WHAT IS A CONSERVATIVE
“Allowing for differences I would define a conservative, first as one who believes in the Constitution as it is written. That takes care of free speech, freedom of religion, the right to petition the government, the right to keep and bear arms and, in the words of William O. Douglas in one of his saner moments, 'the right to be let alone.'
"Second, a conservative believes in small, limited government at every level. Along with this he believes strongly in individual responsibility. That is, a person or a family should take care of itself and turn for help to government only when all other means have been exhausted. It also means that society, before government, has a duty to take care of its own. Government should be a resource of last resort.
"Third, a conservative believes taxes should be levied for the purpose of financing the limited responsibilities of government such as providing for the common defense, catching and incarcerating criminals, minting money and filling potholes. Taxes should not be levied for the purpose of redistributing wealth.
"That's about it.
"I know there are those who say a conservative should be pro-life, which I am, but I'm not sure a person has to be that to qualify as a conservative. Nor am I sure that a person must be opposed to pornography, which I am. In both cases there are questions of individual rights and responsibilities which are arguable.
"One other thing I think a conservative believes is that the parents, not government, are and should be responsible for the upbringing and behavior of their children."
THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE
"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Pat your enemies on the back until the right time comes, then take your revenge like a tiger. Never forget who conned you, hurt you or cheated you, regardless of who they are." - Unknown
THE GOLDWATER DOCTRINE
“I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution, or that have failed in their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is 'needed' before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents' interests, I shall reply that I was informed their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can.”
- Barry Goldwater, “The Conscience of a Conservative”
THE TEN "CANNOTS"
"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot lift the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot establish security on borrowed money. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves."
Rev. William J.H. Boetcke
FOUNDING WISDOM
“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brushfires in people's minds.”
Samuel Adams
"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive."
Thomas Jefferson
"Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice."
- Thomas Paine
"Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech; which is the right of every man as far as by it he does not hurt or control the right of another; and this is the only check it ought to suffer and the only bounds it ought to know."
- Benjamin Franklin
“Religion and government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.”
- James Madison
"I think it's very important for people who are serving (in office) to make sure there's a separation of church and state."
- George W. Bush
“If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."
- Samuel Adams
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
- Edmund Burke
“They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- Benjamin Franklin
“If all that Americans want is security, they can go to prison. They’ll have enough to eat, a bed and a roof over their heads.”
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower
"My opinion with respect to immigration is, that except of useful mechanics and some particular description of men and professions, there is no use of encouragement."
- George Washington
“Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government."
- James Madison
"…(T)he opinion which gives to the judges the right to decide what laws are constitutional and what not, not only for themselves in their own sphere of action but for the Legislature and Executive also in their spheres, would make the Judiciary a despotic branch."
- Thomas Jefferson
“Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare but only those specifically enumerated."
- Thomas Jefferson
"I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it."
- Benjamin Franklin
“Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one…”
- Thomas Paine
"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action."
-George Washington
"Were we directed from Washington when to sow, and when to reap, we should soon want bread."
- Thomas Jefferson
“The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others.”
- Thomas Jefferson
“He who dares not offend cannot be honest."
- Thomas Paine
“Loyalty consists of many things, including being truthful with our friends. When you really disagree, you have to say so.”
- Peggy Noonan
“Once created, federal programs are nearly impossible to eliminate.”
- Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas)
“It is easier to drive a stake through the heart of a blood-sucking vampire than to kill off a money-sucking and useless government program.”
- Columnist Cal Thomas
“Your money has never been safe in the government’s hands, and it never will be. Governments spend money; it’s just their nature.”
- Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas)
“In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards.”
- Mark Twain
"The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all."
- John F. Kennedy
"Life is tough. Life is tougher if you're stupid."
- John Wayne
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it, and then misapplying the wrong remedies."
- Groucho Marx
"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others."
- Groucho Marx
“I would remind you that extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”
- Barry Goldwater
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO REAGAN
“Government is not the solution, it’s the problem.”
"Man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: As government expands, liberty contracts.”
“If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. . . . The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is.”
"A government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth."
“I don’t believe in a government that protects us from ourselves. . . . (T)hat’s one of our sacred rights – to be stupid.”
“Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”
“I disagree completely when government says that because of the number of head injuries from accidents with motorcycles that (a person) should be forced to wear a helmet. I happen to think he’s stupid if he rides a motorcycle without a helmet, but that’s one of our sacred rights–to be stupid.”
“It is not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work - work with us, not over us; stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it.”
“Realize that the doctor’s fight against socialized medicine is your fight. You can’t socialize the doctors without socializing the patients.”
“If some among you fear taking a stand because you are afraid of reprisals...recognize that you are just feeding the crocodile hoping he’ll eat you last.”
“I've noticed that everybody who is for abortion has already been born.”
“History teaches that war begins when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap.”
“Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.”
“I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting.”
“Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.”
- Ronald Reagan
CAMPAIGN ADVICE
“The purpose of running for office is to win.”
- Former Reagan senior adviser Lyn Nofziger
“To tell the truth about your opponent is not dirty politics.”
- Late political consultant Murray Chotiner
“Talk is cheap. Let’s go play.”
- Johnny Unitas
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