The Modern Republican Party

It's been an interesting time to watch politics. Not for the hot races (although there are a couple). But for the action in the protests, and the town halls. I've been scratching my head trying to understand the appeal of people like Sarah Palin, Glen Beck, Mike Huckabee, and even a Rush Limbaugh.

I'm not sure I'll ever get the appeal of their ideology, but I think I'm starting to understand why they are the face of the Republican Party these days.

There is no current Republican Politician in the government that really represents and articulates the Conservative point of view these days. It's brutal. No wonder the Conservative heartland looks to the Hannitys, Roves, and Cheneys for leadership. I tried to take a real, hard look at the current leadership, and I almost felt like Alexander the Great, who cried when he recognized there were no more worlds to conquer. Unlike Alexander, I DO think the Republican Party will endure, and I agree with the odds makers giving them a 1 in 3 chance of taking back the House in 2010. However, if they do, this current crop of leaders isn't exactly the stuff of legends.

Mitch McConnell--about as inspirational as Harry Reid. He's been somewhat effective in blocking some Democratic policy, but for the most part, has not been able to stop the Obama freight train. And lets face it, he's been the leader of a shrinking party since he took over. He barely won his own state in re-election, and if the Republicans took over the Senate in 2010, perhaps its time to look to someone like John Thune for a makeover of the face of the party.

John Boehner--Speaking of faces of the party. What color is the sun in Ohio anyway? Why is he always orange? The guy cries on the floor, and whines and complains like a teenager. Seriously, if you took some of his speeches and put them in Miley Cyrus's mouth, they would sound like, well a typical teenager. Which leads to Boehner's #2...

Eric Cantor--About as appealing as watching toast on television. He's no Gingrich or Delay in the making. Civil, soft-spoken, and, well, he reminds me a little of Harry Reid as well. Or perhaps Tom Daschle.

John Kyl--This guy is no Conservative. He's no great leader. But he backs it up by being uninteresting on the stump too.

What is a Conservative to do? There really is NO ONE who represents their ideology in the top echelons of the Party. Michael Steele? Forget it! For people who are true believers, the only outlet for their frustration are the Palins, Huckabees, Mark Levins, and others on the Right. It's comfort food, as much as MSNBC is for Liberals.

I can't fault people for wanting to listen to what they want to listen to. But I do find it interesting that, with the death of Kennedy, the Liberals feel that their great leader is gone. They now know what Conservatives have been feeling like since 1/20/09, and in many ways, since 1989, when Reagan rode off into the sunset. Unfortunately for the Conservative Right, it won't change much for 14 more months. Fortunately for Conservatives, current trends are their friends. So keep your chin up, and get out and vote for candidates that support your vision for the world. Lots of races to win. Things can change. Ask the Liberals who were so destitute after 2004...