I like Moderate Republicans!

[eek]

Lately I have been trying to be as open and Big Tenty as I can .
I'm sick of Us vs Them. Why fall into the same behaviour trap that the current White House promulgates

One thing I will no longer do is use "Republican" or "Conservative" as perjoratives.
Those are just words - words that reflect a person's views and values. They do not automatically mean Evil.

There are all sortsa shade of Republican. They aren't all freepers or wingnuts.
Don't we all hear friends or family describe themselves thusly; "I'm a social progressive but fiscal conservative"?
Really, what is wrong with that? No need to push that person away just because you don't agree with every single point.

I'm trying to be more specific with my own language.
I'm trying to say Far Right Wing Idealogue or Crazy Rightwing Nutjob, or F8cking Idiot Religious Right A$$hole...... ;-)

Anyway, don't you think it is time to screw the Good vs Evil, Us vs Them , Black vs White stuff!? That's helped get us in this mess.
Viva nuance! Sing if you're Glad to be Grey!! (with tip of hat to Tom Robinson Band)

If there is a self-described Republican or Conservative who does not want to vote for aWol why turn them away? (Especially you nice Log Cabin folks.) Come on in, Honey - happy to have you.


Anyway, in the spirit of that open-ness I am trying to find places where common ground can be found.
We won't win over potential "Kerrry Republicans " unless we do some listening.

One place that looks promising to me is
www.moderaterepublican.net

Read through their "orthodoxy" on the Just What is a Moderate Republican page.
You may be surprised at how much you'll agree with.

[RUSTY SHACKLEFORD]

1. Hear hear!

Well said. Any Republican that plans to vote against Bush is okay in my book.

[sniffa]

2. i Like moderate drug use

[Zero Gravitas]

3. Moderate Republicans

If you define a moderate Repub as someone who believes in the US constitution and does not believe that it is unpatriotic to criticize the President & if you define a Moderate Republican as as Republican who voted for Bush in 2000 but now thinks that Bush does not deserve to be "re"-elected, then I like them too.

[geek tragedy]

4. Moderate Republican=future Democrat

Once the Delayification of the party of Lincoln is complete.

[Delano]

5. I won't change my beliefs to suit anyone.

Anymore than they will come and be liberals to suit me.

I hope they do vote for Kerry. After all, Kerry IS pretty damn moderate, in spite of the RW spin on the matter. Hell, he voted for Bush's war & the unPatriot act. And he voted against Bush's deficit expansion plans of 2001 and 2002. What more could a "moderate' republican want.


By the way - a typical "moderate" republican's beliefs would be considered extreme right-wing in almost any western democracy other than ours.

[Justice]

6. It sounds good in theory, but here is my issue....

at the end of the day, many moderate republicans in Congress wind up voting for Bush's wish list - Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, etc.

I like someone who can think for themselves, but we don't have many of those around. I agree we need to find common ground, but at the end of the day, there are alot of lock step moderate people out there.

[eek]

7. Reagan Democrats can = Kerry Republicans

we aren't going to change locksteppers.
We MIGHT change some Moderates, though.

Think of the Lifer Republican who went to see F 911 by himself and was so moved that he a took 3 more people to a later showing that same day, He ain't voting for aWol this time.

Think of Howard Stern who read Franken's book and came back from holiday a changed man.

I'm also thinking of my Father in Law who has been a comitted republican his whole life - even stayed loyal to Nixon.
Now he refers to himself as an *ABB Republican.
*(anyone but bush)


Welcome aboard, Dudes!

[returnable]

8. Kickin' for admirable intentions!

:toast:

[hlthe2b]

9. we used to have a few who posted here....

but I'm guessing we scared them off when things really heated up? Anyone remember and know?

[Deja Q]

10. While I agree with some Conservative viewpoints, we need a big leftie or

we're toast.

We're toast either way, but at least a Leftie would be more fair about it all and not give the wealthy a continued and equally intolerable free ride.