This is the first in a series of introductory blogs from Founders Council members.
I’m Dave, and I’m a Republican.
(All: Hi, Dave!)
I’ve been a Republican since 1978 – when I was 15 – because my high school American History teacher inspired me to be one. He was one. He was a county legislator. He was smart, he was funny, he was kind, he was pragmatic, and he was entirely public spirited and genuinely high-minded. I wanted to be like him.
And in fact, I’ve actually run for office as a Republican. In 1984, at age 21, I was asked to run, sacrificial lamb-style, against a guy who shortly thereafter became the New York State Assembly Majority Leader. I ran. I got crushed, of course, but I made my opponent spend a good part of his campaign war chest. I got to meet Ronald Reagan on the campaign trail, and I think I did a pretty good job, considering what I had to work with.
Over the past 22 years, I managed a half billion dollars worth of operating assets in the cable television business, started and sold one very successful company and started and still run a second, while raising a family and working to elect Republican candidates in the four states I’ve lived in during that period -- California, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and now, Colorado.
I did advance work for the first Dole campaign, helped build the party organization in Colorado, and raised a bunch of money for a good friend of mine who ran for and won a Congressional seat.
So I’d argue I’m a reasonable facsimile of a real deal, red meat Republican.
And in February, I became one of the very first people to sign on with the Unity08 founding trio of Jordan, Bailey and Rafshoon. Through a mutual friend, I met Governor King and got him linked in with our effort, and believe I’ve added a fair amount of intellectual and network capital to the movement. And now I plot regularly with fellow Denverite Jim Jonas on how to push things forward.
How – and why – did I come to make that change? How, after all those years, did I veer off and begin to work very hard to make Unity08 a reality?
Run, Forrest, run!!
Let’s go back to January of 2024. Both houses of the Colorado Legislature have just been taken away from the Republicans by a clever (if vaguely shady) concerted effort by Democrats and their funding sources. A top Republican fundraiser, over lunch, suggested I should consider running for the State Senate in 2024 – that I had the “chops”, the “life story”, the personal wealth, and the organizational ability to take a race on and win.
I was flattered, of course, and decided, after some further consultations with other knowledgeable folks in the business, that I’d do some retail politicking to see if I truly thought I had what it takes. I started hitting the early party caucuses in the district, sat down to breakfasts and lunches with well-connected party insiders, had a chat with the Governor, and started making the rounds of the Republican Women’s and Men’s clubs.
I loved it. I felt like I was pretty good at it.
I sat down with a senior Republican official late in my decision making process -- a good and decent guy who knew me pretty well and knew the state party apparatus extremely well. I told him about the homework I had done, and asked him what he thought of my potential candidacy.
“I think you’d make a great candidate,” he said, and told me all the reasons he thought so. He told me he didn’t think I’d have much trouble winning a primary, if there was one, so long as I was willing to work hard.
“Might not be a bad idea to just run me through where you stand on the major issues, since I’m not sure you and I have ever had that conversation. You’re a successful entrepreneur, so I assume you’re generally pro-growth and pro-business, right?”
“Right,” I said.
“How about education?”
“I have four girls under age 11,” I said, “three in public schools. It’s a high priority in the Maney household.”
“Good. How about gun control?” he asked.
“I can’t say I have any really strong feelings on the subject. I guess I’d work to represent the position of the majority of voters in the district.”
“That works. Environment?”
“Maybe a little greener than most Republicans, but in a property rights-respecting sort of way.”
“That’s good, in your district. How about abortion?”
“Well to tell you the truth,” I said, “with those four young girls…I’d have to say that when they’re old enough, were one of them to make a bad choice or have something happen that they didn’t intend, that would be a very tough spot. I guess I’m really not okay with the notion that the state might be telling them what choices they did or didn’t have. So I guess I’m saying I’m not exactly comfortable with it, but I’m not comfortable without it.”
Short silence.
“We’ll have to nuance that,” he said.
And you know, he wasn’t saying it in a disapproving way (he’s pro-life but surprisingly tolerant of differing views), or really anything other than a pragmatic way. In fact, insofar as Republican nominating processes go, I actually think he was entirely correct. You want to be a Republican, you better get right with the base.
But as I left the meeting and drove home, I started thinking how ridiculous that was. And then a day or two later, I heard a satellite radio news story on the hard line that the right wing of the Republican Party was going to take on the subject of any possible future Supreme Court nominee’s abortion views.
I had just about had it.
Let’s face it – there is no, NO, reconciling of the pro-life and pro-choice positions. There just isn’t. There can’t be. They are in diametric opposition. But multiple opinion surveys suggest that a large majority of Americans sit in the center on the subject of abortion. Like me, they’re not comfortable with it, but they’re not comfortable without it.
