By the Left Coast Rebel
We are getting more and more emails today — especially from new readers — on just what the Left Coast Rebel is all about. Who are we? How did we start? Who is the Left Coast Rebel, anyway? Why the Left Coast?
A simple yet complex answer is in order: what started out as a politically lonely Southern California guy’s healthier alternative to screaming at the television on a nightly basis is now a diverse meeting grounds for like-minded patriots across America looking to promote the cause of liberty.
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The cause of human liberty is timeless. |
Simple enough. But how are we different than the seemingly inestimable number of of conservative, right-of-center opinion-based blog or website?
As Ayn Rand once said: Ideas matter.
Most conservative sites chase a muddled conception of “conservative” diametrically at odds with the classical liberal worldview that motivated our Founders. Like the Founders, our vision of the way things ought to be in America is not liberal nor conservative but classically liberal. It centers upon one vital, painfully simple and dangerously valid truism that transcends political parties or ideologies: the belief that the Federal government as it exists today represents the greatest threat to America that America has ever faced.
At Left Coast Rebel we don’t regurgitate Republican talking points. We know that under the guidance of the GOP, the “conservative” movement long ago lost its moorings and has been aimlessly floating at sea ever since. It jettisoned the party’s Jeffersonian principles for political expediency and we find ourselves where we are today because of that.
Today’s loudest so-called conservative bullhorns present the nation and world a truly sad upside-down version of individual freedom and limited government. In lieu of promoting a Barry Goldwater- or Jefferson-like cause of liberty and freedom, the nation’s most vocal conservatives are vampiric, near-tribal mouthpieces for the disgustingly treasonous RNC, sucking the lifeblood out of the only hope this country has in returning to its roots. We think there’s simply no excuse for the dismal philosophical intestinal fortitude on the right these days and we’re not afraid to call them out on it.
We want a better future for America. We don’t want a future United Socialist States of Ameirka. We are willing to fight for a prosperous, freer nation to pass on to our children. Like the now-underground tea party heroes doing the grassroots heavy lifting, we are America’s behind-the-scenes Sons of Liberty.
We don’t care a whit about political parties…
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Wikipedia |
“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages & countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders & miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security & repose in the absolute power of an Individual: and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.”
— George Washington, September 19, 1796
Like Washington and the Founders, we concern ourselves with the BIG IDEAS of liberty and human freedom. These Big Ideas are timeless. They don’t flow and ebb with the current Washington regime, academic study, Supreme Court ruling and edict, or the tyranny of the masses.
~ The belief that the individual is sacred and his right’s paramount to the structure of a just society is undying.
The Left Coast Rebel is now over three years old. What started as a politically lonely guy’s healthy alternative to screaming at the television each night is now a meeting ground of many fine patriots.
But who are the authors here? Have they even been formally introduced?
How are they different from each other?
“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people’s minds.”
— Samuel Adams
About The Authors
Left Coast Rebel – San Diego, CA. Independent with background in Ayn Rand, the Christian faith, traditional republicanism and the Libertarian party. Left the GOP when they left him years and years ago by betraying the party platform of limited government over and over.
Dean L. – Canadian citizen and independent conservative who loves America. Very concerned with what he sees happening in America.
Republican Mother – Tennessee. A Ron Paul fan and ruthlessly independent thinker. Former big ‘R’ Republican turned libertarian. Connects the dots on how both sides of the establishment are tearing this nation apart.
Proof Positive – Northern CA. Traditional conservative with a humorous independent streak.
Right Klik – Tennessee. Loves this country and is leery of the statist-dominated GOP. Found the Tea Party in 2009 and never looked back.
Grant Davies – Resident of Obama’s home state. Independent. Libertarian. Instead of blindly howling and barking into the darkness of the left/right echo chamber is more interested in getting conservatives to understand that they are actually libertarians as well. This could be a winning formula: There’s millions of them after all.
Libertarian Patriot – Arizona. Former Kool-Aid drinking liberal. Libertarian but deserted the big ‘L’ side of things years ago. Friends with lots of conservatives. Open-minded, smart and will not support Romney. Listen up Republicans: you could win big with supporters like Chris.
