What does it mean to be a Republican?

[Captain Chaos]

It seems to me that the nature of the Republican party is quite different from what it was for Abraham Lincoln or Teddy Roosvelt.

What do you believe is the guiding set of values for the modern Republican party?

[RVonse]

This says it all better than I could:

Quote by: http://www.lovenstein.org/tough/ It is tough being a Republican in 2006. Somehow you have to believe concurrently that: Jesus loves you, but shares your deep hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton. A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all humankind without regulation. The United States should get out of the United Nations, but our highest national priority is enforcing U. N. resolutions against Iraq and Iran. "Standing Tall for America" means firing your workers and moving their jobs to India. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay. A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense. A president lying about WMD existence to enlist support for an unprovoked, undeclared war and occupation in which thousands of soldiers and hundreds of thousands civilians die, is, somehow, solid "defense" policy in a "War against Terrorism". Group sex and drug use are degenerate sins, unless you someday run for governor of California as a Republican. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, but then demand their cooperation and money. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy. Providing health care to all Americans is socialism. HMOs and insurance companies make profits and have the interest of the public at heart. Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him and Rumsfeld reassured him he was our buddy. A bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him. But, then a bad guy again when Bush junior needed a prop for his re-election campaign as the "war president". Iran was a good country when Ford and Rumsfeld and Cheney, along with General Electric, gave them our nuclear technology in the 1970's. Good guys when Cheney did business with them in the 1990's. But, then bad guys when Bush junior needed a prop for his re-election campaign as the "war president". Iraq was a good country when Reagan and Rumsfeld gave them our chemical warfare technology in the 1980's. Bad guys when our we authorized their overflights to gas their own population, and then good guys, again, when Cheney did business with them. But, then bad guys when Bush junior needed a prop for his re-election campaign as the "war president". It is okay that the Bush family's "Carlisle Group" has made millions doing business with the Bin Laden family. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which should include "banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet". The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's illegal insider Harken Oil stock trade should be sealed in his Daddy's library, and is none of our business. What Bill Clinton or John Kerry did in the 1960s was of vital national interest but Bush & Cheney's drug and alcohol felony arrests in the '80s are irrelevant. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a "spirit of international harmony". Affirmative Action is wrong, but it is OK for your Daddy and his friends (here and in Saudi Arabia) to get you to graduate from Yale without studying much; to dodge the draft in the Texas Air National Guard; to bail out your company Harken Oil and the Texas Rangers; to get the Governorship of Texas and then to have the Supreme Court appoint you President of the USA. You are a conservative, but it is OK to spend like there is no tomorrow and run up deficits that your grandchildren will have to pay, while at the same refunding as much tax money as possible to rich people who do not need it.

[shield772]

I became a Republican because I belive in smaller government, the right to keep and bear arms as sacrosanct, and I am Pro-Life. I do not agree with every position/platform the party or it's individual members take, this is why I consider myself a moderate Republican.

[underbear1]

Republicans have become a sickening combination of NeoCons bent on global domination, and Christian Reich bent on domination of other's lives.
To both factions I repeat Cheney's comment to Leahy, "go F*CK YOURSELVES!"

btw. The threat of Republican control has made me embrace the second amendment as well.

[shield772]

Quote by: underbear1 Republicans have become a sickening combination of NeoCons bent on global domination, and Christian Reich bent on domination of other's lives. To both factions I repeat Cheney's comment to Leahy, "go F*CK YOURSELVES!"

Not every Republican fits into those 2 categories. I know I don't.

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: Captain Chaos What do you believe is the guiding set of values for the modern Republican party?

Doodley Squat...

[Captain Chaos]

Quote by: shield772 I became a Republican because I belive in smaller government, the right to keep and bear arms as sacrosanct, and I am Pro-Life. I do not agree with every position/platform the party or it's individual members take, this is why I consider myself a moderate Republican.

But there are plenty of democrats who also want to keep government efficient, and oppose abortion, and support the right to arm bears. Why not be a Democrat with those values?

That is a devil's advocate question. I am not trying to support the Dems in asking it.

[brien]

Quote by: Captain Chaos It seems to me that the nature of the Republican party is quite different from what it was for Abraham Lincoln or Teddy Roosvelt. What do you believe is the guiding set of values for the modern Republican party?

You can praddle on about this untill the proverbial cows come home but the real answers lie in the voting records in Congress.

