Today when I was in church, the Gospel Acclamation was Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, and one of the things that my priest addressed in his Homily was injustice. One of the ways we feel the presence of God is our anger to injustice and our feelings of resistance towards the presence of evil. My boys were baptized today in the Catholic Church, as I was as a young boy, and all of that is creating a path of walking in the light, though we may be surrounded by the wicked. Christ teaches us to value our principles of righteousness and justice over the popular and often wicked ways of the world. We are called upon to be children of Christ by living our lives through His teachings, which is to reject sin every time that Satan and his lies are presented to us, remembering that it means nothing to gain the world and lose our souls.
What does this have to do with the state of the Republican Party today? Today we witnessed the unsurprising McCain like move of Scozzafava endorsing the Democrat, reaching around across the aisle to endorse the candidate who would best represent the district blah blah blah. As usual a McCainiac has come to stab conservatives directly in the chest, only to have the media and party leaders question the fact that conservatives are moving the party further to the right at the detriment of the party. However, under a closer examination, it has nothing to do with the party being taken over by extremists as much as it does that it is past time that a conservative party becomes taken over by conservatives. This is not a time for bowing down to the Democrats on bended knee as McCain and the Republican Main Street Leadership would have us do. This is a time, to quote Phylis Schafly, for the party to offer a choice, rather than an echo.
Scozzafava is the straw that broke the camel’s back in terms of who we are as a party. Many in leadership want us to be like Howard Dean, all things to all people depending on the region. I say that principle has not worked for the Republican Party; the more we have expanded the Big Tent as Karl Rove said, the more that conservatism has suffered. The liberals in the GOP have owned the party, and we spend far too much of our time covering liberals like McCain, Lapdog Lindsey and the stimulus voting Maine girls and not enough time advancing a comprehensive conservative agenda.
There are a concrete set of tested and true principles that are and should be non negotiable within the GOP-all of which revolve around the idea that the Judeo-Christian society and family are the best ways to create a strong America. This goes deeper than hot button issues of abortion and marriage; although those are important issues included in our party’s framework, it comes down to the way we view our society. We believe that the family is the focal point of our society, and whether it is through the use of increasing private and religous education or protecting the sanctity of life, we must provide an alternative to the liberal secular agenda. We know of course that liberals believe that knuckle dragging Christians are incapable of raising successful children and must be indoctrinated by the village elders who believe that teaching God is dead and moral relativism is somehow more neutral than teaching that God is great, and there is a clear difference between good and evil.
As conservatives, we know that there is a difference between good and evil, and that as conservatives we are called upon for the greater good. We are not afraid to show our children the greatness of God, why should we deny this in front of our party and our nation? We must not put a few votes over the principle of saving the fabric of our society. Remember what Christ has taught us.
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38)
It’s time to close this big Tent and rebuild this party as Reagan, the greatest and most conservative President of our time showed us how-within the principles of freedom, justice and the American way. We will stand and fight, not because we are dividers, but because we offer a clear alternative of society, one where we will stand up and fight for our children’s society. The tent has only room for principle, not party. Let us stand up for the family, and for our country from the McCains and Pelosis, for they are one and the same. We will do it ad majorem dei gloriam-for the greater Glory of God.
Amen...
$peciallist Sunday, November 1st at 8:53PM EST (link)np
LOL! astroturf...
redneck_hippie Sunday, November 1st at 9:40PM EST (link)Do they give a Nobel in community organizing?
“We must not lose our faculty to dare, especially in dark days.” - Churchill in March, 1942.
Remember NY-23.
Dede didn't reach across the aisle
bs Sunday, November 1st at 8:54PM EST (link)She marched right across it and plopped her butt down in the other pew.
Great diary!!
Decorum is fo’ suckas
Wow, wow, wow and wow !
Kenny Solomon Sunday, November 1st at 8:57PM EST (link)Congratulations on your Sons’ Baptisms !!
As to your words: Wow, wow, wow and wow again !
Cheers !
Of course you can have my guns……. Bullets first.
I didn’t say rounds, shells or magazines……
I said bullets first.
One quibble.
