tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654025.post4927807378018055562..comments2024-03-07T03:25:23.835-08:00Comments on Political Pistachio: THE GHOST OF REPUBLICAN PASTDouglas V. Gibbshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09388639848567082980noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654025.post-24938054229721053182016-03-25T04:29:36.406-07:002016-03-25T04:29:36.406-07:00Your anger and resentment against what you see as ...Your anger and resentment against what you see as a cartoonish Donald Trump has been apparent. So, perhaps we need to practice what we preach. As for your claim about the numbers, based on what I've seen, in a base versus base election, the GOP wins. The problem is, the silent majority has remained silent out of anger against the establishment. After all, when it comes to voting, it is those who participate who have been picking the winners. In California that is about 9.7% of the total population of the State. If gun owners, who are largely conservative, were to all vote in this State, the State of California could be flipped. We don't need to coddle independents with a compromise of moderation because they are largely conservatives and libertarians who reject party affiliation for a vast number of reasons - rather than being moderate swing voters as we are erroneously told. I am not saying the swing voters don't exist. I am saying they would not be as influential in elections if conservatives would simply get off the couch. A purely conservative candidate would win in a landslide, but the idiotic belief that we have to appeal to "swing voters" (which emerged after Goldwater) has the consultants blowing election after election for the Republicans. Even though I understand that Trump is not a conservative, it is his seemingly conservative statements that pull no punches, and his refusal to moderate or consult consultants, that has the Trumpster winning the GOP nomination. Does he believe what he says? That's a different discussion. Can he be trusted not to waver, or act upon some of his ridiculous nationalist ideas? I hope so. But, as I have been arguing about Trump (with the pure purpose of informing and educating), his popularity is because he pulls no punches (according to his supporters), and he disrupts a system (the cartoonish establishment) that many have come to believe is not about party as much as it is about an inner-circle of ruling elite who have established a political machine that totally disregards the opinions of the voters, the foundation of the American System, or common sense.Douglas V. Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09388639848567082980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654025.post-66179589593434000772016-03-24T17:47:11.884-07:002016-03-24T17:47:11.884-07:00The numbers say otherwise. Three pluralities - li...The numbers say otherwise. Three pluralities - liberal, conservative, and the largest one, "swing voters," who are easily manipulated by the media. That's why the GOP can't be insular and ***thematically*** "pure-strain" but has to persuade the "swingers" to "swing" in our direction, not by moving toward them but by drawing them toward us, as Reagan did. That is the "education/advocacy" process that you describe - but it has to be done with optimism, good humor, and a twinkle in the eye, not anger and resentment against cartoonish "establishments" that are, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, natural allies. Anything else is futile, masturbatory self-congratulation.JASmiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12443587501661056533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654025.post-45417940900780401872016-03-24T17:22:54.674-07:002016-03-24T17:22:54.674-07:00I disagree. Conservatives are the majority, but t...I disagree. Conservatives are the majority, but they don't participate. This idiotic idea that the candidate must move to the center to get independent voters is moronic. Most independents are people too pissed off at the GOP to register republican, but they are conservative in nature. 85% of the country believes in a Christian God, and 60% consider themselves right of center. When polled on the issues, only 14% are truly liberal. The rest of the Democrat voters are sheep. Education, advocacy, and activating the silent majority is the key to restoring the republic.Douglas V. Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09388639848567082980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27654025.post-11295953381434230352016-03-24T11:23:20.950-07:002016-03-24T11:23:20.950-07:00It isn't "moderate" Republicans (app...It isn't "moderate" Republicans (approximately 10% of the party) who are running away from it. But by the same token, the GOP can't be a majority party without moderate/independent voters, because conservatives are a minority in this country (as are liberals). How is being relegated to the political and powerless wilderness not a vastly worse "poison"?JASmiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12443587501661056533noreply@blogger.com