In my previous post I quoted the governor of Minnesota John Pawlenty about how he thought the Republicans need to merge the “Country Club with the Sam’s Club crowd.” I liked that phrase so much I googled it.
Below is a link to an article by David Brooks. One of my favorite writers.
-----link-----
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/opinion/27brooks.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
---------------
This guy is singing my tune. It’s nice to see I’m not alone in thinking that there is something wrong with the Republican Party. In the path it has chosen. I have previously blogged about him and the idea of a new path for The Republican party. In the article above Mr. Brooks highlights a collaborative effort by two younger writers who wrote the book “Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream.” The two young writers are Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam. David Brooks writes about the motivation for that book comes from the Pawlenty quote. The internet does indeed make the world smaller.
Below is a quote from David’s article that I couldn’t pass by.
-----quote-----
“What all these ideas, from the sober to the speculative, have in common is a vision of working-class independence — from bosses, from bureaucracy, from entrenched interests of all kinds,” Douthat and Salam write. This is not compassionate conservatism (which flattered the mind of the compassionate donor), it’s hard-work conservatism, which uses government to increase the odds that self-discipline and effort will pay off.
---------------
How cool is that. Using the government to “facilitate” the success of conservative principles like hard work self-discipline. The key that will make it work is found in the simple notion of Freedom. Douthat and Salam talked of freedom from bosses bureaucracy and entrenched interests of all kinds. I would include unions in that. As in my previous blog I talked of the enhanced freedom the internet is bringing to it’s users. That the internet can be the tool that allows people to become free of those bosses among others. We need not use the libertarian idea that government is bad. Tear it down. Let’s be more Reagan like. Let us introduce conservative solutions and let them work their magic. Let’s work with what we have (make do, make it now, make it work). Changes as to governments size and scope will be a natural reaction to our conservative ideas. The people will begin to demand those changes as they get a taste of that freedom. Much as I blogged about the youth taking for granted the new freedoms of the internet and how they would fight any changes to that freedom. That’s the kind of conservative working class ethic I’m pushing. The British Conservatives have done just that. Overcoming the inertia of the Country Club crowd will be the trick. This will have to be a revolution from the “bottom up” as a friend of mine says, a battle of David’s. The outcome will take time and hinge upon the number of David’s willing to come forward to lead.
The recent pew poll shows our dilemma. The number one issue we as Republicans have is the price of gasoline, our conservative common sense answer to that is to produce more oil as we push for alternatives. The poll showed the vast majority (over 80%) in favor of drilling vs. using a redistribution of wealth (taxes and regulation) to get out of the problem. While all the “guerilla” efforts by the Republican’s including Newt Gingrich’s “Drill Here” petition have changed the majority view about drilling the one group that actually showed declining support for drilling was the Republican. The groups that one thinks of as the Democrat base, (young, college, women) all increased their support of drilling by double digits, some in the 20’s. The Republicans actually showed a decline.
What is wrong here? Are we just too old to change our minds? Are our synapses too fried? Perhaps we think it’s a conspiracy by the left to trick us. We’ve been tricked in the past. Is it our distrust of the leadership and or of government in general. Maybe we just like being in the minority. It allows us to bitch without worrying about the consequences. What ever it is, it seems to be based in the negative. Our guerilla war is based in the positive. It is working. Ronald Reagan was based in the positive, his ideas worked. My simple conclusion is that our leaders need to become more positive more of a can do type of leadership, our party needs to be the vehicle of change for the better. I’ve also blogged in the past the idea that sometimes a person just has to strike out on their own, use God’s gifts and come up with their own ideas. I’ve been trying to do just that, build my own idea of what the party should be and see if anyone will agree. See if I can fit my ideas into what some others think. David Brooks and I hope the authors of “The Grand New Party” are forming a nucleus into which I can fit my ideas. That book is going on my reading list. Well I’m through for now, off to Amazon on line (Ain’t the internet cool?) then off to work. (Ain’t bosses a bitch) lol.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
================================
Link from John Boehner on upcoming battle starting today (Tuesday), over drilling.
-----link-----
http://republicanleader.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=96485
---------------
Too much going on in my fantasy. Here is some more guerilla stuff.
Below is a link to what Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell put in a press release on the 7th. The Senate was on CSPAN yesterday. The Dems all of a sudden are all for drilling etc. Gee maybe they saw the pew poll above. Lol. Both our leaders in the House and Senate are on board with this “little” guerilla war. Now if we can keep to our conservative ideas and compromise only on the mechanics, we will have won a battle. Our first battle that we can build upon. Build a coalition on. Now if we can keep ourselves out of the way, we have a chance. Talk to your republican friends about getting behind this effort. The Democrats are more than willing to take this issue away too in their election day rush to the middle.
-----link-----
http://mcconnell.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=300175&start=1
---------------
Mitch wrote a great press release. He kept it to short slogans which captured the ideas better than long winded oratory.
-----quote-----
‘We need to take up and pass legislation that not only makes a statement, but which makes a difference’
-----------------
He repeated that again. Again and Again would have been fine with me. Lol
Another
-----link-----
“Find More, Use Less.’
---------------
The fireworks will soon be happening. John Boehner our leader in the House will be firing on all cylinders today as the House opens back up for business. Call your Congressmen. Email them talk to their wives. Well maybe not that. Lol. What the heck why not if you can.
Mitch McConnell in the Senate has already begun as the Senate was in session yesterday. I would also tune into CSPAN and see if we can boost their ratings which would send a message also. Again talk to your republican friends. I know a bunch that will be saying that this is too little too late, that this will not help. Remind them that Ron Reagan was known not for his pessimistic attitude. Point out the “can do” optimism in the above quotes. Show how the negativism of the Dems is front and center and should be attacked and exposed.
Again Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Showing posts with label British Conservatism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label British Conservatism. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Subtle Lessons.
Hat tip to wowOwow and columnist Liz Smith
-----link see video-----
http://www.wowowow.com/post/charlie-rose-george-will-liz-smith-46691
--------------------------
Long interview of George Will. I may have changed my ideas some after listening to George. I do appreciate that guy. Kind of puts me back on an even keel. Charlie a couple of times came close to losing it, by what Newt might call George Will’s “persistent optimism”.
Another subtle lesson I learned. This one comes from across the pond.
A quote from David Cameron. “No unfunded tax cuts” Think about that simple statement and the difference between simply saying “Cut Taxes” . There is a world of difference between the two. A cacophony of subtlety. The first accomplishes the second, but in what is a far more palatable way. A more palatable conservative way. The first denotes fiscal responsibility, the second threatens draconian measures. Which way would you prefer to accomplish the same thing? David Cameron knows and has the electoral victories and popular support to back it up.
-----link where I lifted the above quote------
http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL2619614520080626?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&pageNumber=3&virtualBrandChannel=0
----------------------------------------------
Check out my side bar near the top for “Updates From Across the Pond” for more Cameron stuff.
The two different ways show me the gulf that separates the new British “Bottom up Politics” From the American Conservative way. The English system deals in terms of facilitating the services the government provides. Making it work, by putting a conservative slant on things. Getting the private sector involved in running different aspects of the government thus funding future tax cuts. The Conservatives here seem more in your face, more all or nothing. Too “CUT TAXES” if you get my drift. I think we as a party have drifted too far from the people. While bashing Obama for his elitism, we need to offer something other than our own form of elitism. George Will tired me out. What is obvious to him takes me awhile to puzzle out. Before I tackle the big issues like breaking the union stranglehold on the quality of teaching, I need to educate my self with things like “no unfunded tax cuts” That is if I really want to make a difference. If I really want to help win an election.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
-----link see video-----
http://www.wowowow.com/post/charlie-rose-george-will-liz-smith-46691
--------------------------
Long interview of George Will. I may have changed my ideas some after listening to George. I do appreciate that guy. Kind of puts me back on an even keel. Charlie a couple of times came close to losing it, by what Newt might call George Will’s “persistent optimism”.
Another subtle lesson I learned. This one comes from across the pond.
A quote from David Cameron. “No unfunded tax cuts” Think about that simple statement and the difference between simply saying “Cut Taxes” . There is a world of difference between the two. A cacophony of subtlety. The first accomplishes the second, but in what is a far more palatable way. A more palatable conservative way. The first denotes fiscal responsibility, the second threatens draconian measures. Which way would you prefer to accomplish the same thing? David Cameron knows and has the electoral victories and popular support to back it up.
-----link where I lifted the above quote------
http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL2619614520080626?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&pageNumber=3&virtualBrandChannel=0
----------------------------------------------
Check out my side bar near the top for “Updates From Across the Pond” for more Cameron stuff.
