Reagan Wouldn't Recognize This GOP

by Mickey Edwards - January 24th, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

In my mind's eye, I can see Ronald Reagan, wearing wings and a Stetson, perched on a cloud and watching all the goings-on down here in his old earthly home. Laughing, rolling his eyes and whacking his forehead over the absurdities he sees, he's watching his old political party as it twists itself into ever more complex knots, punctuated only by pauses to invoke the Gipper's name. It's been said that God would be amazed by what his followers ascribe to him; believe me, Reagan would be similarly amazed by what his most fervent admirers cite in their desire to be seen as true-blue Reaganites.

Great article.

American exceptionalism is based on individual freedom. More and more our government fails to be effective because it makes sure that no one is allowed to do anything without government control and supervision. That is not and never will be effective government.

The greatest evil of what today is called progressivism, or liberalism, the current dominant phisolophy of the Democrat party, is the insistence that it can make the most successful members of society give a free ride to those who can not or will not care for themselves. What used to be called a helping hand, and often was abusive even then, has evolved to a free ride that is primarily abusive. It has made government the nearly sole determinant of who is successful and who fails.

That is why it is evil. We need to resist that. Resisting is different than the goals of the Republican Party today. George Bush and Karl Rove have destroyed the party of Reagan by making the only goal to get elected. Whatever will get you elected is the Republican policy.

And that is sad.