[Peace-discuss] A Dystopic Strategy?

[Lisa Chason]

Hi Paul-

I also find it an interesting idea, for those who have the stamina, to
join the republican party and attempt to influence it from the inside.
But consider this from a recent NYT article, quoting a republican
consultant (Nov 11, p. A25): "...President Bush's campaign strategy to
court the evangelical Christians has divided the country as never
before, to the possible detriment of the Republican Party. 'From now on,
anyone who belongs to the Republican Party will automatically find
himself (sic) in the same group as the opponents of abortion, and anyone
who supports abortion will automatically be labeled a Democrat.'" This
got me thinking that liberal, humanist-minded republicans may also start
looking for an alternative structure with which to identify...

Lisa

-----Original Message-----
From: peace-discuss-bounces at lists.cu.groogroo.com
[mailto:peace-discuss-bounces at lists.cu.groogroo.com] On Behalf Of Phil
Stinard
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 6:51 PM
To: peace-discuss at lists.cu.groogroo.com
Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] A Dystopic Strategy?


Fantasies are fine, Mort, but publicly (and personally), I find such 
strategies troublesome.  My guiding principle is that I wouldn't treat 
someone in a way I wouldn't want to be treated.  Privately (and 
impersonally), I wouldn't recommend that someone advertise the fact that

they were doing it.  I find the following especially troubling:  "At 
critical moments leaks could be given out to disrupt their evil
designs."  
Evil designs?  Are you serious, or tongue-in-cheek?

Bottom line to Paul:  If your sister and brother-in-law are open about
what 
they're doing, and the Republicans know what they're doing, then maybe
they 
can make a postive change in the Republican party.  My parents were 
Republican, and I used to be Republican once, when I was young and
carefree. 
  (Guilty pleasure:  I voted for Gerald Ford.  My following votes were 
Anderson, Mondale, Dukakis, and Clinton.  What can I way?  I had a long 
childhood.)  I didn't have the patience to try to effect a change in the

Republican party, but maybe your family does.

--Phil

>Date: Tue, 9 Nov 2004 22:05:13 -0600
>From: Morton K.Brussel <brussel4 at insightbb.com>
>Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] A Dystopic Strategy?
>To: "Paul M. King" <pmking at uiuc.edu>
>Cc: peace-discuss at lists.cu.groogroo.com
>Message-ID: <B90D8D82-32CD-11D9-81F3-000502314E22 at insightbb.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
>Hi Paul,
>
>Interesting letter. I've been  fantasizing recently about the 
>possibility of infiltrating the Republican (and Democratic) parties, 
>ultimately leading into the executive branch and other government 
>agencies. There is a need to penetrate the cloak of silence and secrecy

>which exists there so as to confront and destabilize them. This would 
>require committed activists willing to join the two party politics and 
>work to gain the confidence of their leaders; moles. We could then play

>the same tricks on them as they play on us. At critical moments leaks 
>could be given out to disrupt their evil designs. I feel we need spies 
>on our own government. Your sister and her husband thus have an idea 
>which could be a step in this direction, although their motives are 
>somewhat different.
>
>Just a thought.
>
>Mort
>
>On Nov 9, 2004, at 1:25 PM, Paul M. King wrote:
>
> > [I'm interested in hearing what others think about these tactics. My

> > sister and brother-in-law are thoroughly frustrated and are thinking

> > about joining the Republican party. I'll forward your thoughtful 
> > replies to them. Thanks.
> > ..:: paul king]
> >
> > ---- Original message ----
> >> Date: Sun, 7 Nov 2004 11:25:12 -0700
> >> From: "Tom Corbet" <tcorbet7 at comcast.net>
> >> Subject: RE: [Peace-discuss] fun with maps
> >> To: "'Paul M. King'" <pmking at uiuc.edu>
> >>
> >> Dear Paul,
> >>
> >> My spouse is considering a rather interesting move to counter the 
> >> evangelical movement in this country; he may join the
> > Republican party.
> >> I'm not very good at stating his rationale(s) for possibly
> > doing this, so if
> >> you're interested in details you would need to ask him.
> > Basically, it's
> >> like infiltration, hoping to bring the Republicans to their
> > senses that they
> >> have many, many party members who don't like the political
> > evolution they're
> >> witnessing and want a return to more moderate positions...
> > interesting
> >> concept.  I think all the appalled Democrats and Republicans
> > who can't bear
> >> the polarization of this country and the threat of a legal
> > theocracy
> >> emerging, should ban together and form a party called
> > REDEMption.  I suspect
> >> if something like this solidly developed, maybe at least a
> > few big political
> >> names might be persuaded to join, like McCain, Chaffee,
> > Obama, Feingold,
> >> etc.  I'm sure this idea has been floated many times through
> > the years - now
> >> is the time to act.  After all, the Republican party had it's
> > birth in the
> >> 1850's, when the country was so deeply divided on slavery, in
> > order to
> >> provide a moderate, centrist position - hence President
> > Abraham Lincoln.  If
> >> it worked once, it can work again.  I'm sure a party like
> > this wouldn't be
> >> as liberal as I would like it, but it's a hell of a lot
> > better than the
> >> political "Inquisition" that is now taking shape.
> > _______________________________________________
> > Peace-discuss mailing list Peace-discuss at lists.cu.groogroo.com
> > http://lists.cu.groogroo.com/cgi-bin/listinfo/peace-discuss


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