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Former Republican Congressman Jim Leach from Iowa addresses the Democratic National Convention in Denver to remind me why:
The party that once emphasized individual rights has gravitated in recent years toward regulating values.
The party of military responsibility has taken us to war with a country that did not attack us.
The party that formerly led the world in arms control has moved to undercut treaties crucial to the defense of the earth.
The party that prides itself on conservation has abdicated its responsibilities in the face of global warming.
And the party historically anchored in fiscal restraint has nearly doubled the national debt, squandering our precious resources in an undisciplined and unprecedented effort to finance a war with tax cuts.
[Jim Leach, remarks as prepared for delivery at the Democratic National Convention, Denver, Colorado, 2008.08.25]
GOP faithful, are you wondering why your party is losing voters, legislators, and governors? Congressman Leach just explained a big part of it. If you're going to win elections, you have to stand for something... preferably your own platform.
Cory, these are all valid points, and they describe very well what ails the Republican party. But I do not plan to abandon the GOP. The ship is off course, but it's not sinking.
ReplyDeleteI hope to help Republican operatives steer the party in a more Libertarian direction with certain exceptions such as health care, where the capitalist model does not appear to work.
The two major parties have both morphed over the decades, and doubtless they will keep evolving to meet the needs of the people.
In 40 years, the GOP will no more resemble the current administration than the Democratic party now reflects the administration of Lyndon Johnson.
Is the GOP actually losing voters, governors and legislators? Can you support and document that comment, because the last survey I saw showed Republican registration growing among today's youth. I realize there is a youthful exuberance with Barack Obama, but when his lustre wears off and voters start pushing for substance instead of feel-good fluff, you will continue to see Obama's numbers decline in the polls. I don't disagree that under the current administration there has been little progress in all those areas, but new leadership can right the ship rather quickly.
ReplyDeleteAnon: see those blue letters in the original post: "losing voters, legislators, and governors"? That's called a hyperlink. It's what we use to document things online. Move your mouse over those blue letters, click your mouse, and your browser should bring up exactly the documentation you ask for.
ReplyDeleteAmazing thing, that Internet.
"I hope to help Republican operatives steer the party in a more Libertarian direction with certain exceptions such as health care, where the capitalist model does not appear to work."
ReplyDeleteFinally a Republican that gets it. I was worried they had all gone off the deep end.
Anectodal evidence is everywhere if one will not practice willful blindness. My parents and spouses parents were repubs; each couple had 3 kids. 1 of 6 is still a repub. Of our 3 kids, none are repubs. The republicrooks drove the party into the ditch and it'll take a generation to repair the damage, perhaps longer. TR, Ike or Goldwater wouldn't recognize or be welcome in the current repub party.
ReplyDelete