Republicans Are Liars
Below is a rant about the recent precipitous decline of the ethos of the Republican party, based upon a conversation I had while attending a somewhat elitist Washington DC party. If you̢۪re not interested in an anecdotal impression, don̢۪t bother with what̢۪s below the fold.
Democrats are socialists.
While some may be surprised at this statement, this shouldn’t be at all controversial given the policy preferences of mainstream Democrats. That’s not to say that Democrats are communists or moronic Chomskyites (although some of the fools among them are), but the fundamental credo of that party is a belief in redistribution of wealth and a large amount of government intrusion into an individual’s private life in an effort to make everything “fair.†I completely disagree with their ideology, but I give Democrats credit for being forthcoming about their socialist designs.
Republicans, on the other hand, are simply liars.
Republicans lie to Americans daily by proclaiming that they are an alternative to Democratic socialism. They purport to believe in law and order (like securing our borders), smaller government (they’ll ensure fiscal responsibility and cut federal spending), and they promise to behave morally (and they’ll hire porn squads to spy on you while pretending to believe in privacy). Basically, the Republican party is one founded upon three absolute lies.
I write this post in anger after having gone to a party at my neighbor’s house; he’s the chief of staff for a very prominent US Senator from a very red state. After a few drinks, he goaded me into telling stories about the silly liberalism of some of my students (a favorite topic of conversation among conservatives, as if there aren’t ignorant conservative students with misguided ideas). Anyway, one of those listening was a Republican lobbyist, who thought my stories were funny but who made it a point to proclaim that while he himself was very conservative — he’d worked on the Goldwater campaign in 1960 — he was also very proud that as a lobbyist he’s “crossed the isle†(a lame DC cliche) and has worked with and is friends with some good Democrats.
“Like who,†I asked.
“Well,†he said, “during the Clinton years we did some land deals with Bruce Babbitt, who’s a good guy and a friend.â€
To this I answered what any informed American would have: “you mean Bruce Babbitt, the criminal who by all rights should be in prison?â€
The guy was shocked that I would dare say such a thing, and dumbfounded when I explained to him that between his tenure as Arizona governor and his eight-year stint as Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt and his family (through Babbitt Brothers Trading Company) bought up a substantial amount of land in eastern Arizona at incredibly low rates, only to have that same land declared nationally protected lands once he was appointed Secretary of the Interior. Thus once in office, the land Babbitt and his family members bought at premium prices was reassessed and repurchased by the federal government — with taxpayers’ money — at many times the original purchase price. And therefore Bruce Babbitt is a criminal and the enemy of any and all law-abiding Americans.
In an Asian society, having violated the public trust in such a way, Babbitt would be honor-bound to kill himself. In this country, the federal government was duty-bound to prosecute him for stealing from the taxpayers. Of course Babbitt’s crimes occurred during the Clinton administration, when lying and stealing were the rule of the day. The only targets of the Clinton administration seemed to be conservatives largely minding their own business (think Ruby Ridge and Waco). Ok, I know, I’m still trying to let go and move past the accepted corruption of the Clinton years, but it isn’t easy.
Anyway, tonight I had to once again endure a self-proclaimed “conservative†Republican singing the praises of a Democrat thief like Babbitt. But why? Why did I have to deal with a “conservative†standing up for a crook? Because, the lobbyist told me, this particular crook, while in power, gave land concessions to this Republican’s interest group (Indian gaming interests in another red state). Yes, it all made sense once I was told that.
The only logical conclusion here is that Republicans, once in power or with access to power, are much less conservative than they are self-interested politicians (read: pieces of garbage just like Democrats). What Republicans seek to “conserve†is their power and privilege over the little people — i.e. you and me. It all comes back to a calculation of “my big government is better than your big government, but if the other party is in charge then make sure to cut me in on the booty.†The whole project of a federal government is a gigantic scam. The Federalist Papers warned us against such folly, but it seems that we were unable to avoid betraying the founding fathers as well as ourselves.
So while the members of the two-party, DC duopoly in our nation’s capital go to cocktail parties and mock the silly “little people†(you know, us), Thomas Jefferson and James Madison are spinning in their graves.
The Democrats may have no ideas other than those which they inherited from Stalin, but the Republican party continues to simply make it up as they go along. Whatever keeps them in power seems to be their only modus operandi, which is worse than pathetic for what was once the party of ideas.
On a personal note it’s looking like I won’t be invited back to any of my neighbor’s parties. Well, that’s ok, that party was dead anyway …
Such doom and gloom for American politics…but unabashedly correct.
I fear for the future of my country…when good men do not stand up and challenge corruption. When good is the “new” bad and right is the “new” wrong. It’s up upside down. The “bad men” are hideously evil and the “good men” are ineffectual.
