Posts Tagged ‘GOP’

Most of you who were around during the Vietnam War error probably remember that famous line, “What if they gave a war and nobody came?” When Carl Sandburg made those comments, it became a cultural motto. Charlotte Keyes wrote a poem, the Monkeys recorded a song, and countless others used it in media.

So, what if they gave an election and nobody came? Those of us on the right are fed up with those on the right – a great deal of words and not enough action, too much spending, and not enough discretion, and the list goes on. And interestingly those on the left are fed up with those on the left. There hasn’t been a legitimate conservative representative in 30 years. Yes, there have been a few candidates of late who have shown some promise, Doug Hoffman, Sarah Palin, Marco Rubio, and couple others. But, every time someone shows potential the media lights them up or they fall on their face, a la Governor Mark Sanford. The mainstream GOPers are entrenched in beltway politics, the almighty dollar, and never-ending GOTV efforts.  The national Republican Party has promoted liberal candidates like Dede Scozzafava and Charlie Chris, and quietly tossed away the Tea Party as nothing more than a temporary uprising. After last week’s CPAC conference last week, the closing straw poll showed Ron Paul as the front-running conservative candidate. Yes, the same Ron Paul who drew a whopping 3.5% of the required delegates in the ’08 primaries. To us, that was significant; we are craving a conservative candidate. To the mainstream party reps, “it was a straw poll.” Go figure…

Here’s the problem I see with November, and why, I think, there may be an election where nobody shows up; at least no one on the right. In most states, there are two recognizable parties – Republican and Democrat. Some states have other parties, but the ballot requirements are outdated, unfair, and frankly, un-American. In my home state of NC for example, primaries are closed to unaffiliated voters, and this year independent candidates will likely have to have 90,000 signatures to make it on the ballot anyway. So, if those of us who are generally supportive of the GOP aren’t impressed with the GOP’s representative, we’ll likely go third party, or stay home. There are some things where you just can’t compromise.

Hmmm… compromise; there’s a post for a later day.

Remember when Volkswagen meant a small, affordable, rather unattractive import car? Most people were so familiar with the automobile they just called it “Bug.” There was absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind as to what was meant by Volkswagen. A direct corollary was that at one time Volkswagen enjoyed over 60% market share for import autos in the US. That is a whopping percentage!

Now-a-days Volkswagen means nearly anything automotive as the company offers a full line of very nice cars. What about the market share numbers? Well…let’s just say ambiguity has its drawbacks.

The above is a great illustration for the current state of the GOP.

Ronald Reagan was and is a figure who elicits strong feelings both positive and negative. Because he was unambiguous regarding his convictions, and because he clearly communicated conservative principles, Reagan engendered great loyalty among the like minded. But he did more than that; President Reagan also won over large numbers of people who were dissatisfied with the liberal direction of the nation but had never been introduced to a clear, concise argument of our founding principles of government. I became a Republican as a direct consequence of thoughtful deliberation and comparison of Liberal verses Conservative ideology and the outcomes of each.

Oh, and by the way, let us not forget Reagan’s “market share” on Election Day 1980 and 1984. The term landslide does not even come close to describing what happened. There was no doubt as to what Mr. Reagan stood for and no doubt that the nation stood with him.

But ever since President Reagan left office the Republican Party has been walking away from the conservative ideas so persuasive to me and millions of others. And lest you think this a mere nostalgia piece praising Reagan let me point out the man had his failings. Yet it is abundantly clear that the areas of failure were when he did not live out conservative principles. The point is this:

No one really knows what it means to be a Republican anymore! And, as we have already established, ambiguity has its drawbacks. The last elections should teach us that much at least!

A final thought for any GOP leadership out there. Being “Fiscally Conservative” is like three day old fish…it stinks! More and more it sounds like a cloak to hide behind, an effort to straddle the fence and not offend anyone. A list of the presidential candidates you have fielded demonstrates clearly that the lessons of Ronald Reagan have been lost on you. Please, if you don’t believe in personal liberty and personal responsibility just admit it. We will find a party that does.

But if the party of Reagan is to become a thing of the past then let us go down fighting for our constitutional liberty rather than just fade away into meaninglessness. God forbid that “this is the way that liberty ends, not with a bang but with a whimper.”