Posted by
arandomguy on Saturday, April 07, 2007 11:43:29 PM
This is a really interesting story. Cindy Sheehan, postergirl for the anti-war leftist movement in America, has been publicly proclaiming that Democrats have betrayed the "grassroots" movement that put them in power as opponents to the Iraq War, all the while encouraging Bush to "end this madness."
She opposes the Democratic-sponsored Defeat America Immediately act, which calls for a roughly 18 month withdrawal date for US troops in Iraq, and is vehemently opposed by the Bush administration and anybody with logic and common sense (too much to ask for in leftists though). "The timeline is now, not 18 months, not two years," Sheehan said, while leading a protest somewhere near Bush's ranch in Texas.
This leads me to the following startling (or perhaps not) conclusion: nobody likes the Democrats.
The Democrats are, quite simply the party of people that nobody likes. They are not liberal enough for the leftists. They are too liberal for the moderates and conservatives. They are worse to some. Nancy Pelosi is rebuked by that great Conservative thinktank the Washington Post for her trip to Syria, and the Democratic agenda has gotten nowhere quickly.
They are quickly angering the American people with their endless subpoenas of Bush administration officials, and relentless attacks against US soldiers and the Iraq war. Even traditionally Democratic strong-points, Education, health-care, Medicare, and others are taking a shellacking as the Democrats move increasingly to the left, and Americans move increasingly to the middle, or slightly right of middle.
This isn't a problem for those of us Republicans, but it does raise an interesting point. There was a time in American politics, when you had a difficult choice for President. Both parties sponsored candidates who were interested in bettering America, and making it a stronger, more powerful, and more prosperous nation for all its citizens. There was a time when you had to make an actual decision at the ballot box - for the general election, not just the primaries.
This isn't really the case any more, and I personally find it kind of upsetting. If you're a leftist, or a liberal-leaning-leftist, you're going to vote Democratic almost to a man. If you're conservative, you'll vote Republican almost to a man. If you're moderate, you'll vote both ways, but lean Republican because the Democrats act so damn stupid while in power.
I don't mind discharging Democrats from power. What worries me, is that the Republican party is ceasing to be the party of conservatives, and is moving increasingly to the left. More Republicans are coming out against the war, but additionally, many Republicans are simply RINO'S, who oppose conservative economic principles like the Fair Tax plan, as well as other conservative issues. The Republicans are doing this I believe, because they want to widen their voter base.
This is generally a good thing - a party (to be separated from a candidate) should try to appeal to as many people as is possible. Yet the Republican leadership must face the fact that people who support Cindy Sheehan, and people who vote for Nancy Pelosi will NOT vote for any kind of moderate or conservative platform. The only way the Republican party is going to court these voters (as it, unfortunately, seems to be trying to do), is by moving out of Conservatism all together, and becoming liberals. This will however, alienate ever single person who voted Republican in 2002, 2004, and especially 2006 when they really took a beating and only the staunch conservatives remained loyal to the party.
It is a mistake I hope the Republican leadership sees and is able to counter. If they are not, then I fear for the future of politics in this country.