Dave wrote:

...I'm trying to figure out where it's appropriate to air my grievances with Republicans who aren't Conservatives.




By the time most of us reach adulthood, we learn that life is a series of choices and frequently we make compromises. We understand that ideals and principles are like dreams of our youth; they will continue to motivate and give us courage but must eventually bow to the instinct to survive.

We learn to expect a little less of ourselves—and forgive much.

This almost fanatical adherence to “principles” is disturbing because it is something that appears to be thrown out like a gauntlet; challenging our moral compass. It demands like a man that tells a woman, “prove you love me…”

The motive and the character of the person demanding such “proof” should ALWAYS be suspect.

Unfortunately, that first line of attack has already been breached and many, like Dave are asking the question: how do we disagree without giving “aid and comfort” to the Liberals/Terrorist/enemy?

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Remember that you don’t know any of the posters, writers, talk show hosts, politicians personally. Treat them as you would any stranger that walked into your life. Just because they claim to be a conservative shouldn’t automatically give them a pass.

DECIDE WHICH HILL YOU WANT TO DIE ON

I am sorry but this is a PERSONAL decision. Be leery of anyone who tells you that you MUST put a 30 year old problem above the war, the courts, or the economy—or anything else you think is important.

I too have an issue that I am willing to die on, but that issue is so important to me that I am also willing to be patient and play the odds.

The Democrats will give me zero chance of attaining my goal; Republicans holds the only viable ticket.

Insisting on carrying on this “tantrum” in the hopes of “forcing” the GOP to be what they are not is not only stupid; it is irresponsible. Not only won’t you get the borders closed/end pork spending/whatever your complaint is…you’ll get gay rights found in the constitution, back to the appeasement policy that gave us 9/11, and the reversal of the tax cuts that overturned a 9/11 economy and a busted dot com stock market.

If you must sacrifice yourself for your principles, please don’t insist that we sacrifice ours for YOURS.

BE FAIR

I have liken the “disillusionment” of the absolutes to a man (Bush) who’s roof fell down (9/11) and while he was getting ready to fix it, learned that he had pest in his foundation (terrorist)…then one of his kids got sick and had to go to the hospital (Katrina)…and he used up all his savings and even went into debt to fix/pay all these things…and his “family” is angry at him because he won’t fix the hole in the fence (the illegal immigration) that’s been there for 30 years.

The hole may be annoying but Good Lord, the president has been a tad busy, don’t you think? And perhaps absolutes wouldn’t be so compelled to complain what this war time president hasn’t done if they stopped for a moment to be grateful for what Bush has accomplished.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ATTAIN?

Here are the political facts:

20% of the voting population are either Democrat or Republican

3% are 3^rd party wannabes

The rest are Independents that lean Left on some issues, Conservative on others.

In order to accomplish ANYTHING, you HAVE to get to the congregation and stop preaching to the choir.

You don’t get to the congregation by selling tickets (or giving litmus test to see how conservative the person is.)

If you want to close the borders, cut spending or whatever the issue you are complaining about, you have to convince enough of that 57% that does NOT share your conservative ideas to put enough conservatives that do INTO Congress so that the McCains and Nancys do not count.

**

Now after all of that, if you still feel the need to register your dissatisfaction with the way the Republicans are running their party, then take a long look at how you deal with your boss, your customers, your family, and your friends—all the people that can and do affect YOUR life.

1. Choose your words carefully
2. Express concern and an openness to understand what is involved
3. Make your “suggestions” respectful, remembering where it is being said and in front of whom.
4. State your ultimatum—only after deciding you can live with the consequences.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

Stop listening to the nay-sayers and Bush/GOP bashers. The day I realized that Laura Ingraham thought Bush was the only man we could trust to send our sons and daughters to war but we could NOT trust him to appoint someone to the SCOTUS was the day I stopped believing in HER credibility. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to justify her betrayal.

As you refused to follow the media and Liberals when they BLAMED America, don’t follow the absolutes when they BLAME Bush. He isn’t God, he’s not a king or a dictator. He’s president with a whole congress and the courts to share power with. He can’t, even if you do hold your breath until you kill the GOP party, solve a 30 year old problem with a snap of his veto pen.