The two different ways show me the gulf that separates the new British “Bottom up Politics” From the American Conservative way. The English system deals in terms of facilitating the services the government provides. Making it work, by putting a conservative slant on things. Getting the private sector involved in running different aspects of the government thus funding future tax cuts. The Conservatives here seem more in your face, more all or nothing. Too “CUT TAXES” if you get my drift. I think we as a party have drifted too far from the people. While bashing Obama for his elitism, we need to offer something other than our own form of elitism. George Will tired me out. What is obvious to him takes me awhile to puzzle out. Before I tackle the big issues like breaking the union stranglehold on the quality of teaching, I need to educate my self with things like “no unfunded tax cuts” That is if I really want to make a difference. If I really want to help win an election.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
WAY TO MUCH NEWS
UPDATES OF INTERESTS
I’m posting the following to help me catch up on what has been happening in the House and Senate and the world outside of the Energy efforts I’ve been concentrating on lately.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Link to politico June 23 article
------link-----
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11263.html
----------------
Man you ought to get the hatred already spewing forth from the left bloggs. The book is hardly more than a rumor won’t come out untill Aug. The big guns of the left are hoping to chop it off at the knees, they are afraid of another Swift Boat. The same publisher is publishing the title that published “Unfit for Command”. Plus a journalist from the prestigious National Review is writing it. The book’s title is “The Case Against Barack Obama” the sub title is perspective: “The Unlikely Rise and Unexamined Agenda of the Media’s Favorite Candidate.”
Can’t wait. How good it is will be easily seen by the amount of hate that spews from the Left. The “Hate-o-Meters” will be pegging the red.
------------------------------------------------------------------
This next one has me asking where does Political Correctness stop. The Next step in the Fairness Doctrine?
-----link-----
http://www.newscloud.com/read/Boil_Them_In_Big_Oil_Lets_Start_With_You_Conservative_Politics_Today
---------------
If you can be sued for thinking wrong, why not set up a program to reeducate everyone. Oh yeah the NEA is already working on that, not to worry.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Next, Germany’s new ruling Conservatives have just come out united in favor of Nuclear power.
-----link-----
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3399861,00.html
---------------
They rely heavily on Russian Oil. They share a history and border with Russia. I too would want to be independent of them. Also notice in the article that the driving force for the change is political. Bottom up from the consumers paying too much up through the ranks untill the leaders change policy to fit the people. Sounds familiar to me. Lol Newt wins the Volkswagen.lol
--------------------------------------------------------------------
John Boehner gets the unemployment bill compromised and worked out.
-----link-----
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11288.html
---------------
My opinion is that The Republican leaders in House and Senate are finding themselves with some leverage from their backing of the Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay less movement. By taking the lead in what they are calling the “all of the above” energy idea. They are again hitting their stride. We did get funding for the war, got a lot of what we wanted in the unemployment area, and got a bill for the Veterans both sides could be proud of. We had to give in on most of the Medicaid changes the Democrats wanted. I consider that a pretty good deal, made by Boehner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This next article from Politico compliments Democrat leader Hoyer in the House on his negotiating skills in getting the FISA bill passed.
-----link-----
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11292.html
--------------
Compromises were made as to what conservatives wanted, but the war against terror can continue. Judging from the hate coming from the left, and some of his coleagues in the quote below, I would say we came out pretty good.
-----quote from the politico article-----
— but now finds himself subjected to a barrage of criticism from his party’s left.
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) called the House bill a “capitulation.” Salon.com’s Glenn Greenwald called Hoyer an “evil, craven enabler of the Bush administration.” Firedoglake.com blogger Jane Hamsher — delivering the lowest possible blow from the liberal blogosphere — declared Hoyer “the new Joe Lieberman.”
-------------------------------------------
Pay close attention to the reference to the Blue Dogs and others who were making a “Discharge Petition” that was in the works, look doable. The threat of that seems to be what got Hoyer to make the necessary concessions and take a possibly harmful and controversial battle off the table before the election.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Link to Cameron’s latest volley for the Conservatives in England. See the video about survey of workers in their National Health Service. Notice in the article the old liberal lines that any change would hurt the colossus and interrupt the changes that are already under way that will fix it. The truth is that those fixes have been under way starting with setting the thing up in the first place.
-----link-----
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91211-1319912,00.html?f=rss
--------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
Below is a link to a Pew study of why conservatives are happier than liberals. While it seem their point of view is liberal (60 second psyche’s is liberal) The obvious conclusion stands out from the liberalese double talk which in itself is a downer.
-----link-----
http://www.sciam.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=BABCDEA5-D180-499B-094168CBE5442468&sc=rss
---------------
The “obvious conclusion” I refer to is that we conservatives accept the way things are now with all the limitations that liberals bemoan and cry about and then we do something constructive about the problem. We can admit more freely that what we are doing in and of itself may not change the world but will change our little corner of it and that is enough. Another thing to keep in mind is brought out through a book I have listed on my side bar. “Who Really Cares” by Arthur C. Brooks. It shows conservatives give more to charity than liberals who seem stuck in the “bemoaning” stage which prevents actions. It helps show that action is the key to happiness. Doing something brings us into the world. Doing things makes one happy.
------------------------------------------------------------
Way too much news today !!!!!!!!
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
I’m posting the following to help me catch up on what has been happening in the House and Senate and the world outside of the Energy efforts I’ve been concentrating on lately.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Link to politico June 23 article
------link-----
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11263.html
----------------
Man you ought to get the hatred already spewing forth from the left bloggs. The book is hardly more than a rumor won’t come out untill Aug. The big guns of the left are hoping to chop it off at the knees, they are afraid of another Swift Boat. The same publisher is publishing the title that published “Unfit for Command”. Plus a journalist from the prestigious National Review is writing it. The book’s title is “The Case Against Barack Obama” the sub title is perspective: “The Unlikely Rise and Unexamined Agenda of the Media’s Favorite Candidate.”
Can’t wait. How good it is will be easily seen by the amount of hate that spews from the Left. The “Hate-o-Meters” will be pegging the red.
------------------------------------------------------------------
This next one has me asking where does Political Correctness stop. The Next step in the Fairness Doctrine?
-----link-----
http://www.newscloud.com/read/Boil_Them_In_Big_Oil_Lets_Start_With_You_Conservative_Politics_Today
---------------
If you can be sued for thinking wrong, why not set up a program to reeducate everyone. Oh yeah the NEA is already working on that, not to worry.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Next, Germany’s new ruling Conservatives have just come out united in favor of Nuclear power.
-----link-----
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3399861,00.html
---------------
They rely heavily on Russian Oil. They share a history and border with Russia. I too would want to be independent of them. Also notice in the article that the driving force for the change is political. Bottom up from the consumers paying too much up through the ranks untill the leaders change policy to fit the people. Sounds familiar to me. Lol Newt wins the Volkswagen.lol
--------------------------------------------------------------------
John Boehner gets the unemployment bill compromised and worked out.
-----link-----
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11288.html
---------------
My opinion is that The Republican leaders in House and Senate are finding themselves with some leverage from their backing of the Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay less movement. By taking the lead in what they are calling the “all of the above” energy idea. They are again hitting their stride. We did get funding for the war, got a lot of what we wanted in the unemployment area, and got a bill for the Veterans both sides could be proud of. We had to give in on most of the Medicaid changes the Democrats wanted. I consider that a pretty good deal, made by Boehner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This next article from Politico compliments Democrat leader Hoyer in the House on his negotiating skills in getting the FISA bill passed.
-----link-----
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11292.html
--------------
Compromises were made as to what conservatives wanted, but the war against terror can continue. Judging from the hate coming from the left, and some of his coleagues in the quote below, I would say we came out pretty good.
-----quote from the politico article-----
— but now finds himself subjected to a barrage of criticism from his party’s left.
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) called the House bill a “capitulation.” Salon.com’s Glenn Greenwald called Hoyer an “evil, craven enabler of the Bush administration.” Firedoglake.com blogger Jane Hamsher — delivering the lowest possible blow from the liberal blogosphere — declared Hoyer “the new Joe Lieberman.”
-------------------------------------------
Pay close attention to the reference to the Blue Dogs and others who were making a “Discharge Petition” that was in the works, look doable. The threat of that seems to be what got Hoyer to make the necessary concessions and take a possibly harmful and controversial battle off the table before the election.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Link to Cameron’s latest volley for the Conservatives in England. See the video about survey of workers in their National Health Service. Notice in the article the old liberal lines that any change would hurt the colossus and interrupt the changes that are already under way that will fix it. The truth is that those fixes have been under way starting with setting the thing up in the first place.