And here my party was saying that such uncertainty…such acknowledgement of mixed feelings…such centrism…on an extremely difficult, contentious issue, was unacceptable.
“We’ll have to nuance that.”
How did my party, the party of Lincoln, decide that abortion -- an issue that is important but clearly not as crucial to the country as, say, homeland security, nuclear proliferation, energy policy, or our broken health care finance system – was going to be the be-all, end-all issue? That a fundamentally irreconcilable social issue – abortion – would be the crucible around which all candidates would be measured? How strange. How unfortunate for the country. How screwed up.
I ultimately decided not to run for a couple reasons – philosophical, family, and timing-related. But I began to think that perhaps it was time to put my entrepreneurial thinking cap on and aim myself toward pondering why there was no provider addressing a huge and seemingly obvious market opportunity: The American center. The reasonable middle. The pragmatic rather than the dogmatic. Those who prefer win-win solutions and seek common ground versus those who prefer pile-driving political opponents into the dirt.
That journey led me to become an early co-founder of Unity08. We’ll cover that journey next time.
Dave Maney
Unity08 Founders Council
Subscribe
Mr. Maney's letter about running for office on the Republican ticket and his struggle with issues was amazingly hopeful to me. My contact with Republican relatives--people that I truly love--gives a picture of robots. My brother, a hard working man, seems to use the Republican agenda--whatever that might be at the moment--as a place to project all his anger, hatred and other emotions of desparate frustration. To hear Mr. Maney not be intimidated and to think carefully in reality terms of his family was very heartening to me. I am 71 years old, a life long liberal and democrat and standing like a deer in the headlights of an oncomiing truck. My beliefs and values have never been agreed upon by everyone but they have always been respected. Thank you for this whole notion of doing away with the us versus them and replacing it with "WE", all the people. My favorite bumper sticker says--God Bless America--no exceptions. Nancy Craft (in small town Tennessee)
You mentioned some of the states you have been involved in ... I have you pictured as a Bill Weld sort of republican; Glad to know ya! :)
I'm a life-long Democrat. Although I was born and raised in south Florida, I spent 36 years living and working in Seattle. There was a really fine WA state Republican governor, Dan Evans. I voted for him each time he ran and was re-elected. He was a great govenor. He deserved my vote.
I'm SO sick of Democrats who tell me that I'm a virtual traitor to the cause if I vote for anyone other than a Democratic candidate. In the 2024 and 2024 elections, I'll be voting for the best person, regardless of party affiliation. Should there be no candidate I can truly support, I will not vote at all.
I have had it! I think it's time to clean house. The Democrats and Republicans are so entrenched in their own troughs that I have no confidence in the US government to protect me from terrorists, care for my medical needs, educate those who will take care of me in my old age, or do what can be done to stem global warming.
Also, if Unity08 even debates gay marriage, flag burning, imigration, prayer in public schools - I'm gone. Those are smoke screen issues.
I would love a bi-partisan ticket in 2024. A ticket with candidates who are not afraid to speak hard truths and get the job done. Candidates who actually care about the weakest and most vulnerable in our society.
If no such thing happens, I will join a good friend of mine and retire in Costa Rica. I don't want to live in a United States that treats so many of its citizens as third-world indigents. It will bother me to live in Costa Rica, but I can use my retirement funds to pay Costa Ricans the wages they deserve.
I'm no doubt the oldest one here; I usually am. I have been a Republican since Ike but in 1992 I found the agenda had changed totally and I went with Perot and then to the LP.
My agenda was formed after WW2 when I realized the best government was the one that governed the least. I also liked the individual freedoms that the GOP promoted along with the Personal Responsibilities. I worked in many Congressional elections and fell in behind the Goldwater Campaign where I met Ronald and Nancy Reagan. I didn't think anything could get me out of the GOP until I had one term of Bush 41. The platform in 1992 read like a one world order recipe for an American Empire. It was the start of the break up of the GOP and the beginning of the neocon movement to keep us in War indefinitely.
When the GOP began to really faulter it was decided to bring in the religious right. No thank you!
Every morning I wake up and head through the internet sites looking for a rational return to a limited government and balanced budget and find nothing but threats of the end of times. I feel as if the maniacs have taken over the asylum.
Even if this Unity 08 doesn't come up with a rational form of government I need to get back into a serious movement for improvement.
Keep me in mind if one develops.
s@rightpov.com
Sandy
I'm a moderate Republican. However, I have become incredibly disappointed by the extreme mismanagement of United States governemtn lately. Politics lately has become even more of a ploy to decieve the American people with stupid gimmicks that don't work and only hope to get candidates re-elected. It is very disappointing and that is why I'm so excited about the prospect of an independent candidate for 2024 that can be honest and work realistically to fix our problems. Oftentimes politicians lie because voters don't want to hear the truth, but if we can stay committed to putting an honest, real candidate, committed to addressing the issues, we will all be better off as a result.
