Conservative Index
New American Magazine ‘‘The Conservative Index” rates congressmen based on their adherence
to constitutional principles of limited government,
fiscal responsibility, national sovereignty, and a traditional foreign
policy of avoiding foreign entanglements. Preserving our Constitution,
the freedoms it guarantees, and the moral bedrock on which it
is based is what the word “conservatism” once meant — and how it
is being applied here.
The average House score for this index (votes 31-40) is 48 percent;
the average Senate score is 53. Two congressmen earned perfect
scores of 100: Walter Jones (R-N.C.) and Ron Paul (R-Texas).
We encourage readers to examine how their own congressmen
voted on each of the 10 key measures as well as overall.
We also encourage readers to commend legislators for their conservative
votes and to urge improvement where needed. For congressional
contact information go to www. thenewamerican.com/congress/.
After reading this article my only issue would be to find out more about Walter Jones! Could this brand of responsible small government conservatism win any support from the “left” as currently defined? Being unpopular with today’s Republican machinery isn’t a bad thing is it?
February 21st, 2007 at 3:39 pm
I am a big supporter of Walter Jones and Ron Paul.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:49 pm
ZOMG! That’s the Birchers!
LOL
February 21st, 2007 at 3:53 pm
To answer your question Bill, head on over to Dailykos.com and see how the majority spit on Ron Paul. Though there are some self-identified leftist libertarians over there who secretly and quietly defend Paul in their hearts. Even Markos proclaims a libertarian philosophy, but every time it comes up this gigantic hiss emanates from the crowd letting you know the claws are coming out to tear the libertarian philosophy to shreds. The majority of them are commies flat out.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Chris,
There are small l libertarians and big L Libertarians. I doubt that there’s many Libertarians but there’s probably a good many libertarians.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Chris
I love Birch beer. I like it better than Root Beer!! But I didn’t know they had a club!!!
February 21st, 2007 at 4:52 pm
February 21st, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Chris, I’ll show my ignorance - what does “ZOMG” mean?
Number two, I used to subscribe to the New American. A great magazine. They take great pride in being factually correct and accurate. Did you find anything incorrect with the article? Please don’t automatically cast them off as the MSM tells you to do!
February 21st, 2007 at 5:22 pm
I agree Hugh, I love the New American magazine and most of the freedom-minded stuff the Birchers spout off about, except what they did to their senior editor Will Grigg after he wrote a scathing report on Bush - they fired him. I quit reading it at that point and started following Grigg’s blog instead.
What I don’t like about them is that they hold those freedom principles for them and them alone. Let someone with different views come into their fold trying to equally embrace those freedom principles and they’re all about shutting them out as the enemy.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Bill, I’ve never had Birch beer, never even heard of it.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:38 pm
I was joking of course but it’s real and tastes pretty good. Not real popular around here. Maybe at mom and pop convenience stores.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:41 pm
ZOMG! = overzealous Oh My God!
February 21st, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Chris
You know I’ll go to any left or right wing websites if they got something good. But what surprises me is all the different types of websites who like Ron Paul!!
February 21st, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Chris, thanks, twice!
I did not know that about the Grigg firing. I’m with you and thanks for the link!
February 21st, 2007 at 6:01 pm
What is to like about the mainstream of both Parties?
February 21st, 2007 at 6:21 pm
John, your post #14
NOTHING!
February 21st, 2007 at 6:57 pm
John
They’ve got people polarized and dummified. They’re like little kids. “He started it”.
“No I didn’t, SHE started it”.
February 21st, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Here’s Walter Jones who seems incredulous about our faulty intelligence and the bad leadership in the pentagon these days. He gets a birch beer. http://youtube.com/watch?v=x18vAVnVoQY
February 21st, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Ouch! Definitely buy that man a six pack!
February 21st, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Ron Paul/Walter Jones would make the perfect ticket in 2008.
So where’s my Paul-Jones 2008 bumper sticker?!
February 21st, 2007 at 7:53 pm
OMG that’s too much like Paula Jones.
February 21st, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I found a 4-pack. http://www.drinkstewarts.com/images/2001_3.jpg
February 21st, 2007 at 8:10 pm
Chris, re #19
And Tancredo could be the Cabinet Secretary for Border/Immigration control. How soon can I vote and how many times can I vote - have a bunch of “Carolines” out there that need to be offset!
ps. maybe after all these years Caroline now feels sorry for Paula Jones and would vote the magnificant ticket you propose! Hope springs eternal
February 21st, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Didn’t Caroline say she used to be a Republican? Maybe this will get her back!!! Hey I might be able to get her into the Minuteman organization.
February 21st, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Bill, she might join the Minutewoman group. But I won’t be holding my breath.
