JaBbA's Hut

I have some Republican friends. We banter and debate about politics, and agree to disagree. But many of them won't be voting for Bush this fall. (Whether they vote FOR Kerry is a different issue). They are Republicans because they believe that lower taxes and smaller government means a healthier country. They believe that when someone works for their money they ought to be able to keep more of it. And they believe that the Federal Government's role is National Defense, not defining morality and interfering with local affairs.

The NeoCons are one step away from completely taking over the Republican party, and the country. Tom Delay is in trouble, but as Paul Krugman points out:

But you shouldn't conclude that the system is working. Mr. DeLay's current predicament is an accident. The party machine that he has done so much to create has eliminated most of the checks and balances in our government. Again and again, Republicans in Congress have closed ranks to block or emasculate politically inconvenient investigations. If Enron hadn't collapsed, and if Texas didn't still have a campaign finance law that is a relic of its populist past, Mr. DeLay would be in no danger at all.

I think many Republicans are going to do the right thing, and let the NeoCons know that they want their party back. Truthfully, I don't think Eric Fingerhut has a chance in hell of defeating George Voinovich, simply because GV has shown that he isn't buying into the complete NeoCon agenda, and True Republicans (and many Democrats) will vote for him (Eric's got my vote, but then again, I'm a liberal ). But in other parts of the country, the GOP has put NeoCon candidates on the ballot, and the Democrats are pulling in many swing voters who see what is happening.

This election may be the most important election for decades. If the Democrats win the White House and take control of the Senate, the Republicans may get the opportunity to reclaim their party from the NeoCons, and we can get back to a healthy debate on the issues. If the NeoCons can complete their takeover, We're going to have many years of polarization and danger -- which is fine with them, since they're getting rich off it if.

Yes, that's right. I am suggesting that the best way to create a healthy Republican Party is to get out of power for an election cycle and put up moderate, fiscal conservatives who truly believe in smaller government next time. And believe it or not...I think that would be healthy for all of us.