MARK CUBAN: I want to be a Republican — but....

[tallguy]

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban weighed in Tuesday on status of the Republican Party.

In a Tuesday post on his Cyber Dust social media app, the outspoken billionaire investor wrote that he would prefer to join the GOP but has an issue with the party's push for conformity.

"I would prefer to be a Republican. I want smaller government. I want smarter government. Just like most Republicans," Cuban wrote in the post, which was flagged by The Dallas Morning News. "Put aside that I disagree with Republicans on most social issues. The Republicans have a much bigger problem that will crush them in every Presidential election until this changes."

Cuban lamented that those who disagree with the "Consensus" are labeled as fake Republicans.

"The Republican Party requires that all their Presidential candidates Conform to Consensus. If you don't agree with every platform of the party not only are you called a RINO, a 'Republican in Name Only.' You are considered unelectable in primaries and become a source of scorn on Fox News. That's a problem," he said.

In his Tuesday Cyber Dust post, Cuban also reflected on the meaning of leadership:

Leaders don't conform to the consensus. They create consensus to their vision and goals.

Leaders don't change their positions mid debate. They welcome scorn from the masses because it creates the opportunity for dialogue.

Leaders don’t look backwards to condemn what has already been done, they look forward to create a better future.

Leaders are not dogmatic. They are principled and know that change is never easy, but when it's necessary, they must lead.

The Republican Party does everything possible to discourage leadership.

They want dogma.

They want conformity.

They want to conserve their romanticized past.

That's a shame. I wish they wanted to conserve the best of what America is today and find a leader that can take us to new places that make our future better.

I realize that's not the way politics work in this day and age. And that just proves the point.

"And btw, I know a lot of the same can be said about the democrats, but I don’t want to be a democrat," he concluded. "Until things change, I’ll sit in the middle and think for myself. Unlike the Republicans."

link

I go back and forth on whether I like Mark Cuban or not, but he is spot-on here.

[TheHaitian]

Agree with him 100%...
Coming from another republican in name only!

[mmhmm]

I didn't know who Mark Cuban was until now; however, what he says makes a whole lot of sense to me.

[thyme4change]

I'm with him.  Since the republicans just seem like a bunch of assholes, I might have to identify as a democrat.  Definitely the lessor of two evils - but I have come to believe that the Republicans don't really want less government or smarter government either.  So, basically all they have left is social issues.   

[tallguy]

Aug 15, 2015 12:43:50 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I'm with him.  Since the republicans just seem like a bunch of assholes, I might have to identify as a democrat.  Definitely the lessor of two evils - but I have come to believe that the Republicans don't really want less government or smarter government either.  So, basically all they have left is social issues.   

Current Republicans don't want less or smarter government.  And the problem with social issues is that, for someone who believes in individual liberty, they are on the wrong side of every one of those....

  Doesn't mean you have to identify as a Democrat though.  Join us as an independent.  It's where all the smartest "think for ourselves" people are!    

[thyme4change]

Aug 15, 2015 12:49:18 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Aug 15, 2015 12:43:50 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I'm with him.  Since the republicans just seem like a bunch of assholes, I might have to identify as a democrat.  Definitely the lessor of two evils - but I have come to believe that the Republicans don't really want less government or smarter government either.  So, basically all they have left is social issues.   

Current Republicans don't want less or smarter government.  And the problem with social issues is that, for someone who believes in individual liberty, they are on the wrong side of every one of those....

  Doesn't mean you have to identify as a Democrat though.  Join us as an independent.  It's where all the smartest "think for ourselves" people are!    

I have been identifying as independent.  The problem is - it makes me look like there is some tenant of republicanism that I like, and that is increasingly not true.

[mmhmm]

Aug 15, 2015 12:53:02 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Aug 15, 2015 12:49:18 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Current Republicans don't want less or smarter government.  And the problem with social issues is that, for someone who believes in individual liberty, they are on the wrong side of every one of those....

  Doesn't mean you have to identify as a Democrat though.  Join us as an independent.  It's where all the smartest "think for ourselves" people are!    

I have been identifying as independent.  The problem is - it makes me look like there is some tenant of republicanism that I like, and that is increasingly not true.

I've been a registered Independent for years! To me, it means I don't accept the tenets of either party - which is true. I'll make my own decisions based on what I'm able to deduce through research of candidates. With which party a given candidate affiliates is of no concern to me.

[Deleted]

what is independent about  claiming not to be a democrat, but voting for them?

eta: word order

[b2r]

Aug 15, 2015 20:26:39 GMT -5 @hickle said:

what is independent about not claiming to be a democrat, but voting for them?

                                                                                                               

[Tennesseer]

Jeb's involvement in the Terri Schiavo case was outrageous and unwarranted.  

