Who does the GOP represent?

I have always been suspicious of the agenda of the Republican Party, regardless of their proclaimed agenda of representing “conservative values”.

The problem I have had is that the “conservative values” that they claim to represent have not been in alignment with the pro-business policies they have promoted when in office.

There is a difference between being “libertarian” and “capitalist” versus “pro-business”. The first (two) consist of a belief in the free market while also striving to preserve the liberties and rights of individuals over that of non-persons such as corporations, the second is the promotion of business even if it is at the expense of the liberties and rights of the individual.

In other words, “pro-business” is NOT truly conservative by the definition I thought was prevalent in the United States.

I believed “conservative” stood for small government, less spending by the federal government, less interference by the federal government in local affairs (the opposite of the No Child Left Behind Act), and more individual freedoms (the opposite of the USA PATRIOT Act, advocated for both renewal and expansion by the current, nominally Republican administration).

Hence my question: Who exactly does the GOP represent?

It certainly doesn’t seem to be the values of the conservatives as I understand them.

In many ways, I am a nominal “conservative”.

I support the right to keep and bear arms (within certain limits, I do feel that some limitations are necessary, such as registration of weapons along the lines of bazookas and others that go far beyond the capabilities understood by the founders), I believe that government handouts are NOT the best way to alleviate poverty, but I also believe that there is an obligation to help those whom have not been taught good methodologies for making personal decisions (I just don’t have a universal prescription on how to help them), and I do believe that ultimately, with rights come grave responsibilities that we neglect at our peril, as we are learning now.

Is my view of “conservative” in the United States so out of whack?

If not, who does the GOP represent?

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I believed “conservative??? stood for small government, less spending by the federal government, less interference by the federal government in local affairs (the opposite of the No Child Left Behind Act), and more individual freedoms (the opposite of the USA PATRIOT Act, advocated for both renewal and expansion by the current, nominally Republican administration).

Well, there is certainly a big distance between the classical definition of “conservative” and today’s Republican party – I won’t argue that. All of the things you mention should be associated with conservatism (the only one I’d argue with is the PATRIOT act – but we’ve been there before).

I think that’s really why you see such a close split at the polls these days – 51/49 wouldn’t have happened if the Bush administration had hewed closer to the principles of conservatism.

That’s going to hurt the Republicans a bit more in ‘06 and ‘08, but if I were a Democrat, I wouldn’t hoot and holler quite yet. The Republicans are running a goat rope in the White House right now, and I’m about as dissatisfied as I’ve ever been with them. When I contrast them with today’s Democrats though, they still come out ahead. While the Dems yell “scandals”, I think of Steve H.’s great line:

Yes, we are unworthy to breathe the same air as the party of Trafficant, Rostenkowski, Ted Kennedy, Bob Torricelli, Bill Clinton, Webb Hubbell, Charlie Trie, Bert Lance, and Sandy Berger.

I’m not playing tit-for-tat, here, but I don’t see the Democrats providing a better domestic policy alternative, and yes, I worry greatly about their laxity on National Security.

1. I’ve never heard of a “Goat Rope”. What is it?

2. Jack, I’ve fixed the problem with my e-mail link.

3. President Clinton wasn’t a “true democrat” and though he served two terms it caused a meltdown in his party as they tried to pull the moderates further left. The same is true now with President Bush and his party. The moderates are being pushed around by the hard left for not being “good republicans”.
Abortion clinics on every corner or abolished forever there can be no other solution to the problem.
What this country really needs is a breed of “hard moderates” who can stand firm in the center without being pushed and pulled in the name of “party unity”.

What do you gain by being called “Republican” or “Democrat”?

Nothing.

“Conservitave” is not an absolute political description in the same way that “hot” is not an absolute number of degrees.

The only name you need is the one your parents gave you.

Let’s face it. The NFL is more fun when you cheer for more than one team.

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