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Fellow Coordinators:

 

From time to time, certain opportunities to form temporary, short-term coalitions present themselves.

 

Generally, the potential short-term allies are of the conservative or libertarian persuasion.

 

Occasionally, potential short-term allies may be of the liberal or progressive persuasion.

 

Potential allies of the liberal/progressive persuasion would be those with whom we may have little or nothing in common philosophically, but are able to agree on some specific, short-term goal.

 

One example of such a goal might be a project to improve ballot integrity.  Another might be a project to increase the transparency of local government.

 

The latest example of a potential opportunity to form a short-term left-right coalition is the health care reform bill.

 

There is broad opposition, on the political left and the political right, to the government mandate it its current form.

 

There has been a suggestion that we consider forming a temporary coalition with certain left-wing groups in order to kill the current health care reform bill.

 

We look forward to your thoughts on the prospects of such a potential coalition for this specific, limited purpose.

 

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Thank you.

by MEL  2009-12-28 17:41:36
i'm all for it if it advances a conservative cause, but acorn is out i would think..

but then again the acorn rank and file doesn't share in the millions that are funneled to the leaders..
by Joyce  2009-12-28 17:43:10
The idea of forming a temporary coalition with left wing groups is abhorrent!
by Lauren  2009-12-28 17:50:07
I vote for preserving liberty. If we have strange bedfellows in that fight, it does not compromise my beliefs. Anyone who wants to fight this bill is allowed to fight right alongside me!
by Bill  2009-12-28 17:52:11
I dont think a formal coalition would be wise. I wouldnt trust them in any senerio. I dont get into bed even temporarily with the devil. To those who may be wondering what we are all about to hear or see us "together holding hands" even temporarily,,could make us appear to be one of them. If we wanted to protest on the same side of the street,, I would cross the street. Just my opinion.
by Gail S  2009-12-28 18:01:53
I would vote no coalition with any progressive/liberal organizations. Though some people who consider themselves "progressive" may not personally want to destroy our Constitution and liberty, that is the group's agenda. I don't think it's worth the risk.

They can oppose this legislation on their own, using their own methods and we will oppose it on our own.

By the way, I'm not totally rigid...when they are ready to impeach Obama, I will be happy to re-evaluate my thoughts.

Best regards,
Gail S
by  Jandjluster  2009-12-28 18:23:01
No coalition. They can oppose what they want to and we'll oppose what we want to. If their opposition leads to a failed health care bill, great. Sometimes the Lord solves things in mysterious ways. Joyce L.
by BJ Bjorklund  2009-12-28 18:32:42
Let the liberals do what they want and the conservatives do what we want. I see no value added in forming a coalition.
by Brian  2009-12-28 18:37:12
Forming alliances with whacky left-wingers worked out for Obama. I mean, Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, etc. Obama doesn't agree with their insane idealogy...

If my sarcasm did show well enough through text allow me to say, I don't fraternize with the enemy.
by Jill  2009-12-28 18:43:32
Yes, whatever it takes to perserve freedom.
by Carole  2009-12-28 19:14:06
I am opposed to partnering with any "left-wing" groups for any purpose. They do fine on their own with George Soros' billions at their disposal.
by  Lisa  2009-12-28 19:16:55
Interesting situation.
Normally I would say no. However, If it was framed as "no one is happy with this bill" that is totally different than supporting the left. On the other hand, many see the TP groups as radical right wing extremists. Joining with who we KNOW to be radical left wing extremists (sarcasm unknown), association would support the idea that we are extremists, too.
I think it could have some benefits if we couched it correctly (though I have no idea what that looks like). Perhaps it's a protest at one location, us on one side of the road, left on the other side.
Thanks for the opportunity to share. Sorry I can't commit more clearly than "I might support it and... it depends."
Lisa D.
by Donna Albritton  2009-12-28 20:29:49
I think a temporary colalition with the left that serves our purposes is fine. They will surely understand why we woudl do it in the first place, and just as surely undestand that we will break ranks with them immediately after our mutual short-term goal is met.
by Cindy  2009-12-28 20:32:57
I understand that there may be an urge to join forces. But I would hate for our movement to be associated with the anti-American far left. MSNBC and the rest of the lame-stream media will portray the entire movement being based on the lack of single-payer healthcare.
by Mary B.  2009-12-28 20:38:40
I do not trust the "progressives/liberals. I vote "no" on a temporary coalition.
by Steve  2009-12-28 20:55:38
If you build it they will come. The door is open to real patriots now. Some unproven folks allowed in may learn some truth with the experience, get the bigger picture and be converted but some will come and steel your thunder and try to devide the group. If this goes forward you have to be prepared to call out the ones who are devisive and make them leave...and that's when the war started.
by  Randy  2009-12-28 21:13:07
I don't like the idea of working with someone today that I'll be fighting against tomorrow. But it really depends on who the group is.
by Joe  2009-12-28 21:50:56
No way. Let them attack the bill from the left on their own, while we attack it from our side. That's a 2 front war for all the so-called "moderate" democrats to deal with on their final votes on the reconciled bill. If they side with the far left, we can label them as socialist radicals as well who don't care about the Constitution. The left have no interest in liberty or freedom or the Constitution, they only want control.
by Jerry  2009-12-28 22:04:37
Yeah, let's do whatever it takes to kill health care reform.
by  dea46  2009-12-28 22:15:53
I was always taught if you lie down with dogs, you're gonna wake up with Fleas.

