Topic: Ron Paul
GOP: Goodbye Old Party! As the leaders and pundits embrace John McCain while ignoring Dr. Paul it is time...by Gary Wood
(Conservative Libertarian)
Saturday, March 1, 2008
The Republican Party is known also as the GOP or Grand Old Party. Perhaps more evident this year than any other we are seeing clear examples this no longer applies. There was a time when the GOP was the source of tough questions by tough conservatives. The party stood firm in its rightful place as the party to voice a check and balance against the rise of the liberal Democratic Party. Founded in 1854 as the party willing to support the ideas of such fearful topics as anti-slavery the party leadership has become the slaves too fearful to raise and question while being more willing to embrace liberal ideals.
Listening to the front runners of this year's Republican Presidential campaign the call for critical thinking and tough questioning is gone. Replaced with ideas of controlling lives through tax incentives, building up troops for ever more battles oversees, embracing socialization and continued centralization of national government, all to a level that would leave Thomas Jefferson and James Madison scratching their heads in disbelief.
Outside the party leadership there are new mouthpieces gaining attention speaking about the Republican Party and who should and should not represent it. Eloquent dissertations of deep thoughts and well conceived questions with reflective answers are being replaced by the likes of Michelle Malkin who believes she can speak for all Republicans when she makes her emotional rants against those within the party still strong enough to be tough.
Everyone who has followed the debates will long remember when Ron Paul dared to make the tough statement about our possible role in creating the world we must deal with today. The Grand Old Party would have paused in reflection while truly weighing all sides and accepting, if any, the role of U.S. policy which may have contributed to the turbulence. From the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, there was a foundation laid for the GOP. Republican's were not afraid to meet head on both the challenges facing the United States or the handling of them. If there were errors the GOP would not bury their head in false bravado and even if the message may not have been popular at the moment, the wisdom of critical thinking would win the day. Republicans could be counted on to champion the Constitution and maintain the focus for a sound fiscal policy while dealing effectively with both domestic and foreign affairs.
Ron Paul dared to call into question the impact the path of the United States foreign policy has had on the events fueling terrorist hatred. He was not being unpatriotic, he was not blaming the U.S. for 9/11, he was not speaking out against our troops, and he was not promoting some pacifist, isolationist approach to dealing with the world. Ron Paul was doing what the GOP leaders use to do, he was being brave enough to stand and say we may have some problems in our foreign policy that may just be fueling some of the hatred folks, we need to look at that and fix that immediately. Ron Paul dared to think Jefferson's approach is still applicable today and he dared to put the Constitution in front of the other candidates in an effort to promote a debate on the subject.
Giuliani was first to pounce and denounce him without clearly hearing what it was Paul was saying. His response spoke to the emotional heart of patriots while failing to address the minds of those same patriots. McCain followed suit, ""I thought Mayor Giuliani's intercession there was appropriate, and frankly, very, very excellent," said John McCain. "I really appreciated it because we should never; never believe that we brought on this conflict." We should never, never believe or question our policies and the roles they play? This is to assume we are never, never in error in any of our dealings which is to say we should ever, ever believe all woes are the fault of all others except the leaders of the United States and the policies being followed.
Why? It's easier to win votes with popular rhetoric rather than with tough questioning and even tougher solutions. If there were any doubt the GOP has lost its heritage this sequence of events proved it. Not only did the front runners in the race trash Paul for wanting to look at the entire challenge before us, the nation also had to endure the ill informed, ill conceived opinions of Malkin. Talking to Fox's John Gibson she boldly stated, "Ron Paul really has no business being on stage as a legitimate representative of Republicans." She spits venomous labels of tin hat wearers' and kool-aid drinkers' toward anyone who dare to seek out the root causes of challenges. Michelle Malkin really has no business being on TV as a legitimate spokesperson for the GOP, at least not the once proud Grand Old Party!
The leaders of the Republican Party and the likes of the many Michelle Malkin's currently clogging our airwaves are legitimate representatives of today's Republican Party. The Republican Party which is more liberal in its policies, more embracing of centralized national government and the party that rallies around such leaders as John McCain, while being unwilling or unable to ask the tough questions patriotic, Jeffersonian leaders like Ron Paul dare to ask.
