Las Vegas Sun

February 9, 2010

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Letter to the editor:

Blind adherence to dogma no way to lead

Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009 | 2:03 a.m.

The Republican Party may be in disarray, but if it is, it’s not for the reasons cited by a Las Vegas Sun editorial in Monday’s edition (“A party in disarray: Republicans let the crackpots run the show and drag down the national debate”).

The editorial noted Reps. Paul Broun and Jean Schmidt as examples, neither of whom I had heard of, and neither of whom are significant players in Congress. The editorial also cited Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice presidential nominee and ex-governor of Alaska who does in fact have a seat at the table.

However, a seat at the table is only as good as the body warming it, and Palin seems all too willing to vacate it for cooler cushions. If the Republican Party is in disarray, it’s a result of the actual leadership, not the aforementioned pretenders.

The current crop of elected servants, in their bid to regain power, have adhered to dogma so furiously that you could be forgiven for believing it came from God himself on stone tablets. Unfortunately, this is not an exclusively Republican problem — it just so happened that the Democratic Party hired a better stonemason in this cycle.

When Americans head to the polling booth, they do so with the understanding that those elected will be intelligent, level-headed individuals who are willing to make tough decisions, not fleshy adding machines capable of formulaic and faithful execution of party principles.

Slogans like “lower taxes” may win elections, but they’re no way to govern. The Republican who comes to realize this will probably be the next Republican the nation refers to as Mr. President.

Discussion: 28 comments so far…

Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy.

  1. James Brooks is an original thinker

    He cite the LV Sun Editorial as a source if "information".

    Thr LV Sun says Republicans let the crackpots run the show and drag down the national debate"
    The editorial noted Reps. Paul Broun and Jean Schmidt as examples. The LV Sun editorial also cited Sarah Palin.

  2. hey jimmie boy...
    what about these stupid pathetic republican crack pots...
    w the scum bag liar loser clown...
    cheney the evil doer...
    karl no morals whatsoever rove...
    johnnie boy i slept with my best friend's wife, then fired them both when i got caught, then ran to mommy and daddy to fix my boo boo ensign...
    jimme no one on the planet respects me monkey boy gibbons...
    rushbo the drug addict...
    ann the ugliest person on the planet coulter...
    what about these stupid pathetic republican crack pots...
    who the hell would want to join the stupid pathetic republican party these days...

  3. I think and I now Sarah Palin is HOT
    can the Democrat's name who is hotter than Sarah and smarter?

  4. Birdie - same words as yesterday, no new thoughts today?? You keep playing that broken tune over and over. Get over it, Bush and Cheney are gone, its your guy now. You know, if you keep repeating something over and over, it does not become true. But like the Dems, you just keep repeating the same old garbage day in and day out. Quit cutting and pasting from yesterday's post and try to type something new for once.

  5. You want to see crackpots how about the Democrat National Convention lets see 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, >>>>> 1. You have those really good riots: 2. Then you have Ted Kennedy running against a Democrat incumbent: 3. You have Bill Clinton running 3rd and fourth in the primary races but in the end is handed the nomination. 4. And then you have John Kerry trying to win by not running as John Kerry. SAD COMEDY AT IT'S BESTS!

  6. Spend, spend, spend, waste, waste, waste. I hope I live to see the day the government goes bakruput. The millions of freeloaders on the dole will have to get out and take care of themselves for a change. Wouldn't thst be too bad.

  7. Google the "National Debt" to see which political party are the big spenders. Google "The 14 points of Fascism" by the Old American Century to see the similarities between the republicans and the Fascists. Read "The 12 Year Reich" by Richard Grunberger. What is the "Big Lie" and what does it do to the people who are constantly exposed to same? Have an objective day!

  8. Are you suggesting that low taxes is bad? Think about what you're saying for a moment and don't hold on to your blind allegiance to big spending big government.

    Would you rather spend $200,000 for a brand new Lexus or $20,000 for the exact same Lexus?

    What is so difficult for the left to understand that lower cost highly effective government is possible and desirable?

    As for the crackpots they exist but they aren't running the show. If your only source for news was MSNBC and the Las Vegas Sun you can be forgiven for thinking the way you do.