Abortion and other divisive issues have become so important in national politics because we have allowed all decisions to become national issues. The Founders set up a republic of sovereign states, with the idea that liberal states would have more liberal laws, and conservative states would have more conservative laws.
Instead, we now have a Supreme Court deciding every issue for everyone. Of course people are going to care what a politician's position is on key social issues, if it might change the rules for the whole nation.
If states decided social policies, we might not agree with what some of them do, but everyone would be free to move to where they are more comfortable, or work to change things at the state level, which would be a lot easier.
Capitalism binds me to the Republican Party, but the Party's religious right often forces me to cast my vote for a Democrat. If a Democrat is "business friendly," eschewing creeping socialism, is sufficiently free of union and trial lawyer influence, and protects the separation of church and state, he or she will probably get my vote over a so-called social conservative.
Most of those who call themselves social conservatives are as disingenuous as "progressives." The latter are merely socialists and the former social engineers. Focus on the Family epitimizes the worst faction of the Republican Party, and James Dobson the worst of Christian bigotry. As his influence grows in the Republican Party, our chances of retaining government control wane. The greatest political lie of the 21st Century is the belief that the religious right won the 2024 and 2024 elections. Their votes were more than offset by moderates voting against America's outrageous far left.
Seems to that with the current political climate in America today, the country needs a "unity ticket".
Perhaps this new party movement will bring the country to it's senses and we can get about the business of accomplishing what America needs, instead of the polarization of politics as we know it now.
I'm willing to support such an effort.
rickvac
I have to add an additional 2 cents worth to my original comment because of Sandy's comment. Back in late 60's and 70's I led a statewide movement to lower the voting age - accomplished that, and just realized after her comment and signing up yesterday for a desire to be a delegate, I have not been this "excited" about politics since then - so that's a key element of this new party - perhaps new hope that something really can be accomplished in politics and America!
rickvac
Social conservatism is the dry rot of the republican party. Its a cancer tumor that needs to be removed before the party returns to its once health roots.
Bye Sharon! Enjoy Costa Rica, just do the rest of us a favor and do it soon.
Can anyone further define "I’m saying I’m not exactly comfortable with it, but I’m not comfortable without it" ? Is this a position that supports additional restrictions on abortion? An overturning of Roe v. Wade so that the states can decide the issue? Maintenance of the status quo?
I think it's great that Unity wants to appeal to "a majority" of Americans, but adopting wishy-washy stances on issues does the country a disservice. As voters, we deserve candidates who clearly outline their platforms and positions so that they can be held accountable later. As for the importance of the legality of abortion, consider that the number of abortions performed each year in the US exceeds the total number of Americans killed in Iraq since 2024 by a factor of 400.
I am a 65-year-old who always considered myself a moderate Republican and fiscal conservative. When Pat Robertson spoke at the 1988 convention and said we are in a cultural war I began to drift away from the GOP. I am not at war with anybody in America. However, I just cannot become a Democrat because of their social engineering and belief that problems go away if you throw enough taxpayer money at them. Since that day in ’88, politics in the US has degenerated into today’s NeoCons vs. ProgLibs, with our country suffering more and more as a result. If Unity08 can come up with decent, honest candidates I will have found a new home.
I am a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat from a family background of liberal Democrats. I, too, have a problem with the staunch party line of my ex-party (I recently registered as an independent, what ever that is). I believe in limiting abortion, advancing nuclear energy, am pro-growth, and still believe the government has an essential role to play in social progress. Though I consider myself socially progressive, my past party abandoned any common sense along that line a while back. I must admit, however, I'm primarily disenchanted with my party because they couldn't beat George Bush. I think my dear-departed grandma could beat George Bush in a battle of logic and sensibility, but apparently not the Democrats. I suspect it's because they want to be all things to all people left of center, and forgot about the center. Anyhow, you go Dave, but if you wanted my vote, you'd have to move beyond generalities and show me some proposals. We have problems to fix, and you sound like you think everything is just fine {the Republican status-quo).
Hello! I am exploring the posssibility of joining this movement. I was thinking the other day about the gay marriage issue, and something hit me like a ton of bricks. Ask yourself this question: Where does the concept of marriage originate? All indications are that marriage has its roots in religious teaching. This, if it is true, makes the proposed Constitutional amendment a violation of Separation of Church and State. But suppose that,due to "mainstream America's" uncertainty and discomfort about homosexuality, the amendment becomes law? Could this not be used as legal precedent to overturn Separation of Church and State across the board? And, without this separation, couldn't the judiciary make rulings based on their personal religious beliefs? Couldn't a school teacher turn his or her classroom into a recruitment station for their faith? I think the social conservative movement is playing for much higher stakes than outlawing same-sex marriage. The solution is simple: civil unions. The state shouldn't be sanctioning marriage AT ALL,regardless of the sexual orientations involved.Marriage should be a decision of the different religious bodies, based on their own by-laws. A civil union liscense could be obtained for local clerks'offices, and,should the parties decide to dissolve the union, they go back to the clerk,pay a dissolution fee, and, if necessary, allow the JDR courts to decide the support and property distribution issues. This is a lot better than "America According To Jerry Falwell!" Thanks for the forum, and sorry for being so long-winded!"