Steph C Sunday, November 1st at 9:00PM EST (link)It’s not that the tent needs closing. This country really trends toward conservatism. What has happened is the conservatives have been pushed to the back and out of the tent that Reagan built. It’s time we took our tent back.
“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
The Big Tent era has come and gone. Shoot the elephant too and put it out of its misery
newsentinel Sunday, November 1st at 9:01PM EST (link)Whatever the Big Tent was supposed to accomplish, it has failed dismally in its objective. I agree with your beautifully written Call to stand up and fight–”for principle, not party.” The Big Tent concept had an attractive sound to it, but, in fact, it permitted infiltration of liberal and even leftist ideas about the role of government. And that is what has brought us to this sorry state of affairs, where GOP insiders would endorse a candidate like Scozzafava who was also the candidate of the Working Families Party (a party that takes marching orders from George Soros). Did the GOP leaders who endorsed Scozzafava really think they could get away with such a revolting betrayal of Reagan principles, not to mention Jeffersonian principles?
WOW.
redneck_hippie Sunday, November 1st at 9:05PM EST (link)You won’t believe this (okay so you will). Just as I finished reading, my lights flickered on and off, my answering machine beeped 3 times, and then I heard the distinct noise that means a transformer near my house blew. There is no storm and no wind.
I seriously felt a tingle because your words were so great. But a power surge?
“We must not lose our faculty to dare, especially in dark days.” - Churchill in March, 1942.
Remember NY-23.
OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
billg Sunday, November 1st at 9:12PM EST (link)You really put the whole thing in the right perspective, BlackConservative! And as I have proclaimed in other items, it does matter that you have real and true conservative values for faith, family and country if you wish to be in the tent! God Bless you and Your Family.
Bring our military and intelligence forces home to the good ole USA. We need them here and now to remove the communists which have infiltrated our Federal government.
Another top notch diary
TNJim Sunday, November 1st at 9:18PM EST (link)and very excellent perspective. Reagan never intended for the tent to be taken over, just that everyone was welcome to come in and see what we were all about.
Highly ideal and well said!
“No. You can’t” -Moe Lane
The Big Tent must always continue to grow...
rbdwiggins Sunday, November 1st at 9:31PM EST (link)Its size and scope limited only by the number of Americans who are willing to embrace the constitutional principles of our Founding and are wholly committed to protect and defend the US Constitution and our Republic.
Convince the skeptics, or prove them wrong. Don’t just shut them out, and clearly, don’t adopt under the guise of appeasement any of their principles.
“Bold Colors“…
“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.” – Ronald Reagan
I'm worried that the Big Tent doesn't have enough room
6eorge Jetson Monday, November 2nd at 1:01AM EST (link)for all of the conservatives that are awakening to the danger Obama is posing.
Oh, and the squishes are welcome to any pup tents they can scrounge.
The tent has only room for principle, not party. I agree.
gekster Sunday, November 1st at 9:45PM EST (link)If the poles of our tent are conservative principles, and we stand to hold those poles up, then I believe that our tent will accomodate and grow for all that come.
Lets not close the tent, but rather get the right people to hold up the poles.
You will find it will expand to cover all who want to come.
The one person who held up the center pole the highest was Ronald Reagan.
He never strayed from the conservatism that got him elected over and over again.
The Govorner of one of the most liberal state in the nation, and then President right after Jimmy Carter took us left.
In spite of all that was said of him by the left and liberals during his first term in office, he got re-elected again.
He WON by keeping conservative principles to his heart.
Newt Gingrich once said that Reagan consrvatism was dead.
“Thats when I lost Newt.”
I say as long some Americans believe in and try to live by the conservative principles like the ones I found in Uncle Ronnie, then it isn’t dead.
Our tent poles will be as oak.
A political party cannot be all things to all people.
It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.
Ronald Reagan
Every deer hunter in Michigan still likes to take a shot at a squirrel, rabbit, or even a troll every now and then.
