What is a “True Republican”?
In a previous thread on Jasonpye.com, Senator Douglas said this:
This is a very dark time for true Republicans. There doesn’t appear to be anyone on the horizon who can bring back the party like Reagan did in 1980. We insist on acting like Democrats in Washington and aiding their dirty work on immigration and losing the war in Iraq. We are in a free fall and show no signs of slowing. The only bright spot is the delay in debating the “Illegal Behavior Rewards Bill” until June. Keep those cards and letters going to DC folks, maybe they will listen for a change.
This begs the question, “What is a “true Republican”? As far as I can see, it is the “true Republicans” that are to blame for the free fall of the GOP. After all, it was the “true Republicans” that were complicit in every government expanding scheme over the past seven years. Remember “No Child Left Behind”? It was passed by “true Republicans”. And, wasn’t it also “true Republicans” that decided to launch a full-frontal assault on privacy rights in America? Remember the USA Patriot Act? Remember the warrantless wiretapping? They were authorized by “true Republicans”.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it “true Republicans” who were responsible for one of the largest expansions of the Federal Government in U.S. history? Remember the creation of the Department of Homeland Security? Brought to you by “true Republicans”. “True Republicans” are also to blame for six years of unbridled pork-barrel spending, the likes of which this country has never seen. “True Republicans” thought intervening in personal matters like the Terri Schaivo incident and the Major League Baseball steroids controversy was more important than intervening when a “true Republican” President expanded the powers of the executive branch to a level which the founding fathers would abhor. Dubai Ports-World Deal. Failure to secure the border. Both brought to you by “true Republicans”.
Perhaps Senator Douglas didn’t mean to say “true Republicans”. Because for a “true Republican”, the days ahead couldn’t be brighter. The government is probably going to expand. Illegal aliens will probably be given amnesty. The minimum wage will most likely increase. And the American taxpayer will continue to get the shaft. How is that any different from the last six years? “True Republicans” ought to be downright giddy.
The Republicans got it wrong. They got it wrong when they started putting the party before ideology. They got it wrong when they stopped criticizing each other and stopped holding each other accountable. Sadly, Ronald Reagan is partly to blame. After all, wasn’t his 11th Commandment something about not speaking badly about other Republicans? A lot of good that did the GOP. Conservatives, that is true Conservatives in the model of Barry Goldwater are no longer the majority in the Republican Party. The GOP is now wholly-owned by religious fundamentalists, hypocrites, and power-hungry politicians. These are your “true Republicans”.
Senator Douglas is right about one thing. There will be some dark days ahead. Sadly, the American people are the ones that have to face them. For the “true Republicans”, it’s just business as usual.
Very Good post!
The “True” Republican:
Ronald Reagan’s communication skills and uplifting, motivational attitude about America.
Newt Gingrich’s ideas and grasp of history.
Barry Goldwater’s courage to take on the status quo.
Abraham Lincoln’s wisdom, honesty and steadfast belief in one unified nation under God.
Combine those personalities and their thoughtful study of critical issues to create positive solutions and I believe you have The True Republican.
Now finding somebody who embodies the above characteristics is the problem. Kind of like finding the next Tiger Woods, they don’t come along very often.
Thanks Jace for a good topic.
Goldwater Republicanism has really been gone from the GOP since the eighties. Reagan brought the neocons to power and they along with their fundamentalist allies have now won complete control. Anyhow, are there any Goldwater Republicans left? I can’t think of one.
Jace Walden,
Simply because the traitorous criminals who have violated the most sacred tenets of our great Constitution and dragged us into an unnecessary and unwinnable war claim to be Republican’ts, it doesn’t necessary follow that they are part of the old Republican Party.
This life-long Democrat is appalled at what has happened to the GOP. Republicans I have known and fought have been, in the past, honorable and sincere people.
Republican’ts are criminals and traitors.
