A Post-Mortem for the Republican Party

I am not a card-carrying member of either party. I am a true independent. That said, I believe the Republican Party blew it. In 2002, the Republicans had so much momentum that they were swept into office overwhelmingly. It seemed that they had been given a mandate to govern that would last a generation. The Democrats were toast.

Then, the Republicans got to governing and they forgot many of the principles that they were supposed to advocate:

1. Reduce the size of government - instead they expanded it dramatically (Department of Homeland Security)

2. Reduce entitlements - instead they expanded old ones and created entire new ones. (Prescription drugs)

3. Run government more efficiently - instead they created layers of added bureaucracy. (no child left behind)

4. Run government more competently - instead they brought cronies with no legitimate credentials and experience into positions of importance (can you say Attorney General Gonzalez? FEMA director Michael Brown?)

5. Keep government off the backs of ordinary people - instead they drove government intervention deeper into our daily lives (can you say Terry Schaivo, Gay Marriage, Abortion)

6. Reduce the deficits - instead they spent like drunken sailors and created the largest deficits on record.

7. Run the government more ethically - instead we got scandals like Tom Delay

It is not that I am a Democrat; I am not. But, I cannot blame people for feeling betrayed and let down with the Republicans.

About the only thing that the Republicans remained true to their word was being strong on national security. And, on national security, the war was longer and more difficult (as all wars are) than Americans were led to believe it would be. It took a few extra years, and for the President to fire Rumsfeld and bring in Petreaus to finally get things right. So, while the war certainly did not help, I do not believe it hurt the Republicans in the end.

It really came down to the perception that the Republicans got drunk with power and used it selfishly, rather than in the interest of the country.

It is a testament to John McCain, the man, that the election was as close as it was. I believe that it could have been even closer, possibly resulting in a McCain victory had John McCain, the candidate, run a half-way effective campaign.

So, the Republican party is at a crossroads. It needs to figure out what it stands for and whom shall it include under its tent.

On the other hand, the Democrats now have unchecked control of both houses of Congress and the White House...they may get drunk on power the same way the Republicans just did.