February 21st, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Didn’t realize I was such an object of fascination. Yeah, I used to be a Republican. Eh Paula Jones, all she ever wanted was attention and would do or say whatever it took to get it.
February 21st, 2007 at 8:50 pm
Caroline, thought you might get a kick out of the attention. Just didn’t want you to miss our posts!
February 21st, 2007 at 8:53 pm
The New York Democrats ranked higher in the conservative index than the Texas Republicans, overall. That’s hysterical!
February 21st, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Chris
I don’t know the numbers but a lot of staunch Populist Republicans abandoned the party because of things like the Trans-Texas Corridor.
February 21st, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Back to Bill’s question about gaining support from the left, I think small government is anathema to their philosophy, especially as fixated on universal healthcare as they are. They might fight some appeal on civil rights issues, but in general I think they view government as the solution to too many problems, instead of recognizing government as being the source or a major contributor to those problems. They’re also strongly in favor of government support for alternative energy/global warming solutions, instead of market solutions that could result from reduced government interference.
Going back to an earlier conversation with Mike, I think you’d see alot more domestic entrepreneurship springing into action to respond to these problems if the government didn’t tax or regulate anybody, instead of taxing everybody then giving breaks back to those it wants to support while leaving in place tax policies for those not on its radar or that it doesn’t care about at all.
The left LOVES taxes and sees no problem with the government growing richer on our backs every year without it doing a dagblame thing to earn that money.
February 21st, 2007 at 9:13 pm
If these posts are representative of how Republicans feel then it looks like the party is fracturing. Of course, the people who want to purge the party are helping this along.
February 21st, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Caroline, Looks like the fractures and purging extend through both parties:
Progressive blogs — including two new ones, Ellen Tauscher Weekly and Dump Ellen Tauscher — were bashing her as a traitor to her party. A new liberal political action committee had just named her its “Worst Offender.” And in Tauscher’s East Bay district office that day in January, eight MoveOn.org activists were accusing her of helping President Bush send more troops to Iraq.
Helping? Jennifer Barton, the lawmaker’s district director, played them a DVD of Tauscher blasting the increase as an awful idea in a floor speech eight days earlier.
“The words are fine and good, but we are looking for leadership,” scoffed Susan Schaller, one of the activists.
The WaPo points out the idiocy of this crusade:
She has annoyed the left by supporting legislation to scale back the estate tax, tighten bankruptcy rules and promote free-trade agreements. She served as vice chair of the pro-business Democratic Leadership Council, which many liberal activists dismiss as a quasi-Republican K Street front group. And she voted to authorize the Iraq war, although she did so with caveats, and she was quick to express her displeasure with its execution.
But liberal groups such as the Children’s Defense Fund and the League of Conservation Voters give Tauscher impeccable report cards, while the National Rifle Association gives her straight F’s.
“It’s not just about her voting record,” said Bob Brigham of San Francisco, an activist who recently started the Ellen Tauscher Weekly.
February 21st, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Mike,
So there’s one. Repubicans are trying to get rid of 17x that right now.
February 21st, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Chris
I think you’re over estimating the number of socialists on the “left”. Note I put quotation marks around the word since I think it’s been misused so much lately. What about all the people who are just simply disgusted with all the lies, filth and degradation? EVIL ON STEROIDS!!!!!!!!
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:48 am
Tauscher has Lifetime F and Currnet D on her “immigration” votes. Traitor.
Both parties are lost at this point!
February 22nd, 2007 at 7:55 am
Also a lot of the young Democrats were busy playing with their care bears when Ronald Reagan was in office, so they really have never seen a presidential candidate who talked about the advantages of free enterprise and competition. The only “free” thing you hear about these days is “free trade”.
February 22nd, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Bill,
You should realize that Reagan was the one that brought the neocons to power. You aren’t going to get people on your side at this juncture with Reagan worship.
February 22nd, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Caroline
That was just what I liked MOST about Reagan. But since I don’t follow the 11th commandment any more the thing I liked least about him wasn’t Iran Contra. It was Ed Meese and the Wedtech scandal. Just looking at his fat face made me sick.
February 22nd, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Conservatism = isolationism, protection for terrorist POWs, no line item veto, support for Iran’s nuclear goals, against funding possible life saving research and federal over state laws???
Paul-Jones while about as likely as Dodd-Biden would cause America to suffer considerable economic, social and international hardship.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Bart
Do you think Paul and Jones should be in the GOP?
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Paul should go ahead and switch to the LP, take Jones with him. That would make a formidable tandem at the top of the LP ticket possibly drawing election changing votes. They have a much better chance to be heard vs. being backbenchers in the GOP.
