Topic: How Do We Win In America

[JohnK144]

I could spend every minute of every day mocking and bashing obama, and I wouldn't even have to shade the truth. He's given us an endless supply of evidence to support the case against him, with more coming every day.

But being in this state every day has become like a soul-destroying malignancy. A negative addiction that spills out onto everyone, even those who are otherwise decent people; politicians that we mostly agree with, but because they aren't setting fire to the White House, they need to be destroyed too. This has got to change.

What we need, if we really want to save this country, is to develop a positive vision for what we're going to do once we've rid ourselves of obama and the "progressive" menace. Ronald Reagan didn't win in 1980 by tearing at the cancer of the Carter administration. He won by reminding us that America was greater than all of that. And we were inspired by it. He didn't win by "convincing America" to agree with him. He won by inspiring those Americans who ALREADY AGREED with him, to get out and vote.

We are the majority; those who believe America is the greatest country in the world. We outnumber the America-haters 100 to 1. But we won't win if we're all divided along the lines of which politicians we hate the most. That's not how you inspire a nation to get out and vote. "Hatred" is the "progressive's" game. If we go there, we will lose.

I hope you'll forgive this rant, but I think it's time that we started to see obama as irrelevant to our plans to rebuild America; an impediment, a speed bump that we will soon leave behind us in the dustbin of history.

[IronDioPriest]

That's a great first post John, and thank you for it.

You'll find a good dose of Eeyorish pessimism here, and a good dose of focus on the destruction wrought by the Left, as well as disaffection with the determination of the establishment GOP in their failure to rise to the challenges we face. But we're about solutions and ways forward too, giving credit where it's due, and placing hope where it is warranted.

I think a healthy dose of optimism and refocusing on a positive way forward would do me some good, and I'll bet others would agree. For the entire forum, I say welcome, and we look forward to your input in that regard.

[Libertas]

Yes, good first post.

If we pile on the Left, well, speaking for myself it is partly therapeutic and partly please be aware of what these people are up to!

For our own side of the house, there can be angst and frustration over some of our less-than-we-bargained-for leaders and venting over the same, but I agree with IDP that as best we can we try to identify opportunities and ways to advance (or not derail) the cause!

Welcome aboard!

[AmericanPatriot]

Welcome.
I'm pretty new here,too.

For a short answer to how we win... start local and state
The fed gets the press and attention but I'm kind of thinking the 10th Amendment and Nullification movements are our best hope.

If the pond is too big, we're all little fish.
Make the pond smaller and we are bigger fish relatively speaking.

I've had this fantasy about isolating and ignoring Washington.
Let them pass any screwy thing they want and pay no attention

[Libertas]

Welcome.
I'm pretty new here,too.

For a short answer to how we win... start local and state
The fed gets the press and attention but I'm kind of thinking the 10th Amendment and Nullification movements are our best hope.

If the pond is too big, we're all little fish.
Make the pond smaller and we are bigger fish relatively speaking.

I've had this fantasy about isolating and ignoring Washington.
Let them pass any screwy thing they want and pay no attention

Heh.  I think that is referred to as "Going Galt"!  But don't get me started on that!   

[AmericanPatriot]

I'm working on it or at least going a little gray and reducing my need for the outside

[IronDioPriest]

...I've had this fantasy about isolating and ignoring Washington. Let them pass any screwy thing they want and pay no attention.

Man, so have I. I think it'll ultimately take resistance by states (such as we're beginning to see in places like Florida, Texas, AZ, Montana, etc) to ultimately embolden people to take this attitude toward the federal government. I'd love to see a sovereign state like North Dakota or Alaska just begin issuing state permits to drill for oil, and daring the federal government to suffer the public relations disaster of trying to force them to stop. Civil disobedience at the state level. I think federal bureaucracy would eventually crumble under such resistance.

[IronDioPriest]

Here is a link from "ColdWarrior" @ RedState.com, who incessantly hammers home the power of the precinct committeeman, and the need for conservatives to infiltrate the Republican party at that level in all localities.

http://theprecinctproject.wordpress.com/

Very good stuff there, of exactly the kind of proactive participation that John is speaking of.

[Alphabet Soup]

Here is a link from "ColdWarrior" @ RedState.com, who incessantly hammers home the power of the precinct committeeman, and the need for conservatives to infiltrate the Republican party at that level in all localities.

http://theprecinctproject.wordpress.com/

Very good stuff there, of exactly the kind of proactive participation that John is speaking of.

