Posted on 10/22/2008 11:32:45 AM PDT by grundle
Why the Republicans Must Lose
Nothing short of defeat will put the GOP back on its limited government track
I grew up in a particularly conservative part of the already conservative state of Indiana. I voted for Bob Dole in 1996 and George Bush in 2000, generally because—though I'm not a conservative (I'm a libertarian)—I'd always thought the GOP was the party of limited government. By 2002, I was less sure of that. And by 2004, I was so fed up with the party that I did what I thought I'd never do—vote for an unabashed leftist for president.
Since then, "fed up" has soured to "given up." The Republican Party has exiled its Goldwater-Reagan wing and given up all pretense of any allegiance to limited government. In the last eight years, the GOP has given us a monstrous new federal bureaucracy in the Department of Homeland Security. In the prescription drug benefit, it's given us the largest new federal entitlement since the Johnson administration. Federal spending—even on items not related to war or national security—has soared. And we now get to watch as the party that's supposed to be "free market" nationalizes huge chunks of the economy's financial sector.
This isn't to say that Barack Obama would be any better. Government would undoubtedly grow under his watch. And from my libertarian perspective, he has been increasingly disappointing even on the issues where he's supposed to be good. We may not go to war with Iran in an Obama administration, but we'd likely become entrenched in a prolonged nation-building adventure in the Sudan. Obama's vote on the FISA bill and telecom immunity also suggests that, for all his criticisms of President Bush's use of executive power and assaults on civil liberties, Obama wouldn't be much better. On the drug war, Obama has promised to end the federal raids on medical marijuana clinics in states that have legalized the drug for treatment, but he wants to resurrect failed federal criminal justice block grant programs that have had some disastrous effects on civil liberties.
While I'm not thrilled at the prospect of an Obama administration (especially with a friendly Congress), the Republicans still need to get their clocks cleaned in two weeks, for a couple of reasons.
First, they had their shot at holding power, and they failed. They've failed in staying true to their principles of limited government and free markets. They've failed in preventing elected leaders of their party from becoming corrupted by the trappings of power, and they've failed to hold those leaders accountable after the fact. Congressional Republicans failed to rein in the Bush administration's naked bid to vastly expand the power of the presidency (a failure they're going to come to regret should Obama take office in January). They failed to apply due scrutiny and skepticism to the administration's claims before undertaking Congress' most solemn task—sending the nation to war. I could go on.
As for the Bush administration, the only consistent principle we've seen from the White House over the last eight years is that of elevating the American president (and, I guess, the vice president) to that of an elected dictator. That isn't hyperbole. This administration believes that on any issue that can remotely be tied to foreign policy or national security (and on quite a few other issues as well), the president has boundless, limitless, unchecked power to do anything he wants. They believe that on these matters, neither Congress nor the courts can restrain him.
That's the second reason the GOP needs to lose. American voters need to send a clear, convincing repudiation of these dangerous ideas.
If they do lose, the GOP would be wise to regroup and rebuild from scratch, scrap the current leadership, and, most importantly, purge the party of the "national greatness," neoconservative influence. Big-government conservatism has bloated the federal government, bogged us down in what will ultimately be a trillion-dollar war, and set us down the road to European-style socialism. It's hard to think of how Obama could be worse. He'll just be bad in different ways.
The truth is, unless you vote for a third-party candidate (which really isn't a bad idea), you don't have much of a choice this November. You can either endorse the idea of a massive, invasive, ever-encroaching federal government that's used to promote center-left ideology, or you can endorse the idea of a massive, invasive, ever-encroaching federal government that's used to promote center-right ideology.
Sadly, if the GOP does lose, it's likely to be interpreted not as a repudiation of the GOP's excesses, but as an endorsement of the Democrats'. When the only two parties who have a chance at winning both have a track record of expanding the size and scope of government, every election is likely to be interpreted as a win for big government—only the brand changes.
Voting yourself more freedom simply isn't an option, at least if you want your vote to be taken seriously (and I'm not denigrating any third parties here; I'm just reflecting reality).
Which brings me back to why the Republicans need to get throttled: A humiliated, decimated GOP that rejuvenates and rebuilds around the principles of limited government, free markets, and rugged individualism is really the only chance for voters to possibly get a real choice in federal elections down the road.