-----link-----
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91211-1319912,00.html?f=rss
--------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
Below is a link to a Pew study of why conservatives are happier than liberals. While it seem their point of view is liberal (60 second psyche’s is liberal) The obvious conclusion stands out from the liberalese double talk which in itself is a downer.
-----link-----
http://www.sciam.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=BABCDEA5-D180-499B-094168CBE5442468&sc=rss
---------------
The “obvious conclusion” I refer to is that we conservatives accept the way things are now with all the limitations that liberals bemoan and cry about and then we do something constructive about the problem. We can admit more freely that what we are doing in and of itself may not change the world but will change our little corner of it and that is enough. Another thing to keep in mind is brought out through a book I have listed on my side bar. “Who Really Cares” by Arthur C. Brooks. It shows conservatives give more to charity than liberals who seem stuck in the “bemoaning” stage which prevents actions. It helps show that action is the key to happiness. Doing something brings us into the world. Doing things makes one happy.
------------------------------------------------------------
Way too much news today !!!!!!!!
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Saturday, June 14, 2008
David gets another Victory over Goliath
Irish Democracy Victorious Over EU Elitists
[ Daniel Hannan, a Conservative MEP, hailed the apparent rejection of the treaty as a "victory for Ireland and for Irish democracy". ]
That came from the following source.
-----link-----
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/13/eu.ireland
--------------
IRELAND VOTED AGAINST THE NEW CONSTITUTION OF THE EU
I think that is great news. Is David still a match for Goliath?? My earlier thoughts about it were of a negative character. Those thoughts hinged on the assumption of who needs a larger government to head the already too large governments of the individual countries. On top of that under the proposal the new leader of the EU would not be an elected leader but rather an appointed one by the Commission which would be made up of far less members than the whole. Set up a new “EU Supreme court”.
Ireland had been making great strides in fixing their government by cutting business taxes, and other conservative reforms. The results have been astonishing. They have turned their country around and into a prosperous leader in business and their economy competes with the larger ones on the Continent.
Previously I found that there had been veiled threats by the EU as to what they would do about that with the new powers the new constitution would give the EU.
-----link-----
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1270793.ece
---------------
Threats that having the lowest tax rate in Europe was not a responsible thing in relation to the effect it would have on the other countries. Sound familiar? The tentacles of the collective reaching out to strangle individual initiative. If you don’t understand what I’m saying rent out the movie “Fountainhead”.
The article at the top of my post shows how the Conservatives who have been battling to get a referendum on the same thing in England have been buoyed in their efforts. A shadow cabinet member said the following about Liberal leader Brown and what he should do.
-----quote from the article-----
Grayling said that the referendum had killed off the treaty, adding: "It's certainly the case Gordon Brown should abandon the bill that's coming through the Lords at the moment and should commit to holding a treaty for the people in this country."
--------------------------------------
It’s the British way of saying that he wants a referendum. Then the last quote I’ll bracket from the article seems to come from a labor person agreeing. Poor Brown must find himself in a pickle. [Bob Crow, the general secretary of the RMT transport union, said that the constitution would have undermined the rights of working people to defend their jobs.
"The Irish referendum result is a massive victory for democracy and the constitution is now dead in the water, despite our own government's attempt to railroad it through without the referendum the British people were promised," said Crow.]
British Conservative leader David Cameron has been leading the charge to get the British Labor leader to let the British people vote on the treaty as he had promised on the other similar treaty.
-----link-----
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7044443.stm
--------------
In all the reports I hear from the opposition that it seems unfair that the little country of Ireland with such a small percentage of the European population could effect the whole by voting no. They seem to forget that they said that the treaty had to be passed by all the members. In the previous attempt at a constitution for the body in 2005 two countries voted no overwhelmingly and the attempt at that constitution was scuttled. The other countries passed the constitution in their legislatures. Same as now. The only three votes that were held all went down to defeat despite support from the media and the governmental apparatus. The people knew better. They will have to find a better way to stifle the voice of the people.
The Irony is that the new French leader Sarkozy ( a conservative) will become in July the head of the EU. The EU Presidency serves on a rotating basis. Sarkozy is a conservative. Perhaps he is more of a big government conservative. Check out the following link.
-----link-----
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eureferendum/2123816/EU-Treaty-Nicolas-Sarkozy-plans-to-bypass-Irish-no-vote.html
--------------
The big hope is that the British conservatives can force a vote on their end. It seems late in the game, but the voters seem to be waking up I think there is hope yet. From the “Bottom Up“, the EU looks like a bunch of elite bureaucrats. So say the voters in all elections they have had since it’s inception.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
[ Daniel Hannan, a Conservative MEP, hailed the apparent rejection of the treaty as a "victory for Ireland and for Irish democracy". ]
That came from the following source.
-----link-----
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/13/eu.ireland
--------------
IRELAND VOTED AGAINST THE NEW CONSTITUTION OF THE EU
I think that is great news. Is David still a match for Goliath?? My earlier thoughts about it were of a negative character. Those thoughts hinged on the assumption of who needs a larger government to head the already too large governments of the individual countries. On top of that under the proposal the new leader of the EU would not be an elected leader but rather an appointed one by the Commission which would be made up of far less members than the whole. Set up a new “EU Supreme court”.
Ireland had been making great strides in fixing their government by cutting business taxes, and other conservative reforms. The results have been astonishing. They have turned their country around and into a prosperous leader in business and their economy competes with the larger ones on the Continent.
Previously I found that there had been veiled threats by the EU as to what they would do about that with the new powers the new constitution would give the EU.
-----link-----
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1270793.ece
---------------
Threats that having the lowest tax rate in Europe was not a responsible thing in relation to the effect it would have on the other countries. Sound familiar? The tentacles of the collective reaching out to strangle individual initiative. If you don’t understand what I’m saying rent out the movie “Fountainhead”.
The article at the top of my post shows how the Conservatives who have been battling to get a referendum on the same thing in England have been buoyed in their efforts. A shadow cabinet member said the following about Liberal leader Brown and what he should do.
-----quote from the article-----
Grayling said that the referendum had killed off the treaty, adding: "It's certainly the case Gordon Brown should abandon the bill that's coming through the Lords at the moment and should commit to holding a treaty for the people in this country."
--------------------------------------
It’s the British way of saying that he wants a referendum. Then the last quote I’ll bracket from the article seems to come from a labor person agreeing. Poor Brown must find himself in a pickle. [Bob Crow, the general secretary of the RMT transport union, said that the constitution would have undermined the rights of working people to defend their jobs.
"The Irish referendum result is a massive victory for democracy and the constitution is now dead in the water, despite our own government's attempt to railroad it through without the referendum the British people were promised," said Crow.]
British Conservative leader David Cameron has been leading the charge to get the British Labor leader to let the British people vote on the treaty as he had promised on the other similar treaty.
-----link-----
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7044443.stm
--------------
In all the reports I hear from the opposition that it seems unfair that the little country of Ireland with such a small percentage of the European population could effect the whole by voting no. They seem to forget that they said that the treaty had to be passed by all the members. In the previous attempt at a constitution for the body in 2005 two countries voted no overwhelmingly and the attempt at that constitution was scuttled. The other countries passed the constitution in their legislatures. Same as now. The only three votes that were held all went down to defeat despite support from the media and the governmental apparatus. The people knew better. They will have to find a better way to stifle the voice of the people.
The Irony is that the new French leader Sarkozy ( a conservative) will become in July the head of the EU. The EU Presidency serves on a rotating basis. Sarkozy is a conservative. Perhaps he is more of a big government conservative. Check out the following link.
-----link-----
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eureferendum/2123816/EU-Treaty-Nicolas-Sarkozy-plans-to-bypass-Irish-no-vote.html
--------------
The big hope is that the British conservatives can force a vote on their end. It seems late in the game, but the voters seem to be waking up I think there is hope yet. From the “Bottom Up“, the EU looks like a bunch of elite bureaucrats. So say the voters in all elections they have had since it’s inception.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Not Just My Thoughts, Phew!!
The Catholic view of John McCain.
-----link-----
http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=28073&page=1
--------------
The above talks of John McCain’s troubles with the conservative religious movement.. In my opinion the religious right organizations are sounding more and more like the Left wing loonies. Political Correctness with God on your side. I may be blurring things here as I agree with Anne that the left has made a religion out of environmentalism. But I think you see my point. I firmly believe in God. I firmly believe that this country with it’s constitution would not exist without the firm belief in God which our Founders had. The basis of our law is derived from God’s law. Notice I said God not Falwell, or Robertson or my pastor, or yours or Obama’s or a Catholic’s priest nor a Rabbi. I believe the founding fathers belief in God let them see past the partisan if you will vision of any individual religious leader or denomination to envision the Freedom to choose our own individual faith or none at all; to keep the government out of religion and religion out of the government. The Founders may have believed as I do that we are closest to God when we are alone with him. He is in everyone.
