The True American Maverick
By J.B. Williams
May 16, 2008
Page 2 of 3
You're damn right the people have lost confidence in Republican leadership. That's because the people have not seen any Republican leadership since then Speaker Newt Gingrich came up with his Contract with America (web site) brainchild some 14 years ago, which opened with, "As Republican Members of the House of Representatives and as citizens seeking to join that body we propose not just to change its policies, but even more important, to restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives."
What a great concept, conservative policies from the conservative party, representing the people, not just blind political ambition - and it worked too, gaining Republicans control of Congress for the first time in 40 years and returning the party to its founding conservative principles and values, albeit only temporarily.
The new Republican Congress made quick work of keeping those promises too. But then they stopped doing what worked and returned to the moderate (compassionate) appeasement policies of the past once Newt left Washington, and they have remained in a tailspin with their noses aimed at the dirt ever since.
The bond Gingrich restored with the American people has since been broken again and today, one of the men most responsible for that reality is the Republican nominee for president, wannabe Maverick-in-Chief, John McCain.
Preserving American values in that environment
It's time for a trip down Reality Lane here. I can't speak for all conservatives, who seem unable even to agree on what the term "conservative" means today, but as for me, I knew George W. Bush was not a "JB Williams" kind of conservative before I voted for him in 2000 and again in 2004.
I knew he was just what he reported himself to be, a "compassionate conservative," which any true conservative knew meant compassionate towards some leftist ideas. He has proven to be just that.
But I also knew that Al Gore was a very dangerous substitute for George W. Bush, just as I knew that John Kerry was by no means a valid alternative to Bush in '04. If he were running against Obama or Clinton, I'd vote for him again today, even though I disagree with many of his decisions. I would have disagreed with all of Gore or Kerry's decisions.
Today, I know that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are entirely unacceptable substitutes even for the Maverick McCain. John is indeed liberal on some 35% of his campaign platform. But both of his opponents are 1000% socialist in their platforms. So, to pretend as though there isn't a dimes worth of difference between them is not only false, it's suicidal.
True conservatives conserve
Self-styled conservatives who refuse to conserve that which can be conserved, are either outright frauds or emotion driven loud-mouth pretenders. The basis for being "conservative" is the perpetual act of "conserving" the principles and values we hold dear.
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