Guest blogger "Dave Allen" has a sensitive lobbying job inside the Beltway, so he is using a pseudonym to contribute to The Body Politic. He is a diehard conservative. The editor is a personal friend and has vetted his identity and credentials. The viewpoints shared here are not necessarily those of the editor, but they are welcome here as are all well-articulated opinions that help us elevate the discourse on the most important policies, issues and leaders of our day. If you wish to contribute a guest blog, email: bodypoliticblog@gmail.com.
By Dave Allen, Guest Blogger
There is no easy way to say this:
In 2001, Republicans captured the White House and held majorities in the House and the Senate (slight, but a majority). Conservative (Republican appointed) SCOTUS held a 5-4 majority. They also held a majority of state governorships and even state legislatures.
Today in 2008, all of that is gone. By January, Democrats will hold the White House, the Senate, the House, 29 governorships. 28 state legislatures, and the new Democrat president will likely make two SCOTUS appointments within 18 months, giving a 6-3 majority.
My party has slowly, gradually, but completely GOTTEN THEIR ASSES KICKED. I say "my party" but the Republicans of 2008 aren't even close to being the true conservative ideologues that attracted me to the Party Of Reagan back in the 1980's. As the GOP moved farther away from limited government, lower spending, and a strong defense, I have more and more started identifying myself as a "conservative" and less as a "Republican". While not a member of the Libertarian Party, I more and more identify with libertarian principles. I now identify more closely with the Cato Institute than the Heritage Foundation. And I am not alone, millions of my conservative colleagues have done the same.
It used to be FUN to be a Republican. Using Reagan as an icon, scrapping with liberals just to prove a point. Even in the 90's, uniting with Newt against the "evil liberal" Bill Clinton (who actually in retrospect, governed as a moderate). But now, while I am still very proud of my conservative principles , they aren't always represented by the GOP. Sometimes I'm embarrassed for my own leaders. Not by them, but for them.
THE ELEPHANT IS VERY SICK. If the Republicans don't self-diagnose and self-medicate, the Party of Lincoln may find itself threatened with extinction, the same thing that eventually happened to the Whigs and the Federalists.
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Editor's Note: You may also want to watch this YouTube video on why the GOP should be glad that McCain Lost so badly this year. It is produced by another conservative, and it turns the GOP's pureplay attack politics on its head.
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