God gave me the right to post this blog it is inalienable to me to do this. Our government helps enforce my right to blog. I can use my inalienable rights any way I so choose. Barring injury to others. I am influenced by all sorts of people, but ruled by none. God rules me when I let him through my conscience, that ever present ability to see right and wrong immediately. Only after glimpsing it, am I then allowed to confuse the issue or not.
You know what?? I would like to give my candidate or any candidate for that matter the ability to do the same. One of the essential traits I vote for in a candidate is their ability to make free decisions based on fact for the good of America beholding to none. All of this political correctness is ridiculous. At the current level it has just become another interest group. These litmus tests are just another way to limit the ability of a President to make courageous decisions, unpopular decisions for the good of the country.
How can he win by not cozying up to the religious right? The same way we tell the Dems about getting away from their far left. I keep going back to the idea that the people know the government is broke. They are the ones that have to deal with it. The people want it fixed. They will vote for anyone with a good sounding plan, short of that they will vote the Bums out and hope for change. I’ve been posting about the big conservative movement in England and Europe for that matter. Showing an alternative or a possible case for voting the bums out. Looking closer to home we see 3 Republican losses in formally Republican strongholds. Also the “Blue Dogs” are threatening the same kind of harm to our party. Another article about that written today.
-----link------
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/28/america/NA-POL-US-Conservative-Democrats.php
----------------
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just found this, I’m as excited as someone can be who has been saying (blogging) the same thing forever and thinking nobody else is thinking the same way. I’ve just been blogging a little about it today, I’m lonely no more. I’m not going to erase what I just wrote above. It’ll remind me that all people if they use common sense can come up with the same ideas. I’m nobody, this guy writes for the National Review. Alex Castellanos talks in his piece about David Brooks, and The British Conservative movement led by David Cameron. About how we conservatives need to embrace the government to fix it and make it work for the people. Let us become the facilitators between government and people. Let us be the ones to set up local controls on government “bottom up politics”, that is why I started another blog after reading some Cameron speeches. {upper right on my side bar} I named it “Bottom up Politics” Please John McCain give Cameron a private call take him out to lunch. Lol. Try to understand his concept. Americans are dying to help. See my side bar “Update Across The Pond” for other Cameron stuff.
-----link-----
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Njg0ZjliNmIyNzdlODBkNDQ3MjFmNGQ1ODExNDBlMzU=&w=MA==
---------------
We have to be the ones to help the people get the government working again. That whole Cameron idea of the conservatives being the people party and the liberals being the party of government. Toooooo good of an article. The quote below about the various people recently weighing in, I’ve blogged on each one. I feel redeemed. Almost as if Peggy Noonan caught my eye and winked.
-----quote-----
"Republicans can’t seem to express an organizing principle these days, and almost everyone with a computer to type on has noticed. David Brooks writes in the New York Times that the British have at last declared their independence from us: American conservatives, he notes, have lost the leadership of the conservative movement to them. Tom Davis, a former leader of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee, writes, “the Republican brand is in the trash can.” The New Yorker headlines, “The Fall of Conservatism: Have the Republicans run out of ideas?” Most painful of all, the elegant Peggy Noonan, who is to conservative composition what Fred Astaire was to dance, says the Republican party, including its conservative leadership, has “squandered the hard-built paternity of 40 years” because we are no longer serious about leadership, policy, or ideas." The Peggy Noonan part was great.
I’ve got to get out and get something in my neighborhood working.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Think I’ll also invite Alex to our “Sunday Morning Conservative Coffee for Ward 2 Muskegon” Peggy always has an open invitation. Lol. I’ll be there 8:00 am Sun. at the downtown McDonald’s. You are always invited too. It would be nice to see someone. Lol.
PS Just an ego thing maybe. But a list of some of my posts about the above.
-----link-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/two-brooks-emerging-river.html
-----link-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/leader-that-leads-solution-that-works.html
-----link-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/build-it-and-they-will-come.html
-----link-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/truth-in-peggy-noonan.html
-----link-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/cycles-through-bums-out.html
---------------
Thanks for the time.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
-----link-----
http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=28073&page=1
--------------
The above talks of John McCain’s troubles with the conservative religious movement.. In my opinion the religious right organizations are sounding more and more like the Left wing loonies. Political Correctness with God on your side. I may be blurring things here as I agree with Anne that the left has made a religion out of environmentalism. But I think you see my point. I firmly believe in God. I firmly believe that this country with it’s constitution would not exist without the firm belief in God which our Founders had. The basis of our law is derived from God’s law. Notice I said God not Falwell, or Robertson or my pastor, or yours or Obama’s or a Catholic’s priest nor a Rabbi. I believe the founding fathers belief in God let them see past the partisan if you will vision of any individual religious leader or denomination to envision the Freedom to choose our own individual faith or none at all; to keep the government out of religion and religion out of the government. The Founders may have believed as I do that we are closest to God when we are alone with him. He is in everyone.
God gave me the right to post this blog it is inalienable to me to do this. Our government helps enforce my right to blog. I can use my inalienable rights any way I so choose. Barring injury to others. I am influenced by all sorts of people, but ruled by none. God rules me when I let him through my conscience, that ever present ability to see right and wrong immediately. Only after glimpsing it, am I then allowed to confuse the issue or not.
You know what?? I would like to give my candidate or any candidate for that matter the ability to do the same. One of the essential traits I vote for in a candidate is their ability to make free decisions based on fact for the good of America beholding to none. All of this political correctness is ridiculous. At the current level it has just become another interest group. These litmus tests are just another way to limit the ability of a President to make courageous decisions, unpopular decisions for the good of the country.
How can he win by not cozying up to the religious right? The same way we tell the Dems about getting away from their far left. I keep going back to the idea that the people know the government is broke. They are the ones that have to deal with it. The people want it fixed. They will vote for anyone with a good sounding plan, short of that they will vote the Bums out and hope for change. I’ve been posting about the big conservative movement in England and Europe for that matter. Showing an alternative or a possible case for voting the bums out. Looking closer to home we see 3 Republican losses in formally Republican strongholds. Also the “Blue Dogs” are threatening the same kind of harm to our party. Another article about that written today.
-----link------
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/28/america/NA-POL-US-Conservative-Democrats.php
----------------
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just found this, I’m as excited as someone can be who has been saying (blogging) the same thing forever and thinking nobody else is thinking the same way. I’ve just been blogging a little about it today, I’m lonely no more. I’m not going to erase what I just wrote above. It’ll remind me that all people if they use common sense can come up with the same ideas. I’m nobody, this guy writes for the National Review. Alex Castellanos talks in his piece about David Brooks, and The British Conservative movement led by David Cameron. About how we conservatives need to embrace the government to fix it and make it work for the people. Let us become the facilitators between government and people. Let us be the ones to set up local controls on government “bottom up politics”, that is why I started another blog after reading some Cameron speeches. {upper right on my side bar} I named it “Bottom up Politics” Please John McCain give Cameron a private call take him out to lunch. Lol. Try to understand his concept. Americans are dying to help. See my side bar “Update Across The Pond” for other Cameron stuff.
-----link-----
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Njg0ZjliNmIyNzdlODBkNDQ3MjFmNGQ1ODExNDBlMzU=&w=MA==
---------------
We have to be the ones to help the people get the government working again. That whole Cameron idea of the conservatives being the people party and the liberals being the party of government. Toooooo good of an article. The quote below about the various people recently weighing in, I’ve blogged on each one. I feel redeemed. Almost as if Peggy Noonan caught my eye and winked.
-----quote-----
"Republicans can’t seem to express an organizing principle these days, and almost everyone with a computer to type on has noticed. David Brooks writes in the New York Times that the British have at last declared their independence from us: American conservatives, he notes, have lost the leadership of the conservative movement to them. Tom Davis, a former leader of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee, writes, “the Republican brand is in the trash can.” The New Yorker headlines, “The Fall of Conservatism: Have the Republicans run out of ideas?” Most painful of all, the elegant Peggy Noonan, who is to conservative composition what Fred Astaire was to dance, says the Republican party, including its conservative leadership, has “squandered the hard-built paternity of 40 years” because we are no longer serious about leadership, policy, or ideas." The Peggy Noonan part was great.
