Yes, I know — It’s been said before. But I don’t think it’s ever been truer than it is right now, and now is the perfect timing to do it.
First of all, look at the Republican Party’s infrastructure and what they currently have in place, starting with the Republican National Committee.
There isn’t anything there, at least very little of any actual value. The RNC is a piece of junk and, led by Party Chairman Michael Steele, as apt to say something palatable as it is to say something that gives most Americans the heebie-jeebies. Heck, in a Republican stronghold like New York’s 23rd district, the Republican Party couldn’t win, even after fielding and endorsing two candidates. And at a national level, it’s so inept it couldn’t even keep a black man from becoming President of the United States. (It truly bothers me to say that second point, but let’s at least admit that — for at least some portion of the Republican Party — that was their only mission with respect to the 2008 election.)
Moving on . . . In an age where most people — even if they don’t quite believe in Climate Change — at least believe that we should control ourselves, in an age like the one we’re in, Republican’s best chant at the Republican National Convention was “Drill Baby Drill!” morning, noon, and night. Is there some grand scheme I’m not getting?!?
How about the Republican Party’s legacy? There’s not much point in hitching your trailer to a legacy of things like Ronald Reagan if you can’t do anything with it. (Wasn’t Abraham Lincoln the first Republican president!?! Lot a’good it’s doing for the Party right now, huh.) And hasn’t the far Right so twisted whatever was any good in most of that legacy that it doesn’t mean much anymore?
Oh, the Republican stronghold on National Security? That’s even worse. How about starting two wars, one of which a Republican President walked away from (Afghanistan) in favor of starting a second one we never needed to fight in the first place (Iraq)? That’s a blunder of, dare I say, biblical proportions that raises yet another issue of the Bush Administration having actually started one of these wars under veiled religious pretense. (Remember the original Iraq war name, Operation Infinite Justice?)
And domestic issues? Republicans best stance on the leading topic of the day, Healthcare Reform, is to do nothing and obstruct progress, all on an issue that’s only gotten much, much worse over the past two Republican administrations (and largely Republican-held Congress). Huh, I’m supposed to do what?!? Beg my neighbors and bake brownies to raise the $600 / month my health insurance is going to cost me starting December 1st!?! I don’t think so — I think solving problems like this one is exactly why we have government to begin with (and most Americans get that).
But let’s look on the bright side of moderate Republicans breaking away and forming their own Party. Perhaps most important? The amount of credibility, attention, and plain-old Oomph! moderate Republicans would most certainly get would be amazing, if just to see it. We’d all here stereo concussions of both Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh’s heads exploding. Think about it . . . A new party borne out of fiscal conservatism, laissez-faire economics, small government, and responsible spending. Heck, throw in strong military.
Moderate Republican would throw Tea Baggers into a tizzy — Tea Baggers would probably be confused whether ‘laissez-faire’ is something of a hidden agenda of Gay Marriage that they should be opposed to. I mean, c’mon, how hard would it be to confuse and circumvent people who stand there yelling at their Representative or Senator saying, “Keep your hands off my Medicare!”, not quite seeming to get that Medicare is a government program to begin with.
And, get this, moderate Republican would finally be able to stand for some actual values and civility. You know what would catch my attention? How about actually calling out the Birthers, acknowledging Barack Obama’s election, and making it a point to call him President Obama. If for nothing else, do it just for class.
I’m not sure it would work nationally, but it certainly would work in certain regions, and much more importantly, it would reclaim a true set of principles that have been so watered down, abused, and tortured as to put the current Republican Party on the same track as the dodo bird.
As encouragement . . . There actually used to be Republicans that I liked and respected, even agreed with. They’re virtually all gone now, and that’s not because I’ve changed — It’s because they’ve simply ‘left the building’. The door’s open, moderate Republicans — Walk back in.
But what’s the best reason? The United States faces serious challenges at the moment . . . and we need every reasonable-minded person we can marshal to help solve them. While we’re better off without a Crazy Republican Party, we would be much better off with a Moderate one.