In Washington state the Paulians have taken this to heart in several regional areas. They are wresting control from the somnambulist GOP'rs. Several of us conservatives are attempting to do so as well. I wonder who will win?

[Libertas]

Here is a link from "ColdWarrior" @ RedState.com, who incessantly hammers home the power of the precinct committeeman, and the need for conservatives to infiltrate the Republican party at that level in all localities.

http://theprecinctproject.wordpress.com/

Very good stuff there, of exactly the kind of proactive participation that John is speaking of.

I gave this a try.  I sent an e-mail looking at being a guy for my precinct, but I think I may have just asked the guy who now has the gig if I can have his spot!  So I may not be able to get far on this.  But if it is something I am able to run for so someone isn't uncontested, especially if the guy is not as conservative as I, I'll do it.  Otherwise I am still planning to look at other avenues to influence elections or ensure thay are conducted without monkey business (like being an election judge or poll observer).

[AmericanPatriot]

I've thought about this and my area is available.
But haven't done it yet because, well, I don't play well with others.
I'm a Conservative who happens to be a Repub.

I envision a situation where Newt or Romney get the nomination and being expected to work for them. Ain't gonna happen.

Like the guy who only has a hammer and sees everything as a nail, I'm a sometimes marketing consultant and see this in terms of a marketing problem.

People like us or even the Tea Party are a small minority.
Most of the rest don't see the problems we see nor have the interest we have.
How do we reach the average voter and educate?

Do we become activists? Write more letters to the editor, organize better?

The local Tea Party is unwilling to endorse and only see their role as education.

We do need to educate more

I'll think about this and offer a more coherent list of ideas that I think should be implemented

[JohnK144]

Thanks to everyone for the welcome.

Just so you know how I've come to this thought, I would tell you that I had the worst, darkest, most troubling days of my life yesterday. But when I really thought about the day, I realized I had absolutely NO REASON to feel that way. I had the day off. The sun was shining. I was healthy and energetic. I had food and a place to live. But still I was angry.

And it occurred to me. I have been "fighting the good fight," railing against the destructive actions from the left for so long that it was finally starting to devour me. I was becoming as HATEFUL as the left. When it came to my emotions, they OWNED me. And I even avoided starting a conversation here because I was so drained of life from fighting the "progressives."

Not any more. As of today I'm through with being drawn into the "dark side." I'm better than that. My ideas are better than theirs. My vision for what America is and could be is so much superior to the neo-socialist hope and change crowd, that the only JUST thing to do is to opt for a divorce and leave that mindset behind.

For those who would like to know, it feels like I dropped a big weight off my shoulders. I highly recommend it for anyone that's been pulled into the "hateful world" of the dark side.

[charlesoakwood]

...I've had this fantasy about isolating and ignoring Washington. Let them pass any screwy thing they want and pay no attention.

...I'd love to see a sovereign state like North Dakota or Alaska just begin issuing state permits to drill for oil, and daring the federal government to suffer the public relations disaster of trying to force them to stop. Civil disobedience at the state level. I think federal bureaucracy would eventually crumble under such resistance.

Oh yeah!  If two or more states openly defied the federalies it would cause a domino affect.  And big cat wrangling the, fed ain't up to it. Utah and the other states coining there own money it the start.

[IronDioPriest]

I have days when I feel like hatred for those who would see my country destroyed and supplanted is the focus of my emotional energy. The threat is real, so it can have the capacity to overwhelm. Those aren't good days.

Good days are days when I do something concrete to be a better husband, father, friend, mentor, Christian, and American - doing something to leave the day better than I found it. When I get to the end of a day and realize that I haven't spent any energy on hating Leftists (like days spent fishing), but I've made someone else happy, or done something nice for someone, or done my civic duty.... those are better days that remind me to keep perspective.

I'll be honest - I've had more bad days lately than are probably good for me. Probably not too different from where you were at John. I look forward to some encouragement from a new member. Thanks for joining us.

[charlesoakwood]

Not any more. As of today I'm through with being drawn into the "dark side." I'm better than that. My ideas are better than theirs. My vision for what America is and could be is so much superior to the neo-socialist hope and change crowd, that the only JUST thing to do is to opt for a divorce and leave that mindset behind.

JohnK144, thank you for bringing your thoughtful insights to IAL.
A friend's saying compliments your thought: "Don't let the world steal your joy", welcome.

