Dionne says, accurately, that there's no coherent governing philosophy among Republicans anymore. The party can't agree on immigration. It can't agree on Iraq. He should add that it can't claim with any plausibility to be the party of fiscal responsibility. Nor can it claim to be the party of good government. After the last six years, it's hard to know what being a Republican means anymore, except to be Not A Democrat.
Dionne:
That is why the most interesting battles over the next two years could take place not between the parties but within them. After a miserable year, Republicans have a lot of scores to settle. And conservatives, many of whom know they've lost their way, will be devoting a lot of energy to figuring out exactly who they are.
As I've said here before, I actually look forward to the arguments ahead. They will be clarifying, and, with luck, renewing for the conservative movement. Or, we could do like the Democrats, who have had a long time to figure out what they stand for, and haven't really mastered it, even though they may win today. If Dems take one or both houses of Congress, it really will be far more a rejection of the Republicans than a vote of confidence in the Democrats. Which will be cold comfort for the GOP, granted...
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Do readers have ideas about how conservatives can make this circumstance an occasion of truly valuable self-examination and reformation?
My fear is that overall the "conservatives" will learn nothing much from their losses; instead of reading Schumacher and Kunstler, they will try to find new ways to wave the flag and the greenback.>
To keep it simple-how did we get from the minimalist governing philosophy coupled with a strong defense of Goldwater and Reagan to the Department of Education, illegal
immigration tolerated and encouraged, earmarks, federal drug benefits and Wilsonian war to drag Islamic Arabs into the 21st century? Hiw did we go this far astray? ANd can we get back?
Given the owner's growing antipathy to NRO, nonetheless think Rich Lowry's syndicated piece today is a good starting point. If you're going to make war, make war. Or don't bother.>
The problem is the Republican party is actually two parties right now. We have the Reagan conservatives, and we have the JFK Democrats. This has happened because the Democratic party has become a fringe group of lunatics and kooks, and have driven all their more reasonable men and women to the Republican party. I predict a split in the Republican party and a continued marginalization of the Democratic party.>
I agree with frgough. If given a true choice, I would be a Harry Truman style Democrat, and be proud of it. The current DP truly has little to do with that party, as best as I can tell. And do not get me started on the Republican party, i.e., those who worship at the altar of the greenback.>
I've long since given up on both parties and joined the Constitution Party instead. Their beliefs are far more crunchy-con than anything the GOP espouses.>
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