Fiscal Conservative - but with strings attached.

I am of the opinion that many intelligent, educated people on both sides of the aisle want fiscal conservative policies. The problem is that the party that seems to own fiscal conservative as it's issue also wants social conservative values. They have hi-jacked fiscal conservatism, so to speak.

So, if you want to have a fiscally conservative government and you vote them in, then you also have to accept that in so doing, this same government is going to do everything in it's power to force women to have children they do not want, prevent gays from marrying, demonize and alienate American Muslims and interfere in our personal lives any time they believe they have the moral right to do so.

We have been dragged into a very expensive war in the Middle East, why are we not screaming about a Return On Investment for this war? What is our ROI anyway?

And right now, the Right Wing just wants power. If they can sabotage everything the current President does just so that they can stand up and say "See, he can't do it, you need to elect a conservative leader", then they will. Because they are NOT about ensuring conservative policies, they are about being in power.

I am so discouraged by what Right wing Party has become. It's vicious, ignorant, dark underbelly is surfacing and steamrolling its way into power. When I was on FreeRepublic, I never really took them seriously because they were so dogmatic. I didn't think anyone would listen to such hatred and close mindedness. I was so wrong! People I know and like and respect actually spread bad information about issues just to undermine the current administration. There is no regard or respect on their part for truth or accuracy. Those pesky things just get in their way.

Why can't we just have conservative fiscal policies and let the other stuff go to the way side? Why do we have to force unwanted children onto this planet? Why do we have to create such hatred and fear towards people who don't believe as we do? Why is it a problem for me or society if my gay neighbors marry and adopt a child?

We are human before we are Conservative or Liberal. Asking me to support the conservative position on social issues in order to get strong fiscal conservative policies is asking me to stop being human. It feels like there is a parasite hooked onto the fiscal conservative train; and it's gotten bigger and uglier.

Mitch Daniels - A call for Social Truce

I read a post recently on the Washington Post that stated that Mitch Daniels, Gov. of Indiana, suggested to fellow Republicans that maybe they should call a truce on social issues, such as gay marriage, pro-life, etc. and instead focus efforts and attention on fiscal issues.

When I saw this, I suddenly had compassion for the poor man. Back in the late 90's, I was a prolific poster on Free Republic. I had it in for Clinton and wanted a good ole' American, individual rights protecting, fiscally conservative President. I also suspected, before it was public knowledge, that Hillary was lining up to run for the 2008 Presidential race. So, having the foresight that I felt I had, I opened my mouth and said exactly what Daniels suggested. The party needed to back away from these intrusive social positions and start focusing on fiscal policy.

I was banned from FreeRepublic three times. Apparently, I was a RINO (Republican in Name Only). I was in shock. I was born and raised a Republican. I had never in my life cast a vote for a Democratic candidate. If I had a choice for an Independent, I might select him or her but I never voted for a Democrat. Suddenly felt like I had to prove I was a conservative. I hung in there through Bush's first term and voted for him during his second term.

After a couple of years, I realized that Bush was feeding the dogmatic ideology of the people that supported him. He himself may not have fully embraced it but he at least led his followers to believe he did and it fed their confidence in their own bigoted, misogynistic, homophobic agenda. I couldn't stomach it anymore, I had to jump ship. I did it, I left the Republican Party and voted FOR a Democrat. And I liked it!

I don't know who these Conservatives think they represent anymore. They are becoming the Christian version of the Taliban and I think they are equally dangerous.

So, Mr. Daniels, I applaud your attempt at trying to pull the party off the social issues but I'm afraid that the underbelly of the party is who you are going to have to appeal to in order to get the momentum for election. Really, I don't think that Obama is doing that poorly a job given the hand he was dealt when he was elected. So, you are going to have to sell your soul, swallow your sense of right and wrong, and become the bigoted, misogynist, homophone your extreme constituents want you to be. I'm hoping your self-respect and dignity gets the better of you, though and that you stand your ground. You may not win the election against Obama but you might very well be able to bring the Republican Party around to what it has great potential to be.