My question is “What have they done to my respected and honorable opponent, the Grand Old Party, and when will it return to the righteous contest of the wills we call honest politics?”
It is true that, since the Reagan Administration and even earlier, the GOP has sought to greatly expand government. I have posted the evidence in another thread. It is also true that the GOP has not been willing to pay for such expansion, resulting in wildly massive debt and annual deficits.
Fiscal responsibility has not been a part of their creed since the 1970s.
Republican’ts seized control of the GOP under Ronald Reagan. They refused to learn the lesson of Watergate – don’t do all sorts of illegal things and try to cover it up – as we saw with Iran-Contra.
George the Sane brought the GOPers back to the straight and narrow, but once President Clinton took office, all was lost.
It was the 1990s that ended the life of the Grand Old Party. Rather than accept the role of a loyal opposition, Republican’ts set out to destroy the Clinton presidency.
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The party forgot how to lose, gracefully.
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They tried to destroy the Clinton presidency for reasons of pure partisanship and a vicious refusal to accept defeat. In the process they forever changed the nature of politics in America, from sporting competition to murderous elimination of the ‘enemy.’
The sad but inevitable result was the destruction of the most cherished principles of American political culture.
God, forgive us for letting that happen on our watch.
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Here’s what I’m trying to say here.
Everyone has his/her own idea of what a “true Republican” is or is not. But, I think that our definitions are pretty much inane.
The fact is, the vast majority of GOP is and has been the party of the above mentioned blunders. They did not change course on any policy. After a huge loss, the party chose not to elect new leadership–they stuck with status quo leaders like John Boehner, Trent Lott, and Mel Martinez (who by the way thinks this immigration bill is just peachy) who will do nothing.
After a while you come to realize that these guys ARE the true Republicans. They may not fit any other label like “conservative” or “liberal” or “libertarian”, but they do fit the “Republican” label.
This is due largely to the fact that the GOP has become a party without a real identity. The only identity one can rationally associate with it is the neocon identity which I elaborated on in the original post. For all intents and purposes, the neocons are now the “true Republicans” and everyone else in the GOP is a negligible minority.
David,
I didn’t say that Republicans are criminals or traitors. All I said is that they were all (myself included at one time) complicit with the downfall of the party, whether they like it or not.
I think many lawmakers from both parties via pork spending, immigration and sell out trade deals have demonstrated that they are loyal to power and money before people!
Jace,
You’re making a good start on an idea.
Don’t stop thinking about it.
Grab a beer from time to time.
When the conclusion hits you, get a shot.
Jace
Are you thinking about leaving the Republican party? that’s probably what the folks we complain about want. Why not stay in the party and raise some hell instead? The first step would be say something really nasty about bb. Me personally I’m done with the wistful longing for better days gone by. I’ll say whatever I want about any Republican even Newtie right here in GA.
I see on Jace’s blog that he’s moving further into alignment with the libertarians, so Ron Paul ought to be a natural match for him. How’s he feel about Ron Paul?
Jace Walden,
I know you didn’t say the Republican’ts are criminals or traitors.
Perhaps it was an oversight?
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By all means, stay in the GOP and fight like hell to bring it back from the Dark Side.
It is your patriotic duty.
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I have voted for Republicans before… up north. But never in Georgia. That’s unlikely to change soon since instead of pushing sensible fiscal policy, Southern Republicans are more interested in pushing the agenda of social conservatives.
They all worship at the alter of power for themselves instead of seeing that they are there to serve us and the common good of the country. I sense change is on it’s way but what change I cannot say.
I was with you, Jace, until you came to the American Patriot Act. The Federal Government can tap my phones anytime – I have nothing to hide and I truly don’t think my conversations are interesting enough to keep them hanging on for long. I also don’t care about the rights of suspected terrorists in and out of this country, so I support this Act whole-heartedly.
On the “True Republican” comments, I really can’t think of one – certainly not our good Senators from Georgia – Saxby or Johnny. Both need to be replaced!