 2.) If the position is unfilled, attend the monthly Executive meeting of the County GOP and have them appoint you the interim precinct delegate until the next election cycle. Even though I lost to Peter Fletcher, was appointed an At Large delegate to the 1976 GOP National Convention by Ronaldus Magnus himself to fill one of the 10 of 29 slots he had won in the March 1976 primary and had no committed precinct delegate running and was the first vote from Michigan for Ronaldus Magnus, before the State Reagan Chairman State Senator Jack Wellborn. After my narrow loss to Fletcher I was to be challenged by the MI State GOP as a delegate so Jack made me the first Reagan vote, because they would have to challenge everyone else before they got to me. It was a great convention and I organized the Texas half of Kemper Arena for the Reagan demonstration, which Craig Shirley in his book on that convention claims as the longest in the history of the GOP!

The current crop of Republicans are no different than the democraps.

I hadn’t yet scrolled down to your replies when I commented above, audax1. Thanks for the additional info. Actually, I am an interim precinct delegate. I ran last year and lost to some faceless person nobody has ever seen. We suspect he may have been a democrat plant, but it is just as possible that he simply never showed up after winning. So, last month I was appointed interim delegate.

I’m going to our county and state conventions later this month. This will be my first experience with a floor vote. I’m looking forward to it.

What Chuck Schumer has is an influence on WallStreet money that flows into DC, tens of millions of it.

What County are you in? I ran in Genesee the first time and Washtenaw the second.

I can’t speak to Michigan at all, but it is likely there is an officer system. Generally the state GOP has county GOP organizations. The ‘precinct delegates’ are elected or appointed to a central committee that forms the county GOP committee — that committee will generally elect officers for the county GOP. For me it wasn’t a big secret, it’s more that nobody bothers to talk about it, much less learn how it works at the local levels.

My examples are a generalization based upon my experience in my state, but I am sure most state orgs are relatively similar in the broad definitions.

…and don’t forget that polls only reflect answer to the questions, and it’s easy to phrase questions aimed at an outcome. For instance, when promoting a bill against domestic violence, the question “Have you stopped beating your spouse yet, yes or no?” yields a 100% hit on the need for said bill…

I’m in Oakland in the 8th district. Greater Oakland GOP is our club here.

http://www.greateroakgop.com/

76 was my first year as an eligible voter. I saw Jerry Ford speak in our town square. I wasn’t yet aware of Reagan’s big push for a change in the philosophy and goals of the Republican party.

And I voted.