James Dobson's Political Surrender

In one way--------he's right

PRAY

In the other way---he's wrong

Keep sending letters
Keep making phone calls
Keep sending emails



I believe it was the late, great Sir Winston Churchill who made that famous speech

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give up!!!!!

Churchill had a way with words and with the Englishmen and women

I read somewhere that during WW2---------he could rise and make a speech---the folks would listen and would go out and double production on Mitilda tanks or on Hurricanes and Spitfires

The speech had nothing to do with assembling Mitildas, Spitfires, and Hurricanes----------its just that Churchill's word had a way of inspiring citizens to keep doing what it was they were doing and do it better and faster!!!-------------of course, Hitler and his Luftwaffe breathing down the English citizen's neck probably didn't HURT production, either!!!!!!

 

I kind of agree. Congress (it seems) is not interested in representing the people. They want to represent and further their own political agendas - no matter what the majority of the people want.

 

Dr. Dobson needs to focus more on his ministry to families and less on political activism for the Republican party. As one of the comments on the story referenced, does anyone really think that he would be talking about checks and balances if the GOP controlled everything?

 

The thing that has frustrated me the most is seeing that the Republican Party has turned their collective backs on their base. Rather than appealing to those on the religious right, which is the majority of their supporters, they are trying to mimic the Democrats. When you have two of the same people running against each other, People generally will think, "What's the difference?" & will vote for the other party. The other thing is, strong conservatives such as myself & others will seek out another party that supports their views. This is what has weakened the Republican Party over the years.

What amazes me though is there are people out there that will support someone just because they are Republican. I believe in putting priciples over parties. I can't vote for someone who is pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, or shows mediocrity in their views.

I can understand Dr. Dobson's frustration, but I believe in fighting, not throwing my hands up & surrendering.

 

I can understand your frustation. However the religious right should always have realized that politics was never about them but about winning. If the GOP narrows it base only to the religious right they will never win another national election. The GOP, at least currently, has a solid base amoung the religious right, but that is not enough to win elections, so they will have to reach out to others to win.

Politics is the art of compromise.

 

What matters is standing up for what is right no matter what it costs you. There are some things that a godly person cannot compromise with even if it is very costly in this life.

 

I never said they should narrow their base, I simply said that they shouldn't turn their back on us. The act of turning their backs on us is what has cost them elections. While Bush won two terms, let me remind you he narrowly won his first term. His second term wasn't a landslide victory either.

While winning is good, I'd rather vote for someone who I know will support my views & will lose the election, than to vote for someone who doesn't support my views & win the election. I sleep a whole lot better at night knowing that my vote didn't go to someone who isn't going to properly represent me.

If reaching out means supporting abortion, supporting homosexuality, allowing illegal aliens to stay here, or expanding the federal government you can count me out.

 

Yep, me too. And that's exactly how most of the people I know feel about it, at least those who have educated themselves on what these politicians stand for.

I seriously doubt I will ever vote again. I seriously doubt we will ever have another election again for reasons I won't go into here.

 

I don't see it as surrender as much as it's just fatalism, perhaps from someone who's discouraged.

I think it's unfortunate.

Your voice is always heard, even if they don't act on it. And whether it's heard or not or acted on or not, we still have to speak out.

The surest way for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

The truth is, our voice is being heard. We're seeing our voices being heard in the nullification processes in Texas, Montana, Tennessee, and Utah.

Glenn Beck just had a pollster on his show last week who showed that membership in conservative 3rd parties is skyrocketing, while the Democrats are losing members.

Just this morning, I saw a headline on Drudge that says that a majority of Americans are now identifying themselves as pro-life.

I find these things to be very encouraging. Whatever you do, don't let the media talk you into giving up before the fight is over. We didn't lose this country over night and we're not going to win it back over night.

Don't be too hard on Dobson. He's fought a good fight and it's easy for any of us to become discouraged.

 

Yes! You need to read some of his remarks concerning some of the Republican candidates last year.

 

If you will go back a few years. pre Reagan, you will see that the Republican Party was called the Me Too party. Goldwater's run in the 64 race was the first real attempt by a conservative Republican to change the party. Bob Taft tried but got nowhere.

 

Let us talk a little about political reality. I know there are some libertarians on this Forum who apparently will not vote Republican because it is not completely pure.

The most important vote a Representative or Senator will cast is their 1st vote to organize the body as a Republican body or a democrat body.

If the Senate and House are organized as democrat bodies, particularly with a democrat in the Whitehouse, you will get nothing but what you are getting now, a march to socialism, perhaps Fascism.

If the Republicans control either house, or the White House, they can act as a brake on that march. If they control all perhaps we can get more Justices like Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, and Alito.

As things now stand we may get a leftist sexual pervert as a replacement for Souter and anyone with half a brain can figure out where obama is headed, another Chavez.

 

Excellent post.

"Religious right" is always a perjorative. It amazes me that folks will belittle people that object to killing children, and object to giving special status to people who "marry" their own gender. (hang on...pretty soon, the same battle will be for three and four folks who want to "marry" each other, or people who want to marry a duck-billed platypus.)

Somehow, folks who stick up for values that were a given when this country was founded...are labeled, and not nicely.

Am I frustrated by the compromise and the selfishness/corruption that is in the Republican party? You betcha. However...the Democrat party doesn't even make room for those who feel that killing babies is somehow wrong...and who feel that perhaps there should be limits upon what is allowed morally in this country...and also the oh-so-archaic view that the founding fathers actually meant what they said regarding the 10th Amendment.