I’ve got to get out and get something in my neighborhood working.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Think I’ll also invite Alex to our “Sunday Morning Conservative Coffee for Ward 2 Muskegon” Peggy always has an open invitation. Lol. I’ll be there 8:00 am Sun. at the downtown McDonald’s. You are always invited too. It would be nice to see someone. Lol.
PS Just an ego thing maybe. But a list of some of my posts about the above.
-----link-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/two-brooks-emerging-river.html
-----link-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/leader-that-leads-solution-that-works.html
-----link-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/build-it-and-they-will-come.html
-----link-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/truth-in-peggy-noonan.html
-----link-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/cycles-through-bums-out.html
---------------
Thanks for the time.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Progressive Ways by Conservative Means
The Good Side of Conservatism
Boy of boy the British have it spot on. It keeps getting better. Leadership definitely sets the tone. How is this for a campaign ad. Pretty sappy you say. Well if you notice at the end of the video you’ll see the plea to vote May 1. Well they did and the liberal party took a beating at the hands of the conservatives. Their media called it the May Day massacre.
-----link-----
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=campaigns.display.page&obj_id=142460---------------
This is what I’ve been calling bottom up politics. Previously I blogged about why it seemed that the opposite is happening in England as in America as to which party was winning. Almost exactly opposite down to the special elections after the mid terms. I made the case that the people were fed up with failed government policies that were only making things worse while sapping the energy of the people. They were throwing the bums out no matter who they were.
-----link to my blog-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/cycles-through-bums-out.html
-----------------------------
David Cameron the leader of the Conservative party in England in the next link, pretty much sums up what the new conservatives across the pond are running on. Also what I’m trying to figure out how to copy here on this side of our little pond in our piece of paradise.
-----link-----
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=144994
---------------
In this short fact and link filled article, he refers to pursuing progressive ways by conservative means. Not only clever but true to conservative traditions of fiscal responsibility and personal responsibility for involvement. Re involvement of the people. Making the government the facilitator of that desire for involvement not an impediment. This is the kind of ad I can get behind. An issue ad. More than that an uplifting ad. Kind of like an updated Reagan speech. Or Reagan Esq. in a Multi media sort of way. Perhaps if Newt would of presented his Contract With America in a less serious and scholarly way with more sincere smiles it might of caught on.
To be fair to Newt, this British conservative revolution has yet to fully come about. The British Conservatives have yet to even win their elections. When they do, I’m sure they will run into the same type of entrenched status quo that Newt and the Gang of Seven ran into. Perhaps however, the fresh, positive and downright happy attitude found in David Cameron and his message will give a better alternative to the status quo. Instead of the pounding away at personal responsibility and burdens of citizenship as I, and most US conservatives tend to do. That British sense of humor and gayety is a better selling point. Everyone knows that for generations people have died to keep our freedoms. I think now it’s time we focus on the wonderful thing freedom is. The joy it can bring, how strong we can feel when working together. Why it is indeed worth fighting for.
I’m going to start smiling more. It’s the least I can do.
Not because I should --- but because I feel better when I do.
Regards, Proud to be Living Dangerously As A Conservative
BREAKING this morning. Related news off the Socialist Web. Yeah I know, I guess I’ll read anything. I’m serious though read it. You’ll be amazed, the liberals are saying the same thing we conservatives are saying here and the liberals there are suffering the same defeats we have been. I keep posting about this. I think it's important. It’s like the old Superman Bizzaro World comic book. I still stress my Mantra.
IT’S THE GOVERNMENT STUPID. Make the government work better, Then find ways to diminish it’s scope.
-----link-----
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/may2008/byel-m24.shtml
--------------
See also my side bar under “Xtra links for Current Posts” Also other related British stuff is located near the top of the side bar titled “Updates From Across the Pond”
Boy of boy the British have it spot on. It keeps getting better. Leadership definitely sets the tone. How is this for a campaign ad. Pretty sappy you say. Well if you notice at the end of the video you’ll see the plea to vote May 1. Well they did and the liberal party took a beating at the hands of the conservatives. Their media called it the May Day massacre.
-----link-----
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=campaigns.display.page&obj_id=142460---------------
This is what I’ve been calling bottom up politics. Previously I blogged about why it seemed that the opposite is happening in England as in America as to which party was winning. Almost exactly opposite down to the special elections after the mid terms. I made the case that the people were fed up with failed government policies that were only making things worse while sapping the energy of the people. They were throwing the bums out no matter who they were.
-----link to my blog-----
http://conservativeinmuskegon.blogspot.com/2008/05/cycles-through-bums-out.html
-----------------------------
David Cameron the leader of the Conservative party in England in the next link, pretty much sums up what the new conservatives across the pond are running on. Also what I’m trying to figure out how to copy here on this side of our little pond in our piece of paradise.
-----link-----
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=144994
---------------
In this short fact and link filled article, he refers to pursuing progressive ways by conservative means. Not only clever but true to conservative traditions of fiscal responsibility and personal responsibility for involvement. Re involvement of the people. Making the government the facilitator of that desire for involvement not an impediment. This is the kind of ad I can get behind. An issue ad. More than that an uplifting ad. Kind of like an updated Reagan speech. Or Reagan Esq. in a Multi media sort of way. Perhaps if Newt would of presented his Contract With America in a less serious and scholarly way with more sincere smiles it might of caught on.
To be fair to Newt, this British conservative revolution has yet to fully come about. The British Conservatives have yet to even win their elections. When they do, I’m sure they will run into the same type of entrenched status quo that Newt and the Gang of Seven ran into. Perhaps however, the fresh, positive and downright happy attitude found in David Cameron and his message will give a better alternative to the status quo. Instead of the pounding away at personal responsibility and burdens of citizenship as I, and most US conservatives tend to do. That British sense of humor and gayety is a better selling point. Everyone knows that for generations people have died to keep our freedoms. I think now it’s time we focus on the wonderful thing freedom is. The joy it can bring, how strong we can feel when working together. Why it is indeed worth fighting for.
I’m going to start smiling more. It’s the least I can do.
Not because I should --- but because I feel better when I do.
Regards, Proud to be Living Dangerously As A Conservative
BREAKING this morning. Related news off the Socialist Web. Yeah I know, I guess I’ll read anything. I’m serious though read it. You’ll be amazed, the liberals are saying the same thing we conservatives are saying here and the liberals there are suffering the same defeats we have been. I keep posting about this. I think it's important. It’s like the old Superman Bizzaro World comic book. I still stress my Mantra.
IT’S THE GOVERNMENT STUPID. Make the government work better, Then find ways to diminish it’s scope.
-----link-----
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/may2008/byel-m24.shtml
--------------
See also my side bar under “Xtra links for Current Posts” Also other related British stuff is located near the top of the side bar titled “Updates From Across the Pond”
Monday, May 19, 2008
CYCLES (THROW THE BUMS OUT)
Broadening one’s outlook, has something in common with age. Since I’ve been researching the conservative movements over seas,(France Britain, and Germany) I’ve been noticing similarities. I’ve of course picked up on what they are doing right to use to help figure out what we can do right but the following article about how arrogant an snobbish ect that their liberals are struck home. Here is the article.
-----link-----
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/william_rees_mogg/article3957974.ece--------------
Here is my light bulb moment. The liberals over there are being accused of everything conservatives here are being accused of. What is different? Liberal theology here and abroad are pretty much the same. Conservative theology here is about the same as there. The (light bulb clicks on) difference is that the group in power is the one acting bad and the ones out of power are not, well in our case there is a time delay, we aren‘t thoroughly out of power at least not yet. Hopefully by the time we get back to the ascendancy we will have changed. That was the first light bulb idea (power corrupts) The second idea is that our neighbors (voters) pick up on the change in the way politicians act when they have power as we become arrogant ect. Which ever party is in charge.
Getting back to the similarity of broadening one’s outlook and getting older, I can’t escape that they both help filter our view of the world through the lens of varied repeated experience. Both tend to show us trends and cycles once removed. They give us the pause and depth from which to judge things better.
The nut of what I’m trying to say is that it doesn’t matter what party is in power because the people get upset by the arrogance of government. The parties just seem to take turns sharing being disliked by those who voted for them as they merrily increase and make government more inefficient in order IMO to insulate themselves from the scrutiny of the voter.
The whole concept the British are using, bottom up politics, works. It always works. It worked for the Dems here when it was “power to the people”, It has been called many things by many parties. Even I admit to trying to take back the government. The one thing that doesn’t change is that whoever is swept into power by that cry, is soon swept out by the same cry.