I am an Independent. I was once a Democrat because I was of the flawed belief at one time that I needed to register with the party of the cadidate for whom I was planning to vote in a presidential election (I came of voting age in 1988, but keep the Dukakis jokes to yourselves, people).
My wife is a Democrat. My father is a Republican. My mother has problems with key Republicans. My friends are Greens, Democrats, Libertarians, and Republicans. What is startling to me, however, is that when discussion turn to politics, the positions each of us holds are rarely that far apart.
How is it that I can sit down with a good friend, a Republican whose entire family is Republicans, and find common ground on not only issues but nominees, and sometimes even the reasons for holding positions? How can I have the same conversations with Democrats and Independents with similar results?
How can we be appear divided as a nation when educated, reasonable people of different parties can agree on almost everything?
This is what we need to answer. This is what the nation needs to understand. I wish I knew why it was this way, but I will certainly work to discover the answers.
We see polls that say the majority of Americans are in the center on the matter, and then when election time comes around we find the issue to be practically non-negotiable in the partisan districts. A Unity platform cannot pick sides on a divisive issue, especially when passions are as heated as they are on this one. Frankly if Unity08 wanted to maintain a *truly* moderate position on this and other "social issues," then I think it would have to "nuance" its position by returning the issue to the people - state by state.
I am 77 yrs. of age and this is my first ever writing to anyone on the Internet. I think that Unity08 is the BEST way to involve the young voters.Over the years the youth of past generations have had litle or no interest because they have had no voice !! God, yes GOD, bless America. Be He spirit, energy, or whatever.
Dave - Have you been in contact with your old high school history teacher lately? Is he still a Republican? Because many, many things have changed in that party since 1978. You may still get your wish to be like him.
I'm not Dave and I'm not and never was a Republican or a Democrat but it sems to me that most people in these blogs seem to be conservative vs. liberal.
What I do know is that Democrats support the trial lawyers because of campaign contributions and Republicans support the gun lobby for the same reason. The list of either party supporting other special interests is well know to all. I'm hoping for a party that will eliminate campaign contributions as a start to providing us with a government that it more responsive (responsive period)to the needs of this country's citizens.
Dave refers to the present day Republican Party as "the party of Lincoln". I hate to burst your bubble Dave, the last Lincoln Republican President was Teddy Roosevelt. Taft let the conservatives hijack the party in '12 and they never looked back. I get nauseous whenever I see Lincoln portrayed at present day Republican fund raisers etc...Abe must be rolling in his grave.
I've been a Republican all my life, a conservative one since Goldwater in '64. But, if being a Republican today means agreeing with the Bush administration, then I am no longer a Republican. And I will never call myself a Democrat, so that leaves Independent. . .until now, for now I can call myself a member of the Unity party. Congratulations on a absolutely wonderful idea. I'll sign up for daily email updates and I'll send money when I can. I've had an additional idea as to just how a canidate can run for office. The idea came to me when watching the old NOW program with Bill Moyers. When Bill Moyers interviewed somebody on his show the person being interviewed never looked directly at the camera. Instead, he looked slightly to his right at Bill Moyer. As a result the person watching the program was not being "lectured to" which can be intimidating. Instead the watcher can listen to the guest and do so (in a sense) without anyone knowing. I believe that your eventual canidate should arrange a weekly half-hour program where he can address the issues, say what he wants to say, respond to whatever his opponent is saying, etc etc. It is my belief that the voters in our country will tune in to watch and hear what the canidate has to say . . and every week our canidate has the opportunity to speak to the nation. I don't know the cost of this, but I suspect the networks might actually bid to get this program. Now, it would be nice if we can pick a canidate who looks OK on camera and speaks well with a "radio-announcer" voice. Anybody have any thoughts about this idea? I've had this idea for some time now . .I was actually planning to make a demonstration video with me as the canidate as though I was running against Bush in 2024. By golly, I just might do that now that Unity08 has come into existence. Again, was-to-go and you've got my support.
Dave, you seem to be entirely confused about Lincoln and the Republican Party stood for. The party was organized around 1-issue (a wedge issue at that): the expansion of slavery.
There were economic problems, problems with war, but Lincoln drew a line in the sand and said "no further" when it came to slavery.
