Republicans suffered an embarrassing defeat in the elections of both 2006 and 2008 and they still don’t seem to have a clue as to why. The answer is because they stopped being conservative Republicans and behaved more like tepid Democrats. That is, they assumed the “big government” posture, just without the conceited arrogance.  

Ironically, it is the Democrats who enact legislation that grows the size of government, imposes greater and greater limitations on personal freedom and civil liberties and seizes larger portions of our income. All this as they simultaneously blame Republicans for the consequences. Unfortunately, the response from Republican Party leaders is to assume the passive puppy position.

 Watching elected Republicans, party leaders and especially some, who call themselves members of the conservative media, prostrate themselves in response to this challenge from Democrats, is grounds for revolt. The lesson is that passive opposition by Republicans, in the face of a deliberate attempt by the Democrats to marginalize, humiliate, intimidate and defeat them is not an effective strategy. 

An example is the tactic of Democrats to intimidate Republicans with threats of humiliation and increasing obsolescence should they dare criticize the pick of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. The tactic serves two purposes. First, it all but guarantees that Ms. Sotomayor will not be subjected to the rigorous vetting required for the position and second, it further inflames the growing disgust of the Republican Party base for what they rightly perceive as Republican Milquetoast. For the Democrats, it epitomizes the term “win, win.”   

There is also an interesting contrast between the strategies of the two parties in “reaching out” to the electorate. Republicans seem intent on reaching out to their opposition while letting go of those who most support them. The Democrats are intent on reaching out to those who fall away from the Republican Party and after they have voted in their favor, dropping them like hot rocks. Loyalty it seems is subjective in both parties.

What amazes is that the socialistic policies of the left have proven to be inefficient, ineffective and debilitating in terms of governance and the public at large.  By contrast, Republican policies of smaller government, with emphasis on individual and personal achievement, stands as the foundation that propelled this nation to its greatness. And yet, through demographic pandering, ridicule, manipulation and propaganda, the Democrats succeed in selling their message while the Republicans sift through the yellow pages in search of an ad agency. 

The good news for Republicans is that they are at the threshold of being handed one of the greatest political opportunities since Jimmy Carter. Yes, the Democrats will, and perhaps with some success, try to place the blame for our current ills on former President Bush but the tactic is becoming stale and transparent. 

As North Korea sets off nuclear and long-range missile tests, Iran moves ever closer to the nuclear club, Pakistan engages in a low-grade civil war, Russia gains a foothold in South America and our domestic tranquility turns to civil unrest, Republicans can firmly seize the mantle of leadership. The question remains as to whether they will, who their champion will be and do they have the fortitude to endure the slime of liberal intimidation, gutter tactics and mudslinging that will surely follow.

It seems that elected members of the Republican Party have selective hearing. In a recent Townhall style meeting, “leaders” in the Republican Party vowed to create a new message for the party and to “listen” to their constituents. They declared that it was time to leave the good old days behind and move forward. The word of the day of course was “bipartisan.” 

The message that leaders in the Republican Party either do not or refuse to hear is the message that was communicated so clearly on Tax Day. Those who attended those rallies were shouting in unison:  “Start doing the people’s business and get your hands out of our pockets.” What the politicians heard evidently, was, “keep giving the people the business because they have deep pockets.”

The media is daily pronouncing the death of the Republican Party, with an added dose of good riddance, and the mental morons in the Republican Party want to “reach out” to their opposition. Radical Islam wants to bury the United States and the Democrats are kissing their ring. The Democrats want to bury the Republicans and the Republicans are kissing their ring. It is small wonder that our government is such a failure when such aversion to standing up to your aggressors is so prevalent.   

With the defection of Arlen Specter to the Democratic Party, the left is working overtime to sell his actions as a clear message to the GOP that they must move left or forever wander in the wilderness. To the extreme frustration and ire of the Republican and conservative electorate, leaders in the Republican Party are doing just that. Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend Republicans your ears because they can’t hear that the Democrats are coming to bury them, not praise them for their cowardice.

In addition, what Republicans in elected office fail to hear is that it isn’t about numbers, demographics and to whom they must pander to hold their numbers in congress, it is about issues. Moreover, it is about leading the way on the real issues that are affecting this nation and most importantly, being steadfast to those positions. Simply stated, until Republicans again choose to lead, they will wallow in the minority status they deserve. Leadership is not a numbers game.          

Republicans must understand that their demonstration of political mushiness could well destroy the party forever. As warriors live and die by the sword, politicians choose to live and die by wielding political polls. They go into the political arena armed only with a favorability rating. It is beyond comprehension as to why they ignore the armor of how the majority of the electorate actually feels about the issues. 

In just over three months, the President of the United States has essentially annexed both the business and financial sectors of this nation. He is moving with high speed to do the same with our healthcare system as well as education. In conjunction with this takeover of the gross domestic product by the federal government, the United States Congress is in the process of an inquisition against its rivals by criminalizing the actions of its rivals and the Bush administration. 

To counter the destruction of our constitution and current laws that govern economics and business, the Republican Party is muttering something about the physical dimensions of a tent. Size doesn’t matter some say and in this instance, regardless of how big the tent is, it is a mere prop if no one is willing to enter. The people are tired of the circus that plays in the arena of politics and the clowns that daily perform their foolishness.