Rational Nation – Massachusetts. Independent fan of Ayn Rand and all things Founder-related. Conservatives would do well to listen to his words of wisdom.
Telemachus – North Carolina. Worked on the House Budget Committee. Fiercely independent and knows more than any of us do about the nuts and bolts of Mordor on the Potomac.
Humble Libertarian – Tennessee. Libertarian. Smart young dude. Anti-war Ron Paul fan going somewhere big in the liberty movement.
The diversity of content is what makes LCR unique in the blogosphere and we are all better for it.
ReplyDeleteI've read some things that I disagree with but I've also read things that have caused me to reflect on my position and consider that a different approach may be better.
I appreciate that I am allowed the privilege of posting here and than you for providing an outlet for such a diversity of opinions.
And yes, having grown up in the PRM I was force-fed the Progressive Kool-aid from an early age. It was only as I got older and became more politically aware that I realized the folly of the nanny-state and began a journey down the path of liberty and personal responsibility.
To quote Samuel Adams, "It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds."
To me, that is what LCR is all about.
Hi Chris, I totally agree with you. I've also read things here that I disagree with and have learned from everyone too. You and I grew up with completely different outlooks but look at where we are now. That's what I find most interesting about the liberty movement – it is truly the only "diverse" political movement in this nation now. Love the quote, that should be LCR's mission statement. Happy Easter to you and yours my friend and thanks for contributing here as well.
DeleteHmmm…I stop by often. Thanks for the info about the contributors. A fine bunch of vocabularians. Now, who is Eric Dondero?
ReplyDeleteHi Rumbear, thanks for the feedback (love the word vocabularian — sounds Klingon). Dondero is the former traveling assistant to Ron Paul and a fellow blogger.
DeleteLCR: It's not that I mind the over representation of Tennessee, but that last memo on mandatory banjo lessons was a bridge too far! And don't get me started on the Canadians!! Seriously, it's an honor to be among such a fine group, even if we all don't always see eye to eye. Happy Easter, y'all!
ReplyDeleteHaha, judging by the content of these two individual Tennessee'ans (spelling?) I'd say there are a lot of smart folks in the state. After all, in CA we have millions of illegals, 1 of ever three welfare recipients (or something insane like that), no American connecting lineage or culture (ask your average college student here what it means to be an American) and are heading (if we're not there already) for a Greece-like meltdown scenario because of the state's communist finances. (catching my breath)
DeleteI can see Tennessee from my house!
I see 3
DeleteIndeed, there is three, my bad. TN has been on our short list for a while, NC and VA are still above it though. Still, TN has a lot to offer ;).
DeleteThe main reason that I have enjoyed LCR from the start is because of all of the diffent ideas, opinions, and content.
ReplyDeleteComing from a conservative and sometimes libertarian perspective, I don't always agree with all of of the posts at LCR, but I do enjoy and respect all of the contributors.
Keep up the good work!
Danny: You are an official charter member of the target audience here :). Keep up the great work at your fine site as well my friend.
DeleteRittberg/Dondero is loose cannon who's heavily invested in Mitt Romney at this point. Rittberg/Dondero's meandering political journey mystifies me. And given his history of changing his name, I don't see how he's in any position to lecture people on how they choose to identify themselves online. If Rittberg/Dondero can honestly explain how he made the transition from Eric Rittberg, Ron Paul's right-hand man, to Eric Dondero, anti-Paul Mittbot extraordinaire, perhaps we'd gain some insight into how he thinks he has the power to coerce other bloggers to support his man.
ReplyDeleteObviously I don't speak for Tim in any of this, but anyone who's been friends with Tim "for years" should understand that he's not going to be cowed or intimidated by people who disagree with him.
I, for one, appreciate the fact that LCR is one place where liberty is celebrated and true diversity is tolerated.
RK: You're one of the best out there and a true patriot. Thanks for all you do.
DeleteWow. This was a great post and echos my sentiments totally. The conservatives whom I'd used to hide my radio at school to listen to have become almost as unhinged at the left when confronted with topics off the talking point memo. When the reality diverged from what I was told as a little kid conservative, that's when I started to wake up and say, wait a minute! what's really going on here??
