Why I Left the Republican Party

[Crabtownboy]

I came to the same conclusion several years ago when I became convinced the GOP was out of touch, was the party of the rich and special interest and cared not for the welfare of the average person, much less the poor, the ill, the elderly. There has been a redistribution of wealth under the GOP, a redistribution from the poor to the rich.

Former Nevada Lieutenant Governor Sue Wagner is not alone in her courageous decision to exit the Republican Party. Just last August, I made the same decision and resigned my position as Polk County Republican Party of Iowa Co-Chair. I immediately changed my party affiliation to Independent and later moved forward to officially switch my party affiliation to Democrat. Just as Sue Wagner said, I also stated that the Republican Party has left me. Back in 1996 when I registered to vote as a Republican and supported Robert Dole in the Iowa caucuses, I did not expect to some day welcome the opportunity to vote in the Democratic Party of Iowa caucuses, but that is precisely what I did on Tuesday, January 21 of this year.

Several reasons led me to my decision, and they're similar reasons to why Wagner says she left the GOP. Republicans misread the electorate in 2012, and I became increasingly aware that I needed a change because the GOP no longer shared my values. The Iowa GOP holds views that are increasingly out of touch and are too extreme for me, and their unwillingness to compromise is on full display every day from local, state and national Republicans.

My opinion is the "Duck Dynasty Wing" of the Republican Party has taken over the GOP, and they're not about to retreat in their war on science and common sense.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chad-brown/why-i-left-the-republican-party_b_4702250.html

Other articles:

http://www.salon.com/2012/09/10/why_i_left_the_gop/

http://thegopleftme.com/

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/08/25/opinion/why-i-left-the-republican-party/

There are more if you want to read them I will find them for you.

 

[Don]

And they really think the democrats are better?

 

[Jkdbuck76]

Yes. Killing the unborn is much much better than being a religious conservative. Personally, I will NEVER vote for pro-abortion candidates. I'd rather not vote.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Yes. Killing the unborn is much much better than being a religious conservative. Personally, I will NEVER vote for pro-abortion candidates. I'd rather not vote.

But you will vote for those who do not mind causing misery to those living, to not caring for the ill, the elderly, the poor. And I bet you are for capital punishment even though we know know, because of DNA testing, there are folk who have been shown to be innocent ... and thus we know there are innocent people still on death row, just not proven innocent yet.

So, you are pro-life for those before birth, but pro-death for those after birth.

I am opposed to abortion, capital punishment and not taking care of others.

Remember the judgement scene in Matthew. Lots about taking care of those alive ... nothing about before being born.

So, I would say you are partly pro-life, but not really pro-life.

The lack of concern, yea, in fact, the disdain the GOP has for all but the rich and powerful. Their Southern policy, which was racist captured the old Solid South much to the detriment of many poor folk. I did not change in my political philosophy. The GOP moved and became a party I could no longer support.

Sorry if this offends you, but it is, to me, the truth.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

I came to the same conclusion several years ago when I became convinced the GOP was out of touch, was the party of the rich and special interest and cared not for the welfare of the average person, much less the poor, the ill, the elderly. There has been a redistribution of wealth under the GOP, a redistribution from the poor to the rich.



Other articles:

http://www.salon.com/2012/09/10/why_i_left_the_gop/

http://thegopleftme.com/

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/08/25/opinion/why-i-left-the-republican-party/

There are more if you want to read them I will find them for you.

I'm no longer a Republican for precisely the opposite reason. You left the GOP because they weren't liberal enough. I left because I could no longer tell the difference between the GOP and the Democrats.

 

[Jkdbuck76]

So, you are pro-life for those before birth, but pro-death for those after birth.



So, I would say you are partly pro-life, but not really pro-life.



Sorry if this offends you, but it is, to me, the truth.

Careful with your assumptions, buddy.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

But you will vote for those who do not mind causing misery to those living, to not caring for the ill, the elderly, the poor.

No, because contrary to your warped and ethically compromising viewpoint, the GOP doesn't do that. But you will vote for those who use the ill, the elderly, the poor as pawns, enslaving them to a corrupt and unbiblical government system of cash rewards for their denial personal responsibility, refusal of self-improvement, and encouragement to produce "welfare babies" for the purpose of garnering more rewards.

I bet you are for capital punishment even though we know know, because of DNA testing, there are folk who have been shown to be innocent ... and thus we know there are innocent people still on death row, just not proven innocent yet.

