Abandonment! The Repetition of History!


One of the most popular refrains from conservatives comes from the fact that many of them were once Democrats. “I didn’t leave the Democrat Party, it left me”, is an often overheard motto that Republicans cite regarding their transition from one party to another. It is most likely true. Given the fact that President Kennedy was a strong defense Democrat, an argument can be made that he would today be somewhat conservative. Given the times in which he lived, he would likely be considered a liberal on some social issues, but might be socially conservative on some as well. There is truth that as the 1960’s diminished the banners that Democrats once carried, and the electorate with them was abandoned.

Over the next fifteen years those displaced Democrats, and true conservatives, gravitated toward the Republican Party. By the time Ronald Reagan came on the Presidential scene in 1976 the party-less, found a home. When Reagan became President many the folks who still considered themselves Democrats sided with the Gripper. They too joined in the Reagan Revolution.

The original Kennedy Democrats and Reagan conservatives flourished; reaching a zenith when Newt Gingrich stormed Congress with “the Contract with America.” There in print for all American’s to see were conservative Republican’s own principals in a blueprint declaration as to how the country should be governed, and what accomplishments were left to be achieved.

Unfortunately, for that traveling band of conservatives, it was the last time that their core values were in the limelight, enjoined by action. Over the next fourteen years the conservatives, who were cajoled into service by the notion that supporting another Bush in the White House, would assure maintenance and strength of those core values. However, President George Bush governed much more from the political middle than from the political right, where most of these purists reside.

These once staunch supporters have been disillusioned over the second Bush term. Immigration amounting to amnesty, abandonment of Social Security reform and privatization, along with exponential governmental growth, fiscal irresponsibility, and an attempt to place Harriet Meyers on the Supreme Court, have illuminated the “Bush conservative credentials” fraud.

The conservatives did like Bush’s strong stand on defense, though most had trepidation about a preemptive strike foreign policy. The 30 percent of support that remained for the President in public opinion polls were from those strict hawkish conservative Republicans that believe in a strong national defense.

2008 brought John McCain to the front of the political race to succeed President Bush. This was the last straw for those out of sorts’ conservatives. The talk shows scream it, the media took advantage of it, and the Kennedy conservatives turned Reagan Republicans were left with no place to go, again!

McCain had an even worse record than Bush on abundantly more issues that resulted in the push of executive governance to the center, and with President Obama, far left of center. True conservatives cannot abide such an occurrence. The current administration is over reaching and ignoring lessons from history. Someone needs to tell President Obama that "talk is cheap.” It is his legislative actions and agenda that will haunt him despite his current flippant, glee.

The first black man in the Presidency is a fresh face with a silver tongue that can seduce many. He is a unique flirtation with Americas own ideals, however that reality is marred by politics, and made worse by talk that doesn't match his actions!

All of those who had seen Obama as the new way have already begun to take note of the disconnect between words and actions. This inevitably will lead to disenfranchisement with the great Black hope! Once again a political party train is leaving the station, and its supporters are not on it!