Link: Project Vote Smart - American Government, Elections, Candidates and Voting

Link:Congress votes database | washingtonpost.com

[bishop]

the only certifiable answer to the question is that to be a republican means that you vote for republican candidates... it doesn't get any deeper than that since the republicans don't really stand for anything.

like others here have posted, their voting records don't match their ideological rhetoric. people say "i'm a republican because i believe in small government", and then summarily discount the fact that under reagan and bush, the government has grown by HUGE leaps and bounds.

but, what does reality matter when you live in partisan fantasyland?

[underbear1]

Republicans never saw a spending bill they didn't love, Nothing is more important than giving the petrol and pharmacuetical lobbiests exactly what they want, cuz they paid for their campaigns.No General has been fired, NO civilian military leader has been fired over the FIASCO in Iraq, yet retired general after retired general keep telling us Iraq is being LOST!

[bishop]

well, that's wrong... generals and civilians alike have been fired over the mess in iraq - because they dared to criticize bush's policies/assumptions. the only ones left are those who ascribe to bush's cult mentality.

[Clarence]

Quote by: shield772 Not every Republican fits into those 2 categories. I know I don't.

You're either with them or against them, right?

[xyzer]

Captain..

But there are plenty of democrats who also want to keep government efficient, and oppose abortion, and support the right to arm bears. Why not be a Democrat with those values?

Great observation! It reveals the reality of politics.
Almost all of us regardless of party affiliation/preference have varied opinions of various subjects..thus we may be liberal on social issues but much more conservative on economics issues. Thus itis hard to use a general title to describe our views?
As is pointed out by bishop politicians rhetoric often does not match their voting records.

I guess the only intelligent thing to do is vote for the person rather than the party..but only after insuring that the person reflects your views by his/her voting record..If the candidate is new and impresses you, follow him/her closely and vote for reelection only if he/she is consistently doing what was promised?

That said most of us lean to a party because it is touted for certain principals..e.g. smaller, less intrusive government; lower taxes.. Thats why I lean towards Repubs..They stand generally for less taxes/government, patriotism over self interest, and a relatively unfettered free enterprise system, intelligent use of resources to better our lifestyles,domestic security in the age of international terrorism.
I'm not saying that many Democrats don't want the same thing..but from the votes and rhetoric of the Democrat leaders they dont give much evidence of adhering to that..
Check out these..
The American Conservative Union: Congressional Ratings

And also use this for references
American Conservative Union

[shield772]

Quote by: Captain Chaos But there are plenty of democrats who also want to keep government efficient, and oppose abortion, and support the right to arm bears. Why not be a Democrat with those values? That is a devil's advocate question. I am not trying to support the Dems in asking it.

Big difference between small government and efficient government, and was that a typo about arming bears? and I can not support the DNC because they have far far to many positions/platforms I am just against, I also am against advocate Judges, this is something the Democrats encourage, the list goes on and on.

[shield772]

Quote by: bishop the only certifiable answer to the question is that to be a republican means that you vote for republican candidates... it doesn't get any deeper than that since the republicans don't really stand for anything. like others here have posted, their voting records don't match their ideological rhetoric. people say "i'm a republican because i believe in small government", and then summarily discount the fact that under reagan and bush, the government has grown by HUGE leaps and bounds. but, what does reality matter when you live in partisan fantasyland?

Reagan grew the military, his government did not grow into my life, smaller federal government does not equate to smaller military, that is the one role of the federal government that we all agree on. Bush on the other hand has not stuck to that, he has grown the government, the Democrats should be proud. And I vote for candidates on issues and their individual merits, that is me, that is what I do, hell I voted for Clinton in second term, Bob Dole scared me.

[shield772]

Quote by: Clarence You're either with them or against them, right?

No I am in the tent pissing out not outside pissing in.

[shield772]

Quote by: bishop well, that's wrong... generals and civilians alike have been fired over the mess in iraq - because they dared to criticize bush's policies/assumptions. the only ones left are those who ascribe to bush's cult mentality.

Active duty military officers are forbidden by the UCMJ from publicly criticizing the President.

Edit: to clarify, it's any superior in the chain of command, so it's not just the president, and how many officers got in trouble for criticizing Clinton?

[Autolykos]

Why am I not surprised? :rolleyes:

- Rob

[bishop]

that's a great rule...

apparently, it also applies to civilians as well.

[shield772]

Quote by: bishop that's a great rule... apparently, it also applies to civilians as well.

Well, when you are appointed by someone, or you have a at-will job, then it would not behove you to criticize the hand that feeds you, ever heard the term I serve at the will of the President?