True conservatives are deeply disappointed by the results of this year’s presidential election. Not only because a Republican lost to a Democrat, but because there weren’t any conservatives in the running. In fact, there hasn’t been much evidence of conservative practice in the highest office in the land for 20 years.
Does this mean that conservativism is dead? That people no longer hold to ideals of limited government, individual liberty and responsibility, and patriotic attachment to distinctive American first principles, and disengagement from unnecessary international entanglements?
Hardly. There is a vast pool of frustrated idealism in the American republic, as was seen in the early candidacy of Ron Paul, and in the passionate involvement of religious and other conservatives for decades. The problem is that this is a movement without a party. The Republican party, which theoretically stands on many planks of conservatism, in practice is adrift from those principles.
Now I’d like to propose that we do something about it. We who do not identify ourselves with one party, but instead who are Patriotic Independent Conservatives (PICs), have the tools to crowd-organize and support only those candidates who are real conservatives.
I live in NJ, where genuine conservatives are despised and bypassed by the state Republican party, and where Republicans of almost any stripe are routinely defeated (in state or national races) by liberal Democrats. But what if a great candidate – maybe a strongly conservative Republican, or even an Independent, had another source of support beside a compromising Republican party?
Barack Obama has demonstrated, in a very practical way, how technology and individual initiative can be harnessed to create massive and effective support. Why cannot PICs do the same – instead of waiting for the Republican party to do the right thing, why not self-organize into a massive, independent organization that will pool funds and efforts to support other PICs (or at least strong conservatives) who are up for office?
If local, state, or national Republican party groups want to put up moderates or liberals, they forfeit the support of the PIC constituency. And perhaps even invite an Independent candidacy to oppose them along with whatever Democrat is in the mix. But if truly conservative Republicans are running for office, PICs will bring major-league financial and logistical support to bear.
How could this be organized? I’m an idea guy, not an operations person, so the organizational and legal structure is not something I could pursue. However, if a small brain trust of proven conservative political and legal figures would serve as the directors of such an organization (folks like Newt Gingrich, Michael Farris, and other of similar caliber), those of us who are looking for a real voice in the process would feel comfortable investing time and treasure into building an operation that would reflect our values. Not a new political party – a focused and target support organization that gets behind the most conservative candidates.
I could see such an organization getting behind a small handful of principled, conservative candidates, seeding state and national bodies with leaders who believe that the Constitution is not made of malleable plastic. PICs could have both positive and negative leverage over Republican party groups – support a good candidate and we pitch in our support; put forth a milquetoaster and we stay home or even run against you.
I could even see two groups of PICs developing – one for libertarian conservatives, and one for (for lack of a better term) religious conservatives, who tend to put a heavy emphasis on social and religious issues in the public sphere. Both groups, however, share a limited government/individual liberty perspective, and would find common ground on a high percentage of potential candidates.
Perhaps the organization devotes, say, 25% of its budget to defeat the most liberal candidates, even if the opponent is not a true PIC. All part of long-term strategy of trimming back as much extremism as possible.
There is a tremendous well of energy and pent-up passion to have real conservatives back in the public realm. It’s time to take advantage of all the tools in our hands, and grab the microphone (and bank account) and make sure our voice is heard without waiting for a “party” to return to its roots.
What do you think? Is this dream viable? Who wants to take the lead?
Interesting.
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http://thenewrepublicans.net
Several have responded (via Twitter) about fragmenting “the party.” Here’s why I’m not worried about that-
I believe our priorities should be:
1. Principle
2. People
3. Party
Conservative principles are the lifeblood. We want to elect candidates, primarily, based on their alignment with what we believe is responsible, constitutional belief and practice.
People are the ones who will lead, not parties. When there is a person who embodies what we feel is right, we get behind that individual.
Party loyalty is important, but subordinate to the other two. When the party says one thing and does another, we need to get behind right principles and true people. By self-organizing into a Political Action COMMUNITY (not committee), we maintain our voice and provide a needed check on party drift into wrong-headedness.
So, yes, what I’m proposing is a PIC PAC – A Patriotic Independent Conservative Political Action Community. Where Republicans are in alignment, well and good – we’re fighting side by side. Where not – we vote with our feet, dollars and efforts to elect people who are principled conservatives.
At issue with any ‘new movement’ is that the Committee chairs still own their seats based on their seniority. We had a ‘new Republican’ movement back in the 80s and those Young Republicans who were going to change Washington left in disgust. They were left out of all the committees that could have made the difference. They will be now as well.
In all honesty, I hope the Republican party continues to destroy itself to provide the opportunity for a third party to rise. As you discuss, I believe most Americans are somewhere in the middle of the left and right… the sooner we have a party to represent us instead of being forced to vote for the extremes, the better!
By no means is conservatism dead (at least 46% of the country doesn’t think so). The Republican Party deserved the loss they received this year. While it still hurts seeing the country turned over to the most liberal Senator (as determined by voting record) in the house, in the long run, I believe it was a good thing.
The Republican Party has left it’s people. An Unconstitutional war, a breach of liberty by way of the Patriot Act, and now one of the biggest strides toward socialism ever, in the $700B bailout.
What do we do? We MUST start a ground roots campaign very similar to Ron Paul (and let’s face it – like Barack Obama). We need win city, county, and state seats, AND… wait for it… REPRESENT THE PEOPLE!!!
Now, I don’t know about the idea of a ‘new party,’ but I am 100% on page that we can operate as Republicans ON OUR OWN. Doug Karr mentioned above that the ‘old guys in Washington’ still own the committee chair seats. Thus, I believe we have to ‘play the game’ right now, and win under the R – banner, but stand for our principles.
1) Personal Liberty
2) SMALL Government
3) Strict Constitutional Adherence
4) FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY!!!
It’s interesting what you’re say, but the republican party is already is fragmented, between conservatives and moderates and what is going to take place is a battle between the two for the heart of republican party.
The republican party lost more seats in congress on election day and the white house. Most of the seats that were lost were moderates. We have a perfect opportunity now as conservatives to take our party back and set it back on conservative and Reagan principles.
We need men and women who are strong conservatives and who are capable of communicating the ideas of conservatives and show the public what the republican party is and they need to run for local, state and federal offices, but to do that we need to purge the republican party of all moderates and big-government republicans. Ever since FDR the Democrats have made us out to be the party that encourages hatred and that they as Democrats are the party that cares (or as I like to say it the party that gives a damn). We NEED to change that.
The republican party needs to identify itself as the party that stands for the principles that the founding fathers set up and that the democrat party is a socialist party (which they are) that wants to destroy America, destroy capitalism and eventually democracy itself.
We need to come across as a party unified on the ideal of personal liberty, that no matter your sex, race or religion you can accomplish anything in America through talent and hard work. That government is not the be the peoples god, but it is merely the vehicle for the people to accomplish great things. This was the Reagan principles that he handed down onto us I say we need to take up again the Reagan Revolution in this rebirth of the conservative movement.
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I’m with ya on the idea, Steve, but as you can tell from the previous comments, it’s gonna be a tough row to hoe, if you get my meanin’. I agree it’s time to take back the definition of what it means to be a conservative, though!
Let’s hope the recent phenomenon of widespread tea parties lead to some genuine change, though – and for the better, not just for the sake of change!
Too pressed for time to add a thoughtful comment supporting what has been said here. Let me just say that it thrills me to see you writing this. I’m one of the so-called “religious” conservatives, and I use that for lack of a better term. Perhaps I should say I am both a fiscal and social conservative with a “strict constructionist” view of the Constitution. But the bottom line is that I am a conservative, and the Republican party has excluded my viewpoint.