Conservative Southern Dems Disappearing

Reposted as history. Originally posted in April of 2005

Jeffrey McMurray - April 25, 2005 - Associated Press (Myrtle Beach Online)

WASHINGTON - In consecutive days last month, Alabama lost two legends from a disappearing movement - Southern Democrats who were powerful in Washington because of their party's majority and powerful back home because of their tendency to buck it.

Look around Congress these days and you'll find few conservative Democrats in the mold of the late Sen. Howell Heflin or Rep. Tom Bevill.

Howell Heflin and Tom Bevill? These are democrat "conservatives"? Do you really think their record makes them conservative (That is if you have ever heard of them!)? This article is very interesting for its attempt to claim there are still conservatives in the democratic party.

Two different issues are driving politics in America; Money (how it is spent) and political ideology.

The issue of money is all about spending versus taxing. There are still enough Americans who hate taxes that the "blue dog democrat" group still exists. It is however mostly a group that wants to hold down taxes somewhat and be somewhat frugal with what is spent. It is a far cry from an organization that is conservative, though compared with democratic leadership it is far to their right. It is still far left of the political center in this nation and can hardly be considered conservative.

The major national dialog on political ideology, the battle of ideas, is being waged between two groups in the Republican Party, neo-conservatives and paleo-conservatives. The "politically correct" doctrine of democrats has muzzled the intellectual leaders of their party or driven them out of the party. Democrats are thus on the sidelines in this discussion.

I think the reasons for the decline of the democrat party are different than the claims of this article. They are bleeding members nationwide because so many democrats are not in step with their leaders on most issues.

*Most members of the democrat party are patriotic, but party leadership is virulently multi-lateralist, favors open borders and is effectively anti-American.

*Most members of the democrat party are morally Christian, but party leadership is adamantly pro-homosexual, pro-abortion and anti-Christian.

*Many members (but not most) of the democrat party support free enterprise, but party leadership is socialist, pro redistribution of wealth and in favor of government control of private property (without compensation).

Many party members who have historically voted democrat are resistant to giving up on the party out of habit. Almost all conservatives have left the democrats, though it is noted that 10% of people who are clearly conservative still vote democratic even though the people they are voting for share none of their views. Can there be any reason but "habit" that would cause them to do so? However moderates are also leaving since the democrat party really does not offer moderates a reasonable home any longer either.

The Republican Party now has a number of people who are in it for the money. As the majority party they are now the major dispensers of pork, the role that democrats used to hold. That is my number one disastisfaction with the party. However that sin alone has not yet offset the reality that democratic leadership makes it the party of socialism, globalism and immorality. That is not America and that is why they are losing elections despite the historical advantage they hold in party loyalty.