What’s Happening With Modern Republicans?

When I was a kid, Republicans used to regularly promise, during their campaigns, to get government off our backs.  That was a reference to smaller, fiscally conservative, less intrusive government.  That’s the philosophy that attracted me to the party in the first place.  Later, as the social conservatives gained more influence, the joke used to be that Republicans wanted to get government off our backs and into our bedrooms.  Today, it appears Republicans want government in our living rooms, and recreation rooms as well.

In a public hearing earlier this week, two Republican State Senators suggested to the presidents of our major universities that they adopt employment policies that would refuse to hire smokers.  I might have expected such remarks from Democrats.  They’re always looking for government to take a larger role in our lives.  But, from two Republicans?  It’s enough to make me wonder if I should call Dale Dobberstein, and ask if there’s any more room in that Libertarian crowd of his.  What is happening to modern Republicans?

I probably should note that I’m a pipe smoker.  But, I never did smoke the pipe in public places, except my office at work.  And my company has been smoke free for twenty years.  So this isn’t  a rant about smoking bans.  It is a rant about personal freedoms.  We’re not talking about smoking in bars, and restaurants.  We’re talking about people who smoke in their own homes.  This isn’t about the antics of a privately held company, like Weyco.  This is about making public policy.  And, public policy that says you can’t work in government because, in private, you do something legal, but offensive to us (whoever “us” is)?  That’s not acceptable.

I also weigh a little over 200 pounds.  Will a weight limit for government hiring be next?  I’ve been known to have a beer or two occasionally.  Would that disqualify me for future state employment?  Sometimes I wonder whether these politicians ever think before opening their mouths.

I’ve watched a Republican administration in Washington D.C. mangle the Constitution for the past seven years.  The Bushies were helped by a Republican majority in Congress for six of those years.  The modern Republican party is not the party I signed up for 44 years ago.  I’m beginning to wonder if holding grimly on, waiting for a return to the old fashioned conservative sanity that first attracted me to Republican politics is just a waste of time.

Comments

[EmersonsZen]

Jerry-

In the spirit of Lincoln Chafee, I'd say go ahead and move your mug shot to the Dems.

Your dour outlook, the doom and gloom diction in your post; all *definately* qualify you for liberal membership.

In your future postings, please be sure to:

1) Blame President Bush for every calamity that befalls the earth, on every level

2) When you lack a logical response in any discussion, see #1 above

3) Bow before the altars of the United Nations, Sean Penn, and Michael Moore

But seriously Jerry, give it a try. Perhaps being a Democrat is the identity you are more aligned with. I'm putting solar panels on my roof next year, so heck, before you know it I could be rubbing elbows with Jen, and Deb, and Carl...

[Dave Woods]

If someone didn't blame Bush for everything, but rather only for what he is actually responsible for, would there be much difference?

But I kid.

Seriously, though, who are Jen, Deb, and Carl?

[EmersonsZen]

Ok, I chuckled Dave.

Jennifer Granholm, Debbie Stabenow, Carl Levin

[Dave Woods]

Oh that makes sense.

I thought it might be the Dixie Chicks' names, but I was at least half sure none of them was named Carl. Still, country music...who knows, you know?

[libertarianman]

"I’m beginning to wonder if holding grimly on, waiting for a return to the old fashioned conservative sanity that first attracted me to Republican politics is just a waste of time."

That'd be a "yes". Funny--you don't look old enough to have experienced the time when Republicans actually attempted to walk the walk.

It must be tough, knowing that your political brethren are willing to suffer all manner of indignities and assaults upon their liberty at the hands of those you choose to represent you, so long as the chosen ones are willing to utter the magic, albeit empty, mantra: "I'm pro-life!"

I can't speak for Dale D., but come on in; the tent is large!

[Bill Matt]

When the legislators first implement a law that bans the State from hiring smokers, including all the legislators and their staffs, any and all entities that receive any state assistance whatsoever, then I'll listen to their half baked schemes to enforce this. And lets not get started on drinkers and obesity. There they go again...

[amac]

When I was a kid the Republicans in power were Nelson Rockefeller, Richard Nixon, William Milliken and Gerald Ford. All were moderates. The only conservative of any consequence was Barry Goldwater, and he was considered an extremist.

When we hear that George W. Bush is proud above all of his ideological toughness, what ideology are we talking about? Fiscal conservatism? Social conservatism? Nobody has ever called Dubya a moderate on anything. The only thing I can figure out about the man is that his presidency has been a disaster for the country.

[Dave Woods]

As caustic as Bush is lately, he is no doubt the catalyst to much discussion and learning.