ReplyDeleteNow I can calmly take in differing points of view, analyze them, and respond. Whereas before, I was victim to the knee-jerk reaction to certain liberal code words. I would defend a corporation to the end because the corporation represented the "free market" or so I was told! Now I know about banksters, that Andrew Jackson, also a Tennessean might be the only reason we're not living in gulags by now.
Anyhow – thanks for letting me be part of this awesome free speech zone!
Yes, yes, yes… I totally understand what you mean here! I've returned to this post about 10 times today as I've thought of different ideas and aspects of what is right and what the "conservative" movement should aspire to. Thanks for your strong voice and being a part here too!
DeleteI should have said: "I've returned to this post about 10 times today as I've thought of different ideas (and edited the hell out of it)"
DeleteFrankly, rM (little 'r'), I can relate to the am talkers today about as much as the far-left wackos – it boggles my mind how banal and lacking of principle they are. It's truly shocking. What is even more shocking is that more people (conservatives) don't see it.
DeleteIt has been both a pleasure and an honor to be associated with, and allowed to post to LCR. Truth be told Tim is one very large reason why Rational Nation is still publishing material today. His encouragement and help was often what kept me going in the early months after I started blogging.
ReplyDeleteThe example Tim set for open and honest discussion, and his willing to bring a fine list of contributors together at his site with diverse views is indeed a rare thing. It is as valuable as it is rare. True open free speech and expression is one of LCR's hallmark achievements.
Thank you Tim for allowing me to be a very small part of what is a very fine group of thinkers and writers.
As to Eric Dondero, his limited scope and narrow views are best left to, and for those who enloy his brand of statist kool-aid.
Thanks Les. I considered shutting down here more than once too. I'm glad I didn't. I still have big plans for the future…
DeleteDondero? Oh, you mean the guy who says he worked for Ron Paul and swears to Ron Paul's anti-semitism? Tedious.
ReplyDeleteThat's like me saying I worked alongside Mario Batali and now know everything about making a grilled cheese sandwich. The Internet makes brave men out of no-name cowards, indeed.
Speak freely, Dondero. Your words only serve to alienate and expose you all at the same time. Arrogant blowhard.
A pretty neat post came of this, no? That's more important than anything else. All we can really do is set an example of philosophical integrity, through thick and thin — even when it goes against the grain.
DeleteI for one am happy to be contributing at LCR – something I never would have imagined possible.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm a relatively new contributor, I've always regarded LCR as a great place to read a diverse set of views from a conservative and libertarian perspective. One of the great things about this place is that the diversity it entaiils does not require you to conform to a particular set of beliefs. Yet it still embraces a core set of fundamental principles that we all largely share.
Thanks for shariing the descriptions – very timely for me.
As a footnote, I may be Canadian by birth but I'm really an American at heart.
Thank you Dean.
DeleteTim,
ReplyDeleteI am very pleased that you invited me to be a regular contributor to your site. I do my best to post commentary that (hopefully) makes interesting, entertaining reading for your audience. I appreciate the divergent paths that this group of people take in working toward a common goal. This site proves that people who are on the same general philosophical page can see things differently enough to provide thoughtful commentary that opens the site to different types of readers.
We don't have to be in lockstep to march together toward freedom.
"We don't have to be in lockstep to march together toward freedom."
DeleteWell said, Grant. Thanks for coming along for the ride 🙂
Does anyone have a link to the post so I can argue with this Skippy that thinks we shouldn't refer to Mitt as Obumble Light. That's what he is.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thelibertarianpatriot.com/2012/04/eric-dondero-libertarian-republican.html
DeleteRe: 2nd sentence … I'm still that guy "yelling at his television on an (almost) nightly basis" – some nights I stay away for the saftey and security of the big screen – and expect to remain so at least as long as BHO and His Corrupt Gang of Progressives are in town.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has to do what they have to do 🙂
DeleteI drop in as often as I can to get my dose of reality. I have seen this great nation decline, at first a trickle, and now in a rapid freefall. Keep up the great insightful watch coming. I am a true fan and believer in what you are trying to accomplish……
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Delete