The Myth of Idealogical Purity

There has been a parade of editorials and political cartoons depicting the Republican party as conducting some sort of purge, evicting anyone who dares to stray from some ideological standard that they claim is being set by radical right wingers. In short, that is bullshit.

The first thing that you will note on these stories, columns and cartoons, is that they are being told, written and drawn by dedicated liberals. Most annoying, (and a dead give away that it is bullshit) is the approach they take. Never do they display the delight they must surely be experiencing as they observe the self destruction of the party they love to hate. And “hate” is precisely the appropriate term to use. They won’t use it though, because they like to think that they are above that sort of thing. If you believe them, (and I don’t) they don’t hate ANYBODY.

No, they are in a constant state of anguish over the loss of the "loyal opposition,” even though they don’t consider them loyal at all, and never did. They just think it’s a doggone shame that the GOP has gone and shot themselves in the foot. “Why heck, who are we going to engage in a reasoned debate? It’s just terrible the way those Republicans have turned their party over to the right wingers and thrown out anybody who even looks moderate.” Their sympathy is touching.

But sympathy isn’t all they have to offer. They also give lots of advice. Heartfelt advice. Advice designed to put conservatives back on the track to regaining, if not an outright majority, then at least a more respectable minority percentage. They purport to be very concerned about our future and want nothing more than a robust opposition. They will say things like, “The system works best when there are two vibrant parties in the debate.”

But what they really mean is, “The system works best for us when we argue from a far left position and you take the slightly left-of-center position.”

Do yourself a favor and go re-read anything you might have digested during the 2008 presidential campaign. The GOP, trembling in fear, nominated the most “moderate” guy who was running. The man who proudly put his name alongside Russ Feingold in naming the campaign finance reform that conservatives abhorred. The guy who sent conservatives straight up a wall with his amnesty for illegal aliens. The man who spent the previous eight years as the Democrats favorite Republican, always willing to take a shot at the sitting president, to the opposition’s delight. And it was really gratifying when Democrats then showed their appreciation by demonstrating respect for this model of moderateness. It must have had something to do with moderate Republicans like Colin Powell, who publicly advised his fellow Republicans to moderate their views and nominate a real moderate. Say, somebody like John McCain for instance. That would be much more to his moderate liking, than say, Rush Limbaugh, to whom, he advised, we should all stop listening. Anyway, all I know is the Dems were respectful of McCain as a candidate and Colin Powell stood directly behind our candidate. And then stuck a shiv in his back. But at least the Democrats waited until McCain was nominated before they started chanting “Bush’s third term.”