There is no longer a Grand Old Party. Sadly we must bid farewell, Goodbye Old Party.
If you enjoyed this article give it a thumbs up, bookmark it to your favorite site from the drop-down menu and suggest it to a friend. Thanks for taking the time to visit Nolan Chart, do come back often for the latest from all political views.
Did you like this article? If you did, Thumb It! 44 thumbs so far
2008 Gary Wood, all rights reserved.
Published: Saturday, March 1, 2008
Last modified: Saturday, March 1, 2008
The views expressed in this
article are those of Gary Wood only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Gary Wood is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Billionaire Warren Buffett said Monday that the U.S. economy is essentially in a recession even if it hasn't met the technical definition of one yet.
"I would say, by any commonsense definition, we are in a recession," Buffett said on CNBC.
I asked a neighbor a few days ago how he could afford to drive his Hummer back and forth to work? He said, "I don't do that anymore. I lost my job two weeks ago. But don't say I told you so. I'm just not in the mood for it right now."
I answered, "I know the feeling. I wasn't in the mood for it either after election 2004. But that didn't bother you one bit. You poured it on. Now live with it Bushie." He hasn't spoken since and that's okay with me. These Bush people were the best ever at dishing it out, but the morons sure can't take it. I don't use a spoon to feed these people their own medicine, I use a shovel.
Bob Miller......unfortunately, your approach is about all that is left. I, too, have become extremely "bottom line" and while I continue to try to be civil and courteous to the non-believers, this is not the time to mince words. We're in deep trouble.
I too voted for George Bush twice. The truth can be an ugly thing.
The only consolation I get from that is knowing that things could be worse, maybe (not much, though). Gore and Kerry are rampant, evil socialists, all members of the CFR, Bilderbergs, etc. Ron Paul was not around then.
In retrospect, we were screwed either way.
I have no patience left for those who don't care enough to seek the truth. They will be culpable in our country's downfall.
It's not time to be nice about it. This is deadly serious business. They will get what they deserve,,,,,,the problem is we'll get it with them
Bob and Barry, I hear both of you and the frustration. There really is a lot to do if we have any hope of continuing the experiment of a Federalist Republic. Repealing the 17th Amendment, restoring the Electoral College system to its original form, ending the oligarchy organization of the Legislative Branch, etc.
Bush didn't earn my vote due to not embracing the oath of office. No major party Presidential candidate has earned my vote in the last 24 years, again it comes down to embracing the oath of office. It is a simple measurement for any candidate; do they understand and/or have they defended the U.S. Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic?
I think we really need to get simple with everyone we encounter, off the issues the candidates and media tell us are important, and direct to the heart.
Are you in favor of a pure democracy where the majority rules over the minority?
Do you need more federal level involvement in your daily life (replacing capitalism with corporatocracy and/or socialism)?
Are you happy to give more in income taxation so you and your neighbors can get more from the federal government (since we are the government)?
Do you understand, and support, the fact we borrow money to fund our federal government as our income tax dollars are merely tossed at the out-of-control interest on the debt? (Its like borrowing from one credit card to pay another every month...none ever get paid off and eventually the shell game ends in poverty).
We don't need to be rude but we do need to be simple, direct, and unwavering, IMHO!
Gary...........damn right I'm frustrated. But, frustration won't get us anywhere.
Time is of the essence. I agree that where courtesy works, that is then best strategy. But, our great country is wallowing in it's death throes if a serious reversal is not implemented immediately.
I, personally, really believe it's that serious. I hope I'm wrong.
I don't care anymore if I offend anyone. This could be our last reasonable chance.
I left the GOP in 94-95. My closest 10-12 friends all stayed untill pretty much the last year or two. Now, they all are alienated and are looking for a home. I hope, the party as it is now is finished. Both parties offer nothing but different routes to hell.
Want to comment on this
article? Leave your comment here. Your email address is
required to track your comment. However, we will neither
publish your email address nor distribute it to other
organizations or persons. The only reason we might use
it would be if we needed to contact you regarding your
comment. All comments are subject to our
terms of use policy.
2008 Gary Wood, all rights reserved.