DeMint-headedness: putting Conservative principles over policies
By E Pluribus Unum Posted in conservatism | Conservative Principles win | Jim DeMint | Republicans — Comments (59) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
CART BEFORE HORSE AIN'T WORKING: SO JUST FOR KICKS, LET'S TRY IT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, SHALL WE?
File under : Republicans | try political courage, you might like it | DeMint | Conservative principles win
For anybody not aware of who Senator Jim Demint is, let me first bop you upside the head for being an ignorant cretin and a sorry excuse for a Republican. Second, let me give a brief introduction: DeMint is a champion of the conservative wing of the Republican Party, and has more than once stuck his neck out in politically risky moves that show his conservative bark ain't NOTHING compared to his conservative bite. He is a :
-- noted FisCon : slowed down the bipartisan Katrina pork-fest, and CFG loves him;
-- noted SoCon : family man and Christian, noted abortion opponent;
-- noted Milcon : has actively said that cut-n-run talk from Congressional Dems has caused troop deaths, and co-introduced the Semper Fi Act of 2008, which would shut down all federal funds going to Berkeley, CA after the fiasco about the Marine Recruitment Center.
This dude is the real deal, on all three legs of the conservative stool. Now you have no excuse : you know who he is, and by all means study him - the more you see, the more conservative he looks. So let's give a listen, shall we?
Last week in a National Review article, DeMint made sport of this political generation's pitiful wussified efforts to sell conservatism, and proposed the astoundingly obvious solution : teach the core conservative principles, and the correct policies will make themselves evident.
After noting the Reagan-era conservative successes that made America discernably better and sounder, he gets to the problem:
But today we have a problem.A kind of mental lethargy now exists in my party. We are relying on these brilliant and successful policies of the past to be our principles of today. This is completely backwards. The greatness of conservatism has been an understanding that policies are derivatives of principles. Principles never change, policies do. The trick is finding the correct application of principle-based policies that fit our time....
The tax cuts of the 1980s were not only a timely elixir for an ailing economy, they were right in and of themselves because they were consistent with founding American principles.
Cutting taxes means shifting power from the federal government to the American people. It forces the government to be smaller, so that Americans can have more freedom. In doing this Reagan aligned himself with the principles of liberty and economic opportunity for all. It was Reagan’s firm understanding of these principles that allowed him to sell his policy.
When promoting his tax plan Reagan spoke of an “opportunity society” that lay ahead if only we had the courage to embrace the principles of freedom. “We will encourage all Americans — men and women, young and old, individuals of every race, creed, and color — to succeed and be healthy, happy, and whole,” said Reagan. “This is our goal.” (emphasis EPU's)
I find it hard to improve on senator DeMint's words here -- I can only hope to "amen" them. So let's review. The tax cuts WERE good economic policy, but MORE IMPORTANTLY they were based on true-blue (true-red?) Conservative principles. As always I run to Kirk's Ten Conservative Principles. #7 - Freedom and Personal Property are closely linked. (suggesting strongly that freedom is a GOOD thing, which I think Democrats dispute). #9 - Prudent restraints on political power Both speak to limiting the ever-intrusive grope of government into our personal lives, and BOTH are in some way satisfied by lowering taxes.
Even better, Reagan marketed the lower taxes -- nakedly and openly - as conservatism - an "opportunity society" that gave every American an opportunity to succeed. Contrast this with the craven class-warfare practiced by Democrats that plays one group against another. But it ain't just the Dems....
Contrast this approach with the recent effort by my party to sell personal accounts for Social Security. Instead of focusing on the principle of economic opportunity for all, we focused on “solvency.” Instead of explaining that this approach to Social Security would allow every American — rich and poor, black and white — to retire a millionaire, we talked about wage indexing and rates of return. By the end of the debate, Republicans were running for the hills as liberal scare tactics about “privatization” had won the day.We suffer this fate because we do not take the time to understand the principles that berth our policies.
OK, we GET that we're not doing it right these days. Trust me, I think RedState gets it. So then what?
A renewed embrace of first principles will refresh a movement that of late has seen better days. Furthermore, this approach will allow us far greater latitude when it comes to the actual policies we promote today....Given the choice between policies that spring forth from American principles and those that do not, the American people will chose the former every time. These are the principles that are engrained in the American character. Our fellow citizens agree that principles like liberty, economic opportunity, self-government, equal rights, and the rule of law should form the bedrock of public policy.
Now, if we can just get the politicians to agree.
