For most of my life, I have been a Republican, and I still am, but just barely. The Republican Party of Abe Lincoln in the 1860”s went against state”s rights and for “affirmative action”, liberating a large portion of our population. In the early 1900”s, the other Republican on Mt. Rushmore, Teddy Roosevelt, promised a “square deal” for all Americans and called for national health care insurance, regulation of big business, among other “socialist” ideas.
Barry Goldwater (grandpappy of the Neocon movement), when asked about “gays” in the military, replied, you don”t have to be straight to be in the military, just shoot straight”. And then we come to “Ronnie”, Ronald Reagan. On my old Jeep that I have been driving for 46 years, is a bumper sticker, proclaiming, “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys”.
I watched Reagan doing “Death Valley Days” way back when. He promised optimism and hope with his “City On A Hill.” Reagan sat down and talked with the “Evil Empire” and got a nuclear arms reduction, saying that when we “started to talk with one another instead of about each other”, we got things done.
He cut taxes one year and then raised them shortly after, because it was necessary. He increased the size of government, even though he abhorred big government, but he saw that at this time it was necessary. Ronald Reagan”s greatest strength was that he was an actor – he knew how to act presidential.
On the flip-flop, Bill Clinton tried to over reach with the party line. In Clinton”s case, socialist views (Social Security, MediCare, Public Schools, Public Highways bridges and tunnels, Defense spending) and other “transfer of wealth projects” had to pull back to the center. The center is where it”s happening. Republicans have likewise been there, done that.
This year, I see one candidate offering optimism and hope – Barack Obama. He is as experienced as Abe Lincoln was at the beginning of the Civil War and as exciting and promising as Abe and Teddy and Ronnie put together.
Vern Ware
Lakeport