There are GOP voters who are not in favor of capital punishment, but that's besides the point. If there are innocents on death row, they will be found. How do I know that? Because they are by far an extreme minority of those actually on death row. The Innocence Project has fought for the freedom of 18 men, and won it. But there are nearly 3,200 men and women on death row. The innocent stand out like a sore thumb against the backdrop of the guilty, because there are so many. Also, you're concern for the innocent is irrelevant against the factual circumstances of the length of time it takes to actually execute a convicted murderer. The concern for the state to actually do justice is behind that lengthy appeal process. There is no "rush to judgment" as you and other irrational opponents of the death penalty like to claim.

So, you are pro-life for those before birth, but pro-death for those after birth.

Pro-Bible is more accurate.

I am opposed to abortion, capital punishment and not taking care of others.

There is no biblical basis for your position on capital punishment, regardless of how you may want to twist and bend Scripture to try to "prove" there is, and taking care of others is the responsibility of the church, not the government. If you want to take care of others, do so. Spend the tithe and the gifts, not the taxes we send to Washington to let them waste, which is exactly what happens to nearly 70% of our tax dollars, and most of it goes down the black hole of entitlements.

Remember the judgement scene in Matthew. Lots about taking care of those alive ... nothing about before being born.

You're a liar. You claim to be pro-life but have just denied the rights of the living in the womb with that statement.

So, I would say you are partly pro-life, but not really pro-life.

I would say that description even more so fits you. You're a hypocrite besides.

The lack of concern, yea, in fact, the disdain the GOP has for all but the rich and powerful. Their Southern policy, which was racist captured the old Solid South much to the detriment of many poor folk. I did not change in my political philosophy. The GOP moved and became a party I could no longer support.

You're clueless. The "Southern policy" you disdain so much was originated by the Democrats after Lincoln was assassinated, and continued right up through WWII and beyond. It was the Republicans who tried to dismantle it, and it was the Southern Democrats who filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prevent its passage.

Sorry if this offends you, but it is, to me, the truth.

You wouldn't know the truth if it bit you on the posterior.

 

[Salty]

Yes. Killing the unborn is much much better than being a religious conservative. Personally, I will NEVER vote for pro-abortion candidates. I'd rather not vote.

I disagree ! If there were only one candidate on the ballot, and could not agree with him - I would cast a WRITE-IN ballot! I do not want that ballot line candidate getting 100% of the vote! In fact, if only one candidate was ont he ballot, encourage other to write in your name! Take action!

But you will vote for those who do not mind causing misery to those living, to not caring for the ill, the elderly, the poor. And I bet you are for capital punishment even though we know know, because of DNA testing, there are folk who have been shown to be innocent ... and thus we know there are innocent people still on death row, just not proven innocent yet.

So, you are pro-life for those before birth, but pro-death for those after birth.

The difference is those who committ murder one have made a decision.

I am opposed to ... not taking care of others.

the difference is how we do it. If a panhander is begging for money, am I really helping him or am I enbaling him. Real help would be getting him a job.

The lack of concern, yea, in fact, the disdain the GOP has for all but the rich and powerful. Their Southern policy, which was racist captured the old Solid South much to the detriment of many poor folk. I did not change in my political philosophy. The GOP moved and became a party I could no longer support.

The difference is that Rebles admint to being (somewhat) racist. The yankees deny their racism!

The GOP beleives in responsiblity of the individual - where the current Democrat party believes in hand outs -

BTW, I am NOT a member of the Republician Party - because there are too many liberals in.

 

[prophet]

I'm no longer a Republican for precisely the opposite reason. You left the GOP because they weren't liberal enough. I left because I could no longer tell the difference between the GOP and the Democrats.

This^^^. Independence is where I shall remain.

 

[agedman]

I'm no longer a Republican for precisely the opposite reason. You left the GOP because they weren't liberal enough. I left because I could no longer tell the difference between the GOP and the Democrats.

I agree!

This is why I left, too.

I still will vote for a Republican over a Democrat if there is no other option, but I am strongly conservative, yet libertarian enough to expect evil people need the enjoyments of evil to heap the reward of evil upon them.

Kind of like John states in Revelation 22:

11 Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.
​

 

[agedman]

I would add another comment to this thread.

Back in the day of the Reagan republican surge, the button issues were almost the same as today.

However, the "special interest" groups of the Republican party didn't have as strong a voice as those from the "plan parenthood" Democratic party.

Therefore, there was much more venting of views and (imo) far less demonization of those who might hold modified opinions.

For instance:

Today, if one doesn't buy into the extreme of the anti abortion dialogue, they are demeaned.

There are times when abortion should be allowed, and in which the decision should be up to the doctor and the patient without anyone else interfering. Please lets not get too sidetracked and debate the issue. If you disagree, fine.

Ultimately, the decision should reside between those two in which the matter should be discussed and in which the decision should be made - the patient and doctor.