Of course, there's no guarantee that's how the party will emerge from defeat. But the Republican Party in its current form has forfeited its right to govern.
lol
Agreed.
And thus, setting her up to run for POTUS in 2012... Gosh, that would just be awful, dontcha think? sarc/
Point taken. Make no mistake, I am NOT pro-McCain, but anti-Obama.
I will not be placing McCain signs in my yard and when I sent $100 to the State GOP Party, I specifically told them to use for state races and not for any national race.
I worry most of the Permanent majority these vile Americans will con up. I do not like McCain but he is not vile.
My last and most important test of a man is whether I thing he is a patriot of this country. If I sincerely believe he/she is, I can accept him/her as she can be influenced to do what is best for the country.
Obama fails this test. See attached.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2112483/posts
Fareed Zakaria
http://www.amazon.com/Post-American-World-Fareed-Zakaria/dp/039306235X
Fareed Zakaria, appeaser and Muslim apologist
http://www.amnation.com/vfr/archives/003710.html
Just back out of the room slowly, don’t break eye contact or make any sudden moves...
Sorry, I didn’t see the ‘get used to it’ comment. Then tit for tat is fair. (Can I say that?)
I’m really hoping Palin will stay conservative (at least as conservative as she is stated to be - I really haven’t got to hear her own stance on many issues yet) - and be there for ‘12. Fingers crossed.
My understanding is Palin is very conservative and very pro-life. Overturning Roe versus Wade is important to me and my family. I think with Palin, we stand a good chance of that happening someday. Plus, IMO she is a breath of fresh air. Something needed in the Republican party at this point.
She is that (a breath of fresh air). Just listening to her makes me feel hopeful about the future of the country. She has an optimism that is energizing. And isn’t an elitist snob, like so many in D.C.
True, but it won't take decades to undo McCain like it would bambi's debacle in the very BEST case scenario.
We're still paying for the Carter years...but I'd have NO hopes of EVER seeing undone what bambi will do and I'm 47 years old just like bambi is!
Trust me, we already have a form of socialized medicine. With medicare, and illegals going to the ER and poor children.
Now bambi wants this broken model for ALL citizens.
We're already pretty damn close to it. And, even if McCain's elected, watch for his first official act to reach across the aisle to friend Ted to enact whatever the senior senator from MA wants.
How do I know? He's made a career of co-opting the lefts' agenda in the past. That says he'll do it in the future as well.
Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.
Yup. I don’t know how anyone can look at his attempts now, to silence the opposition, and not understand the gravity of our situation.
I understand fully, that getting McCain - Palin in office will be just the first step on a very long road back to freedom, but if Obama takes power, getting it back without bloodshed will be highly unlikely. These people mean business.
They see this as their best shot, and they make it clear daily, that they will do whatever it takes to make it break their way.
McCain was practically my last choice as a candidate among what I thought was somewhat of a weak group of candidates. In hindsight, I think Huckabee would have been the best of the lot. That said, we are stuck with McCain, and while I am not a big fan, when compared to Obama he shines.
I’m actually looking back at the rather weak field and thinking how much better some of the other choices that I found unpalatable then - would’ve been. Oh well. We have what we have - I just wish he’d give up on amnesty and on ‘crossing the aisle’ so much that he’s a resident over there. But he is heads above the socialist, no doubt. I’ll have to back him. Actually, her. He’s going along for the ride. ;)
OOh you got me there. Especially since I live in Utah and vote in NEITHER of their states.
Your mother is a hamster and your father smells of elderberries.
Are you under some extremely misguided assumption that McCain will make smaller, less intrusive govt? Bravo! Well thought out, sir!
Now there you go... showing all your low IQ.
Of course not. I never even implied that in any of my posts. But then, you know that.
You're attempting to turn a blind eye to the truth about what would happen under an Obama presidency. You're pretending you're principles are so high and mighty that you can be excused from being willing to subject the country to socialized medicine and 'spreading the wealth'.
It is your vote, of coure, and you may cast it (or not cast it) as you wish. But no one has to respect your decision.
Uuuhhh, Yea you did.
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