POLITICS AND NATURE

The principles of the Grand Old Party are easy to understand and explain. They are based in

1.  Liberty, the freedom to act as one would in the marketplace.

2.  Small government, low taxes

3.  Private property rights

4.  Individual responsibility

5.  Few or no regulations on business

6.  Rule of law

7.  Morality in governance

This all sounds good doesn't it. The problem so many of us liberal have with the Grand Old Party is it refuses to even consider its principles. Limbaugh, McCain, Gingrich, Fred Thompson, Reagan, and the list can go on, have all been married multiple times at the same time they ruthlessly attack others for "family values." The Clinton's working on their marriage and staying together are not family values. The right wing does not care for reality. So much for morality (7). Rule of law (6), faired no better when the Republicans controlled it all. Reducing regulations (5) means reduced public protection from corporate malfeasance. (4) Individual responsibility (see #s 7, 6, and 5). Property rights (3) they are pretty consistent of supporting, even if this means dumping toxins or destroying endangered species habitat. What we are getting at here is the first two republican principles enumerated here. Fiscal responsibility and small government. You see, as I've explained before, conservative ideas are good ideas . . . but no one follows them unless, of course, you count the time of president William Jefferson Clinton. Before and after Bill, the ideals fell by the wayside. Reagan didn't make it happen. Nixon certainly didn't. Bush is a disaster.

The difference between liberals and conservatives often seems to be this:  when Bill Clinton got busted for getting a haircut on a tarmac or for sexual indiscretion, those of us who supported him didn't turn our eyes and pretend nothing was wrong. It was a drag. He failed not only his family but his country. I won't defend his moral failings. I will defend him on the bogus criminal charges because he was not found guilty of anything wrong. Anyway, the point is the right continually defends every decision this foolish man in the White House makes and they do so with a straight face. Then, those of us critical of their agenda or of W and his man Cheney are just attacking him out of ideology. This isn't true.

Fiscal Irresponsibility

The Republican disaster has left the country strapped for cash and at a loss for credibility. People don't have faith in the system, not because of Democrats but Republicans and the utter lack of sense and the shameful defense of the rich at all costs. It was famously said by a conservative that he wanted to weaken the federal government until he was able to "drown it in the bathtub" or something of the kind. Grover Norquist uttered those words. In essence, what he was saying is he would like to see the federal government collapse like we spent the Soviet Union out of existence. Therefore, it is feasible to believe the Republicans have been purposely attempting to create fiscal crises in order to come up with reasons to get rid of the federal government. I hope this isn't true, but I certainly don't know the answer.

The deficit is enormous and the president pretends now that he cares but he created it with his drones in the Congress. Zero accountability exists among these people. They refuse to take responsibility for their actions and they continue to govern on fear and intimidation. McCain, and now Romney (in his departure speech) accuse Democrats of wanting to waive the white flag of surrender. Cheney spews nasty garbage every time he speaks. The budget just released by the White House is completely and utterly disingenuous. And Bush somehow doesn't laugh when he proclaims he's figured out a way to get the budget in order by 2012.

The President's Budget

He's leaving after this year and trying to stick the rest of us with his projected budget deficit is 410 billion dollars and next years projected at 407 billion without accounting for the total costs of the war and it uses some funky, overly optimistic assumptions regarding the state of the economy.

It is easy to get by on debt for a while so I just don't get how folks consider his a vibrant or healthy economy. Downturns will happen, we've known this since Adam Smith first wrote about capitalism back in 1776. The federal government fills in in these instances but without some sense of responsibility, the people pay it all back eventually, like a drunken college sophomore with a credit card.

The most egregious cuts seem to be in assistance to people who need help with home heating costs, food aid for impoverished children, medical research, and environmental protection. The Pres proclaimed his budget priorities are "keeping America safe and ensuring continued prosperity." He adds with pride: "We have reduced the federal deficit by $250 billion since 2004." I don't understand this because the deficit was 413 billion in '04 and now it is 407, according to rosy projections and ignoring important costs. He reduces aid to state and local first responders so that's a start. Once you add in the war costs and if things aren't quite as good as they think, we could have the highest deficit ever.

This budget is 3 trillion dollars. The highest budget ever. Once again, he's had his fun and he's off to new adventures.  

And yet, there's a substantial minority, 35% or so, who still support this man. They claim he's kept us safe for the past six and 1/2 years. These same folks derided everything Bill Clinton did, despite the fact this country was kept safe for eight years after the first attempt on the World Trade Center. Over 4000 troops have died in Afghanistan and Iraq. And his political cronies who want to follow him into the White House all continue to beat the drums of war and promise endless conflict. I'm at a loss as to their appeal.

We learned today the President is promising things he won't likely deliver in response to the tornadoes in Tennessee and Kentucky. I'm all for it and I wish him well but we've watched this scene already. Republicans don't think it is the federal government's place to be involved in local disasters but the reality of the present requires them to be involved. It truly boggles the mind.

He failed completely over seven years to take on entitlements in a way showing leadership through compromise and negotiation and now he thinks just by saying it things will happen. Oops, I'm sorry, I screwed up and good luck to the next guy or gal but I refuse to give in and admit any wrongdoing.

Most of us don't have the ability or desire to take on the extreme choices necessary to run such a diverse and materially wealthy country and that's why we're not in politics and we hope they do the best they can to manage our national affairs. This man and his party have been complete screw ups. They've shown contempt for people of my ideologically strain for thirty years and other than Gingrich's Republicans, they've done nothing to alter the course of debt and failure and they have refused to acknowledge their own scars. I thought Jesus said take the mote out of your own eye before trying to get the speck out of your brother's eye.

They are a party living in a pure fantasy world wherein they honestly believe if they think it hard enough it will become true. Social Security is doomed to failure when we have a group of individuals who for thirty years have been determined to see it destroyed.

I can't figure it out. I understand the basic premises of conservativism and it sounds good but it is a holy grail forever out of reach without basic governmental assurances that our elected managers will act responsibly and with honesty and if they will work with others. The Republicans have ignored all of this.

I am under no illusions of my party or the individuals conducting its business as being the saviors of America but I believe there is more room for dissent within its confines, I believe Nancy Pelosi has proved to be a fantastic majority leader, I think Harry Reid has proved himself to be kind of an angry fool unable to lead, and I believe we have the best candidates for the oval office. I truly believe these things. And I know enough Republicans to realize they are not enamored with their leadership. It's astonishing to think we may have another president who will continue to borrow our way into short term prosperity, who will focus on a million dollar grant some researcher got in Montana, and who promises endless warfare. I suppose if we elect McCain, we get what we deserve.