The Republican Party: Party of Hypocrisy

[clayton72]

OK, this is a rant. There, I said it. I admit it. Right up front. This is a rant and I'm preaching to the choir and I know it. There are no original thoughts contained herein. Nothing that hasn't been said before. But I have to say it anyway because it's like a sickness in my brain and I just gotta let it out.
I used to be a Republican. I never carried a card or anything. Frankly I was just a one issue voter; Gun rights. I believe firmly in the God given right for the people to have the means at hand to defend themselves against all who would do them harm. The right to self-defense is an inalienable human right. I voted for the Republicans because they defended these rights. Isn't it ironic that they would be the party who would do the most in history to prove that we may some day need to be armed to defend ourselves against our own government. Suspending habeas corpus, secret prisons, and government sanctioned torture. It makes me sick. To all you who have blissfully gone through life loving your country and believing it couldn't happen here I say wake up. It has happened, it is happening, and there will be worse days. Hopefully no more serious abrogations of the rights of the people will occur between now and when the next president, Obama, is sworn in. Hopefully we do not go to war with Iran. Hopefully we can leave Iraq with some dignity and not with images of a new fall of Saigon. When our current administration leaves office we will be left bankrupt as a country though. Morally and financially. So what happened?
What happened to the Republican party? They constructed for themselves an image or moral authority, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. What happened? Wait... How'd they get that image? Was that just "marketing"? Did I get taken in by the shinny brochure? Nixon was a crook. Reagan left us deeply in debt. I suppose it could be argued that Reagan created the economic conditions that lead to the financially successful era of the Bill Clinton presidency. But it was Bill who had the balanced budgets, not Reagan. I'm wholly unable to recall a Republican administration that left us better off financially at the end of their occupancy of the throne. I'm sure their must have been one. I'm also unable to recall a Republican led congress that positively benefited the middle class and working poor. Concentrating the wealth into the hands of the richest few instead of raising up the many has always led to financial collapse, tragedy, and revolt. Yet we still hear phrases uttered in the halls of power that are simply new variations of "let them eat cake".
How is it that the current administration has no sensible plan to bring us out of the financial crisis they have created? They have crashed the American economy for the benefit of their corporate cronies with their secret banks in places like the Cayman Islands who don't even pay taxes on their ill gotten gains. Party of fiscal responsibility my ass. Party of out of control military industrial world dominating corporate over-lords is more like it. But I suppose that's too long for their business cards.
How is it that their chosen one admits to knowing not a thing about economical matters? He has no plan to resolve our crisis. He wants to start a third war on a third front even after our economy has begun its collapse and our military is stretched beyond the breaking point. Our world credibility in shambles. The fabric of our republic worn thread bare.
No, they are not the party America needs. The Democrats have had their foibles and failings in the past but can hardly lay claim to the title of Worst President Ever. I've been saying for awhile that I'd be a Democrat or a Republican if only they would be. The Democrats have a much better track record for living up to their ideals. Sadly some of the derision heaped upon the party has been earned. Politicians of all stripes are guilty of using issues to get into the spot lights. The Republicans do it by saluting flags and demonizing welfare bums. The Dems by urging us to do things for the children. Both parties have a penchant for infringing our rights for the sake of looking like their doing something to solve imagined / over hyped problems while ignoring the problems that are just too damn big and complex to be solved by a sound bite.
But it's the Republican party that is most guilty of hypocrisy. Smaller government my ass. States rights, puhleeze. No child left behind?! What were you guys thinking? Cutting social programs to reduce spending so you can give breaks and no bid contracts to corporate cronies is not my idea of creating fiscally responsible government. Most of those social programs that have gone unfunded or underfunded saved us money as a society in the long run. Didn't realize compassionate conservatism meant compassion for corporations over the people. And while I agree that industry has been stifled by unnecessary red-tape at times and that regulations need to be updated to keep up with changes in business that does not make it OK to deregulate industries so that they can trash the environment or break trust with the public. It is not OK to sacrifice the middle class or the country's economic future for some quick profits today. Is that what the Republicans stand for?
By all means lets shrink government for the Republicans by electing Democrats. The party has become sickened and fouled with corruption and hubris. Funny how the Democrats of the 60's got voted out after decades of rule for their failings. And again in 1994 for their attempts to infringe gun rights. Never has a run in power been so short or the reason to beat a party back been so extreme as it is now with the Republicans. I just pray to God that the Democrats keep their humility, resist hubris, and apply themselves heartily to doing the business of solving the myriad problems We the People face. And I dread the day new jackasses screw it all up again and we wind up switching back to the Republicans. I hope the Republican party becomes a much better party for the stinging rebuke they will receive in November. I hope the Democrats are worthy of the trust we're going to be placing in them and continue to be so long enough to repair the damage done.

Thanks for reading folks!

Clayton

[OHdem10]

1. The GOP have their Sins but after watching our party during

this election---Does no one have any shame???

That ObamaMediaMachine(Includes Some Members of Congress) has
not been the height of integrity.IMO

Can we all now agree Democrats also believe in win at any cost.
The Media have totally stepped across line and become involved
in a campaign.

And I thought this was a Democratic Party.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Glad you escaped from the republicon totalitarian Homelander borg, Clayton

Welcome to the real America, populated not by Homelanders, but by Americans.

Glad to have you back in the USA.

[clayton72]

3. Well...

I do believe a lot of what the democratic party stands for. But they'd better not try to infringe my gun rights again or I'll jump ship faster than Schummer at a TV camera. He and Feinstein both can DIAF.

[CANDO]

4. Thank you for pouring out your thoughts, Clayton.

I'm cutting and pasting your rant for some of my friends and family to read. They are gun rights Republicans also. As to the last Republican President to balance a budget; a very liberal one at that, President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Sadly, Bill Clinton was to the right of Eisenhower on many issues. Shows how the times have indeed changed. Welcome to DU and welcome to the Democratic Party! I hope to hell we can earn and keep your newfound trust.

[clayton72]

5. Thanks!

Thanks for the welcome! Glad you liked some of what I had to say. I hope it works to open up some avenues of communication for you.

Do you mean gun rights Democrats?

I agree with the Democrats on most issues (social welfare, environment, etc). I also agree with the Republicans on most issues (Gun rights, personal rights / freedoms, keeping government out of people's biz, states rights, etc). Bottom line: I just want effective governance that serves the collective welbeing of the people of the USA.