by Yolanda Junkin  2009-12-28 22:32:49
I am for anything that will kill the bill.
Accepting individuals with pre-existing conditions will put insurance companies out of business and lead to total socialized medicine.
I also agree - Acorn is out.
by Cindy  2009-12-28 22:56:31
If it would truly kill the bill then the way our government was set up would indeed be working as it was intended. We would have to make sure every t was crossed and i dotted before we signed on the dotted line.
by Trace  2009-12-29 00:19:02
I see no advantage in joining some fallacious alliance with Leftists who oppose this bill b/c it doesn't socialize the system far enough! I think this would only harm our CONSERVATIVE movement of promoting Liberty and Constitutionality, and make us no better than the establishment Parties we've been railing against for the past year by using THEIR tactics. We need not be hypocrites; but instead, be a strong principled Citizenry! Let the media connect the dots, like they already have been, and report that NEITHER side is happy with the bill at hand.
by Cyndee  2009-12-29 09:11:50
I would vote no to forming any kind of coalition with left wing groups. This smacks of the 'progressive talk' of come to the center aisle and work together - then when you try and work with them they want it all their liberal way. They seem to have no interest in preserving freedom. My vote is no. But thanks for asking.
by Rick Spletter  2009-12-29 10:26:03
The only coalition that makes sense to me is to set up a one day rally in several cities. There is such a fundamental difference in our belief in capitalism vs. big government that we cannot even begin to have a rational debate.
by richard dejohn  2009-12-29 10:58:58
What EXACTLY do you mean by Coalition? That is the big question...to ask us to consider this and not know EXACTLY what it means is foolish...I think if we look real closely at left, the farther left you get the less you can trust these people...they will do ANYTHING to advance their cause...Lie, Steal, Cheat...What can we gain if we can't trust them...do we say we are in a "Coalition" with the Devil, what would Jesus say? It's all in the details...the dictionary says:

Coalition: A combination into one body; a union.
or
An alliance, especially a temporary one, of people, factions, parties, or nations.

Didn't Europe form Coalitions with Hitler?

Again, I ask, What EXACTLY do you mean by Coalition?...without details I SAY NO !!

by  Russ  2009-12-29 11:54:26
My response is purely pragmatic. I have no problem with a left-right coalition in theory when there is either sufficient common ground in the alternative solution, or when new net opposition will be generated by it. However in this instance I see no strategic advantage. The left will oppose it no matter what, we will oppose it no matter what, so no net new opposition force will be generated. So what comes beyond opposition? Clearly we have totally different reasons for opposition because we support totally different solutions. The left strategy will be to use their opposition in order to return the House Bill to prominence, make it even worse, and kill the Senate version. Our opposition is based on a desire to scrap both bills and take a totally different, non-governmental and free market approach. We are better off defining ourselves than risk having the left define us in the press under the guise of a %u201Ccoalition%u201D. The complete divergence of ultimate goals and the w
by  Jim Andrade  2009-12-29 12:15:47
I would suggest all consider that our cause is about principle. Ronald Ragan was popular because he stated his principles and stood by them. People knew his position on any issue because they knew his principles.
The left has no solid principles. Their positions are based not on principle but on ideaology, which is why, for them, the ends justify the means.
We should consider the old Chinese saying, when you lay down with dogs you catch fleas.
My vote would be to acknowledge that while we have a common goal it clearly for different reasons. Also that it shows the broad dislike for this legislation.
by Gene Lipnicky  2009-12-29 12:28:22
Yes. Be pragmatic. Don't bite off your nose to spite yourself. We must STOP the government take over of everybody!
by Don Aspromonte  2009-12-29 12:55:58
A coalition presupposes compromise. It is hard to hold a hard line if it will lead to defeat, but it is worse to compromise to get an agreement. I have been in an elected position and I found that success required taking a position and pursuing it relentlessly. Unfortunately, that is what Obama and his gang are doing, and it is working. We need to take a hard line and stick to it -- defend the Constitution -- period!
by Jeri  2009-12-29 13:45:43
I say "no" to any coalition with left-wing groups. Our purposes for defeating the current bill are at odds with each other. Therefore, I see no justification for such a coalition.
by Ed  2009-12-29 17:39:26
I think we should stick to our principals and ideas. We must maintain the integrity of the franchise, Dallas Tea Party.
by Rick Spletter  2009-12-29 23:03:19
The only coalition that makes sense to me is a march on a given date in numerous cities. That might get enough press to help the Democrats understand the huge opposition to the bill. But beyond this type of coalition, there is such a fundamental difference between believing in capitalism vs. big government that even beginning a rational dialogue is a stretch.
by Glenda  2009-12-29 23:52:06
Liaison with devil himself if it will help kill the bill!