Slogans don’t mean squat unless and only as long as they are truly believed and backed up with hard work and integrity. The more government is made the end all to our problems the worse it gets. The quicker those good ideals become corrupted.
I know this may seem simplistic, but so was the constitution; until we messed it up with details.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
PS If you haven’t noticed it’s time to start doing the hard work.
pss The more people rely on the government to make their decisions the more they are going to be upset.
-----link-----
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/william_rees_mogg/article3957974.ece--------------
Here is my light bulb moment. The liberals over there are being accused of everything conservatives here are being accused of. What is different? Liberal theology here and abroad are pretty much the same. Conservative theology here is about the same as there. The (light bulb clicks on) difference is that the group in power is the one acting bad and the ones out of power are not, well in our case there is a time delay, we aren‘t thoroughly out of power at least not yet. Hopefully by the time we get back to the ascendancy we will have changed. That was the first light bulb idea (power corrupts) The second idea is that our neighbors (voters) pick up on the change in the way politicians act when they have power as we become arrogant ect. Which ever party is in charge.
Getting back to the similarity of broadening one’s outlook and getting older, I can’t escape that they both help filter our view of the world through the lens of varied repeated experience. Both tend to show us trends and cycles once removed. They give us the pause and depth from which to judge things better.
The nut of what I’m trying to say is that it doesn’t matter what party is in power because the people get upset by the arrogance of government. The parties just seem to take turns sharing being disliked by those who voted for them as they merrily increase and make government more inefficient in order IMO to insulate themselves from the scrutiny of the voter.
The whole concept the British are using, bottom up politics, works. It always works. It worked for the Dems here when it was “power to the people”, It has been called many things by many parties. Even I admit to trying to take back the government. The one thing that doesn’t change is that whoever is swept into power by that cry, is soon swept out by the same cry.
Slogans don’t mean squat unless and only as long as they are truly believed and backed up with hard work and integrity. The more government is made the end all to our problems the worse it gets. The quicker those good ideals become corrupted.
I know this may seem simplistic, but so was the constitution; until we messed it up with details.
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.
PS If you haven’t noticed it’s time to start doing the hard work.
pss The more people rely on the government to make their decisions the more they are going to be upset.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
"BUILD IT and THEY WILL COME"
Well so much for “one a days” I have way too much to say and so far not very many are listening so I’m going to just post whenever the mood strikes. I’m going under the idea of “Build It and They Will Come”. If what I say is good then eventually people will listen. I base my politics on the same line. As long as I believe my concepts then even if people don’t come, at least I’ve had a chance to practice writing and letting off steam. Lol
Here is an article about the upcoming election and the GOP fears.
-----link-----
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10366_Page2.html
--------------
Since I made the list of donors to the Republican Party back when I donated to George W. in his first election, I keep getting all the thinly disguised appeals for money. I’m not stupid I know money is vitally important in an election, Karen Buie mentioned when I asked that she spent around $2,000 just for yard signs. I can imagine what a national campaign would cost. But that’s not the point. In the literature I’m profusely thanked and referred to as generous, steadfast, loyal and a few other glowing attributes. I gave $25.00 to Bush twice in 8 years, that’s about $3.10 or so a year. The typical spiel is how with all that money they will help rid the world or at least the Congress of the Democrats.
The problem is that they never really say what they are going to do, other than vague references to some generic ideas. Almost “Miss America” answers. As long as they are asking such a trusted and loyal member of the club as myself for such generous contributions, they could at least let me know what they are actually doing. SPECIFICALLY. After I watched Keith Butler get kicked out of the US Senate race by Mr. Cole and Mrs. Dole in favor of their “better” party candidate, I sent a letter to Mr. Cole telling him my thoughts. I’m sure he never even saw, or if he did even cared what his faithful, loyal and generous contributor wrote. This “Big Party” is just like any other “Big” anything. The people get lost in the shuffle. I don’t know what “Big” company writes these condescending syrupy letters and fake polls, nor how “Big” they charge. But I know it pisses me off “Big” time. Lol.
I’ve blogged about some solutions I see as useful. I’ve posted about Newt’s American Solutions, also about David Cameron’s new Conservatism in England. Newt sees the handwriting and he sent the leaders a warning letter before this recent stuff has started to hit the fan. I hate to take the wind out of anybodies sails, but there are elitists in both parties. There is time to act if somehow we can do it fast at the higher level. Other wise we have to do what we can at the local level and start building, start getting rid of the dead wood.
I hate it when I see the party that is supposed to represent Individual Freedom through smaller and more efficient government become what they were hired to fight against: by us, “we the people”. I get it, I know the excuses, I’ve read the books. I hate what “we” are becoming . Republicans were hired to fix a broken government we didn’t. The Democratic plan is just as bad and probably worse if they can figure out what it is. But what in the hell does that have to do with us. If we run a campaign against the Dems then how are we different than they are when they run against a third term of Bush. We will be just as lame as they are.
Now we are facing the cost for being lazy and rolling over to the “Bigness” of the problem. I’m getting upset with the party, because they are putting me in a position where I’m complaining and blaming others. Well I’m starting to refuse that idea. If all we want to do is bitch and complain about the Dems and their policies then I think I’d rather find or start a 3rd party based on issues with specific legislation in mind. Both would lose but at least I would feel better about it. Before I do that I’m going to try to get into politics around here and start speaking my mind, because it’s a terrible thing to waste, I’m talking about wasting the party not my mind. Lol
I’m going to the 2nd District Roundup. I’m going to write out my thoughts and give them to people there. I’m also going to prepare a short speech if I get a chance I’ll give it. Bob Dylan is a favorite of mine and we’ve gone through a lot of the same changes together. I realize I’m a rookie in actual politics, but as Dylan once said “You don’t need a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows.” It’s painfully obvious. Also I’m a conservative with a free, active and a trained mind which can think for itself, Dylan also once said, “I gotta stop being influenced by fools”. Me too. Lol. It won’t take long to scope out the fools. My contributions will go up some in the money end and up greatly in the volunteer category. Only for the candidates that I like. “Bottom Up Politics” anyone? See my other web site. Get involved.
http://bottomuppolitics.blogspot.com
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Here is an article about the upcoming election and the GOP fears.
-----link-----
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10366_Page2.html
--------------
Since I made the list of donors to the Republican Party back when I donated to George W. in his first election, I keep getting all the thinly disguised appeals for money. I’m not stupid I know money is vitally important in an election, Karen Buie mentioned when I asked that she spent around $2,000 just for yard signs. I can imagine what a national campaign would cost. But that’s not the point. In the literature I’m profusely thanked and referred to as generous, steadfast, loyal and a few other glowing attributes. I gave $25.00 to Bush twice in 8 years, that’s about $3.10 or so a year. The typical spiel is how with all that money they will help rid the world or at least the Congress of the Democrats.
The problem is that they never really say what they are going to do, other than vague references to some generic ideas. Almost “Miss America” answers. As long as they are asking such a trusted and loyal member of the club as myself for such generous contributions, they could at least let me know what they are actually doing. SPECIFICALLY. After I watched Keith Butler get kicked out of the US Senate race by Mr. Cole and Mrs. Dole in favor of their “better” party candidate, I sent a letter to Mr. Cole telling him my thoughts. I’m sure he never even saw, or if he did even cared what his faithful, loyal and generous contributor wrote. This “Big Party” is just like any other “Big” anything. The people get lost in the shuffle. I don’t know what “Big” company writes these condescending syrupy letters and fake polls, nor how “Big” they charge. But I know it pisses me off “Big” time. Lol.
I’ve blogged about some solutions I see as useful. I’ve posted about Newt’s American Solutions, also about David Cameron’s new Conservatism in England. Newt sees the handwriting and he sent the leaders a warning letter before this recent stuff has started to hit the fan. I hate to take the wind out of anybodies sails, but there are elitists in both parties. There is time to act if somehow we can do it fast at the higher level. Other wise we have to do what we can at the local level and start building, start getting rid of the dead wood.
I hate it when I see the party that is supposed to represent Individual Freedom through smaller and more efficient government become what they were hired to fight against: by us, “we the people”. I get it, I know the excuses, I’ve read the books. I hate what “we” are becoming . Republicans were hired to fix a broken government we didn’t. The Democratic plan is just as bad and probably worse if they can figure out what it is. But what in the hell does that have to do with us. If we run a campaign against the Dems then how are we different than they are when they run against a third term of Bush. We will be just as lame as they are.