It's not so much that I want to close the tent
BlackConservative Monday, November 2nd at 12:34AM EST (link)As much as it needs to be re examined. We are to be a conservative party, with the poles being social, fiscal and national conservatism, being held up by the members who believe in all of these principles. For too long we have ignored parts of the tent( we’ll ignore you being pro-abortion because you cut taxes, or we’ll ignore your fiscal record because of gay marriage) until we have looked around and saw the tent expanded so much that the poles have collapsed. We need to stand strong in all aspects of conservatism or we will give in to liberalism.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.-Jesus Christ
But wait a minute BC, didn't you write this in response to GC's Lieberman diary, which
Mike gamecock DeVine Monday, November 2nd at 9:57AM EST (link)documented Joe’s filibuster threat and the possibility of his switch to the GOP?
And didn’t you object to my statement that it is obvious that we would accept his mid-term switch given the practical matters that we would be gaining a vote when the alternative is to not have his vote (and not akin to a primary or election situation in which there is a choice) and the situation that ObamaDems health care bill is a clear and present danger that has to be beaten back NOW before it does permanent damage to America before the GOP renovation is complete?
Yes
If only the Democratic Party, Congress and America would accommodate our GOP and close as well, while we get our collective head right. But they won’t.
Therefore, while I would love it if BOTH parties, much less the GOP would get its head right on the basics, the whole purpose of a party is as a vehicle to make law to better AMERICA.
And America never closes to accommodate us, and neither does the ObamaDem libs.
So we have to fight for America with the party we have. While also fighting to win over elective offices to reflect the conservative majority, and if Lieberman wants to fight health care reform and foreign enemies as a Republican, and hence as one less vote for a filibuster proof ObamaLib majority, then of course we would enlist him in the fight in 2009 and 2010 to save America.
Then, in 2010, when primary time comes, by all means try and find a pro-lifer Republican in CT.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
There is far too much damage that can be done in these last two years
BlackConservative Monday, November 2nd at 1:42PM EST (link)All it takes is one to two pieces of legislation for the McCain/Gingrich wing to give cover to the liberals who want to ram socialism through Congress. It is far less important to have a majority party than to have a party with principles.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.-Jesus Christ
555! A Party With Principles!! nt
nessa Monday, November 2nd at 1:48PM EST (link)“If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams
Contributor to The Minority Report
Actually my goal is a majority party
redneck_hippie Monday, November 2nd at 1:52PM EST (link)because until we return to being a party with principles, we will not be in the majority. You may be saying the same thing, I’m not sure. The proximate goal remains as you said, to be principled as a party. The interim goal of majority is how our principles will be implemented, with the ultimate goal of achieving life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Notice that the leftists have only the one goal and it is their first, second and third priority: power of life and death from cradle to grave.
“We must not lose our faculty to dare, especially in dark days.” - Churchill in March, 1942.
Remember NY-23.
Lieberman's defection would make it mush less likely that a Graham could enable America destroying bills to pass
Mike gamecock DeVine Monday, November 2nd at 2:48PM EST (link)But if you don;t want to address my questions, that’s ok. I just thought the whole inspiration for this piece was your objection to accepting a Lieberman offer to switch and so was disappointed with the vague, generalized call to arms. Not that i don;t appreciate the need for a GOP leadership that is unapologetic and unabashed conservative and for trying to find the most conservative electable candidates in every congressional district in America and not backing RINOs against conservative party challengers. I do, And have made a living calling for same, but that certainly does not preclude accepting a gift defection in the mddle of a consgressional term where it is critical to prevent the passage of legislation while having only 40 votes.
But I enjoyed the rah rah for purity!
But Jesus was a semite, neither black nor white. just saying re facebook…
smile
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
We need a good old fashioned house(tent) cleaning.
Steph C Monday, November 2nd at 1:54PM EST (link)To get rid of all the trash that’s cluttering up the place.
“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
unless the trash will vote against certain America destroying legislation...nt
Mike gamecock DeVine Monday, November 2nd at 2:48PM EST (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
That's the problem with the trash.
Steph C Monday, November 2nd at 2:51PM EST (link)words and actions…
They say whatever you want to hear to get themselves elected and then it’s every man for himself in Washington.
“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
Note to Newt
Erick Brockway Sunday, November 1st at 10:02PM EST (link)Along these same lines, I tried to post the following but it doesn’t seem to be accepting comments at the moment;
Day late and a dollar short there, Newt.