The part I bolded :Given the choice between policies that spring forth from American principles and those that do not, the American people will chose the former every time. bespeaks the cowardice of this generation's conservatives. American people ACT stupid, that's for sure, and the way the general population swallows the Treason Media's version of all events is depressing.
But it's NO reason to think American people are not looking for leadership (they are), that American's won't "get" conservative principles if properly introduced (they will).
So why sell out on AGW, on ANWR and a domestic energy policy, why allow this 460-day Iraq spending-bill hostage situation? Why be shouted down by the liars, cheaters, toadies, and crap-weasels of the Treason Media and the Democratic Party?
Why? We have TRUTH on our side.
Actually I know the answer. Republicans do what they do because we (the people) have allowed the party to be overrun with moderates, squishes, moral cowards, and Dem-lite crooks. As Neil once proposed in a diary (and elsewhere), the takeover starts at the local level. We get grassroots conservatives getting intimately involved, get a farm system of real conservatives coming up, then eventually we primary the squishes with REAL conservatives.
So how about you attend your next city council meeting? Find your Precinct Chair (perhaps BECOME your precinct chair), attend party functions and start voting for conservatives with the courage of their convictions.
Tata!
First thing Ace, Senator Jim DeMint gets all the atta-boys on this one. I'm just riding on his coattails.
Second, we got encores coming. I've actually got 5 more diaries in the hopper right now (including one I'm jointly composing with a RedState favorite). Writing these is pretty difficult for me, because I'm a perfectionist psychotic Nazi about my writing. I've been instructed to get my butt in gear and quit trying to make every diary "The Charge of the Light Brigade". Probably get all these done in the next two weeks or so. Here's the list, with tentative titles - in no particular order, by the way:
(1) Fredheads - Listen Up - a tete a tete to my Fredhead brethren to get on the same page -- a better page than where we are at the moment.
(2) the colloboration piece, and I'm keeping the contents secret for now. I promise you, it will rock.
(3) More Fun with Macho Bambi -- Obama's many gaffes - h/t Michelle Malkin
(4) Republicans Need to learn to play Pit Bull Politics prompted by Pejman's RedHot link to the story by Hans von Spakovsky -- and Martin A Knight's excellent write-up on it -- who recently pulled his nomination to the FEC. Essentially summed by somebody's tag I saw: 'Diplomacy = saying 'nice doggy' while you look for a rock'. I also intend to tie it to Kirk's Principle #9 - restraints on power, suggesting that conservative principles are worth fighting for - and fighting as bloody as we need to.
(5) DeMint-headedness - Core Principles Before Policy - this one.
(6) Fund the Troops Dadgum It - it's basically to the point of treason what the Dems are doing now.
Anyway, stay tuned, and don't be too shy with your own work either. It's very nice of you to speak well of my work, bro.
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
:>)
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”
When can DeMint run for the Oval Office?
He gets my vote.
----------------------
Dependence is Slavery.
Obviously not this time around - and as noted below, for the moment he's needed right where he's at.
But he's a good and decent man, fearless, clear-thinking, and unstained by the toilet water of Washington.
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
Maybe along with one of my current or former congressmen.
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Dependence is Slavery.
Who are your guys? If you happen to be from Texas, then I could see a Jindal-Hensarling, DeMint-Hensarling, Jindal-DeMint, whatever.
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
Freedom of Religion NOT Freedom from Religion
The Jindal problem = being BADLY, BADLY needed right where he is. If Jim DeMint were to leave the Senate, this would cut our population of true-red hard-core TrueConservative™ sendators in half. Since he and Coburn are pretty much it.
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
the number of Senators I would reelect to Congress. He's number one. I echo the sentiments that he's needed right where he is rather than "arm candy" for McCain. I don't mean that term in the usual sense but by the fact that the VP really has very little power in governmental matters. Why relegate him to a "useless unless the president dies" status when he actually managed to do some little good where he is even if hampered by others?
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
Excellent and Amen.
Just became a Precinct Committeeman on this principle.
Keep it coming!
I'm holding back for now, but come Septmeber, I'm going to start doing some serious advocacy within my little circle. Your work, along with Hay, GC, and Caleb will be front and center.
By golly, when I get done, my circle will know what conservativism is and why we must fight for it! Let the education begin!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just a typical, small town, white girl...
Keeping your powder dry till Sept then? Yeah I got some friends like that too.
Hey, in your honor, right this moment I am sucking down a venti-size mocha frap! Yep, that's right, I am! Have one yourself, if it ain't too late at night for that kind of caffeine shot.
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
And, did you know it is almost summer?