Although some castigate him, I like to think of him as just another Zen Master parachuted in to nudge the rest of us to new understandings about why you shouldn't torture people, lie to your allies, ignore the Constitution, and proceed unheedingly and blindly into a miasma of conflict based solely on personal conviction and stuff like that.

[Nixon Now]

Michigan, now a Democratic party stronghold and has not supported a Republican Presidential candidate since 1988, worries over the party. Honestly, why do you care?

This state has the highest unemployment in the union. This state has the most people on welfare per capita of the union. This state is losing citizens. This state has the highest job loss of any state in the union. Saginaw, Flint, and Detroit are in the top 25 cities for the worst places to live in America.

Yep, toss stones at Republicans because you're too stupid to see the problems in your own back yard.

Get a clue, Lansing. Your state is dying.

[Dave Woods]

Nixon, your point is about as clear as your name. What are you advocating or not advocating?

[Nixon Now]

Dave, I'm observing that one of the most poverty stricken, highest taxed, and most depressing places in the USA has nothing better to do than to whine about the Republican Presidential party, which they have not voted for in 20 years.

Ya get it? I bet you like Saginaw?

[MSUGeek]

Dave - I pride myself on learning something new each day. Today you provided a new word for me to look up - miasma (In this instance I take it to mean a toxic environment). I am not sure I can fit this into a social conversation to impress my boss today, but thanks nonetheless for the learning opportunity.

" I managed to survive the MIASMA of last night's Democratic debate rhetoric."

[Aubrey Marron]

I think Jerry wrote an excellent commentary on how the Republican Party has changed nationally in recent decades. The right-wing religious extremists have been working to infiltrate and take over the GOP since the 1980s. It's those folks who pushed for taking stands that infringe on people's civil liberties and private lives.

I hope that Jerry and many other disenfranchised Republicans like him will rise up and take back their party.

[Vic Jackson]

I don't get it Nixon Now. How does a place (not a person) like Michigan "whine about the Republican Presidential Party"? What or who is the Republican Presidential Party? And I am baffled as to what "like Saginaw" has to do with any of your comments. You certainly seem to have some rather unorthodox comments for Michigan's economic woes.

[Dave Woods]

I don't get it either . . . is he saying Michigan should or shouldn't vote Republican, or is he saying something totally different?

Michigan certainly isn't a Democratic stronghold -- no state with "Speaker Andy Dillon" on her stationery and John Engler in her past is a Democratic stronghold.

Is Nixon telling us to become one? Maybe Nixon is another of those libertarians who are so hard to pin down here.

[MSUGeek]

I am still trying to figure out what Michigan is and what happened to my old Republican party. Here in Eaton County we are, or were majority Republican. That is until two things happened. First was the fast encroachment of west Lansing and Grand Ledge toward Dimondale and Potterville, bringing with it the lower income residents and/or union workers (darn GM Plant!) who are a traditional part of the Democrat base. The second was the defeat of a very fine moderate Republican, U.S. Representative Joe Schwartz, by the right-wing (out-of-state)factions of his own party in the primary. Putting Tim Wallberg on the ticket brought out the Democrats smelling the blood of an upset. Although Wallberg won the seat, the residual effect of the voter turnout was to elect a majority Democrat county board for the first time. I am convinced that wouldn't have happened if Joe were able to defend his seat in the general election. I do agree with some of the stances of the more conservative wing of my party, but I believe the extreme wings of both parties have done more harm than good in the past 20 years, especially here in Michigan.

[Aubrey Marron]

Geek, I have to agree with you that it was a terrible shame when Joe Schwartz lost that congressional primary to Tim Walberg. Joe is a decent, ethical person. I didn't always agree with his votes, but I have a lot of respect for the man. I have no respect for Walberg, whose primary campaign that year was almost entirely paid for (over $1 million of his $1.185 million) by the Club for Growth, a national right wing anti-tax, anti-government group.

[Jerry Scarborough]

Geek - Amen. I'm a 7th District resident too. And, I miss old Joe. And, Walberg is a disaster.

amac - When I was a kid the Republicans in power were Eisenhower, Ford, Dirksen, Dole, etc. Back then, they were all called conservatives. Not until the social conservatives came along did they, and I become moderates. And, Rockefeller was always a liberal Republican.

EZ - I don't recall mentioning a switch to the Democrats. Just because I'm critical of this administration doesn't make me a Democrat. I've got lot's of company in just about every party.

[Dave Woods]

MSU -- that was a perfect use of miasma re: the debate last night.

Let's hope Obama doesn't pinch it off you.