What point is there in working for a Republican majority when you can’t count on their votes?
You could count on Dede Scozzafava’s vote when you endorsed her? How so?
Forget “Party” Mr. Gingrich, think “principles” first or we all lose.
And by the way, you’re not a “leader” unless someone “follows”, and followers you are losing like I lost my hair. Fast.
And no cracks from Mgmt. along those lines…
Note to lefties;
“Don’t be afraid to see what you see.”
Ronald Reagan
Join the RedState Strike Force
Chip in to get rid of “Babs” (Yes ma’am) Boxer.
Unite under liberty...
RedInABleuState Sunday, November 1st at 10:13PM EST (link)I think the Republican Party needs to be a big tent which rallies under the banner of liberty.
With it, our principles prosper; without it, we have no chance.
The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion. — Edmund Burke
It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people’s minds. — Samuel Adams
BlackRepub doing a diary as only a man of PRINCIPLE can!!!..nt
JadedByPolitics Sunday, November 1st at 10:32PM EST (link)Now if the so called “leaders” of the GOP dug deep down in their very souls and came back up with PRINCIPLES well WE The People of these United States of America would gladly jump on your bandwagon and ROLL with you!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
The problem isn't a big tent
aesthete Sunday, November 1st at 10:37PM EST (link)To paraphrase Reagan, someone who’s with me 80% of the time is an ally, not a 20% enemy. The problem is that the tent’s stakes keep getting moved ever to the left! The foundations of the tent — the principles that keep it tethered to the ground — are what we should ensure are in place. Looking at the present-day Republican party, it’s clear that the principles which have guided the party since Reagan have been all but lost. As such, I think that before we talk about who fits into the big tent, we should define what the big tent’s purpose is, and tailor the rules of entry accordingly.
Guilt is a rope that wears thin.
-Ayn Rand
“I am a freeman in a free state!”
-Last words of Dumnorix, chieftan of the Aedui, 54 BC
Man alive,...where have you been BC....the title get's a recommend...but the article???
AceInTX Monday, November 2nd at 2:37AM EST (link)Simply WOW!!!
House Conservatives Fund
Michael Williams for Senate
Toomey US Senate
SarahPAC
55555! I agree. Minimum Requirements to be met by all R/C wannabes.
Rod_Patrick Monday, November 2nd at 8:48AM EST (link)Must promise and must show some proof that he or she is for:
1. Fiscal conservativism.. Limit or reduce spending and debt.
2. Pro-liberty. Will not curtail individual rights. [Will never promote faith-based policies BUT WILL NEVER MALIGN RELIGION and faith of any denomination either.]
3. Respect Constitution. Federalism and republicanism.
4. Free Market.
5. Strong Republic. Security but WAR WILL ALWAYS BE THE LAST OPTION. Not to be kow-towed by UN. Heavier punishment for drug trafficking.
6. Post-racial. Equal rights and opportunities to all Americans. No more and no less for any group. Illegal immigrants have nothing to do with RACE.
5^5^5
danasdaddy Monday, November 2nd at 10:58AM EST (link)All I can say is WOW! I know others have said it above, but…WOW!
What a great diary…this is what taking the party back is all about.
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
- Edmund Burke
How has the idea behind a "Big Tent" party been working?
newsentinel Monday, November 2nd at 1:07PM EST (link)Was the original idea behind a “Big Tent” party to welcome and accommodate all races, colors, and creeds–draw traditionally Democratic and/or Independent voters–into the Republican Party? If the idea of a Big Tent party is a good idea, too good to consider dispensing with, the Republican Party should be teeming with throngs of black Republicans and Hispanic Republicans by now. Is it?
What has the idea of a Big Tent party accomplished so far? I can think of one thing: the Republican Party has embraced and accommodated liberals and an assortment of candidates who turn the stomachs of Reagan Republicans.
thanks for bringing me back with this post, sick of the backstabbing on...