  9. And if you don't blindly adhere to dogma you're branded a...racist.

  10. A lie is a lie whether it be dogma, myth, or the "Big" Lie." Hitler and his Nazi's were very effective in telling lies and keep repeating them over and over. By doing so they were suppressing the truth and actually brainwashing the German people. Where does the use of the "Big Lie" lead? What if everybody in your family lied? What would happen if everybody at work lied? Would you send your children to school that taught nothing but lies? Wasn't Wall Street using the "Big Lie" encouraging investors/stockholders to buy basically worthless securities? Think! Tell the fake republicans where to get off. Develope your own opinions.

  11. "And if you don't blindly adhere to dogma you're branded a...racist."

    rusty57 -- and worse. The name calling here reminds me more of grade school kids than adults having a Discussion. Such is the price we pay for free speech.

  12. Hey commander, I can agree with a lot that you write, but I am having trouble recognizing the Republicans from the Democrats. Leaders from both parties should be familiar with the Nuremberg Trials.

  13. POWERPLAY:
    You want to talk about real criminals.
    What about TRICKEY DICK NIXON?

  14. "And if you don't blindly adhere to dogma you're branded a...racist."

    Right? Like those people like SgtRock and Glen Beck who call Obama a racist? That's what you mean, right?

  15. Crackpots... like Pelosi, Rangel, Dodd and Reid?

  16. "And if you don't blindly adhere to dogma you're branded a...racist."

    Jimmy Carter suggested there is a racial element behind opposition to the President and his policies. He also said that the Panama Canal was worthless, so he gave it away...

    And to think, I believe I voted for Jimmy...

  17. A logical argument consists of two are more premises that are supporting, and then the conclusion. If both premises are not supportive, then you wind up with an illogical argument off in lala land somewhere.

  18. Larry,
    I often "misunderstand" your posts.
    What the heck are you saying, exactly?
    Are you disagreeing with the estimable former President Carter? Are you saying there is NOT
    a racial element behind opposition to President Obama and his policies? AT ALL? I'm unclear on your position.

  19. Larry:
    All you have to do is look at the posters
    the TEABAGGERS held up on Saturday and you'll
    have your answer.

  20. Should I read all of the thousands of posters or only the ones held up by those who were looking for attention and have far different views then the great majority of the sign holders.

    Sometimes the answer is illusive, but I will keep searching. Thanks...

  21. i was a republican for many years until around 1994 when they went wayyyyyyy way to far into the bible thumping.

    i have not voted in any election since then.

    the republican party HAVE to put the bible down and focus on defeating our enemies and keeping the liberals from taking control, NOT on gay marriage and abortion.

  22. Larry:
    The great majority of sign holders are against
    Obama and health care reform. Do you agree with
    them?

  23. Interesting new Gallup poll that shows that Republicans disapprove of Republican congressmen:
    "Although overall approval of the Republicans in Congress is about the same today as it was in December 2008, support among Republicans has dropped from 52% to 39%. At the same time, approval among Democrats has increased from 9% to 20%, helping to keep the overall rating from setting a new low. Remarkably, an outright majority of Republicans today (58%) say they disapprove of the job the Republicans in Congress are doing."

  24. teamster,
    I looked at several news clips but did not see very many signs that were against Obama and health care reform. Most appeared to be against out of control spending.

    Do I agree with the sign holders who are against Obama's spending? Depends what their signs say, but I am against most of the excess spending that has been done for many years now.

    Do I agree with the sign holders who are against health care reform? No, we need health care reform, but we do not need a complete takeover of health-care by the Federal Government.

  25. LarryVegas:
    President Obama has stated that he does not want a complete Government takeover of health-
    care. I'll take him for his word.

  26. Burrittobandit2:
    The're all smater.
    We're not worried about hot.

  27. LarryVegas:
    "Most appeared to be against out of control spending."

    Where were these folks when Bush & Cheney spent billions per month (and actually lost some $8,000,000,000) in Iraq?

    The teabaggers are not against "out of control spending" as much as they are against any sane economic actions and policies by a sane president.

  28. Hey Rocks: There you go again, blaming Bush for all the woes of this country. Tell me, what point in time will the current administration take credit for their actions. I will mark my calendar.

    Who cares where the "teabaggers" were. What matters is that they are here NOW and you can't shut them up.

    Oh, who are you referring to when you say "...are against any sane economic actions and policies by a sane president."

    I must be a racist for not agreeing with the insane economic actions and policies of this administration!!!

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