Gaw-I love summer. Going to be doing lots of traveling, to include the American Idols on tour in Dallas, August 25th. Yeah baby!
No frap for me now. It's midnight. We got back from London at 1:00 AM last night, so I have to go to bed now. Chaperoning 2nd graders to Horton Hears a Whoo! in the morning.
But...I did have my Venti Caramel Frappachino at the airport last night. I shudder to think what it cost hubby. But I enjoyed every last drop.
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Just a typical, small town, British-American girl...
to use for your illustration.
But the Birdos really sucked tonight... :-(
The Unofficial RedState FAQ
“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say. ” - Martin Luther
I am 18 years old and surrounded by liberals who beileve that being liberal is the solution to societies problems. Most people my age don't understand the benefits of having a small government. Unfortunatly the media doesn't make republicans look very good and these days the republican parties true conservative base doesn't seem to strong. I truely believe that the moment principle is brought into the picture many young voters will veiw politics in a new way. The Right Way!
Flat tax rates rule!
That Liberalism has been the norm since the sixties! and is the reason for many of our fiscial and social problems in this country. Spiraling medical costs due to cost shifting from medicare onto paying patients and insurance companies. Crime caused by teens raised in single families because of the destruction of the nuclear family. Drug use due to teen confidentiality from parents about sexuality and drug use. Mortgage meltdown, due in part to exotic and government encouraged "first time buyer" loans--the list goes on. We were conservative in the 50's and thats what made us the richest and most powerful country in the world. We've been libral since the sixties and look at the direction we're going
Thanks for the post EPU. He da man!
Tim Schieferecke
That's true about DeMint being needed where he is right now.
He's only in his mid 50's. The future is bright for what he is going to do for the conservative movement.
I probably should have a long time ago for my job, but kept putting it off. I finally went it was VERY interesting. I do plan on "practicing what I've been preaching" by attending our city council meetings and continuing to attend school board meetings.
I encourage everyone else to do the same thing. I was very pleased with my experience.
MelZ
I live in pure Red country - Texas, Joe Barton's district, suburban city that goes 62% GOP in presidential elections - and our city council is rife with the worst kinds of populist, flat out stupid, eco-phile, politically correct crap I could have imagined. And we have a clear majority on the council who I know for a fact to be declared Republicans.
Which says to me - diligence begins at home. I'm a Precinct Chair, which is pretty low on the totem pole, but it does give me private 1-on-1 access to the councilmen, pretty much on demand.
I am afraid to even try the school board. I almost don't want to know.
But good job, MelZ, great to see you get involved.
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
Everything you have said is correct, and of course sensible. I believe that we need something to motivate the grassroots to vote for us, and I think that Demint is a movement guy. What we need is more than a movement guy, which we had with Fred, but an strong, powerful spokesman for conservatism. All the evidence points that Demint (and Bobby Jindal) is that guy who can give the movement a new voice. He is one of the 2 in the Senate I wouldn't throw out.
The trouble with our friend John McCain isn't that he's ignorant, but that he knows so much that isn't so.
How is it now that the ball and chain are attached? (My wife and I opted for the nose ring so she could pull me around...LOL
Welcome back!
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”
Life's good, never better-though it is funny just how much less free time I have now. Too bad about your Spurs though, just can't hang with KB24.
The trouble with our friend John McCain isn't that he's ignorant, but that he knows so much that isn't so.
After last night, it's over in the West. Hey BR, many congratulations dude!
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
Have you had lambic? It's from belgium, and generally has some kind of fruit infused into it, but you have to uncork it like champagne as it comes in a champagne bottle. About 10 bucks a bottle, but well worth it, and some of the most smooth and delicious beer you'll have tasted. The high alcohol content makes it a man's drink-as does amarettos sours, and let it be decreed as so. Now as for my Pistons...tonight may tell the tale if the Pistons can win in Boston again.
The trouble with our friend John McCain isn't that he's ignorant, but that he knows so much that isn't so.
Heard of it BR, haven't tried it, but I'll see if I can locate some. And I am all about amaretto sours.
Man drink it is!
I kind of favor the Pistons, mainly because the Celts have failed to cowboy up in the playoffs - after going 66-16, they take 7 games each to dispose of loser Atlanta and lightweight Cleveland. Detroit is tougher.
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
I'm in Texas. But I'll give this a look. We got Majestic Liquor stores that carry just an unbelievable selection.
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
Demint heads!