[mmhmm]

Aug 15, 2015 20:26:39 GMT -5 @hickle said:

what is independent about  claiming not to be a democrat, but voting for them?

eta: word order

The same thing that's independent about claiming not to be a Republican but voting for one. True Independents don't vote for a party. They vote for a person and what that person stands for, in the view of the voter. Party isn't the issue.

[djAdvocate]

Aug 15, 2015 21:50:38 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Jeb's involvement in the Terri Schiavo case was outrageous and unwarranted.  

his five answers in 3 days on the Iraq War question was deeply disturbing, as well.

[fishy999]

Aug 15, 2015 18:14:03 GMT -5 Ratchets said:

Aug 15, 2015 11:21:21 GMT -5 tallguy said:

link

I go back and forth on whether I like Mark Cuban or not, but he is spot-on here.

I guess I'm confused about what social issues he's talking about?  If he means abortion I agree with Republicans, if he means gay marriage then I disagree with both Republicans and Democrats - it's not the governments choice to dictate who we can and can't marry.  So I guess I disagree with the entire country on that one LoL.  That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of, people electing other people, who will tell those original people who they can marry...

The second part of your post defines Jeb Bush to a "T" IMO. 

Which Republicans? Huckabee went on record saying that a 11 year old girl raped by her uncle should be forced by the government- or in the real sense be denied another option- to carry to term. 

Trump allows for exceptions- but not Rubio, Walker and others- even if the life of the mother is on the line! This is insane. I know it is the primary and they will walk it back but really? Just what would these candidates do to support the 11yo traumatized little girl after she gives birth to a child she had no idea she had? Call her a welfare queen when she gets kicked out of school? This really pisses me off!

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Aug 15, 2015 11:21:21 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban weighed in Tuesday on status of the Republican Party.

In a Tuesday post on his Cyber Dust social media app, the outspoken billionaire investor wrote that he would prefer to join the GOP but has an issue with the party's push for conformity.

"I would prefer to be a Republican. I want smaller government. I want smarter government. Just like most Republicans," Cuban wrote in the post, which was flagged by The Dallas Morning News. "Put aside that I disagree with Republicans on most social issues. The Republicans have a much bigger problem that will crush them in every Presidential election until this changes."

Cuban lamented that those who disagree with the "Consensus" are labeled as fake Republicans.

"The Republican Party requires that all their Presidential candidates Conform to Consensus. If you don't agree with every platform of the party not only are you called a RINO, a 'Republican in Name Only.' You are considered unelectable in primaries and become a source of scorn on Fox News. That's a problem," he said.

In his Tuesday Cyber Dust post, Cuban also reflected on the meaning of leadership:

Leaders don't conform to the consensus. They create consensus to their vision and goals.

Leaders don't change their positions mid debate. They welcome scorn from the masses because it creates the opportunity for dialogue.

Leaders don’t look backwards to condemn what has already been done, they look forward to create a better future.

Leaders are not dogmatic. They are principled and know that change is never easy, but when it's necessary, they must lead.

The Republican Party does everything possible to discourage leadership.

They want dogma.

They want conformity.

They want to conserve their romanticized past.

That's a shame. I wish they wanted to conserve the best of what America is today and find a leader that can take us to new places that make our future better.

I realize that's not the way politics work in this day and age. And that just proves the point.

"And btw, I know a lot of the same can be said about the democrats, but I don’t want to be a democrat," he concluded. "Until things change, I’ll sit in the middle and think for myself. Unlike the Republicans."

link

I go back and forth on whether I like Mark Cuban or not, but he is spot-on here.

He must be referring to candidates like John McCain. A solid conservative on everything. Except campaign finance reform, raising taxes, bank bailouts, amnesty for illegal aliens, gun control, cap and tax energy policy, and other issues.  

Stick to business, Mark.  You're brilliant and I have a lot of respect for you. But we know what a RINO is, and it's not someone who differs slightly on an issue or two. 

[dondub]

Yes, we need a great Repo like the icon Reagan. No tax increases under him except for 11. No S&L bailouts. No amnesty program for illegals. No criminal cabal with the most convictions ever. That's what America needs NOW!

[djAdvocate]

Aug 17, 2015 14:58:45 GMT -5 dondub said:

Yes, we need a great Repo like the icon Reagan. No tax increases under him except for 11. No S&L bailouts. No amnesty program for illegals. No criminal cabal with the most convictions ever. That's what America needs NOW!

worst deficits since WW2.  lying to congress so that we could trade drugs and fund terrorists.  yeah.  those were the good old days.

[dondub]

Nothing like arming Islamofascists and running cocaine with the Contra terrorists to represent the best of conservative republicanism. You betcha!

[tallguy]

Good thing I can detect sarcasm (especially when it is spelled out point-by-point.)  Otherwise I would have to point out again that the Reagan presidency was a disaster for this country.  And it takes a special kind of stupid to romanticize someone you would not let into your party now....