I’m not a Republican any more...

I'm far too tired with the lack of character displayed by members of my former party. I'm disgusted with the fact that they exhibit little to no moral fortitude, neither do they appear to care about conforming to the founding principles of our country.

So, I'm done with them.

Now, Democrats, don't start crowing with joy because your party isn't any better! Your representatives seem pretty rife with self-serving corruption, too, and I'm tired of having to choose between the pot and the kettle.

Therefore, I'm now calling myself a Christian Conservative. Note the order of that: Christian is first. My first allegiance is always to my risen Lord and Savior, and I cannot endorse any candidate who does not live according to a biblical moral code, who does not keep to the highest standards of integrity and honor.

First off, if you're "pro-choice," I want nothing to do with you. I will not cast my vote in favor of anyone who supports the state-sanctioned murder of innocents. Abortion is an abomination in the sight of God, and a terrible, black stain on our country's conscience. Any candidate who wants my support must believe firmly in the sanctity of life and have a record to prove that they will fight for that position. I want a candidate who is unabashedly against Roe v. Wade, and outspoken in favor of its reversal.

Secondly, I want an honest candidate. I want a man or a woman who strives for openness and integrity in every area of their life, personal and public. I understand how mistakes can be made - none of us are perfect - but mistakes should be dealt with immediately, with full disclosure and proper apologies accompanying appropriate preventative measures for the future. I don't want any mealy "Well, if you were offended, I'm sorry" apologies, I want "What I said/did was wrong and unacceptable. I take full responsibility, and I will not do that again. I apologize."

I want a candidate with fortitude and perseverance. I want follow through. I want a candidate whose handshake is a guarantee of a done deal. I want a candidate who knows he or she is my employee, who will use my tax dollars responsibly, honestly and transparently. I want someone who remembers what it's like to be a typical citizen, with little access to the "halls of power" or mansions and private jets. I want someone who honors and upholds our laws, and does not exempt himself from them.

I want a candidate who loves this country and believes in its foundational goodness. I want this man or woman to be dedicated to protecting its citizens and our borders. I want our military to be cherished and supported, and directed with wisdom and shrewdness.

I want this candidate to understand that our Founding Fathers were intelligent men who did not write in parables. Our Founding Documents were written in clear English, with documented interpretation and discussion as to their meaning, and the current "dynamic translations" of the Constitution shame and insult our Fathers.

I want a candidate who is color-blind. I do not want any special rights for any ethnic group: either you are qualified to do a job, or you're not - skin color has no bearing on the issue. I want a candidate who works towards encouraging people to take responsibility for their own lives and actions, to stand on their own feet. Welfare and programs like it should be reserved for people who truly need the assistance, and not those who simply have no motivation. I want a candidate who has practical intelligence, however: if one group of people is statistically far more likely to blow up planes, trains, schools, banks, etc., then that's the group our law enforcement officers should focus on.

Finally, I want strong Christian candidates. I want people who go to church on Sunday and read their Bible every day. I want devoted followers of Christ, who take up their cross daily to follow their Savior. I want the humble, servant's attitude of a disciple of Christ. I want them to display a compassion and fortitude similar to Jesus, and I want them to be bold in calling evil by its name.

These are tough standards, and I realize I may have to go with the best available on some - some! - of these points. But if you don't pass on the first test, and don't get at least 80% on the rest, then get out of my face: I want nothing to do with you.

So. Is there anybody out there who can meet my standards? I'm watching. I'm looking.

And I'm hoping and praying...

Comments

[Riley, Not O'Reilly]

Too bad Virginia laws with regard to political parties aren't like they are in New York. You could leave the GOP and become a registered Conservative Party voter or a registered Right To Life Party voter. Candidates can run on multiple party ballot lines and all their votes count towards their overall total. Had I run in Upstate NY as I had thought I one day would, I would have been on the R, C and RTL lines.

[Spank That Donkey]

Glad to hear you are on board with Duncan Hunter :-)

The Conservative Base will leave unless the party gets back on track...

That is why the MSM tells me the Pub front runners are Guiliani, Romney and McPain...

[Kat]

Chris, Duncan Hunter certainly is looking very persuasive, especially when compared with Guiliani (an honorable man, perhaps, but he certainly fails my first requirement since he's no social conservative) and McCain (who really is a pragmatic opportunist, and wouldn't know a "principle" if it hit him in his face).