[JohnK144]

I'll be honest - I've had more bad days lately than are probably good for me. Probably not too different from where you were at John. I look forward to some encouragement from a new member. Thanks for joining us.

Glad to be here. You know, I fully intend to continue engaging the issues, just not on "their" terms.

Today on one of the blogs, the subject came up about AGW (climate change). Rather than fight over the "legitimacy of the science" nonsense, I would just bring a different vision.

The fact is that the earth will trend toward warming, unless it's trending toward cooling. So if we are on a warming trend, we should use that to our advantage. Warmer weather means longer growing seasons and an increase in arable areas to grow food. We should be concentrating on expanding food production in order to help feed the hungry, NOT arguing over CO2 "cap and trade" nonsense.

That's just a small example, but it's where I'm going with the "issues of the day."

[John Florida]

I'll be honest - I've had more bad days lately than are probably good for me. Probably not too different from where you were at John. I look forward to some encouragement from a new member. Thanks for joining us.

Glad to be here. You know, I fully intend to continue engaging the issues, just not on "their" terms.

Today on one of the blogs, the subject came up about AGW (climate change). Rather than fight over the "legitimacy of the science" nonsense, I would just bring a different vision.

The fact is that the earth will trend toward warming, unless it's trending toward cooling. So if we are on a warming trend, we should use that to our advantage. Warmer weather means longer growing seasons and an increase in arable areas to grow food. We should be concentrating on expanding food production in order to help feed the hungry, NOT arguing over CO2 "cap and trade" nonsense.

That's just a small example, but it's where I'm going with the "issues of the day."

 Welcome aboard and rant on!!

 As far as engaging the tards Never Never engage on their terms. I like to just change the subject in mid stream just to watch their heads blow off. When I make a point I just repeat and repeat it till they just want to kill me then I bring up civility and violence and ask just who is for it if they want to kill me and I just want a civil conversation. Just keep twisting them up till they just cant talk anymore then you engage just when they about to have their heads blow off.

 I see them as teaching Donkeys first you have to hit them dead on the head with a 2X4 just to get their attention then you can teach.

[JohnK144]

 I see them as teaching Donkeys first you have to hit them dead on the head with a 2X4 just to get their attention then you can teach.

Yeah. I've been there and I've done that. They have been like an "abusive spouse" from which I've decided, "They are not worth my time." Or for that matter, the "timber."

I want to spend my time presenting a new paradigm. One that is completely devoid of the cancerous leftist policy ideas.

[Alphabet Soup]

And it occurred to me. I have been "fighting the good fight," railing against the destructive actions from the left for so long that it was finally starting to devour me. I was becoming as HATEFUL as the left. When it came to my emotions, they OWNED me. And I even avoided starting a conversation here because I was so drained of life from fighting the "progressives."

Welcome JohnK144. I don't think we have an official grouch here, but we do have several contenders 

I gotta say...I can really relate! I've become a sort of connoisseur of anger of late. I don't get miffed 'cuz that's too metrosexual, but I have been known to be surly, pissed, and downright ballistic. Most days I do a slow boil, but have also been known to be decidedly frosty. All too often I see red, which is strange 'cuz my mood is so black. I've been outraged for so long I busted off the needle.

All kidding aside, the one thing I would take issue with is this notion of "HATEFUL". I see it flung at us by truly hateful folks all the time. I'm really not hateful (though God knows I have legal claim to some bodacious rights to hatred of a few folks). I'm more of a Badger - I just wanna be left alone. There is damned little bad that anyone could ever accuse me of perpetrating on this world, but the sense that I am being punished becomes more palpable every single day. I did nothing to deserve this, and neither did you.

I want to strike out at the ones who needlessly and selfishly disturb my peace & quiet. That doesn't make me hateful - that makes me respectful of myself and my surroundings.

[JohnK144]

I want to strike out at the ones who needlessly and selfishly disturb my peace & quiet. That doesn't make me hateful - that makes me respectful of myself and my surroundings.

Understood. And if you looked through these 5 and a half thousand comments http://intensedebate.com/people/JohnK144 (I'm not recommending that) that I've made, you'd see that I have hit the trolls with the sharpest of arrows, with the best of dead aim. It's not hard to do, and they are deserving of it. But that's exactly what I'm personally tired of doing. (Responding to their nonsense)

Let them respond to me if they dare. But I'll still most likely ignore them. I'll just push forward with a BETTER IDEA.