Posted on 01/31/2004 12:41:27 PM PST by jimkress
Had dinner with an old friend last night, a long-time Republican political operative who – in 1981 – talked me into taking a sabbatical from journalism and going to Washington as a press secretary to Congressman Paul Findley.
He’s been a Republican all his life. Grew up in a GOP family. Served more than one term as a county chairman as well as a Republican National Committeeman.
So it surprised me when he opened the dinner table conversation with: “I’m not going to vote for George W. Bush in November. I may vote for John Kerry if he’s the Democratic nominee.”
Strange things can happen in this world. Joe Gibbs can come out of retirement to coach the Washington Redskins one more time. Hell, the Carolina Panthers might even win the Super Bowl. But when a lifelong Republican tells me he might vote for John Kerry, I wait for a voice to start saying “you’re entering another dimension…next stop – The Twilight Zone.”
“I’m a Republican because I believe in less government, of letting states make the decisions that affect our lives,” he said. “I believe in a balanced budget. But my party no longer believes in any of these things. I can’t be a part of what I think is destroying this country.”
His comments echo what I have been hearing after three weeks on the campaign trail. Republicans are fed up with an administration that has created the largest federal bureaucracy ever, with record deficits and with increasing federal power and control over our lives.
But they’re not just fed up with George W. Bush, they’re fed up with a Republican-controlled Congress that passed the largest, most pork-laden transportation bill in history, that abandoned its promise to impose term limits and that broke most of the promises of the 1994 “Contract With America” that gave them control of Capitol Hill in the first place.
My friend’s theory: “You know the old bromide that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely? Well, my party has taken it step further. Absolute power leads to madness. It makes me, a Republican, long for Democrats back in control. That is pure madness but I can’t help it.”
I’ve been around politics as a journalist or an operative for nearly 40 years and the dissension within the GOP is the worst I’ve ever seen. At a Republican caucus earlier this week, California Republican Congressman Chris Cox headed a group of conservative members who told Speaker of the House Denny Hastert that a GOP Congress was being undermined by Bush's actions in the White House. One member reportedly said a GOP Congress could deal more effectively with a Democrat in the White House than they can with Bush.
“At least we know what to expect from a Democratic President,” he said.
With the exception of the sanctity of life issue, which I think smacks of ramming your religious beliefs down my throat, I think the platform is excellent. It's a damned good read.
You got that right. Both parties better get the message that they can't lie and rob without consequences. That is why I'm voting against the socialist neocons by voting third party. I want my country back.
Richard W.
Most of us do, but unfortunately a lot become bitter old recluses who only want to be left alone so they can rant and rave about how horrible things are and how this country is gone to hell and the dems and pubs are no different and I don't want a tax cut if it means I have to accept something I don't agree with and I don't want a strong military because I want NY City wiped out and millions of people dead because then maybe people will open thier eyes and vote all of them out of office and elect people who will take us back to the good old days of isolationism and every body working for themselves and doing what is right and the government leaving us alone and....yada yada yada yada.
I do: our policy toward Mexico and points south.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight, and standing on your prinicipals and letting the socialists control all of government doesn't gotcha.
They are simply clogging up the board with these rants so that the forum appears to be unsupportive of the President. They are trying to create doubt and dissatisfaction within the lurkers, and also I think they are hoping their rantings will come to the attention of the news media.
If they can shave off a few marginal votes in a few key states, and if the election is close (as I think it will be), then they could cost us the presidency.
I am not going to remain silent while they attempt to do this. It is despicable, and dangerous while we are at war.
Sure isn't.
... and so this whack job's imaginary playmate thinks voting for Kerry will (somehow) result in LESS government spending, and LOWER taxes...?
Ooooooooooooooooookay.... :)
I would suggest that Ross Perot's 19% vote in 1992 was what led to the Republican Contract in 1994.
If the Republican Party ever truly thought that 15% of its base would defect to a third party like the CP, they'd get turned around in a hurry.
As long as conservatives and libertarians continue to vote for them, it'll stay the same or get worse.
No, he isn't. Another lie.
Good for you guys. I'm going to be attending a anti neocon conservative rebellion group in my area. The only requirement is is desire to take our country back from the socialists. We're motivated thanks to the neocons.
Richard W.
Wow! Good Idea! That will work! We'll take our country back that way, and repeal every single thing that has been done in the last 50 years. Yeah, a third party candidate will win. Look at how many electoral votes third party candidates have won over the years. Oh yeah, 3rd party. yep, that'll show em.
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