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Bart, Did you read the definition of conservative that forms the basis for the conservative index?
Is this a valid definition of conservative? And, are you a conservative based on this definition?
If not, what’s your definition of conservative so we can eliminate all this troubling confusion about what a conservative stands for and what he doesn’t stand for.
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:50 pm
About the opportunities to be heard, how much attention did the media give the LP and the GP in the last election? Why are you so eager to shuttle Paul off into obscurity like that? Is it because you don’t want to face the reality that your party and all it stood for has been destroyed by traitors to your philosophy and to this nation? Because he’ll shed light on all the traitors masquerading under the conservative banner exposing them for the frauds they are?
Is this your message to all who adhere to the conservative ideology as defined above: leave the GOP and join the LP? Are you willing to stand up in public and advocate that openly?
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Chris,
Yes I read it and agree with it somewhat…not quite sure about the pacifist statement regarding foreign policy and “entanglements”.
The actual legislation used for 31-40 provides basis for their scoring and that is where the problem arises. Conservatives generally support line item veto, global trade, tough stance against terrorism, incarcerating POWs during war and state rights. I disagree strongly with the criteria used to score legislators as it does not even fit the aforementioned ‘definition of conservatism’ as used by this magazine.
Regarding the suggestion that they (Paul / Jones) would be better off at the top of the LP ticket, that was not written with malice intent. Paul has little to no chance of registering a blip during the GOP primary. But if he and Jones jumped ship to the LP, they would not only secure a position on the 11/08 ballot, but likely draw the highest percentage of vote ever for a LP ticket. Might even persuade the GOP candidate to follow conservative principles.
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:59 pm
I think it’s hilariously outrageous that the GOP candidate needs some outside force to make him follow conservative principles! Talk about the ultimate in personal responsibility! What a joke!
February 22nd, 2007 at 6:00 pm
They also explained how each bill that was voted on conflicted or agreed with the stated conservative principles.
February 22nd, 2007 at 11:00 pm
bb
Taking a chapter from the RNC play book I’ll ask you this: If Ron Paul doesn’t win the Republican nomination what would you think if he stayed in the race under a third party banner after that?
February 23rd, 2007 at 3:36 am
[…] February 23rd, 2007 Although it is dubbed the “Conservative Index”, it is really an index that measures “adherence to constitutional principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, national sovereignty, and a traditional foreign policy of avoiding foreign entanglements” according to Control Congress; not the more modern (and flawed), big government, big spending, interventionist definition of “conservative.” As you might expect, Ron Paul scored a perfect 100. […]
February 23rd, 2007 at 7:10 am
Disinter-
What about this: “Big-us-little-them” conservatism. Us being Americans and “them” being most politicians and their cronies.
February 23rd, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Actually I should say Big Americans small government.
February 28th, 2007 at 9:18 am
[…] Indeed, any list I’ve recently seen from the larger media networks leaves Ron Paul absent. As the article mentions, he has an exploratory committee and has thrown his hat in the ring. Why, then, does the media refuse to give him any attention? Why is his name ommited from every list of potential candidates? Is such a blatant omission “fair and balanced”? We are fed lines such as “we report, you decide”, but can we truly and accurately decide when the reporting is shoddy and incomplete (if not conspiratorial in its omissive nature)? Ron Paul has served as a conservative congressman from Texas for over 16 years. He currently has a 100% rating from The Conservative Index, which is probably the most relevant and accurate reflection of a congressman’s true conservative record out there. […]
March 14th, 2007 at 7:58 am
[…] Congressman Paul, on the other hand, has excellent “fruits” that consistently show he is a friend and defender of liberty. As cited on my Why Do Latter-day Saints Ignore Ron Paul? post, we learn: Ron Paul has served as a conservative congressman from Texas for over 16 years. He currently has a 100% rating from The Conservative Index, which is probably the most relevant and accurate reflection of a congressman’s true conservative record out there. … In addition, Ron Paul has been the most outspoken defender of constitutional government in the entire congress-bar none. He has often stood virtually alone against federal abuse of power, corruption, and big government. […]
March 22nd, 2007 at 2:26 am
[…] Congressman Paul, on the other hand, has excellent “fruits” that consistently show he is a friend and defender of liberty. As cited on my Why Do Latter-day Saints Ignore Ron Paul? post, we learn: Ron Paul has served as a conservative congressman from Texas for over 16 years. He currently has a 100% rating from The Conservative Index, which is probably the most relevant and accurate reflection of a congressmans true conservative record out there….In addition, Ron Paul has been the most outspoken defender of constitutional government in the entire congress-bar none. He has often stood virtually alone against federal abuse of power, corruption, and big government. […]