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The bottom line is that the Presidential election was about what the Democrats wanted it to be about. The Republicans failed in so many areas and on so many levels because they allowed themselves to be drawn into debates that are unwinable from a populist perspective. When you add in the willingness of the mainstream media to paint conservatives as out of touch, prudish, and old-fashioned; the results shouldn't have been a surprise. It didn't help that some conservatives seemed to be more than willing to stand up and proclaim their prudishness and out of touch attitude. Then there are the Libertarians - who seem to be more like a collection of single-issue Republicans that felt like they didn't have a voice in the GOP. Of course this is now all hindsight.

Rex B wrote:

chasfm11 wrote:

Jasonw560 wrote:Then, we need to volunteer to go to those red states and help if we can. Show some solidarity to our brothers and sisters saddled with blue Senators.

We might want to practice on the blue State elements that are here in Texas. I fear that venturing into many of the blue States, one would have to be very careful about "showing solidarity." There is a neat by county map that shows the reds and blues within each State. You could go to the red counties in a blue State and find plenty of folks like you. Venturing into a blue county might be a life altering experience. I cannot imagine many converts coming out of a lot of those areas. It isn't that they don't understand - they don't want to understand. I lived in NJ. I've seen it first hand.

I can just see a dozen Texans knocking on doors in urban Chicago.....

I'd be willing to bring the fight to their doorstep. But not while they've got their draconian opposition to our 2nd Amendment rights.

Really, though, I think the idea of letting folks in so-called battle-ground counties would probably do more good than trying to convince communities that rely on entitlements that working for what you want is much more valuable & liberating. Keep in mind, we will have our own mid-term elections to contend with as well. First priority should be making sure that our own Lone Star State is back on solid ground (speaking from BHO-carried Harris County).

Jasonw560 wrote:

Rex B wrote:Next chance to shut down BHO, and it's a good one:

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/hou ... ls-in-2014" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How I'd love to see Reid become the Senate Minority leader.

Then, we need to volunteer to go to those red states and help if we can. Show some solidarity to our brothers and sisters saddled with blue Senators.

Now you're talking!!! Might also want to try to convert some House of Representative seats while you're at it..

Way to go!

Let's keep it going!!!

Thank you to all of the recent posters for turning this thread toward the direction I had initially envisioned. We need to be discussing a plan of action for the current US Congress, the upcoming Texas Legislature session, and the mid-terms. As soon as the newly elected candidates take office, we need to contact them & let them know who we are & what we're about. When the dust settles from this election, the local GOP groups should hear from us also - right now they're still trying to figure out what happened & where to go next as much as we are.

And on a side note. Please let me say again that I NEVER implied or explicitly stated that this should turn toward any sort of violence toward ANY eleceted officials. The whole point of this thread was to mobilize our group to become politically active in the wake of such a disappointing outcome. I'm a systems guy, and my first response to any problem will always be to see what can be done from within the framework that is already there.

It's boot-strap time, folks!!

NRA Meeting in Houston http://www.nraam.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

VMI77 wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote: The only way to revive conservationism is to attract Hispanics and appeal to all educated young people with a message that resonates with them and doesn't simply sound like bitter old white guys.

I know many of our Members aren't going to like this post. Heck, I don't like it myself, but these are the facts and the ostrich approach never works.

Chas.

That's not going to happen without regaining control of the school system and eliminating liberal media dominance. The school system and media have produced several generations of collectivists and it looks like they're finally reaching critical mass.

I agree about the school system, so get out and do something! Run for the school board or help find, then support and campaign for good candidates.

The media is not a problem no matter how we like to make that claim. Yes, the mainstream media is ultra-liberal and pro-Democrat, but their sphere of influence is small and it's shrinking. No one cares what the talking heads at NBS, CBS and ABC say. That's why Fox News is killing them. Far more people stay informed by reading Internet media outlets. The Hurst Corporation is in big trouble as its newspapers throughout the nation are seeing subscription rates plummet and advertising revenue are following.

Chas.

Finally, an action-based solution!!! Although, I would expand that beyond local school board elections. It's only 2 years until the mid-term elections. If there are local mid-terms, we need to get involved. If there aren't any local mid-terms, we need to try to do what we can to support those running in the mid-terms that we philosophically agree with. Our legislature is due to convene next year, so that gives us an opportunity to influence what happens in Austin. We need to keep up with what they're doing & let our representation know when they're on the right track as well as when we believe that they're straying off-course.

Somebody mentioned the 2012 NDA. That is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. If we were paying attention then, the indefinite detention provisions could have been struck down before they were made formal provisions. As I understand it, the NDA must be re-approved every year. So we probably need to take a look at where the 2013 NDA is currently & find out what we can about it.

