This is a long four part series I posted on Facebook recently. I wasn’t sure if it was something I wanted to share here or not – till today. I think it’s a very useful series for those interested and for referring back to from time to time.
Part I: The Liberal Long Game: How We Lose Our County
I have become deeply disgusted and concerned. One of the Facebook groups among our local Josephine County groups has become a safe haven for smears, hate, deception, and fear-mongering. It has devolved into a cesspool of liberals and weak Republicans. Thankfully this group, United Conservatives stands strong againts these attacks.
It is critical to realize that once county government is dominated by weak Republicans, it eventually falls to liberals. This is their long-term game: install weak, moderate Republicans to ensure an eventual liberal takeover of our county.
As sound conservatives, we must not let this happen. One of these Facebook groups is smearing every solid conservatives running for election. If you do not want our county to fall prey to Portland’s liberal ways, you must stand strong. Do not listen to or give any credibility to these attacks, or to the “safe haven” Facebook group that has become a home for liberal agendas.
Part II of The Liberal Long Game: How We Lose Our County
As I hinted in Part I, we have both strong conservatives and “weak” Republicans. These weak Republicans act as stepping stones for liberals to integrate into local government, eventually turning our county blue. This is the “long game.” Liberals are patient; they see the weakest link in the chain these weak Republicans as the only way to overtake a conservative county.
The easiest way to identify these weak Republicans is to ask yourself:
- Would a strong conservative vote to raise rates?
- Would a strong conservative expand government with more employees and no way to pay them?
- Would a strong conservative vote to send tax increases to the voters?
The current Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has voted to raise rates, expand government, and send tax increases to the voters. They also recently terminated all three members of the budget committee because they share a common conservative philosophy. Is that the behavior of a conservative, or a weak Republican?
The current BCC has made it clear they are the weakest link in the chain the weak Republicans opening the door to liberals. This is why it is critical that we elect the strongest conservatives running: to ensure our county remains conservative.
Part III of The Liberal Long Game: How We Lose Our County
A topic I wrote about nearly a year ago remains just as relevant today. While various studies indicate that the Democratic Party has moved further left over the years, most of us don’t need a formal report to recognize this shift. The Democratic party has moved significantly toward the far left.
Twenty years ago, it would have been hard to believe that the Democratic Party would support gender-reassignment surgeries for minors sometimes without parental consent, defend access to sexually explicit materials for children, support late-term abortion, or advocate for policies that allow repeat offenders to remain on the streets, support dictators, etc.
Simultaneously, we face a challenge within our own ranks: “weak” Republicans who insist on compromise and bipartisanship at any cost. This tendency to concede has effectively pulled the Republican Party further to the left as well. This raises a critical question: How long will this continue before the GOP begins to normalize and accept these same radical positions?
At what point do Republicans draw a line in the sand and say, “This is as far as we go”?
To stop this slide, we must elect strong conservatives who stand on principle rather than political convenience. We must hold representatives accountable those who prioritize compromise over core values to ensure our party stops drifting.
With an election approaching, the choice is clear: we can stand firm on our principles or continue to weaken our position. The decision rests with the voters. As a voter, you have the power to uphold the values and vision our forefathers envisioned for this country.
Part IV: Big Tent Political Parties: What Does It Mean?
When a political party opens its doors to become a “big tent” party one that tries to include everyone the question becomes: does it sacrifice its principles and identity in the process?
I don’t know if there’s a simple answer. I’ve often wondered why the Democratic Party has drifted so far to the left, into what some would call the more extreme edges of our society. As that shift has happened, parts of our culture seem to have moved left as well, normalizing behaviors that many people would have considered extreme or unacceptable just 30 years ago.
So how did that shift happen? Was it driven by a desire to become a broader, more inclusive party? Did expanding the base lead to a gradual change in core beliefs?
This brings me to my concerns about the Republican Party and what I would call “weak” Republicans. As the left moves further left, the right often appears to follow seeking bipartisanship and compromise. While compromise can be appropriate in certain policy areas, core conservative principles such as limited government and lower taxes should not be abandoned.
Is the Republican Party at risk of losing its identity by trying to become a big tent party in the same way? Is it drifting and losing sight of its foundational principles?
When a politician claims to be conservative (Colene Martin) but, in practice, supports raising taxes, expanding government, and sending tax increases to voters, those actions don’t align with traditional conservative principles. They may be registered Republicans, but that alone does not define conservatism. If the party continues to accept these actions as consistent with its values, it risks becoming what many once criticized “tax-and-spend” Republicans.
At what point does a party lose its identity altogether?
Ultimately, this is why many believe it is critical to stand firm on core principles rather than adopting positions that conflict with the party’s stated platform. For them, maintaining ideological clarity is essential to preserving the party’s purpose and direction.
When you see so-called registered republicans eager to recall fellow republicans (Tina Gotchall) but can’t take the time to help recall a democratic governor who is destroying the state – it tells you the republican party is being infiltrated by democrats which will destroy the party in the end.
If the republican party is to survive and grow it must truly stand on it’s own principles, hold to its platform and more importantly educate the young as to why these principles are so critical to keep our society alive, vibrate and sane.