Fred heads
Dead heads
Soft heads
Rudy dudes
Con mods
Civ mods
Mid mods
Snob mods
Lib mods
Neo cons
Crunchy cons
Move cons
So cons
Econ cons
Prog cons
Kiddy cons
Contemp cons
Reli cons
Move On mods...I dont care what the heck you are....
YES WE SHALL!!
Alaska is both East and West of you. Since some of the Aleutian Chain is on the east side of the 180th Meridian, that part of Alaska is the easternmost part of the US.
In Vino Veritas
I'm only a few miles away from the Atlantic so that puts most of you to the left of me on the map!!!!(LOL)
dude, you win! Special ought to give you a royalty status over that one!
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
courses; they're easier than Great Circles, which I can't do to save my life but don't have to. Most people who think about it all all think a rhumb line is a course down a meridian, but actually, any straight line course on a mercator projection chart is a rhumb line.
The little bit of navigation I've had has exponentially increased my admiration for the old guys who explored the whole globe with a clock, compass, sextant, a speed log that actually tied "knots," and charts, if any, based on local knowledge. And I don't even want to think about the set and drift problems of flying a B-29 from Tinian to Japan up in the jetstream with meterology that was hours or even days old. It's a wonder those guys could find Japan, not to speak of accurately hitting anything in it - and they did it with less than a year's training.
In Vino Veritas
wasn't Rum Line a movie? Guy goes to college, joins the marching band as a Rummer, but has teamwork issues.
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
to tie the knot in the cherry stem with her tongue, she'll try anything.
"ma deuce says no easy trick and fun to watch"
totally ignores a blatant fowl on Berry taking a three point shot!
Fisher might as well have tackled him the way he came down on him!
Oh well...Spurs need to rebuild with some youth. I figure Berry and Horry will retire and we'll have cap room to bring in some young blood soon!
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”
It should have never come down to that. The Spurs had opportunity after opportunity to close the deal. They lost because of Ginoblis poor poor play-if he was tat hurt, he shouldn't have played just like Billups didn't play the whole series against Orlando. But alas, they're going to need some youth in the offseason-but it doesn't look like all that deep of a draft after the top 10, so we shall see. I'm in the same boat-this could be the final year of the Pistons reign. If there's a God, He won't let Boston win this year, an that's really all I ask for from the Lord. :-)
The trouble with our friend John McCain isn't that he's ignorant, but that he knows so much that isn't so.
but the fact that they were in it after all the second chance points LA had speaks to their tenacity and if Crawford hadn't turned a blind eye to the foul we'd have at least gone to overtime, or won.
San Antonio wins...you have a 2-2 series and the question of how the young guys respond to not being able to beat the spurs at home...history hinged on that one non call...we'll never know how it would have turned out because Crawford wanted payback for being banned from the playoffs last year!
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”
is that sour grapes...well yeah
:>)
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”
He's right. Somewhere along the line, the conservatives decided that holding the right positions was more important than having the right principles. And it became a lazy shortcut to describe someone who has taken a few of the right positions as a conservative.
So one can be called a conservative when there was and is no shred of conservative principles guiding their approach to amnesty, Gang of 14, global warming, etc. All because they say they now wants conservative judges, to win the war on terror, cut spending and lower taxes. Those are positions, not principles. If they were guided by conservative principles, that would demand a different position than has been often taken.
Everybody in the Republican Party calls themselves a conservative when fishing for votes--if we had as many conservative votes in office as campaigned as conservatives, we wouldn't have any grips.
I believe it is always important to act at the local level. But I think what is really missing is leadership at a national level. Leaders like Senator Demint. Those who practice what they preach. We need more just like him!
Freedom is the right to question and change the established way of doing things--Reagan
Freedom is the right to question and change the established way of doing things--Reagan
...in a manly sort of way of course (as opposed to, let's say, a California or New York sort of way)
As TD put it elsewhere in his excellent post, we have been running away from our 'brand' for 20 years now (w/the exception of the CWA in '94). It's going to be a long road back, especially when our party 'leaders' continue to make statements and issue press releases which continue the abandonment of our founding principles.(cf. Cole's abomination over at the NRCC or McCain's AGW screeds)
It makes it really tough for newcomers or those in more marginal disticts to preach the freeing power of conservatism as opposed to the shackling effect of their liberal opponents when in the nether reaches of the party, we seem to be ashamed of it.
We have a long way to go because our brightest stars, like Sen. DeMint, are still in the farm system. Sigh!
"All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
I've been grasping since February to asy what you've said in one short post...You did it and you accomplished the first rule of Showmanship..."Leave them wanting more!"
Encore...Give me more!!!
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”