Discover Conservative Candidates
I’d like to see both Democrat senators from my state out of a job. Republicans often think that to win in a blue or purple state they have to run as moderates and only come out strong on safe topics. History shows this is nonsense.
Like a spinning top, this country wobbles back and forth. But it tends to lean to the right. States such as New York and California are blue and others like Colorado are purple. To win a presidential election a candidate must secure a minimum of 270 of the 538 electoral votes. In 1980, Ronald Reagan won against President Jimmy Carter with 489 electoral votes. In 1984, Reagan won a second victory against former vice president Walter Mondale with 525 electoral votes. Both times, Reagan ran as a proud patriot and conservative and despite the vitriol from the media, hate from the Democrats, and disdain from the academic elites Reagan crushed his opponents.
After that, Reagan’s Vice President, George H. W. Bush ran for president in 1988 against Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis. Most Republicans viewed Bush as a moderate, old guard, Republican. There was less enthusiasm for him, but, he ran as a continuation of the Reagan era and won 426 electoral votes.
He appointed Clarence Thomas, a staunch conservative, to the Supreme Court, but Bush also appointed David Souter, a liberal, to the high court. Perhaps the most memorable phrase from the Bush presidency is, “Read my lips: no new taxes.” While attempting to reach a deal with Democrats, he raised taxes. Twelve years of Republican presidential leadership ended abruptly in 1992 with the election of Bill Clinton.
Questions to Ask
I believe conservatives are more open about their positions, and moderates more ambiguous. Either way, to pierce the rhetorical veil I’ve developed a list of questions. Sometimes you can find answers on the candidate’s website, sometimes in newspapers. I’ve asked them in person at town hall meetings. Once, I sent the entire list to a candidate. They didn’t respond. It really doesn’t matter how you gather the information, over time you discern their positions or learn that they are trying to be vague. Either way, you’ve learned something valuable.
Questions to ask your Senator or Member of Congress
1. Would you vote for any form of defunding the police, border patrol, or the military?
2. Do you support funding for the completion of the border wall?
3. Do you support school vouchers?
4. Do you support funding for the teaching of Critical Race Theory in schools?
5. Do you support the completion of the Keystone pipeline?
6. Should oil drilling be allowed on the Alaskan North Slope and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
7. Should offshore oil drilling be allowed in the Gulf of Mexico, off of California, and off of Alaska?
8. Should the United States continue the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria?
9. Do individuals have a right to own firearms and use them to defend themselves, their family, and their home?
10. Should the U.S. return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) the Iran nuclear deal?
11. Should the United States remain in the Paris climate accord?
12. Is global warming or global climate change real and manmade?
13. Should Planned Parenthood or other abortion providers receive federal funding?
14. Should transgender persons serve in the military?
15. Should biological males compete in women’s sports?
16. Should there be a citizenship question on the census?
17. Should voters in federal elections be required to show identification?
18. Should the United States remain a capitalist nation?
19. Should the District of Columbia become a state?
20. Would you vote for spending that increases the national debt?
21. Were the COVID restrictions in this state excessive?
· Should the churches have been closed?
· Should the cannabis shops have remained open?
· Were the mask mandates excessive and prolonged?
Remember that these candidates want to work for you. Interview them like you would a potential employee, politely, but purposely. Also, remember that if they don’t provide clear answers to your questions, there are others that want the position and one of them is probably better qualified.
Do you have a question that candidates should be asked? Share it with all of us in the comment section below.
For a PDF copy of just the questions click on the icon or here.