Now we are facing the cost for being lazy and rolling over to the “Bigness” of the problem. I’m getting upset with the party, because they are putting me in a position where I’m complaining and blaming others. Well I’m starting to refuse that idea. If all we want to do is bitch and complain about the Dems and their policies then I think I’d rather find or start a 3rd party based on issues with specific legislation in mind. Both would lose but at least I would feel better about it. Before I do that I’m going to try to get into politics around here and start speaking my mind, because it’s a terrible thing to waste, I’m talking about wasting the party not my mind. Lol
I’m going to the 2nd District Roundup. I’m going to write out my thoughts and give them to people there. I’m also going to prepare a short speech if I get a chance I’ll give it. Bob Dylan is a favorite of mine and we’ve gone through a lot of the same changes together. I realize I’m a rookie in actual politics, but as Dylan once said “You don’t need a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows.” It’s painfully obvious. Also I’m a conservative with a free, active and a trained mind which can think for itself, Dylan also once said, “I gotta stop being influenced by fools”. Me too. Lol. It won’t take long to scope out the fools. My contributions will go up some in the money end and up greatly in the volunteer category. Only for the candidates that I like. “Bottom Up Politics” anyone? See my other web site. Get involved.
http://bottomuppolitics.blogspot.com
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
Sunday, May 11, 2008
A LEADER THAT LEADS
A LEADER THAT LEADS
A SOLUTION THAT WORKS
CAN WE DO IT HERE?
CAN HE PULL IT OFF THERE?
David Cameron the leader of the Conservative Party in England talking about the change needed in government and how it can happen. He is calling for ending the current top down form of government to a more bottom up driven model. That message is winning over votes in record numbers. Partly for the message and partly for the messenger. In the article below he explains his concept in specific. Using I might add a presumed Liberal cause. Green Transportation. (Brings to mind what Newt Gingrich has been saying about getting into the environmental debate.) He shows how to take the process which hasn’t worked and put it in the hands of locals. Specifically he say take the 100 million promised to the locals with all the strings and limits of use, cut those strings and let the locals figure out what is best for them as they know best. Makes great sense to me.
-----link-----
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=webcameron.story.page&obj_id=143742&speeches=1---------------
We could use a Conservative Council here in West Michigan to come up with solutions to some of our problems and offer them to the governing boards. Anybody think they want to help start one? Kind of what the Neighborhood associations started out to do but turned into the quagmire of groups trying to collect government money basically so they can get a share for themselves.. That may be too cynical. I just know that I will have to check into how the Conservative councils are set up across the pond.
-----In the next speech he set’s out his agenda for change in Health Care. I quote him here.
“The health service needs serious reform. That reform should be steady, purposeful and with a clear direction, avoiding unnecessary upheaval. Changes in lifestyles, in technology and medicine itself, in the expectations people have of the services they receive all this means we need a more decentralised, more patient-centred, less bureaucratic system. And at the same time, if we are to maintain public consent for all the extra spending the NHS receives we have to ensure better value for money than we've had in the past.
But my point is that reform should be bottom-up, not top-down: wherever possible driven by the discretion of professionals responding to the needs and wishes of their patients.
We need to change the essential power relationship in the NHS: from a vertical relationship where professionals are told what to do by politicians and managers above them with patients left just to take what they're given to a horizontal relationship where professionals have the necessary autonomy and discretion to respond to the demands of patients and patients are in the driving seat because they have the ultimate power: the power to choose the service they want.”
------The concept of letting people have the power to determine how to spend the money is “Old School” to conservatives. What is new is that the money comes from the government. The link to that speech is below. He further goes on the explain how this can happen.
-----link-----
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=webcameron.story.page&obj_id=143765&speeches=1--------------
One recurring theme beside the obvious “bottom up” thing is that the governmental system need not be treated as the bad guy, but as someone who needs help. In other words as a “Constrained” conservative would say. It’s there let’s use it.
This guy is good! I can’t help but quote him. Here he explains why all the constant attempts at reform of the bureaucratic system in the past have failed.
---”It's all the product of Labour's bureaucratic mindset, or what I call policy by PowerPoint: clever flowcharts and organograms which ignore the human relationships that are the most important aspect of healthcare.”
These are the things that people instinctively know in their hearts, what all people realize what used to be called common sense. Any government meeting hall is filled with this type of “Power-Point” presentation. Facts and charts and you name it. Forget about the people.
-----Well enough for now, check out my side bar for more links to his speeches under "Xtra Links for current posts".
<
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
<
PS Just found this link about a local study made up business leaders to make Macomb County more cost effective. The article lends insight into the idea of Bottom Up Govrnment American Style. Not the example of Government not the maker but the facilitator of services.
-----link-----
http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=9394--------------
Author Mr. Lawrence W. Reed writting for the Macinac Center, makes some good points.
A SOLUTION THAT WORKS
CAN WE DO IT HERE?
CAN HE PULL IT OFF THERE?
David Cameron the leader of the Conservative Party in England talking about the change needed in government and how it can happen. He is calling for ending the current top down form of government to a more bottom up driven model. That message is winning over votes in record numbers. Partly for the message and partly for the messenger. In the article below he explains his concept in specific. Using I might add a presumed Liberal cause. Green Transportation. (Brings to mind what Newt Gingrich has been saying about getting into the environmental debate.) He shows how to take the process which hasn’t worked and put it in the hands of locals. Specifically he say take the 100 million promised to the locals with all the strings and limits of use, cut those strings and let the locals figure out what is best for them as they know best. Makes great sense to me.
-----link-----
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=webcameron.story.page&obj_id=143742&speeches=1---------------
We could use a Conservative Council here in West Michigan to come up with solutions to some of our problems and offer them to the governing boards. Anybody think they want to help start one? Kind of what the Neighborhood associations started out to do but turned into the quagmire of groups trying to collect government money basically so they can get a share for themselves.. That may be too cynical. I just know that I will have to check into how the Conservative councils are set up across the pond.
-----In the next speech he set’s out his agenda for change in Health Care. I quote him here.
“The health service needs serious reform. That reform should be steady, purposeful and with a clear direction, avoiding unnecessary upheaval. Changes in lifestyles, in technology and medicine itself, in the expectations people have of the services they receive all this means we need a more decentralised, more patient-centred, less bureaucratic system. And at the same time, if we are to maintain public consent for all the extra spending the NHS receives we have to ensure better value for money than we've had in the past.
But my point is that reform should be bottom-up, not top-down: wherever possible driven by the discretion of professionals responding to the needs and wishes of their patients.
We need to change the essential power relationship in the NHS: from a vertical relationship where professionals are told what to do by politicians and managers above them with patients left just to take what they're given to a horizontal relationship where professionals have the necessary autonomy and discretion to respond to the demands of patients and patients are in the driving seat because they have the ultimate power: the power to choose the service they want.”
------The concept of letting people have the power to determine how to spend the money is “Old School” to conservatives. What is new is that the money comes from the government. The link to that speech is below. He further goes on the explain how this can happen.
-----link-----
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=webcameron.story.page&obj_id=143765&speeches=1--------------
One recurring theme beside the obvious “bottom up” thing is that the governmental system need not be treated as the bad guy, but as someone who needs help. In other words as a “Constrained” conservative would say. It’s there let’s use it.
This guy is good! I can’t help but quote him. Here he explains why all the constant attempts at reform of the bureaucratic system in the past have failed.
---”It's all the product of Labour's bureaucratic mindset, or what I call policy by PowerPoint: clever flowcharts and organograms which ignore the human relationships that are the most important aspect of healthcare.”
These are the things that people instinctively know in their hearts, what all people realize what used to be called common sense. Any government meeting hall is filled with this type of “Power-Point” presentation. Facts and charts and you name it. Forget about the people.
-----Well enough for now, check out my side bar for more links to his speeches under "Xtra Links for current posts".
<
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
<
PS Just found this link about a local study made up business leaders to make Macomb County more cost effective. The article lends insight into the idea of Bottom Up Govrnment American Style. Not the example of Government not the maker but the facilitator of services.
-----link-----
http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=9394--------------
Author Mr. Lawrence W. Reed writting for the Macinac Center, makes some good points.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Two Brooks = An Emerging River?
David Brooks wrote an excellent article in the New York Times Opinion section, titled “The Conservative Revival“.