Somehow, that makes me a "right-wing extremist." And given the source of the perjorative, I'm proud of the moniker.

 

That makes two of us.

 

Slippery slope fallacy. And a platypus cannot give consent.

 

Slippery slope fallacy. And a platypus cannot give consent. :laugh:

 

Well, Billy Graham didn't pay attention to politics.
And focused on ministry instead.
Wish all would learn from him.
Including Dr Dobson!

 

Dr. Dobson is feeling discouragement; perhaps through fatigue of feeling like his leading this battle; perhaps due to the buildup in his critics; perhaps through the wanning support of his financial support (many ministries are hurting); perhaps due to the downsizing of his own ministry; perhaps due to the lack of other similar and bold and recognized leadership coming from the Christian body to help shoulder the fight with him; and perhaps, as admitted to, the seemingly lack of impact or response from capital hill regarding issues which most Christians consider important. Instead of criticism, he needs our prayers!

That being said: No matter how much we participate in this battle for strengthening a moral society...... we all should by now recognize that NO PARTY holds a monopoly on us and our vote. NO PARTY has shown consistancy in the strength of candidates which they offer to us. BOTH PARTIES have influenced the success or failure of certain candidates for office by their party influence and support which often sidelines the interests of the voters.

Frankly, the Republican party lost whatever respect and trust I ever had in the party name when they failed to give recognition to the candidacy of Ron Paul and his support for the constitution when voting..... and the conservatism whcih he proposed. I never considered myself a libertarian.... and as much as they marginalized his candidacy as such...... they failed to recognize that he was more "Republican" than many of the other candidates which they put forth in the state and national elections.

So if they get confused about where I stand. I'm registered Republican, because in the primary system of voting in this state.... its the only one of two parties which may offer me a candidate I can vote for in the primary..... and frequently it is one who fails to get the local party support to win and proceed to the main election: That being the case.... I vote for the one who best fits my values..... even 3rd party, or I show up to be counted as a voter who 'voted' non of the above.... because I saw no choice among the slate given.

Dr. Dobson and all Christians would best be served if we stop seeing ourselves as party loyalist.... The Republican Party..... or any party for that matter, might improve upon themselves for our representation if they were forced to recognize that we could have a significant block of votes.... but a mass which couldn't be taken for granted and ignored once an election was over. But to succeed, we also need to encourage the agreement of other voters to join with us in those matters regarding abortions, or morality, or conservatism, or reduction or restricting the powers of federal government.... whether or not they agree with us in faith. It is because of our faith and our understanding of scripture that we have these values which are politically expressed: but we should not marginalize the support of those who also share some of our values as expressed in laws and politics, simply because they don't agree with our faith.

I am grateful for the few true "Republicans" like Ron Paul, and like my own Representative, who are conservative and follow the constitution closely in their vote. So many others are not the conservative or the supporters of the constitution and our sovereignty as they would have us to believe...... a little research on their affiliations and their influences in various organizations and how they are used to forward special interest which is against our interest would be an eye opener for a few who are willing to look or do their own research.

Like Dobson, I get tired of promoting ideas and attitudes..... Chiefly because, those who agree along my lines of thinking..... which is not always the same as agreeing with me on every point.... are already actively thinking for themselves and investing some of their time in reading various sources and researching beyond the superficial news headlines to find out more...... and remaining flexible, even when inclined one way or the other, until they are fully persuaded where they stand. Others are too lazy to do their own homework and research.... and are already accepting the talking points of a party line, as parroted on forums such as this. They want to see the research of others...... but it does nothing to change their posistion..... their hearts are already made up. They repeat the same slogans, whether appropriate to topic or not... showing that is all they know..... and have no resources to back em up because the real resource is always 'the party line'.

Well Republicans...... you're on notice...... I have that registration so I have a voice in the primary..... but if you don't put forth candidates which I can support and which will win a primary.... don't count on me for the main election. I will do my best to find someone to support in the main election.... but no party owns my vote! As for my money, my mouth, and my time, I will give what I have freely to a candidate which best represents the values I wish expressed in leadership and law!

My message to Dr Dobson..... and anyone who wishes to help shoulder the leadership which he's carried for many in the Christian 'right' is that they consider the importance of the position which I take. Until the national party gets the message that we will not let them dictate to us the puppets they put forth in the local, state, and national elections, we will continue to have non-conservatives like Bush and McCain promoted: we will continue to have globalist spokemen like Cheney and Kissenger and Gingrich: we will continue to elect majorities in either House or Senate.... most of whom are air heads because they donot study carefully legislation before enacting it..... based upon WH leadership or party lines..... that is not good enough! The Party Lines have been wrong too often and questioned too little.... especially when lead like sheep by the WH.

As for the Democrats.... if any exists which can still think outside the box of their own Party constraints.... they would be wise to develop a healthy independance and skepticism and a questioning attitude regarding where and what their own party is really promoting and the consequences and outcomes: Elsewise they are slaves, either to their own fears or their stupidity...... just like many in the Republican Party. When each party owns their slaves.... the only voters left which are free to choose... are those who think independant before voting.

 

The difference is that Dr Dobson is a psychologist, not an evangelist. His interest over the years has been in how to support families who are trying to live the straight life in a world that discourages biblical living. He has written books, made speeches, answered questions, and sometimes made political recommendations. I think he's tried to fight the good fight. Dr Dobson is getting on in years and I assume is tired.