Having said that, must note that the devil is otherwise engaged in the dual embodiment of Speaker of House and Senate Majority Leader.
by Glenda  2009-12-30 00:00:41
Look, it would be nice to take the high road and stand on principles BUT we are gonna DIE that way! Obama's hoods are ruthless and proving they will bribe and coerce do whatever necessary until they get this strangle hold on us. We have to street fight! If we don't, we lose!
Once we defeat the bill, we can resume our course. Get real!!!!!
by Julia Manginen  2009-12-30 03:15:40
We NEED to KILL the health care plan!!! Whatever it takes without selling out our principles!
by Donna Starnes  2009-12-30 09:36:29
Have we discussed alternatives with congressmen or senators that we can trust, if any? What does Jim Demint suggest that we do to kill the bill? I would not tend to work with those who have vastly different reasons for killing the bill. Also, have we exhausted ways to use our affinity with other tea party or 912 groups to get this done?
by June Redford-Range  2009-12-30 11:11:40
If a short-term coalition would help to bring down the health care bill then I would be for doing it. However, caution should be exercised that we do NOT help the left to get what they really want in the health care bill (public option and more socialist amendments) which will make the health care bill worse than it currently is.
by knells2088  2009-12-31 10:55:04
Anything that destroys Obama and Pelosi Health Care is OK with me. However, I cannot imagine such a coalition working since the goal for both groups can never be the same. Killing the Bill is one thing. What solution replaces it is another. The LIBS want to have a guaranteed public option - single payer system as their solution. How can we buy into that even remotely? Conceptually, I don't see it can work.
by JoT  2010-01-01 16:02:22
I don't trust them! Wouldn't want to be associated with them.
by Dave  2010-01-02 06:51:08
Ordinarily I might support the idea of a coalition as a test of how it might work. This case, however, is far too important and I don't see any advantage. On the contrary, I'm afraid I don't trust them not to try and turn it around and use it against the movement. I'm afraid my vote is NO.
by Ed Devine  2010-01-05 13:37:00
Likewise, we must also remember that 'getting in bed' with liberals for the stated objective, also allows them to claim our support for their 'liberal agenda'. This is a sword that cut's both ways. Caution must be exercised such that House and Senate members recognize that the majority of America's Citizens oppose the health care reform bill because it goes too far and usurps too much power. There are no significant provisions within the bill that will actually reduce costs. All this talk about 'increasing competition' ignores the fact that corporations simply 'buy out the competition' rather than compete against them. That's why health care is consolidated in so few corporations.
by  Sue Haines  2010-01-06 11:17:59
To say we are non partisan and then NOT be non partisan will only hurt our efforts. We have to keep our eye on the goal, and to get there by any means possible. My original thought was "not no, but hell no", but then after thinking about this for awhile, I realized that is very narrow minded on my part. We need the health care bill defeated, and should do what ever it takes to get there. That's what they would do. We need to stop trying to be separatists and though we're in the fight of our lives, we need to bow to the experience of others and utilize some of the tools and methods to win, no matter which field they come out of.
by Sheldon Goldstein  2010-01-25 05:25:51
I am a conservative running for Congress in this District 30 - go to my website at: www.GoldsteinForCongress.com - Please join in my campaign and together we can STOP the madness!
by Sheldon Goldstein  2010-01-25 05:25:55
I am a conservative running for Congress in this District 30 - go to my website at: www.GoldsteinForCongress.com - Please join in my campaign and together we can STOP the madness!
by by Lois  2010-02-11 18:06:16
Being united against this bill is more important than who we are in bed with. They're all Remicrats up there in Washington and it will take all of us and the big money that supports them to fight this and the destruction of our livlihoods and American Constitution. We're all Americans first.
by  Mark Cowgill  2010-02-11 19:21:09
We must remain true to ourselves first. ObamaCare is unconstitutional. Our message must remain clear to rally and call other's to stand with us.

Joining ranks with those that demand a single payor solution, for example, only dilutes perceptions of what we stand for, what we demand.

Republicans have 'temporarily' capitualated for decades, seemingly rationalizing the ends to justify the means.

Sound familiar?

Washington Post headline... "Progressive/Tea Party Extremists kill Obamacare"

New York Times headline... "Tea Party demands Single Payor Option"

I don't think so.
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