Well said. Painfull…but well said.
DeWaun: thanks for reminding me to reiterate something. I don’t write this to gain advantage or to be on the cutting edge of complaining about an administration (I’m thinking Bill Kristol or Peggy Noonan here); I write this because I was really bummed out to hear this guy simply accepts that graft is a normal part of federal politics and that I was a dreamer for expecting him and others to be honest.
It was a really sad night in that regard.
It could be that Republicanism -the party -better yet -the conservative principles, are one thing and the individuals that run and get elected under this banner are another?
After all, you can’t blame Christianity because Judas, who apparently really wasn’t a Christian at heart, turned out to be a rather scurrilous fellow, can you?
The problem in part, IMHO, is the big tent theory – anybody can join us with no consequences, is childish nonsense.
Leopold: Good post. Thank you.
People try (and fail) with 3rd parties now and then. Is there anybody in the wings to try again? It would be very nice if somone staked out the honest, moderate, territory for such an effort now …
Good Post Leopold:
Politics, for as long a time as I can remember,(and thats a long time), has been a back stabbing, underhanded, corrupt, and dishonest game that some people engage in and has unfortunately become the norm of our time. The word “Politics” reminds me of the story about a father who sent his son to college The young guy in his 3rd year of college studying engineering. During spring break, he went home and was having a discussion with his father, The young guy startled his father when he answered a question from his dad, “Son, what are you going to do after you graduate from school”? The son answered “go into politics”. The father then said to the son. “Well son, you have a good start for that field, you’ve been spending someone else’s money for 3 years now.
In all seriousness, politicians all come from the same mold, Republican and Democrat, and have chosen politics as a career because “There is a hell of a lot of money in it”. Most all politici ans are rotten to the hilt and have no limits to their effort to put the screws to “the little people” while telling them how much they are doing for them. They will also go any limit to “stack on the pork” that is nothing more than “Vote Buying”. And all this while lining their own pockets.
In conclusion, “They are all crooked, greedy, self serving and self righteous.
A good post, but this –
– is completely laughable. Democrats run away like frightened schoolgirls from the word “liberal,” let alone “socialist.” If you ask them, they’re all “moderates” and “in the mainstream.”
Leopold,
Well my contention is that all politicians are liars. So, naturally your post is correct, simply incomplete.
There are “political compass” tests you can take on-line which will give you an idea of where you reside. I think of myself as an old-school conservative, and was surprised the first time I tested out as a moderate. As I contemplate that, I think it is because I have a bais in favor of policies which work, rather than a hard and fast ideology.
As far as what’s wrong … remember the old Mark Twain quote about America not having a native criminal class, except Congress.
While that criminal-congress has always been there, something about this age (Enron, Microsoft) has made people a little more willing to commit crime in public.
Talk about liars! To claim Democratic principles are inherited from Stalin is total nonsense.
The consensus of both parties is that certain amounts of infrastructure, redistribution of income and the like are necessary to mantain the balance, capitalism functions in a complex system, that’s why you don’t have it in third world countries where the rich and powerful pay no taxes or in other feudalist forms. The argument is a metter of degree and also we once hoped that Republican’s were more inclined for innovative programs of reform.
There is nothing like the horror of Stalinism involved, but you do believe in the big lie just like Hitler. So should I accuse you of all the rest of Nazism?
In point of fact our society has prospered for whatever it’s faults in the 70 years since FDR. It’s growth contrasts that of more socialist systems that have stagnated.
You are without shame, intelligence or integrity.
The folks running the Republican party now steer folks in unimportant directions while they bury their noses ever deeper into the public trough. “Look! It’s one of them-thar homaSEKshuls!” “Oh, dear, lookee there! That person doesn’t want his child subject to compulsory Christian prayer in front of potentially hostile schoolmates!” While the rubes follow the pointed finger of distraction, the thievery goes on.
Republicans Are Liars …
really? What I find laughable is the way they went after de Lay with nothing concrete. And who was doing the chasing … Nancy “Euro junket” Pelosi. Gimme a break!
Yeah, some of them are – but they are rank amatures compare to the professional leftist deceivers that, even deceive with their names -“progressive” indeed! From what – toward what? The silent lie – page 267 of their rule book – How Can we Fool Them Today!
I have voted for Democrats in local elections, state elections and congressional elections, but everytime I think I should punish the Republican party in the presidential election for deviating from the platform they ran on, the democrats actual find someone worse. If they EVER run someone socially liberal, financially conservative and with strong support of the military and the willingness to use it against those who would do the country harm, they would win in a walk.