Tasine Loc: Southwest US

Zo says that Conservatives aren’t doing the cultural work to gain and maintain representation. Could he be right?

See his video here: http://conservativevideos.com/2014/02/grammy-another-b-s-union-address/

Unclet Loc: Amarillo, Tx

Zo is partially correct. But in politics, as in life, trying to do something that you are not good at, or familiar with, can and usually does have a negative impact.

The Affordable Care Act is a good example of something (Gov't) trying to do something (healthcare) that it has no idea of how to do, and is to corrupt to succeed even if they knew how. Fast and Furious is another example. The Farm Bill is the most recent example of bad management, as well as a bad message (its OK to steal as long as you don't get caught).

My point is that no matter how great the message is, if you don't have the integrity and sk**l to manage, you will fail. I don't feel that the conservatives that are now in charge of the message, have very much of either.

son of witless

The Congressional Budget Office just said that Obamacare could wipe out 2.5 million jobs in the next 10 years.

No matter how bad Conservatives are, they still ain't worthless, destructive Democrats.

Conservatives want to repeal Obamacare. That makes them worth v****g for PERIOD.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

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I tend to agree with your assessment.

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

Wh**ever happened to " here's what we believe" and sticking to it. Now, political parties spend enormous sums on marketing research and demographics. So the parties have become the "here's what our research says you want to hear" parties, to get v**es, to get elected and then - not to have a clue about what to do.

saveamerica Loc: Texas

Hi Ipnmajor,
I agree with you. Our politicians don't speak from the heart and tell us the t***h about themselves or their real plan of action. They all speak about what we want to hear and then at the next stop they tell them something else. We have got to start making our politicians listen to The People and their wishes.

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

We could start by NOT listening to them. Petition our local radio and TV stations NOT to do endorsement or other political ads. We would quickly find that money will win out, that's why there's a problem in the first place.

Educating the majority of the public CANNOT be left to the politicians. That's how all this got started. Now it has a life of it's own. Town hall meetings should be debates, not platforms. Debates should include ALL the candidates, not just from the "big two". The public has got to take an active role, not sit around and watch.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

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I agree with what both you and lpnmajor said. I had an epiphany yesterday and learned something I hadn't realized before, and it sorely saddened me.

I belong to quite a few conservative sites and commented on one day before yesterday. I am a 50 year Republican who quit the party 3 years ago because it just wasn't representing me - it was cowering to the left and I felt I was abandoned. I joined the Libertarian Party which believes as I do and isn't afraid to say so. It isn't a major party because the two major parties see to it.

On this other site I was hit hard from every angle by really angry Republicans when I said I'd begged republicans to v**e their principles instead of their party when Obama was running for a second term. I was accused of being the cause of the Republicans losing. I explained I v**e based on the principles I live by, not by party loyalty. I was told that winning comes ahead of principles, etc. etc. I realized that many republicans are as blind as most progressives. One believes in small government, the other in humongous government, but neither seems to place much value on principles.

So I ask the question: If v**ers don't live by their principles, why do they expect the people they elect to live by principles?

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

Exactly! It has become a game in which the rules are made up as the players advance. V**ers are not intellectually engaged in this game. Who has the time to try and keep up with the latest reincarnation of their party?

Many long time v**ers I have talked to are dropping out, saying " I don't know who to believe anymore ". I think we'll see fewer informed v**ers because it has become too difficult, and time consuming, to keep up with all the changes in "principles" we're seeing.

The sad thing is, the politicians themselves have become victims of this game, and can't see it. Corporations are more involved than ever, caucuses are splintering and political rhetoric is sowing confusion.

In my opinion, the "independent" parties have a golden opportunity to get their messages out, if they would only choose to. I think many v**ers may "return to the booth" if given a lifeline, by an independent party, that remains true to it's principles.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

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In referring to my experience on the other site, I was told that nation comes before principles, that Libertarians almost always win when they run on the Republican ticket because the Libertarian represents what they want, but that the republican v**ers "aren't going to v**e Libertarian". otherwise". They want to call the shots, but WANT good libertarian candidates because the libertarian represents what they want, but they will not v**e for the libertarian unless he will run on the Republican ticket. That thinking blows my mind away. The Republicans lose because too many of them think only PARTY, and yet they ridiculed ME for v****g my principles - I lost the e******n for them. Gary Johnson was the only one on the ticket who reveres individual liberties. Seems the Republicans can only win if they can get a libertarian on the ticket, but will die before v****g for a libertarian running on the Libertarian ticket. Blows my mind!

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

Way back when, the repubs and dems decided to work together to ensure two party tickets. In the smoking lounges of gentlemen's clubs, it was decided to pressure media to ONLY write about the " big two". Since the media owners were part of the same clubs, well, "favor for favor" was the rule.

Now, 100 years later, we have become habituated to that premise. Independents STILL are ignored. They can buy add space - as long as it's on an issue and no party is attached to it. The "big two" are the only parties who's views are routinely commented on.

When pressure is put on the media to fix this imbalance, they cry " freedom of the press ", and refuse to acknowledge what is plain as day. I think the answer is for independents to begin educating the public that we are NOT a two party system, rather than try to promote an individual party. Once it sinks into peoples consciousness, they will look for themselves and FIND what they're looking for.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

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Great points! Yes, there is a lot of unintended ignorance floating about, and probably some of that ignorance is mine. I'm new to the Libertarian Party, but lately have started trying to get some republicans to move over with me if they truly believe in smaller government and individual freedoms. Those two things are talked about in Republican circles, but are not as paramount as they are in the Libertarian Party.

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

Yeah, lip service goes nowhere. Sound bites smell to high heaven but peoples noses have become accustomed to it, like a fart in a crowded room. We need less talk and more walk. Good luck to you, I REALLY hope you have success.