“The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress.” – Joseph Joubert
In the wake of internal battles within the Utah Republican Party, many liberty-minded conservatives and constitutionalists feel disillusioned. The recent contest between GOP Chair Rob Axson and conservative challenger Phil Lyman—widely seen as a bellwether of the state party’s direction—ended in a way that some interpret as a loss for constitutional conservatism. But such a view is only half the story. The real measure is not a single vote but the momentum of the Overton Window—the shifting range of acceptable political discourse. And in that realm, the fight is far from over.
A Civil War Within the Party
The Utah GOP, like many across the country, is experiencing a deep identity struggle. On one side are establishment Republicans and RINOs (Republicans In Name Only), content with managerial politics, gradual erosion of liberties, and appeasement of federal overreach. On the other are grassroots conservatives and libertarians—those who still believe in the Constitution as the supreme law, in limited government, and in the God-given rights of the individual.
When figures like Lyman challenge the establishment, they do so not just to win, but to expose, provoke, and awaken. Their presence alone forces the party to wrestle with its principles. And even when the vote goes to the establishment, the ideas introduced and the arguments made continue to echo.
Why We Must Not Walk Away
In moments of political defeat, it’s tempting to disengage. But as Thomas Jefferson warned, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” To retreat is to concede the institutions that shape law, culture, and society.
In a battlefield where even an inch of moral or political ground takes tremendous effort to gain, abandoning the field is self-betrayal. The Republican Party may be fragmented, but it is still a critical arena where policy, platform, and public narrative are decided. If liberty-minded citizens exit this arena, it will be captured entirely by those who do not value freedom or accountability.
Like Thomas Paine in Common Sense, we must see political argument as a moral obligation—not for popularity, not for comfort, but to awaken the sleeping conscience of the public.
The Overton Window: Every Inch Matters
The Overton Window represents what society considers “acceptable” political discussion. A decade ago, speaking openly about unconstitutional government programs, the Federal Reserve’s manipulation, or the dangers of globalist overreach was considered fringe. Now, these ideas are mainstream in many circles.
That is the result of steady, persistent effort. Every article, every speech, every vote, every candidate—win or lose—nudges the window. And every inch gained through truth, reason, and courage matters. We must measure success not only by electoral wins, but by ideological shifts. When we make the party and the public confront truth, even uncomfortable truth, we are moving the window.
Be Builders of Better Arguments
Thomas Paine did not build his revolution through violence but through language. His pamphlets were weapons more powerful than muskets. Likewise, our strategy must include:
- Educating the unaware with moral clarity and historical insight.
- Challenging deception with uncompromising truth.
- Refusing conformity to politically correct lies, even when it’s uncomfortable.
- Organizing coalitions that transcend personality and focus on principle.
Joseph Joubert’s words remind us that argument is not about defeating others, but elevating all. This does not mean appeasement—it means being willing to win minds, not just headlines.
The Long March for Liberty
Liberty is not secured in one election, nor lost in one defeat. The American Founding Fathers endured decades of conflict, setbacks, and personal losses. But they continued because they understood the cause was bigger than themselves.
We are heirs of their courage. Walking away would betray not just our ancestors, but our children. If the party is corrupt, we purify it. If the people are asleep, we rouse them. If the road is long, we march it anyway.
The Utah conservative movement must therefore recommit—not retreat.
We must become the Thomas Paines of our time: writers, speakers, and organizers of conviction. Our arguments must sharpen. Our resolve must deepen. Our love for truth must outlast their love for power.
“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink… but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” – Thomas Paine
We stand. We speak. We stay. Because freedom is worth it.
