One Disaffected Republican

After wandering for 40 years in the wilderness of the legislative minority, the Clinton “Co-Presidency,” presented the GOP with the opportunity to reach the “promised land.” The Republicans began dramatically after winning a majority in the House and Senate, with its “Contract for America over the whining objections of the Democrats who had trouble adjusting to playing second string.

The whining increased exponentially when the Presidency changed parties’ in 2000 in a closely contested election, and the Executive Branch began to reflect the views of the Congress. Partisan observers hoped positive movement would occur, and of course, some did. The Supreme Court, for example, took definitive steps toward realignment, and started handing down decisions more agreeable to conservatives; some would say balancing years of liberal decisions

In the early 1970s a book was published, “The Jaws of Victory,” which among other things argued for the balancing and self-regulating influences of the political party’s. This book, written by a bunch of “moderate” Republicans,” claimed the party mechanisms themselves helped promote a better functioning political system, if for no other reason than their own self-interest. Why the parties? The political parties have their own long-term interests to worry about, instead of the short term interests of the candidates and office holders.

Some of us hoped when the Republicans reached the “Promised land,” controlling both Houses of Congress, and the Executive, that life would somehow get better. Even though the level of whining increased, and the obstructionism reached the level of log jam, we held out hope that a wave of public spiritedness would sweep over Congress and the parties would begin working for the mutual good of the nation.

Alas, the bickering in Congress continues seemingly unabated without notice that the citizenry is getting fed up with the self-aggrandizing attitudes of the political elites. The latest polling figures show Congress at its’ lowest level of confidence ever, but still the parties have taken little or no action to stem the hemorrhage. The politicians and party bureaucrats have the responsibility, incumbent with their offices, to make the system work again and if they refuse then they should be replaced.

So called Republicans like California congressman Duke Cunningham, among others, used the political system unchecked to enrich themselves and manipulate policy to their own ends. Where was the Republican National Committee (RNC) while all this foolishness was going on? We’re told Cunningham wasn’t exactly hiding the political influence he was selling. It was common knowledge “the Duke” took money for almost anything, and peddled his influence for everything he could get. Republican officials were either purposely looking the other way, or were dense and uninformed. Allowing this and other illicit activity to flourish while the GOP controlled the major mechanisms of government was inexcusable, in the same category as the congressmen’s actions.