COEUR d'ALENE - A conservative call to arms.

Figuratively, not literally.

If the plan is for conservatives to "take back the country" from moderate or Democratic principles, conservatives need to unite to make that happen - and all but toss aside thoughts of compromising with the other parties, a new political group said Monday.

Delivering its message in front of a standing-room-only-crowd at the Golden Spoke Estates Clubhouse in Rathdrum, the United Conservatives of North Idaho told supporters during its inaugural meeting that the only way to alter the country's course is to get involved.

"We have to come up with a plan, we have to be organized," said Melanie Vander Feer, Kootenai County Central Committee member who organized the event with fellow member Ron Mendive. "What are we going to do as a group, a team, to take back our nation?"

The group was formed a few weeks ago as a grassroots drive to unite conservatives before upcoming elections. While "still a work in progress," organizers said the blueprint to change is not to compromise with what they perceive is wrong with current politics, which is a lot.

The meeting featured representatives speaking about the 2012 Legislative session, including Dick Harwood, who pledged to try and remove the Environmental Protection Agency out of Idaho, and Vito Barbieri, who vowed to nullify the Health Care Act in Idaho.

While not directly tied to the conservative political group, Rally Right, many Rally Right supporters were in attendance, including founder Bob Pederson.

"This country is in a lot of trouble," Pederson said, before he started the meeting with an opening prayer. "Prevailing liberal ideologies are destroying America."

The grassroots call to arms centered on getting politically active.

Tina Jacobson, KCRCC chair, said the first step is to recruit more conservative precinct committee members to central committees. Compromise has hindered the current party, she said. New rule changes, like a caucus election deciding Idaho's presidential candidate and only registered Republicans being allowed to vote in the primaries, will help, too, she said.

She said Democrats voting in the previously open primary election as a reason Sen. John McCain won the Republican nomination.

"We need people in the party willing to work," she said. We need "only solid conservatives ... manning the wall."

Along with discrediting decisions by the Obama Administration, several people took aim at the "reasonable Republican" quote by KCRCC member Brad Corkill, who recently formed a new Political Action Committee, North Idaho Political Action Committee.

Corkill, in a Press article last week, said that PAC would financially support "reasonable Republicans," without elaborating on whom he thought was unreasonable.

UCNI supporters took aim Monday, some cautioning not to let the "liberal media" drive a wedge in the party's goal. Some also had fun with a "Right Wing Wacko" quote that had made the rounds in the media about the conservative movement.

"If I wanted a reasonable Republican," Barbieri quoted a friend's quip. "I'd vote for a Democrat."

Where the group goes is yet to play out. The next meeting is tentatively planned for after the new year. But Vander Feer said, as the meeting was winding down, that she was pleased with the turnout, which drew 200-plus people.

Leaving the meeting, Mike Mann, of Blanchard, said he usually doesn't attend many political meetings, but saw the advertisement for the meeting and decided to go.

He said it's the right first step.

"We're people who respect our Constitution," he said. "It's not like this is a surprise occasion. This had to happen."