DONTREADONME Monday, November 2nd at 8:04PM EST (link)Redstate tonight, after reading the litany of “woe is us” for going with a conservative in a district that voted 0 in 08, blah, blah, blah different area’s have to be more liberal etc.. It makes me sick to see the same disgust for those of us who embrace the social conservative as well as all of the other principles from people supposedly on my side. Sometimes, those in our own party look upon us with more disdain than the Democrats and liberals do, because at least the Democrats and liberals tell us they’re screwing us over, the R’s get our vote then shove the knife deep into our back.
I am actually seeing that on the Redstate tonight and frankly on the evening of at least R reversal in VA and a further push towards conservatism in NY-23 I have to listen to those on RS tell me my values kill the chances of conservative or R candidates winning in places like NE. When you don’t have much of choice in principles (i.e. Dede vs. Owens) then you really don’t have much of choice do you?
Sorry for venting, again today, I really enjoyed what you wrote and it helped to subside my anger.
“The UN is right? you can’t be any more “un”; Than you are right now, the UN is undone, Another mushroom cloud, another smoking gun, The threat is real, the Locust King has come, Don’t tell me the truth; I don’t like what they’ve done, Just give me ammo for the United Abominations”-Megadeth
Reagan Built The Big Tent
Swamp_Yankee Monday, November 2nd at 9:32PM EST (link)I know this is not going to be popular around here. But facts are stubborn things. Reagan was the ultimate architect of the Big Tent.
He united many conservative factions such as the libertarians, evangelicals and union voters. Ever hear of he Reagan Democrats? He brought in Southern Democrats, Northeast Catholics and Rust Belt union voters. No one group would probably satisfy modern ideals of stringent conservatism. But he tapped the conservative elements that existed in of all of the above.
Tip O’Neill loved him and Reagan reciprocated that affection. I know hard core Irish Democratsin Boston that have a picture of Reagan right next to JFK and the Pope.
Conservatism is not a finite set of policies. It touches many different people in different ways.
Not Dead Yet!
You can only read so much into one election.
AKSteveB Monday, November 2nd at 10:37PM EST (link)What is definite.
1) The teaparty movement has political juice, not just street cred. Thanks Erick, I was cynical, but you’ve been right.
2) There is a so far and no further point now. Card check and being further to the left than the Blue Dogs are it. Being an activist for liberal social causes (e.g. abortion) is it. *That* side of the line says you are not one of us.
What is possible, but not definite.
3) This portends a sea change for 2010. Is someone like Marco Rubio now more electable. Personally I think so, but we’ll have to see.
4) Sarah Palin is being credited/blamed for a lot of this. Wow. I continue to not get it, but she’ll be a factor in 2010.
What could happen but I hope doesn’t.
5) You still can’t elect Jim DeMint in the Northeast. As I said in point #2 I think we now have a good dividing line. You still have to know your territory. I know Northern NY a bit, and the demographics there are very much red state. We still have to win in places that aren’t.
Hell is other people - Sartre
Dewey was the first R to try the big tent
regent2009 Monday, November 2nd at 9:58PM EST (link)by accepting the basic premise of the New Deal. Creating a Democrat and calling it a Republican. No different than creating a desert and calling it peace.
ALWAYS be suspicious of a “big tent.” It is a euphemism for SELLING OUT TO WIN. Why elect a Republican if he is going to govern like a Demycrat.
“I hope I live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won’t have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them. What a happy day that will be!,” Jerry Falwell
Excellent diary
irishgirl Tuesday, November 3rd at 3:08PM EST (link)‘Nuff said.
Fred said it well today on Your World
UpLateAgain Wednesday, November 4th at 11:36PM EST (link)“The Republican Party doesn’t need to be a big tent. It needs to be a magnet.” That happens when it adheres to conservative principles, because more of us are conservatives (40%) than liberals (20%),
http://forums.starnewsonline.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1661088265/m/4851034439/r/5241045439
and those that are undecided are getting tired of the irresponsibility in the Obama-Pelosi-Reid cabal.
You never never never actually need a gun, until you need a gun, and then nothing else will do.
Con-men forever
cooperscopy Wednesday, November 4th at 11:55PM EST (link)Conservative men need to man up and start leading instead of letting our wifes and sisters do the work of real conservatism. Lets take the lead and watch others follow….Get in the fight before the fight comes to you…..2010 revolution …….
Ron Victor