Here is I am going to be a bit bold - knowing that it may be offensive to some on the BB, yet I trust they will at least give the view some thought.

First a few premises to frame my thinking:

God is ultimately in control of Death and Life. No one dies from their own hand or that of someone else without the approval of God.

All babies who die go to heaven - no matter the cause of the death, and therefore those aborted enjoy the very presence of God when the mother and doctor may spend eternity in the lake of fire.

Therefore:

It seems that the anti-abortion folks are a bit misguided. They care for the baby and that is not to be demeaned. However, why are not the anti-abortion folks moving to petition government for equal support?

Because, the thrust is in the wrong direction. They want to "outlaw" abortions, not regulate abortions.

If "planned parenthood" is given funds, then there should be another group (insert name) equally funded in which provides goods and services for those in need that do not choose or would not desire the abortion.

In other words, rather than "outlawing abortion" give substantial support to a single alternative to abortion group (insert name).

Not the disjointed often RCC run rescue ministries, but a "planned parenthood" size regulated group.

Here is my point:

Evil people will do what is evil, be it lawful or not.

Ultimately, abortion cannot be erased just because it becomes unlawful.

However, evil can be regulated (just as intoxicants, building codes, health care...).

To that end the individual person should be allowed to make their own mind up as to what involvement they will have. Take intoxicants or not, die or not, abort or not...

Because one cannot eradicate abortion, then it is important to develop viable options - that is the role of government.

Unload the prisons by decriminalizing "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Fill up the prisons with folks who actually do harm to others - eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, ...

 

[Crabtownboy]

[FONT="calibri"[size="4"]You're a liar. You claim to be pro-life but have just denied the rights of the living in the womb with that statement.

I have not denied anyone's rights. I said there is nothing in the judgement passage in Matthew that speaks to life before birth. If I am wrong, please show me where I am wrong on this.

Matthew 25:35-40
New International Version (NIV)
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

The "Southern policy" you disdain so much was originated by the Democrats after Lincoln was assassinated, and continued right up through WWII and beyond. It was the Republicans who tried to dismantle it, and it was the Southern Democrats who filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prevent its passage.You wouldn't know the truth if it bit you on the posterior.[/FONT]

The Democrats didn't need a Southern Policy and you are trying to blow smoke.

The Southern Policy begun by the GOP under Nixon. A very well known and documented fact. If it is not fact why did Ken Mehlman, the Republican Party national chairman, make an apology for this strategy in 2006?

In American politics, the Southern strategy refers to a Republican Party strategy of gaining political support for certain candidates in the Southern United States by appealing to racism against African Americans.[1][2][3][4][5]
Though the "Solid South" had been a longtime Democratic Party stronghold due to the Democratic Party's defense of slavery before the American Civil War and segregation for a century thereafter, many white Southern Democrats stopped supporting the party following the civil rights plank of the Democratic campaign in 1948 (triggering the Dixiecrats), the African-American Civil Rights Movement, the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, and desegregation.
The strategy was first adopted under future Republican President Richard Nixon and Republican Senator Barry Goldwater[6][7] in the late 1960s.[8] The strategy was successful in winning 5 formerly Confederate states in both the 1964 and 1968 presidential elections. It contributed to the electoral realignment of some Southern states to the Republican Party, but at the expense of losing more than 90 percent of black voters to the Democratic Party. As the twentieth century came to a close, the Republican Party began attempting to appeal to black voters again, though with little success.[8]
In 2005, Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman formally apologized to the NAACP for ignoring the black vote and exploiting racial conflicts.[9][10]

[/SIZE]

 

[Revmitchell]

Why do you guys engage crabbies false argument. He sets up the frame work with which he can argue like all good lillte liberals. Bill Aires did that the other night. This is what DNC operatives do.


He intentionally misrepresents conservatives by suggesting that they do not want to help the poor because we do not want to accomplish that by using the same method he wants. In other words if you do not want to do it his way then you tries to demonize and misrepresent your position by saying you do not want to do it at all.


Do not argue within his framework. It is all based on a lie.

 

[FollowTheWay]

Yes. Killing the unborn is much much better than being a religious conservative. Personally, I will NEVER vote for pro-abortion candidates. I'd rather not vote.

Abortion was given to us by a Republican Supreme Court. Think the Republicans will ever really do anything about stopping their law? Think again. They're a bunch of hypocrites. They'll never do anything about abortion because it locks in the Christian Right vote.

 

[Revmitchell]

Abortion was given to us by a Republican Supreme Court. Think the Republicans will ever really do anything about stopping their law? Think again. They're a bunch of hypocrites. They'll never do anything about abortion because it locks in the Christian Right vote.