-----link-----
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/opinion/09brooks.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
--------------
I knew he had written something important after I read it --- but I didn’t know what. I re-read it once, then again, even now as I’m writing about the article my mind is still making connections. The synapses are firing down weird and different pathways. My conservative dogma keeps getting in the way though. It’s not that the basic ideals of conservatism were wrong, just out of step with the article. With reality I‘ll have to think some more. Just maybe the methodology didn’t fit what the people needed anymore. Perhaps too theoretical and not practical enough today. I have been posting about the evils of a government bloated with 20 million employees, and how could we fight that. Maybe we don’t have to maybe it’s more important to look at the what makes those 20 million and the rest of the American people happy. I don’t mean who can give out the most candy on the corner. I mean who can make what the government does now ---- more for and not to the people. More user friendly, better yet more interactive. Or "Ask not what your government has done to you, rather ask what you're doing to help the government help you". Man there goes those synapses again now they’re starting to release endorphins. That is what makes me happy. That may be but
--
NEWS FLASH
--
I’m not normal. Most, probably 90% of the population could care less about government. No wonder I’ve been in the dumps, I would have to try and show 90% of the population how my way is better. Lol. Not happening. It’s not all lost though, my basic thoughts are still coming through. My one gripe with Newt Gingrich for example has been that although he talks about creating more efficient bureaucracy ect. He never talks of really cutting down the government, just making it more user friendly. Light bulb time. Make people happy when they use the government. Light bulb time. User Friendly = The flat tax, easy one pager, happier tax payer. Light bulb time, interactive = more transparency, easier accessibility to the facts and facillating methods for user input, the quicker and happier we the people are. Promote not just the feeling of community in relation to the whole governing process but actually set up mechanism to make it so.
-----Then came Arthur Brooks on Rightalk Radio. Below is a link to Arthur Brooks who has written two books on the subject. “Who Really Cares” and the last one recently published, “Gross National Happiness” I admit to not having read either. He was interviewed on “Leading The Majority” a Gingrich company aired on Rightalk Radio today at 2 I caught half of it. I’ll switch and catch the rest at 4. See my sidebar “Old Standby Links” for Rightalk.
The following link gives a brief description of each title and you’ll get a better idea of what I’m talking about.
-----link-----
http://www.arthurbrooks.net/books.html
---------------
The whole idea of conservatism or what Thomas Sowell in his book “A Conflict Of Visions” called the “constrained vision” is that conservatives tend to accept that humans are as we find them and can do little to change basic human nature. That short of the second coming we will need laws and the like to help us control “constrain” our actions, in order to form a more perfect union. Liberal ideology or as Dr. Sowell calls the “unconstrained vision” claims that man’s flaws can be overcome because they are not inherint in man, but rather put there by society and if we base our laws on letting men free to do as he will things will work out. I hope I’m not going to far a field in my paraphrasing of Dr. Sowell. The difference is that liberals tend to think that perfection is possible to attain and hence ever expanding government in the pursuit of that unreachable goal. Kind of like a never fulfilled ecstasy. The books Arthur Brooks wrote listed above claim that the frustration of liberals and their anger comes because they can never reach their goals. Hence Conservatives are happier just doing what they can.
------Way over simplified I know, and I’ve yet to read the books but hopefully this has given some food for thought. Perhaps a way forward based upon our unalienable right of the pursuit of happiness to focus along the lines of David Brooks article upon human relationships and the joy that can be found there. Merging the works of Arthur Brooks and his talk of the joys of work and giving into a happier and less intrusive mix of government and we the people. A way for the government to be just a network of we the people getting the work that needs to be done --- well done. That taking away of happiness by government is what elected Jessie Ventura, made Ross Perot famous and has people idealizing Obama and his claims of change. Getting government off our back is part of it. We all want that. But the other part that needs to happen is based upon positive solutions. Conservatives need to embrace ways to change government in a people friendly way, with the first priority being to make the government more enjoyable to work with. Yes enjoyable in the sense that after we wash the car we enjoy the feeling of a job well done. Not just the look of a clean car but the sense that we helped create it. We need to make interaction with government to be on a more personnel level. We need to get back to the neighborhood, Akindele Akinyemi knows what I’m talking about. He talks not about slashing government but about making it actually work. I claim it works best if it is at the level where we the people can work it. For country clubbers that’s an abstraction but if you live where government services interface with people, it matters it can be life and death.
-----My synapses are slowing down. This will not be the last article on this I’m sure. Got to order the book. I’m 3 books behind on my reading list now. Oh well I’m not perfect. And I’m learning to be happier knowing I'm not.
<
Regards, Live Dangerously
-----link-----
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/opinion/09brooks.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
--------------
I knew he had written something important after I read it --- but I didn’t know what. I re-read it once, then again, even now as I’m writing about the article my mind is still making connections. The synapses are firing down weird and different pathways. My conservative dogma keeps getting in the way though. It’s not that the basic ideals of conservatism were wrong, just out of step with the article. With reality I‘ll have to think some more. Just maybe the methodology didn’t fit what the people needed anymore. Perhaps too theoretical and not practical enough today. I have been posting about the evils of a government bloated with 20 million employees, and how could we fight that. Maybe we don’t have to maybe it’s more important to look at the what makes those 20 million and the rest of the American people happy. I don’t mean who can give out the most candy on the corner. I mean who can make what the government does now ---- more for and not to the people. More user friendly, better yet more interactive. Or "Ask not what your government has done to you, rather ask what you're doing to help the government help you". Man there goes those synapses again now they’re starting to release endorphins. That is what makes me happy. That may be but
--
NEWS FLASH
--
I’m not normal. Most, probably 90% of the population could care less about government. No wonder I’ve been in the dumps, I would have to try and show 90% of the population how my way is better. Lol. Not happening. It’s not all lost though, my basic thoughts are still coming through. My one gripe with Newt Gingrich for example has been that although he talks about creating more efficient bureaucracy ect. He never talks of really cutting down the government, just making it more user friendly. Light bulb time. Make people happy when they use the government. Light bulb time. User Friendly = The flat tax, easy one pager, happier tax payer. Light bulb time, interactive = more transparency, easier accessibility to the facts and facillating methods for user input, the quicker and happier we the people are. Promote not just the feeling of community in relation to the whole governing process but actually set up mechanism to make it so.
-----Then came Arthur Brooks on Rightalk Radio. Below is a link to Arthur Brooks who has written two books on the subject. “Who Really Cares” and the last one recently published, “Gross National Happiness” I admit to not having read either. He was interviewed on “Leading The Majority” a Gingrich company aired on Rightalk Radio today at 2 I caught half of it. I’ll switch and catch the rest at 4. See my sidebar “Old Standby Links” for Rightalk.
The following link gives a brief description of each title and you’ll get a better idea of what I’m talking about.
-----link-----
http://www.arthurbrooks.net/books.html
---------------
The whole idea of conservatism or what Thomas Sowell in his book “A Conflict Of Visions” called the “constrained vision” is that conservatives tend to accept that humans are as we find them and can do little to change basic human nature. That short of the second coming we will need laws and the like to help us control “constrain” our actions, in order to form a more perfect union. Liberal ideology or as Dr. Sowell calls the “unconstrained vision” claims that man’s flaws can be overcome because they are not inherint in man, but rather put there by society and if we base our laws on letting men free to do as he will things will work out. I hope I’m not going to far a field in my paraphrasing of Dr. Sowell. The difference is that liberals tend to think that perfection is possible to attain and hence ever expanding government in the pursuit of that unreachable goal. Kind of like a never fulfilled ecstasy. The books Arthur Brooks wrote listed above claim that the frustration of liberals and their anger comes because they can never reach their goals. Hence Conservatives are happier just doing what they can.
------Way over simplified I know, and I’ve yet to read the books but hopefully this has given some food for thought. Perhaps a way forward based upon our unalienable right of the pursuit of happiness to focus along the lines of David Brooks article upon human relationships and the joy that can be found there. Merging the works of Arthur Brooks and his talk of the joys of work and giving into a happier and less intrusive mix of government and we the people. A way for the government to be just a network of we the people getting the work that needs to be done --- well done. That taking away of happiness by government is what elected Jessie Ventura, made Ross Perot famous and has people idealizing Obama and his claims of change. Getting government off our back is part of it. We all want that. But the other part that needs to happen is based upon positive solutions. Conservatives need to embrace ways to change government in a people friendly way, with the first priority being to make the government more enjoyable to work with. Yes enjoyable in the sense that after we wash the car we enjoy the feeling of a job well done. Not just the look of a clean car but the sense that we helped create it. We need to make interaction with government to be on a more personnel level. We need to get back to the neighborhood, Akindele Akinyemi knows what I’m talking about. He talks not about slashing government but about making it actually work. I claim it works best if it is at the level where we the people can work it. For country clubbers that’s an abstraction but if you live where government services interface with people, it matters it can be life and death.
-----My synapses are slowing down. This will not be the last article on this I’m sure. Got to order the book. I’m 3 books behind on my reading list now. Oh well I’m not perfect. And I’m learning to be happier knowing I'm not.
<
Regards, Live Dangerously
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