Romney troubles me because of his faith, among other things, but I haven't dug deeply enough into his policies to form a firm opinion yet. Several people I respect like him, so I suppose I'm neutral on him until I gather more information.

Duncan Hunter really does seem to meet my standards so far, and if the talk about Fred Thompson bears out, I'm beginning to see his attraction.

It's early (TOO early!) days yet, but I'm very much working to assess the character of ALL the candidates.

... Which tells you, if you think about it, why I haven't even attempted to mention any of the Democrat(ick) candidates... [rolls eyes]

-- Kat

[Dogwood Pundit]

Politics is not about who you like the most, but who you hate the least. Voting for Republicans is less about advancing their agenda and more about blocking the Democratic one. The longer the Dems stay in power, the more you will come to understand this principle.

[Kat]

DP, that may be, and I freely admit that the Republicans' policies most closely match my interests. I also see the Democrat(icks) as the party of total sleeze....

**BUT** The Republican party has become the party of "more-of-the-same," and I cannot tolerate that any more.

I do understand the concept of strategic voting... But I'm definitely finished with voting for a "winning" ticket that craps all over *MY* core values.

-- Kat

[Kilo]

I hear what you are saying Kat and I agree.

[Raven]

Wow. YOU SAID WHAT I HAVE WANTED to say for months...I feel exactly the same way. EXACTLY. And...from now on I will NOT vote the party line because of the lesser of two evils bulloney! I did that last November and look where it got US. No thanks.

...and I like Duncan Hunter a lot.

[Andrew]

I'm curious as to what particular event prompted this change of political heart. Rudy's lead in the polls? I do sympathize with much of what you are lamenting, but I'm afraid that holding candidates to such high standards is going to result in electoral defeat. As Dogwood says, success in politics means building coalitions of people who share broad common objectives. That is, it's all about compromise, and sometimes that means swallowing some nasty stuff to get the important things done. That is why devout people such as the Amish have always shunned politics. If our side gets bogged down in perfectionist quibbles over policy, we will end up handing over power to the socialist Sodomites. There are any number of legal reasons to challenge Roe v. Wade, and I do hope that it will be overturned some day, but in the mean time, I hope that we don't let minor differences of opinion on abortion and similar issues get in the way of electing candidates who respect traditional morality. "The best (e.g., zero abortions) is the enemy of the good (e.g., a steady decline in the number of abortions)." Insisting on the former approach will probably result in more abortions.

[Kat]

Andrew, I'm tired of just settling. You know the phrase, "You get the elected officials you deserve." Well. *I* think America deserves better, and I've decided I'm going to vote for the RIGHT person, instead of the "person who can win."

Don't you think that, if enough people do that, we can change politics-as-usual?

Besides, I can only see a bare razor's edge of difference between the Republicans and the Democrats these days. Certainly, if the Republican party returns to its roots and upholds the foundations of our country again, I'll be happy and PROUD to support it.

But until they can find their spines and their moral fortitude, they can just kiss my shiney-white-hiney. They won't get my money, they won't get my support, and if they put McCain/Guiliani on the ballot, they won't get my vote.

-- Kat

[David]

Well, Kat, as you know, I've said for years that the only real difference between the Democraps and the republican'ts is that the Dems seem intent on driving the country off a cliff at 90mph, while the Reps prefer a more sedate 55mph... over the same cliff. Of course, lately it seems that the reps are accelerating to catch up with the front runners in the "run America off a cliff" race.

And the American Sheeple seem intent on transmogrifying into lemmings, cooperating in their own demise by electing (and re-electing) people intent--despite their self-proclaimed good intent--on destroying this society.

*sigh*

Could it be that Mass Media Podpeople, Educrats and politicians *spit* are engaged in a vast conspiracy to create untermensch for themselves as ubermensch to rule? Such projects as "Let's Turn Citizens Into Quailing Subjects" (TSA) and "Let's Turn America Into Mexico del Norte" (President Bush's--et al--disingenuous amnesty proposals) seem to argue for such a conspiracy, but let's not forget the Napoleonic (?) maxim that rules politics: Never ascribe to malice what can adequately be explained by stupidity.

It's just strange that so many "smart" people can be so consistently stupid.

[James Atticus Bowden]

Kat, I wrote a piece (on my archive page) about American Christian or Christian American.

I think you are a Conservative American Christian. Conservative modifies American. American modifies Christian. Christian is the prime noun.