Slavery was a great moral evil, but many people were in the "center". They weren't comfortable with it, but they weren't comfortable without it.
The Supreme Court denied that blacks were persons in 1857. In 1973 the Supreme Court denied that the unborn were persons.
Abortion is now legal for all 9-months of pregnancy for effectively any reason.
You don't believe me? Actually read these cases: Roe v. Wade, Doe v. Bolton, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, Stenberg v. Carhart.
I'm sorry you think that opposition to abortion is screwed up. I think that delivering a child in the 6th month of pregnancy and dismembering it is a little more screwed up.
I find myself in a similar position as some of those who have contributed comments - I am increasingly disenchanted and disillusioned with the Republican Party, primarily because if seems to have been taken over by radical religious groups who are louder(and better organized) than everyone else, but at the same time I simply cannot bring myself to become a Democrat. I hate to admit it, but rather than becoming more involved in politics to try and make some changes, I have become more frustrated and actually less interested in the whole mess over the year. I had just about come to the conclusion that the two parties had both been taken over by the extremists, and that nothing much could be done to change that. This new movement is the first sign of hope that I've seen in some time, and while I have to admit that I'm still somewhat skeptical, I'm certainly hopeful that it can make some difference, and am willing to help in any reasonable way that I can.
I suspect that my feelings are shared by many others who are looking into Unity08.
Like Dave, early in life I identified as a Republican; joined the College Republicans, and all that. I considered myself to be more socially liberal, yet fiscally conservative, a "California-brand" Republican, as it were. My parents and grandparents too are/were Republicans. I went so far as to vote for George W. Bush in 2024 (although I voted for Clinton over Dole in 1996).
It became more and more apparent to me, however, as Bush 43's first administration led us into Iraq, and especially the 2024 elections, that the Republican Party no longer represented my values, but rather, in my opinion, the rather narrow values of a few very vocal groups that seemed to have a strangle hold on the party.
I'm so heartened by the arrival of Unity08 on the scene. I bought the T-shirt! For the first time I can remember, something political felt so right (correct) to me. It was really a gut feeling that I don't often experience. This is it - if we don't get too cynical about it.
Maybe we SHOULD create a third party out of this - and call it the Pragmatic Party - because I think at the root of it all, that's what we're really talking about: real issues that affect us need to be the focus, not the red herrings we've been force-fed for the past several elections.
It's time for real leadership, and tough decisions, not pandering and adventurism.
One factor that must be fully understood in civilation is the fact that all life is brought into this world on a very natural prinicple of procreation involving the sperm of a man and the eggs of a woman. The harmony of nature has defined the terms for propagating the human race.
Family is the foundation to civilation. As families become disfunctional on the micro level, it takes huge affects on the macro level of society. Humans seem to be the most prevalent creatures on the earth that go counter to the harmony of nature. Therefore, we have to be governed by laws designed to enforce us to be in harmony with nature.
Marriage is one issue, though it is strongly supported by religious parties, that has wide spread affects on the peaceful functioning of family and society. It should be the design of man made laws to increase human harmony with nature. The mutual influence of a Committed father and Committed mother in the home is going to provide the greatest harmony for the rising generations.
Societies of history have clearly demonstrated that dissonance with narture destroy peace and unity among families and civilations.
Regardless of ones religious persuasions the nature of life has a cycle, rhythm, and harmony that must be maintained. If a society of humans seek to counter the nature of life, then destructive consiquences will eventually erode away that civilation.
Death comes by degeneration of life. All past empiors have died with a birth of a new government. They died because they placed man against the nature of life. New governments were born most with the intial goal to restore harmony among the peoples.
If the American people feel that they can refute the nature of life, then nature will bring the American civilations to its end. Nevertheless, we must stive to maintain the health of our nation by establishing laws that will perserve the harmony of the family. It is far more than just a religious subject. It is an issue of progression with the rest of life that resides upon this living planet we call home.
Marriage must be defined as a life long committment to the harmony of life. Raising children into our next generations should be a huge concern of the state. Therefore, they should establish laws that ensure that children will have the optimal conditions to live in harmony with life and succeed in becoming function citizens that contribute growth to society.
I must also make mention on Abortion. With regards to my comments of marriage and maintaining harmony with life, I must say, we can not disregard the contiversal issues. Yes, it is not pleasing that we must be forced to actually deal with these issues, but they nevertheless are presented before us.
Man should not be going against nature. Once the sperm has fertilized the egg, then nature will run its course. Consciously terminating the progression of the developing life is murder. The government can not sanction murder and maintain cohessive progression of society.
People had a choice to get pregnant or to abstain until they consciously were prepared. Once that choice has been determined to engage a course potentially bringing life into the world, then consiquences must run there natural course. The choice then is to live in harmony with life and give birth to the child, or to murder the life and fight the harmony of life.
