A bit more on my Big Tent post. In surfing around the ‘Net this morning, Powerline had this up from Gallup:
Surprised by the uptick in Conservative numbers? Not me – and even Gallup reports that the Dems are shoving people away even faster than the Republicans did a few years ago by acting as Democrat-lite (49% of Americans feel that the Dems are too liberal)
So, what does that say to me? It confirms my contention: make the tent larger by simply asking the folks that already are numerous, the Conservatives and those that trend Conservative, to simply join like minded folks. They are ALREADY of the mindset – they simply need to be asked "Why NOT join us?".
Given what the Obama Administration, what the Progressive Democrats, and Progressive Republicans (like Charlie Bass’s Dad, and Charlie himself) have done to the fundamental American governing principles and the absolute measurable negative effects they have had, these folks instinctively understand what’s wrong and what is right.
The complaint from the Moderates in the Party is that the number aren’t there to just go Rightward. The above chart is starting to show that people are ready to come in of their own accord.
My plea? Make it easy for them to come in, and then make it easier to stay by simply doing what they want you to do – which is pretty much what you should have been doing all along – stick to traditional Republican values (which really are Conservative values) in your speech, and stick to them in your actions, and certainly stick to them as you govern and vote.
It is when you say the speech but govern / vote the other way, YOU send them streaming out of the tent.
Got that? Prelim lesson over – learn it well, Fergus. If you had done so earlier, you might have still been NH GOP chair instead of being cast out to the fringe of the Party. You just keep moving to the Center, Fergus; if the current trend keeps up, you’ll still be in a tent, but one with the JackAss symbol on it.
Hmm, seemingly fitting, dontcha think? But then the question will be – will they treat you like NH’s Horrigan or Simmons? Or like Snarlin’ Arlen?
