Do the right thing

The Comrade met with Republicans at some kind of Republican Retreat yesterday. I think it was yesterday. My days begin and end on a non-traditional schedule, so I'm really never sure what day it is.

At any rate, I find it funny that suddenly even the Comrade is pursuing Republicans. Or at least blaming them for the democrats' failure to pass socialized medicine and cap'n'tax. He'd always more or less blown them off as totally negligible. And they have been. Glenn Beck pointed out that the dems have majorities in both houses, and he pointed it out rather graphically. (Really, Glenn, I think most Americans do thoroughly understand the concept of a "majority.") And it is definitely worth noting -- again and again -- that there's really no way the Republicans can obstruct legislation or stand in the way of any proposals in this congress. The Republicans are almost irrelevant in this congress.

Somehow, however, the White House -- perhaps following up on Max Baucus's drunken harangue of a couple weeks ago -- are laying their failures at the Republicans' doorstep. What? If the Blue Dogs don't like the proposed legislation and refuse to be bought off, Republicans are are supposed to take up the slack and vote for something they don't believe in?

What kind of reasoning is that? The usual kind from this White House.

The dems claim that the Republicans are only playing games, withholding their support to make the Comrade look bad.

So a Republican is supposed to vote for socialized medicine? For massive and crushing taxes on all forms of energy? It doesn't occur to the Comrade that maybe the Republicans really don't like the policies?

On the other hand, why don't the dems drop all this junk about a "public option" and just vote to limit frivolous medical law suits? Why don't they vote to allow sales of private health insurance across state lines? Why don't they refuse to let the EPA run the country? I suppose they're just playing games to make the Republicans -- and apparently 60% or more of the population -- look bad.

Fundamental differences exist between the wild-eyed marxist radicals in the White House and the Republicans along wtih most of the rest of the country. The dems may recognize that somehow, but then they apparently assume that there's something wrong with the rest of the country.

Meanwhile, Pazzo Pelosi is strapping on a parachute for the sake of socialized medicine. I think she needs some kind of medicine. Or better yet, forget the parachute but by all means, do the dive.

And all this because Massachusetts elected a conservative Republican to replace Teddy Kennedy in the Senate. The dems don't like the idea that the public still has a choice. Either that or they're simply incredibly blind and stupid. It's the Comade and his merry marxists who refuse to accept any options. They apparenty believe that their way is the only way. How very Maoist.

I've never really been a Republican. I'm pretty indifferent on most social issues -- like, I don't think it's any of my business if someone has an abortion. And I don't think it's any of the government's business, either. The Civil Rights Movement was rolling along full-tilt when I was growing up, and between the ages of 15 and 22 or so, you'd probably call me a hippy. But that's all because my first, most closely-held political commitment is to individual liberty. Government can play a role in that; it can help keep people free and protect their rights. Anarchy has never worked anywhere. It always degenerates into some version of "might makes right."

I can't square socialism with individual liberty. With socialism, at the minimum you need an overweening and massive government just to gather up and redistribute the goodies. History hath shown that in most cases, you need an overweening and massive government to enforce the injustice of socialism as well.

None of this makes me free or protects my rights.

My dad was a very staunch and active Roosevelt democrat. We lived in an extremely Republican suburb of Chicago, and my dad ran for local office several times, just so  the Republican wouldn't be "unopposed." My mom was mostly non-political, and my dad used to make her serve as a democrat judge at the polling place every election day, just to keep the count honest.

The main thing I learned about politics as a kid is that freedom is worth everything. Never give it up. Cherish it. Fight for it if you must. Without freedom, there's nothing. The very first thing I did on my 21st birthday was register to vote.

My dad died when I was 11 years old; my mom died just a few years ago. Among my mother's things was a tiny, hand-carved ivory donkey. No doubt a memento of my dad. But I think if my dad were still alive, he'd be a Republican, as repugnant as that label would be to him. And he'd also be feeling very betrayed by the democrats.

None of what's going on today in the USA can be solved by hype or spin. The divisions are deep and based on fundamental principles. I'll stand behind the Republicans right now because they have the organization to defeat the democrats.

And if there's any one thing I've learned through this last year, it's that the Founding Fathers were absolutely correct -- that you can trust the American people to do the right thing.