This is post two of a two-part intervention for the two major parties.
Previously, I posted my thoughts on actions the Democrats need to take to remain viable. Now, Republicans, it's your turn. Now...I've considered myself a conservative all of my life, so as my pappy used to tell me GOP, this is gonna hurt you a lot more than it's gonna hurt me.
GOP, you are in trouble. I realize that some of you may react with
a certain bit of incredulity given the electoral events of only five months ago. No doubt, a big win. The GOP was well within its right to celebrate and do so heartily. But time marches on, and frankly GOP, you've managed to pull off something even more stunning, something I never thought possible--you effed it all up in five short months. Congratulations.
*cue applause*From this vantage point, there are two massive problems that plague you, GOP. The first is Hubris. Ego. Narcissism and presumption. You've become the
preening peacock so indulged with the plumage behind him that he doesn't notice the axe whistling down at its neck. You've developed a self-congratulatory attitude that has led to blatant hypocrisy on one end and arrogance on the other. I cannot think of a more appropriate personification of this attitude than
right here. Rep. DeLay symbolizes everything that is wrong with the GOP's new attitude--ethics and corruption allegations aside, he is
unapologetic and carries around an 'it's-ok-for-me-but-I-will-attack-you-for-the-same-thing' attitude that is both hypocritical and repulsive. And not only have you tolerated him as Majority Leader, GOP--you've
aided and abetted.
The Hammer has become the face of GOP ethics and attitude and frankly,
it is an ugly one. I've criticized Democrats for making the stunningly unwise decision to allow the Michael Moores, the Al Sharptons, the Al Frankens, the MoveOn.orgs to become the face of their party to America. Short of the President, there are none who symbolize the face of the GOP more than Mr. DeLay. If he does not go, GOP, he will take the party down with it. If the arrogance and hubris does not go, GOP, the party will not need DeLay to accomplish the same.
Some hope is found--in the last few weeks, the Wall Street Journal editorial writers
issued a scathing condemnation of Mr. DeLay. For your sake, GOP, you should actively support the removal of DeLay as Majority Leader--but that is only the beginning. GOP, you must realize that the voters have given you dominance over national politics--but nothing is permanent. And while you have been given a mandate to govern, by no means were you given a mandate to do as you please without regard for consequence. There is a growing dissonance between the GOP's promises and the GOP's actions, and voters are noticing. Reality is running into hype.
Your second problem is substantive and fundamental--it is one that has laid somewhat dormant over the past four years, but now is rearing its head with a vengeance. Your second problem is the growing divide between conservatism as it is now practiced and
the conservatism of history.
It is really beyond argument that over the past five years, President Bush--along with his GOP allies in Congress--has eradicated the GOP as the party of limited government, both fiscally and socially. It used to be that the GOP stood for lower taxes, less government in people's lives, and less government period. No longer. The Bush years have transformed the GOP into the proponent of a "daddy government." The GOP's message is now that the GOP knows how to run our lives and make our choices moreso than we do. The GOP still stands for lower taxes, but has combined this with the worst of both worlds--low taxes and increased spending. The GOP now stands for big GOP government. The GOP now stands for that big GOP government making choices in the place of families and individuals. Gone are the Reagans, the Buckleys, the Goldwaters. Now, the GOP is headed by the Santorums, the DeLays, and yes--the Bushes.
This quick and sudden change is the result of unwise strategy by you GOPers--rather than use its dominance over national politics to limit itself, you GOPers have chosen to extend yourselves. You have alienated the middle
and moderates within your party, and veered rightwards. And this quick and sudden change is a problem, GOP, because you are now emulating everything you hated about classical liberalism over the past 70 years. This is a problem not only because it means you have
abandoned your roots, but also because it allows the Democrats to seize this mantle and run with it. The sheer ineptitude of the Democrats to sense this problem is the only thing that saved you from this in 2004, GOP, but you apparently have not learned your lesson. When it comes to our
conservative foundations, we have met the enemy, GOP--and he is us.
A turning point for many, GOP, may turn out to be
the Terri Schiavo case, where you took action to inject the Congress and federal government in the personal decisions of a family in Florida. The facts of that case are in dispute, and mixed feelings abound amongst persons who grapple with the difficult issues raised by Ms. Schiavo's fate. But it is significant that the reaction against your actions was
an immediate and sharp rebuke across the board, GOP. Not just from the Left, but from close to 70 percent of Americans. GOP, you must ask yourself why--and realize that the answer lies in in the growing perception that the GOP wants nothing more than to involve itself in the lives of the public. You played policics with a person, GOP. And not only did you abandon any pretense to the principles of federalism that have been part-and-parcel of the GOP's platform for years, but you did so in a situation where most felt your intervention was repugnant.
I will predict that the Schiavo case will end up being
the tip of the iceberg. A prime opportunity is here for Democrats to peel away at the GOP majority, and it starts with your abandonment of limited government. If the Democrats come to their senses and take action to promote their party as the party of limited government, GOP, you are sunk. Libertarians will abandon the GOP like rats off
a sinking ship, as will those concerned about the growing budget deficit and national debt, and those concerned about your pappy governance over the lives of individuals. Your majority is not so large
as to be impervious, GOP, and the voting bloc you assembled in 2004 is not so dedicated that it should be taken for granted. All it will take is a wise strategy by Democrats, and 2006 and 2008 will be
ugly, vicious years for the GOP. The Bush years have been years of plenty--but the future promises famine unless these things change.
In short, like the Democrats, the GOP faces a decision--will the GOP continue to move towards the extremes of the party, comfortable in its perception of a mandate and congratulatory in its rightness? Or will it realize that
the path towards success lies in the middle? Will the GOP continue on in its newest incarnation of promoting big government, or will it return to its more libertarian roots? These years are critical for you, GOP--now is the time for hard choices.
Humility and wisdom in government, and aherence to principle in governance, is essential to the long-term viability of a party's dominance--right now, this writer sees none of it. You are in trouble, GOP--
the conservative crackup is just around the bend. Now is the time to make the change--if not, the results will be disasterous.
UPDATE (4/1/05): It's amazing how this
Bull Moose Blog post (published the day after the post above) corresponds with my post above. All I can say is, I think we're right. GOP, beware the Democrats shaking off the cobwebs.
