Republicans are digging their own grave. It is sad. I like Republicans. I love lower taxes, and economic freedom. However, do either of these represent anything that has happened under Bush? Well, maybe a tax cut. But economic freedom?
...Hardly.
Time Magazine ran a piece about how Bush's interventionist policies arguably nationalized our financial market AND subsidized our housing market more than France.
So, what is the point of having a Republican Party? None, unless you are also staunchly conservative regarding social issues. But to all Republicans who read this. I don't think this is smart. Please understand, I know where you are coming from. I don't support abortion or same-sex marriage. But I also understand that both these issues are NOT just black and white from a legislative standpoint. I think I'll expand this argument in another post sometime.
Either way, back to my point. Republicans have long deserted there conservative economics, and have become a party of fear. Fear of the enemy. Fear of change. Fear. Fear. Fear. Here's an excerpt from the recent CPAC:
"Ronald Reagan must be turning over in his grave," said David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, which sponsored the three-day conference to explore ways of leading conservatives out of the wilderness. "But the American people will soon discover that Obama is no FDR or JFK, but a 21st century reincarnation of Marx and Lenin who is determined to lead the nation down the path of socialism."
Honestly. Did anyone in the GOP actually go to school? Do you know what Marx even wrote about? He didn't write about establishing social programs. He talked about capitalism imploding itself. And Lenin? Do you realize the disservice you are doing to America by associating Obama with a man who purged his political opponents and forced people into labor camps?
What ever happened to great Republicans like Eisenhower, Lincoln, and William F. Buckley? Oh I know. People like that became Democrats.
2 comments:
I agree the GOP has dug itself into a deep hole. But I have a couple issues with your argument.
1) Time magazine? What did you expect to hear about Bush from them - that he breathed out glitter and rainbows? Besides, Bush was not nearly conservative enough fiscally; almost all conservatives would agree on that. And though I agree that his policies nationalized, I think it safe to say that Obama ran with it and it jumping for joy. Which you might be totally down with. I, however, find it horrifying.
2)What do you mean no point to having a Republican Party? If I, a staunch believer in capitalism and minimal government inference, don't align with the GOP, then who do I align with? (Libertarians are OUT, by the way).
3)I disagree that the GOP is a party of fear. I think they are a party of hope in the American dream and the American People. All i seem to hear is doom and gloom from liberals; attitudes like, You are being screwed over so rely on US to solve your problems for you. And people, being the sheep they are, stick out their hands and say gimme gimme gimme, instead of relying on themselves.
4) I'm in the GOP and I'm pretty sure I went to school. And I feel pretty aware of what is going on and that I also have a great deal of common sense.
However, I TOTALLY agree on the wrongness with associations of Obama to Lenin, or whomever. They are inappropriate and ignorant. But look how much Bush was compared to Hitler. And anyone who has done any real research on Hitler would never make such an association. So that goes both ways. And I also agree about Lincoln and WF Buckley...sigh...
Oh Rich - how I miss our conversations!
You're right Tara. People did say really bad things about Bush that were unwarranted. He definitely was not Hitler.
And you are right Tara. You are incredibly smart! And so are many, many in the Republican Party. Which is why I feel frustrated that the party has gone the way it has. For example. To me, William F. Buckley was the man! Fiscally conservative, and socially liberal (i.e. classical liberal. Not abortionist. More like the American Revolution liberal -- Don't tread on me! Separation of church and state).
If the Republican Party became "The Economist" conservative. I'd jump on the bandwagon like that. I am not down with "Limbaugh" conservative.
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