I Shall Be Brief... But Sincere

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Birthplace of Independent Conservatism


Been doing a lot of thinking lately. What I've come up with is this. Independent conservatives and independent liberals have a tough road. Holding to principles is usually a tough task. The road is tough because they refuse to knuckle to the "conventional wisdom" that the majority of their "supposed ideology" would have them accept and espouse.

What drove this home was the decision of TAO, who operated the blog Corrupting Conservatives, a liberal yet rational site to shut down his blog. I for one will miss his rough and tumble. The integrity he showed in standing up to liberals that were in his judgement misguided gained my respect. I equally respected his intellectually honesty in arguing his positions, even when he was wrong. Should anyone fail to understand this statement, well that it is not my problem.

At any rate, as an independent conservative that actually sees the and understands the view points of rational liberals I shall miss the thoughts of TAO. Even given that I disagreed with him often on philosophical grounds.

Yes, being an independent conservative or liberal isn't easy for sure. But it is worth it.

I believe our founding fathers would want us to be independent and unencumbered by party ideology.

Perhaps that is why I see myself equally as much an independent conservative as I see myself as a classical liberal. Thomas Jefferson has a long reach. I suspect TAO may agree with me on this one.

Comments

  1. Any idea why he shut down his blog?

    The leftwing nutbags will not be happy till they've driven the last sane person from their ranks.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Silverfiddle, leftwing or rightwing, I'm not sure they're nutbags, I think they're just selfish, evil people.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hmmm. So TAO has been rejected and vilified by his own?

    This is offensive, even though TAO was a person who was against everything I stand for. Dissension is the highest form of patriotism, yes? Apparently the liberal nutjobs don't think so. When they start bringing out the long knives on their own, you know they are in crisis mode.

    Too bad, really. TAO was annoying, but it was his right to be annoying, and while I usually would throw my hands up in disgust at some of his comments, he had every right to comment.

    Independent conservatives understand the complete wrongness about this. TAO, if you read this, I am sorry for you being treated like you were by your won kind. Seriously. No hidden jokes, no agenda. I am sorry for you.

    Donald in Bethel, CT

    ReplyDelete
  4. Les: I agree; Tao is a great guy and one who stands by his convictions, and was always considerate of mine. A person who acts like that is someone I can respect.

    I’ve always enjoyed Tao’s postings, comments and his views, even if they didn’t necessarily coincide with mine. That’s what blogging is about, IMO, learning from others and Tao is very intelligent. He can be a bit rough around the edges sometimes, but once you get to know him, you can appreciate the honorable man within who cares about people and our country.

    Don’t worry, Tao won’t stay away long, and I’m looking forward to the new blog that he will create in the near future.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Les,
    You said:
    "I believe our founding fathers would want us to be independent and unencumbered by party ideology."

    You do realize, of course, that all ranking members of the GOP just clutched their chests collectively at this thought. I would say that ranking Democrats did likewise, but let's be honest: they have nothing in common with the Founding Fathers. I would daresay that if modern-day Democrat liberal Socialists were to suddenly find themselves in America circa 1789, they would be tarred and feathered.

    Your blog matters, Les, because it is the birthplace of independent conservatism. Sure, there are other blogs who speak of their 'independence', but at the end of the day they are merely the talking-point-puppets of the GOP or other such institutionalized political thought. Fah.

    Sorry, no real point to this comment other than to say, You're right on, Les. (Even if you are pro-"gay marriage"! LOL!)

    Donald in Bethel, CT

    ReplyDelete
  6. TAO has shut down his blogs as many as 3 or 4 times. I've lost count.

    His shutting them down has absolutely nothing to do with being vilified by anyone--left or right. TAO has never run away from a good argument.

    From time to time TAO just gets fed up with things and deletes his blog. And then comes back.

    I hope he will again.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Donald - I thank you for your comment. While we disagree on a few issues {independent conservatives do that} we recognize at the end of the day that principles matter, that lockstep marching with any political ideology whether it be liberal or conservative is insanity.

    I do agreer that if todays liberals were transplanted back to 1776 or 1789 they would be tarred and feathered.

    Timeless principles are exactly that, timeless. Many on both sides of the political divide fail to recognize this.

    It's truly tough being an independent conservative or an independent liberal.

    But it is worth it, and Mr. President Jefferson would be proud of us. Regardless of party affiliation.

    Just the two cents worth of an old independent conservative.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Shaw - I have noticed TAO taking heat from his "own." I respect him for doing so as well as respecting his independence. My respect is there even as we disagree. This is as it should be, yes?

    Only TAO knows the real reasons he shut down his site once again. Certainly his reasons are his own. And I agree that he has never ran away from an argument.

    There may be some on my independent conservative side of the aisle {whatever that may mean to you} that are happy TAO shut his sight down. I assure you I am not among them and may take heat from my "own." My answer to that is... bring it on!

    Thank you for finding your way to my independent conservative site. You are always welcome. While we will likely always disagree on political and ethical philosophy I appreciate your being engaged.

    I am sure, at least from this old man's independent conservative viewpoint that our founding fathers are smiling.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sorry, TAO was not run off the internet nor is he planning on returning to blogging....

    He just simply decided to start 2011 on a new foot and put his efforts to something a little more constructive. When political debate in this country boils down to the left being racist when they criticize Obama, or whether liberals or conservatives have bigger brains, you realize that its all about "my side" and "your side."

    The reality is that no matter how much one blogs the country is headed in one very distinct direction and it makes no difference if it is a republican or a democrat running the country.

    I want no part of the charade as my time is better spent on other activities...I will start blogging once I can see a distinct difference between republicans and democrats or when a third party kicks in that is truly independent.

    Other than that, thank you for your kind words and thoughts!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Politics is messy, and nobody will ever be completely happy, so I see what you're saying.

    To me, this argues for less government involvement in our lives, the less the better.

    Anyway, all the best in the new year, TAO.

    ReplyDelete
  11. ARIZONA SHOOTING:
    http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-jared-lee-loughner-profile,0,3468158.story

    From article:
    People who knew him described him as philosophical, a person who read a lot of books. On his YouTube page, Loughner listed among his favorite books "The Communist Manifesto," "Siddhartha," "The Old Man And The Sea," "Gulliver's Travels," "Mein Kampf," "The Republic" and "Meno."

    One former high school friend Tweeted about knowing the accused gunman:

    "He was a pot head and into rock, like Hendrix, The Doors, Anti-Flag," she wrote. "I haven't seen him in person since 2007 in a sign language class. As I knew him he was left wing, quite liberal and oddly obsessed with the 2012 prophecy. He had a lot of friends until he got alcohol poisoning in 2006 and dropped out of school. Mainly a loner, very philosophical."

    The plot thickens. Prayers to the Giffords family and all those affected by this horrific act.

    Donald in Bethel, CT

    ps: TAO, nice to see you back!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

RN USA is a No Judgement Zone (to steal from Planet Fitness), so please, No Judgement of others. We reserve the right to delete any such comment immediately upon detection.

All views are welcome. As long as the comment is on topic and respectful of others.



Top Posts

As the Obama Administration and a Compliant Lame Stream Media Continue the Benghazi Spin...

It's Going To Be Close, Brace Yourself For Continued Polarization of America, Especially if Obama Loses...

Another Republican Accused Of Sexual Misconduct...

Illinois Democrats Move To Tighten Firearm Regulation/Restrictions...

Our Biggest Creditor {China} Tells Us "The good old days of borrowing are over"

The Public's Trust In Government on the Decline...

The "Scandal" That Won't Go Away...

How A Nation Can and Does Change...