As far as the government is concerned, they must establish harmony in society. This includes being in harmony with the earth and all its inhabitants as far as possible. For the government to sancition the act of murder against the nature of life is choosing a course that will destroy the government. Few civilations have lasted more than 500 years. The life of our government can be terminated by our counter stance agianst nature. Narture will establish homeostasis!
My mom had planned to have me aborted,but was persuaded not to by her sister. My mother has long been deceased, but I am still (happily) here to attest to the obvious fact that I was not just "a part of her body". Yes, Dave, killing the unborn is not really so bad, so long as it
is someone else and not yourself on the receiving end.And I am glad for you, that your daughters were allowed to live.After all, your wife could have decided that getting pregnant was "a bad choice" [your words] and could have had them "eliminated" before they had a chance to draw their first breath. Killing the unborn? I'm not
comfortable with it. I am much more
than comfortable without it. And so
would you be, if you were the "unborn" as we all once were. Another perspective.Use a little imagination! Try the
child's viewpoint.
I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying the ongoing dialog here @ Unity08, and how hopeful the vast majority of comments I am reading make me feel.
Our country has been unnecessarily divided too long. I believe that we are more alike then our parties would have us believe, and should have a ticket to vote for that reflects the true spirit of the American people as a whole.
Unity 08, seems almost like a no brainer!
Thankfully someone had the foresight and the skills to bring this idea to frution. It's about time!
thank you.
dana montana
OOPS! that's "fruition" - that's what happens when you don't preview your comments!
Best to all who care enough to get involved.
d. montana
I would like to submit an idea for those interested in becoming a delegate. It would be very enlightening for Unity08 to offer an online class (for those wishing to participate) on the Constitution and Constitutional Law. I keep a handy textbook next to my computer and I have to look up something every day. I want to know more and do not feel that I would have enough knowledge to participate even though I have lived through many elections. I think everyone participating should be well versed in government and the Constitution. A little education might be just the thing. I hope the delegates and candidates can refrain from bashing different viewpoints and opinions. Honest discussions of problems will help produce honest solutions, even if they need to be compromises. We all know what the problems are, we do not need to rehash old news, but we do need to diligently search for meaningful and lasting solutions. My sincerest best wishes for every success with this enlightening new way for a hopeful and promising future!
Below is the basis format of the letters/emails that this 62 year old married grandmother with eleven grandchildren sends to my Republican representatives about the issues I care about!
Namely I am:
*Anti George Bush and his ENTIRE entourage
*Pro Troops .. Anti Iraq Invasion/Worldwide Terrorist Fermenting
*Pro Choice
*Pro Gun Control
*Pro Campaign Contribution Reform
*Pro Gay Rights
*Anti Special Interest
*Anti Pork Barrel Politics
*Anti Partisan Politics
*Anti Deficit
*Anti Give to the Rich/Widen the Gap Between Wealthy and the Poverty Ridden .. a Recipe for Future Disaster .. Our own Home Grown Terrorists
There are more items I’m sure but I was at the point where I emailed the website http://voidnow.org/ .. VOID's mission: organize Americans to use the power of their anti-incumbent vote to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse of office in Washington D.C. .. essentially .. vote out ALL current incumbents .. Republicans AND Democrats! I was and AM desperate enough to do that for the next 3 to 4 elections if it takes that to get the politicians .. local and national .. to hear the voters. Our nations could NOT be in a worse mess than it is right now .. Freshman politicians for the next 3 to 4 terms might mess up but I’m willing to live with those consequences .. things MUST change for our children and grandchildren!
==========
My “standard” letter to Republicans
Please vote .... to ............ !
I vote .. and I remember how YOU vote on the issues I care about!
I have been a registered Republican for over 30 years and feel that at least a few of us Moderates exhibit a bit of independence from the “holier than thou Religious Right” that has a STRANGLE HOLD on MY Republican Party! PLEASE show some guts and represent those of us Republicans who are more moderate and middle of the road .. fiscal conservatives but socially liberal .. conservatives with a heart! I have become increasingly independent in my voting practices due to the changes in MY Republican Party. I believe many Moderate Republicans feel as I do. OUR Party better start listening to the Moderate Middle or they are going to lose us to a good conservative Democrat!
Like several who are posting here I am a reformed Republican. I gave up on the GOP when Reagan was elected, changed my party affiliation, and have voted Democrat consistentently since then. But now no one in political life seems willing to take a strong stand for anything outside what powerful corporations, causes, and organizations with money dictate. I was at the optometrist's today and we got into a political discussion that swerved into the dangerous power of huge corporations. Since his office is only a short distance from Wal*Mart headquarters in Bentonville, AR and I live in the area, we both know a lot of Wal*Mart employees. He sees them in practice, I know them as friends. We surprised each other by revealing we had yet to meet a lower level Wal*Mart employee who won't trash the company and its policies if they think they are in a place and with companions who are "safe." (A friend who works in a warehouse recently lost his lunch hour because W*M said it cost them too much money. He now gets two breaks, no lunch break, and has to walk a long distance to reach break room and rest room, taking ten minutes out of his break time.)
The doctor and I agreed that tremendously powerful business interests (most especially Wal*Mart) are running and ruining the country today. Problems with United States' jobs going off shore? Look at corporations, now led by Wal*Mart. Don't like what's going on in China? Wal*Mart for sure. Notice that wages for lower level employees are dropping? Big corporations and businesses hiring immigrant labor who will work for less.
Health care lacking? Well for Wal*Mart employees it certainly is, and the much touted health care the company is now bragging about has so much co-pay and costs attached that most employees can't afford it. (This from a doctor who sees those claims.)
I could go on and on, but look around at your towns, struggling small businesses, diminishing availability of varied merchandise, and of manufacturing and technology jobs. Why is this happening?
Seems to me corporations and causes with big money to dole out to politicians are a big part of our problem, and they have created political party members who are afraid of having an original thought for fear it will offend someone handing out bucks.
What do the rest of you think?
SHARE THIS ! > CUT 'N PASTE ON EMAILS & OTHER SITES:
"The Project for a New American Century" (PNAC) is the elusive "cabal" that is hardly mentioned in the news, and never called by name. PNAC was co-founded by William Kristol and Dick Cheney & other familiar people. This cabal is the group that is presently in power. Needless to say, our American press has not been reporting all the facts regarding the current Bush Administration , so PNAC is rarely mentioned by them, if ever. If you google PNAC you will find it all over the internet , and many websites attempt to expose and "out" the PNAC. The UK press reports on PNAC all the time now, starting with an article by Neil Mackay in 2024 in the Scottish Sunday Herald:
http://www.sundayherald.com/27735
PNAC is a small group who claim to act on behalf of you and not the elites. They hold many of the key positions of power in the federal government. But really, these are the people who brought us:
* the war in Iraq
* plans for simultaneous, multiple wars
* legal 'justification' for torture
* the 'Patriot' Act, expanded presidential powers and reduced citizens' rights
* warmongering and war profiteering and on and on
In the past 5 years , only two well-known Americans have been videotaped publicly exposing the PNAC just this year: Helen Thomas "the first lady of the press" , & Stephen Colbert, the comedic anchor of the "Colbert Report" on Comedy Central ! :
http://tinyurl.com/loxz3
Here is PNAC's actual website , founding members & Statement of Principles:
http://www.newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm
They wrote a letter trying to urge Clinton in 1998 to attack Iraq:
http://www.newamericancentury.org/iraqclintonletter.htm
Practically everyone in this organization is also in the Bush Administration, however W himself is not a member of the PNAC. Many bloggers surmise this is because he is the cabal's puppet to be kept "untouchable" in case of a need for pardons for the rest of the group. Even Jeb Bush is a member , but not W !
The Iraq and potential Iran wars were already planned on their PNAC website in this document "Rebuilding America Defenses: Strategy, Forces, & Resources for a New Century" (remember , this is a non-profit organization , NOT a government entity, yet they came into power two months after this was written in September 2024):
http://tinyurl.com/7onk
There are hundreds of websites and blogs about the PNAC. Here are a few well-known favorites:
http://www.oldamericancentury.org/pnac.htm
http://www.pnac.info/
http://tinyurl.com/mzrcv
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PNAC
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3544.htm
http://www.tvnewslies.org/html/pnac.html
This information is enough to not overwhelm you, but will bring you up to snuff for now. Here is a good & quick video that exposes the PNAC:
PNAC exposed.
"What Barry Says"
This is the Hi-Fi version.
Video = WMP = http://www.knife-party.net/wmv/barry.wmv "
I had been a card carrying Republican since 1964 when I work on the Goldwater campaign. I started to question the party when at a cacus back in the 80's those attending were asked to take morals test to get elected as a delegate. Only prolife christians were eligble.
Then the party selected the current moron to be President and I have decided to seek a new home.
Unity08 is just what we need. My friends and I are tired of not having a say in what seems to be out of control. I am from Washington State where they recently started making us declare a party something we were lucky enough not to have to do. I wanted to vote for who was best and now I am forced to vote for people along certain party lines. It's this as well as many other reason that we need Unity08.
Dave, Unity08 should not be construed as the "Republicans who want access to abortion" party or "Republicans who consider themselves too respectable to hang out with the Religious right party." The Republican party is already the "Republicans who want access to abortion" party. Candidates themselves are held to a different standard. You're also out of step with Unity08, which overwhelmingly prefers the agenda of the Democratic party. It seems that your main complaint is that the Republican party won't accept you as a candidate. That's kind of a narcissistic reason for throwing your weight behind Unity08.
I have been reading these posts for the first time. I am anazed and appalled by the main theme which seems to be abortion. Any new party must concentrate on the primary issues. Number 1 must be: seal our Southern border. Then we must do everything in our power to fight against terrorism.
How are we to combat Congressional and Executive spending? Why not leave abortion and gay marriage up to the individual states?
On the question of separation of Church and State: the Constitution clearly states that this is to protect religion from the state. Not the other way round.
I would love to vote a third party ticket but would have to see where they stand on these issues.
One of the founders was on the morning talk show on Wisconsin Public Radio. What a breath of fresh air, thanks to the founders for starting this
I read in yesterday's NY POST That Mayor Bloomberg threw a hint that he might consider running in 08 as an independent. I can tell you he has done a real good job in New york City. I wouldn't mind seeing a ticket of Mike Bloomberg and Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana. I've always thought he was very thoughtful on issues of national defense and foriegn policy. Also neither one would stand a snowball's chance in hell of getting their party's nomination, so i figure they woukd both be perfect!
I've heard numerous people mention Michael Bloomberg as a Third Party Candidate; what about Joe Lieberman?
If this is true, haha, then why should any moderate Republicans take unity 08 seriously? Most moderate Republicans are pretty pro-growth while being more socially liberal than their counterparts (which does get them in trouble at times). If you're saying this a centrist platform with a Democrat agenda then you're going to lose the moderate wing of the Republican party. I'm a conservative but I want change in the way things are done in Washington. I would break with my party and vote them out to see that change--as I believe others on the opposite side of should do as well--but it doesn't mean I will support a new party or movement that claims it's different but has a Democrat agenda. Myself, I think most social issues should be STATE issues and not federal issues. The people of California shouldn't impose their views on me anymore than my state should impose our views on them.
I am not as big a supporter on Hate Crimes and Affirmative Action but Joe does come down on the correct side of issues more often than not.
I would trade either of my state's senators for him in a minute.
Not really my choice for president but neither are Nader, Bush, Kerry, etc.
I just heard the news that Bill Gates is leaving his full-time leadership of Microsoft. Please, please, please will someone try to recruit him for this movement. We need the smartest and hardest working men in America to be involved in the solutions for this nation. Again, is there any chance that Al Gore will join this movement, he was ridiculed for his views on global warming and his comments about the internet but he has been proven right and he is available for a candidacy for President. Can we get him before the Democrats realize what they are passing up. Again, smart, hardworking and not the typical self-serving politician.
A pox on both of your nominated candidates. Gates stole the dos operating system and the fundamentals of windows os as well. As for Gore, are we ever going to see the e-mails that we were supposed to be released just after the last election. The ones where he was soliciting illegal contributions from the white house.
I'm from Arizona and voted for proposition 200 which was an attempt to control immigration in Arizona. Prop 200 passed with 55-58% of the voters favoring some controls over immigatrion and for this we have been called "racist".
Two years ago our President was talking about the problems with Social Securiy - so whats changed?
Its still a problem and illegal immigration adds to this problem;
We have Hospitals that are closing down their ER's because they do not get reimbursed from the federal government - at least not what would cover the costs. Crime is a problem and its a given that "uninsured" motorist insurance is a must in Arizona, and probably most border states. But the biggest problem and the reason why I'm here is..I just do not feel we are represented by the Government we have elected. We have real problems and not just with immigration. We need a change. I have talked to friends and I really feel that many of them are having the same feelings. I'm not frustrated, just ready for constructive change. Craig
I came of age when abortions were illegal. For a price, a woman could arrange an abortion. Cities had back alley clinics, compassionate family doctors and when all else failed..there was always Mexico. Those of us who hated the hypocrisy of underground abortions fought to legalize abortion and won. Times have changed. The current generation doesn't care about perserving the right to legal abortion and so be it. Every generation must fight their own battles. It's time to put abortion behind us and move on to more pressing issues. United we stand.
gw
Yes, I would love to put the issue of abortion aside. But women must have conrol over their own bodies.
This is absolutely bottom line. I can not vote for any candidate who will not protect this right. Sorry. I think we should give the 50 state strategy and Howard Dean a chance.
We are in the same situation as Lincoln faced... modern offshore slavery or labor unions... federalism over local rights... and we all know how that ended up... obviously there is a end to gridlock at some point... so I say unlike then we try the legal alternative and Unite as Independents so we don't have to take up arms against each other and kill off those that will not conform to the republic as the republic will win that fight and extend the police state and claim an even tighter choke hold preventing third party participation... www.appyp.com/fix_main.html