You do not have a clue what you are talking about. Republicans work every day and have been very effective in eliminating abortion around the country. You need to look into the recent drop in abortions and why.


Coming on here ans spouting DNC talking points only makes you look foolish.

 

[Crabtownboy]

You do not have a clue what you are talking about. Republicans work every day and have been very effective in eliminating abortion around the country. You need to look into the recent drop in abortions and why.


Coming on here ans spouting DNC talking points only makes you look foolish.

He did not say that Republicans do not work to eliminate abortions. He said it was a Republican dominated supreme court that handed down Roe v. Wade.

The vote was 7-2 in favor. That is an overwhelming landslide in a Supreme Court decision. There are very few cases that carry such a majority.

Majority: Harry A. Blackmun (for the Court), William J. Brennan, Lewis F. Powell Jr., Thurgood Marshall
Concurring: Warren Burger, William Orville Douglas, Potter Stewart

 

[Salty]

This^^^. Independence is where I shall remain.

Here in NY, there is an organized and ballot Row D) recognized political party . If you are not a member of a political party you are considered NON-ENROLLED.

Just saying

 

[carpro]

I came to the same conclusion several years ago when I became convinced the GOP was out of touch, was the party of the rich and special interest and cared not for the welfare of the average person, much less the poor, the ill, the elderly. There has been a redistribution of wealth under the GOP, a redistribution from the poor to the rich.

Baloney.

I don't believe you were ever a republican.

If you were,You left the republican party because you never had a conservative bone in your body and finally realized you were a rino.

 

[poncho]

I came to the same conclusion several years ago when I became convinced the GOP was out of touch, was the party of the rich and special interest and cared not for the welfare of the average person, much less the poor, the ill, the elderly. There has been a redistribution of wealth under the GOP, a redistribution from the poor to the rich.

So you turned around and joined a party that is out of touch, is the party of the rich and special interests that care nothing for the welfare of the average person, much less the poor, the ill, the elderly. And has made it a habit of redistributing the wealth of the middle class, the poor, the ill and the elderly to the super rich?

I guess you really made the right choice then huh?

 

[poncho]

I would add another comment to this thread.

Back in the day of the Reagan republican surge, the button issues were almost the same as today.

However, the "special interest" groups of the Republican party didn't have as strong a voice as those from the "plan parenthood" Democratic party.

Therefore, there was much more venting of views and (imo) far less demonization of those who might hold modified opinions.

For instance:

Today, if one doesn't buy into the extreme of the anti abortion dialogue, they are demeaned.

There are times when abortion should be allowed, and in which the decision should be up to the doctor and the patient without anyone else interfering. Please lets not get too sidetracked and debate the issue. If you disagree, fine.

Ultimately, the decision should reside between those two in which the matter should be discussed and in which the decision should be made - the patient and doctor.

Here is I am going to be a bit bold - knowing that it may be offensive to some on the BB, yet I trust they will at least give the view some thought.

First a few premises to frame my thinking:

God is ultimately in control of Death and Life. No one dies from their own hand or that of someone else without the approval of God.

All babies who die go to heaven - no matter the cause of the death, and therefore those aborted enjoy the very presence of God when the mother and doctor may spend eternity in the lake of fire.

Therefore:

It seems that the anti-abortion folks are a bit misguided. They care for the baby and that is not to be demeaned. However, why are not the anti-abortion folks moving to petition government for equal support?

Because, the thrust is in the wrong direction. They want to "outlaw" abortions, not regulate abortions.

If "planned parenthood" is given funds, then there should be another group (insert name) equally funded in which provides goods and services for those in need that do not choose or would not desire the abortion.

In other words, rather than "outlawing abortion" give substantial support to a single alternative to abortion group (insert name).

Not the disjointed often RCC run rescue ministries, but a "planned parenthood" size regulated group.

Here is my point:

Evil people will do what is evil, be it lawful or not.

Ultimately, abortion cannot be erased just because it becomes unlawful.

However, evil can be regulated (just as intoxicants, building codes, health care...).

To that end the individual person should be allowed to make their own mind up as to what involvement they will have. Take intoxicants or not, die or not, abort or not...

Because one cannot eradicate abortion, then it is important to develop viable options - that is the role of government.

Unload the prisons by decriminalizing "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Fill up the prisons with folks who actually do harm to others - eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, ...

You make a good case imho. Unfortunately I doubt the "proper role of government is to control the lives of others" crowd will pay it much attention. You should post more often here we could all use a dose of common sense and a break from the usual "lefties are idiots and righties are racists" garbage threads people can't seem to live without around here.

Okay now I better duck and cover. :smilewinkgrin: