Reply #53

I find it incredible that listening to a Republican present a cogent argument based on acknowledged facts is such a breath of fresh air. That, in my view is the real problem. How can a viable discussion be had about the very real problems our country and our world face if we cannot have a factual foundation from which to start? I think as a whole the Republican party is Mitt Romney, constantly shifting and flip flopping. If I were a conservative I would ask myself some questions, like for example why are the debt and the deficit suddenly so important, why was there absolutely zero concern over these issues in the six years my party controlled both the executive and legislative branches of government? Why, if we are the party of fiscal responsibility does our national debt sky rocket under Republican administrations? This is of course, something Mr. Frum isn't going to bring up. For all his eloquence, the real platform of the Republican party cannot be laid out on the table. They have become a single issue party, their real base is one percent of the population, and their one issue is to do everything possible to direct wealth to that one percent, their only real constituency. I think that is why the Christian Right is starting to run their own candidates, because they are sick of the Republican Party taking their votes and not delivering on the social issues that matter so deeply to them. If the Republican party were faced with a bill that eliminated all taxes on the one percent permanently and federally legalized gay marriage and permanently secured the Roe v Wade decision, there is no doubt in my mind the Republicans would pass it. I think the Christian Right might be starting to understand this as well. The Republicans can moderate their platform to draw more citizens to their party, but not without losing the Christian Right. They are going to have to make a decision, because I don't think there is anything they can do that will bring both into the tent.