So what is the answer? What do we DO about the current situation? Let's see some solution on here. I'm not of a mind to simply curl up in a corner & hope things get better (or worse, hope things don't go further downhill). I'm willing to take action, just point me in the right direction. I didn't start this thread so that we could sit around & mope about how unfair things are. My original intent was to try to take a step back out of the frustration & feeling of loss in order to begin moving forward.

Heartland Patriot wrote:Folks, just remember that the In-Justice Department, run by Eric "Brainwash Them" Holder, monitors electronic communications. Now, just saying you don't like something ain't going to raise an eyebrow, almost half this nation is pretty hot right now about the election. But advocating any sort of disturbance might raise flags with the monitoring program. It took those folks in Michigan many months to get the bulk of the (likely) trumped up charges dropped after review by a reasonable judge. The next judge that gets the next case might not be reasonable. I'm not trying to be tin-foil hat, I promise. But some things are better left unsaid where they are subject to be seen by those who would have no compunction about arresting a few more so-called "extremists" and spinning another story about it with the aid of their bought-and-paid-for propagandist cronies in the mainstream media. All that said, buy ammo...it ain't going to get any cheaper.

Please re-read my original post. I am in no way advocating violence of any kind. We need to get to work on the mid-terms, watch what the lawmakers are doing & be vocal with our support and/or disapproval.

And yes, Charles, if we also need to get involved with trying to influence a demographic shift within the republican party, then so be it. Yesterday was tough, but sometimes it takes a slap in the face to get woken up.

So why not stop them while we still have the ability to???? Or at least put up a fight! Honestly, I did expect a little razzing for my optimism & probably over-stated opinion of what we can accomplish. But I definitely didn't see this 'lay down & die attitude' coming. If you think it's pointless to try to do something about the current state of affairs, and you think that you can't make a difference; then don't & you will be proven correct! But I value my God-given rights, I honor the US Constitution in it's current form, and I love this country. I won't let this creeping change happen without a fight!

If he had won by an overwhelming majority, I'd be inclined to believe as you do baldeagle. But the fact that about half of the voting public disagrees with him leads me to believe that he'll re-evaluate any plans to railroad his agenda. And even if he doesn't, he can't arbitrarily void the US Constitution and set up his own monarchy. It would have to be a process. And in being so, we, as conciencious citizens can act to prevent the further erosion of our rights. Though the cause may be a bit more difficult than we thought it would be before yesterday, it's far from lost.

Do as you may. But I intend to fight for what I believe may be taken from us if we just lay down and let them. Unfortunately I won't be able to do it alone - but I won't let that deter me either. If we stand together & speak with a unified voice, they won't be able to ignore us.

baldeagle
Anyone who thinks Obama gives a hoot about getting along or about helping the United States is deluding themselves. Obama's goal is and always has been to destroy this country, and he was well on his way before being re-elected. What's about to happen will shock those who haven't been paying attention or haven't sought out the truth.

The 1st and 2nd Amendments will be the first to go. The rest is just a matter of time.

Then stand up & fight for it not to be so BEFORE it happens. I believe that Obama's self-interest will move him to try to cooperate. He wants a legacy & he won't leave the rest of the Dems out to dry. The trick for us is to not let him get any momentum.

A couple of things that we should take away from BHO's re-election:

1. While the electoral vote was pretty decisive, the popular vote was much closer. And althought the popular vote doesn't do much for the actual election, it can have an effect on future policy. The fact that just under half of the country wanted the other guy should be reason for the current regime to move toward a more moderate position on several issues. No, he won't be trying to garner favor for another election. But he is a politician, & politicians really do worry about their legacy. I honestly don't think that the President is in a position to force a 'take-it-or-leave-it" position on any issue. He's going to have to reach across the aisle in order to get anything done. Plus the Democrats will want to put up a candidate in 2016, so BHO may not be so willing to say to heck with the half that didn't want him for the sake of whomever the Dems will want to put up after him.

2. Yes, it's 4 long years until the next Presidential election. But it's only 2 years until the next mid-term Congressional & Gubanatorial elections. If we can re-double our efforts now, it should pay off with some gains in Washington & several state houses. I know it's not quite the same as having the White House now, but it's better than sitting around & licking our wounds. Besides, we need a reason to dust ourselves off & get back in the fight. A forum such as this has to be populated with at least some folks who've been knocked down, gotten back up, and were all the better for it.

3. As a forum dedicated to promoting & protecting a basic right, we have other rights that we can excercise. We have the power of speech & access to all sorts of venues to make our voices heard. Be vocal with your elected representation at all levels - no matter what side of the room they're sitting on. Let them know where you stand on the issues that matter to you. Let them know that we are here & are willing to work for them...or against them if the need arises. Use the power of social media & public comment to our advantage & publicize your representatives' positions, responses, and reactions.

As CHL holders, we've decided that we will not allow ourselves to become victims or allow circumstances to dictate to us. We've taken action to make sure that we and our loved ones are protected from harm. This same mentality should apply to last night's election results and the next few years.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed"