The Future of the Republican Party

The Republican party is currently in a great deal of disarray. After getting trounced on the national stage for the second consecutive election, they have lost the legislative and executive branches and most of their say in the Federal Government. Politicians and pundits are going to great lengths to distance themselves from the failings of the party, with some leaving completely. Blame is being thrown in every direction as quickly as they can find a camera or a willing audience. Some are blaming the "moderates" in the party and calling them RINOs (Republicans in name only) and demanding that they be kicked out of the party. Others are blaming the "far right" - the neo and theocons - for making the party too hard lined and forcing out moderates. Most of the party is also blaming the libertarians and paleoconservatives for not holding their noses and voting to stop "socialism". If it wasn't for them not voting for the "lesser of two evils", then the Republicans may still be in power and road to authoritarianism may have been a little more scenic.

Amidst all of this chaos, the Republicans are trying to "re-brand" their party to become viable on the national stage again. They now stand at a fork in the road: go with the Cheney, Palin, Jindal wing of the party or turn back to the more traditional small-government Republican ideals of Barry Goldwater, Robert Taft, and Ron Paul. For all the talk about how moving to the center harmed them, they never moved away from the social authoritarianism and international nanny-statism that got them in this position in the first place. There was never a true belief in capitalism or personal responsibility in the current crop of Republicans, whether they were called RINOs or not. George W Bush, who is still defended by many Republicans, even said “I’ve abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system” in explaining his rational for more big government. The same people that are blaming John McCain for their loss hailed Joe Lieberman simply because he supported the War with enthusiasm. If these people are allowed to dictate the path of the "new" Republican party, then they will continue to lose elections, as it is the same old garbage in a new package.

What Republicans need to do is turn back into the truly small government party. They need to go back the the humble foreign policy and the smaller, decentralized government they used to represent. Most Americans want the government out of every aspect their lives. That includes both financial and social decisions. They definitely do not want a party that only gives them the stick and never the carrot. Republicans also need to return to truly believing in the free market and getting away from the same Keynesian economics that the Democrats espouse. The Democrats will always sell this better as it looks like Republicans only wield government to help "big business". If they are going to govern like the Democrats, with the exception of social issues, then they are going to continue to lose. The combination of the social issues and the Democrats ability to pretend to support the "little guy" will make them win every time. If the Republicans honestly want to be the party of personal responsibility, they have to work to get the government out of peoples' lives in every facet; not just in the areas they personally agree with. If they do not make this change, they are going to go the way of the Whigs. However, if (when) that happens it may make room for another party that actually believes in small government.

Whats Old is New Again

It's been a few months since the glorious election of Barack Obama, and already we are able to bear witness to the sweeping changes he has made from the failed policies of George W. Bush. Almost immediately after his election he decreed that Guantánamo Bay would be closed! Well, maybe - in a year... if it makes sense. He promised that the troops would come home from Iraq! At least when the time is right anyway, and only the ones that aren't needed for the new base... His ascension even ushered in a new era when the Federal Government would no longer interfere with the rights of the states with regards to their Medical Marijuana laws! Except for when they do... Finally, he is freeing us from the boondoggle that Bush made out of the economy! By doing the exact same thing that got us into this mess...

The reality of the situation is that in spite of the elation of the Democrats (and the weeping and gnashing of teeth from the Republicans) the election of Obama has do little to alter what is fundamentally wrong with this country. At most, he has pushed a little harder on the gas. Every speech, every action is essentially the same as Bush's. In fact, he represents the same government expansion and disregard for the Constitution that has existed for the better part of the last century. Granted, he is a better speaker then Bush was, and he has managed to whip up a populist fervor the way that Bush was never able to (sans briefly after 9/11), but to what goal?

He is granting unimaginable power to the Treasury. He is extending and expanding America's military adventurism. His administration has no intention of ending or even scaling back the Patriot Act. He is intent on maintaining broad executive powers through various orders and signing statements. His only differentiating quality is the grander scope of his actions, but even that is just an extension of the same big government ideals. There truly is nothing new under the sun. As long as our current duopoly stands, there will be very little change - or hope for that matter.