As many of my loyal readers, friends and family know, I generally don’t do a lot of political blog posts unless I feel it is absolutely necessary, or I’m so frustrated by whomever opens their pie-hole that feel compelled to do just that, express myself.
I read an article in the Twin Falls newspaper recently that pretty much describes the dysfunction of the Republican party these days. In this article were two Republicans who see their party in completely opposite poles. One, is a long-time political hack in his seventies, who has served in Idaho politics in one form or another for over 40 years. The other is a relative newcomer who was a US Congressman but lost the recent gubernatorial primary to the present governor, Brad Little. His name is Raul Labrador.
The politics of Idaho pretty much mirrors the politics of most states where the Republican Party is the Party in power and the problem as this article demonstrated was that one side is pragmatic and wants to work at problem solving while the other side is ideologically driven and believes one must demonstrate fidelity to one man who at present is seemingly holding them to be absolutely loyal to him.
It’s seemingly the same problem the Democrats have as well, one faction that wants to get things done and another that has gone so far left that I don’t recognize them anymore and consider their brand as socialism not democracy.
I’m the first to admit that I am not Conservative in political ideology, rather a liberally leaning moderate, which most of my loyal friends and family generally are not. They tend to gravitate with the former. But, as I read this article it became obvious that the Republican Party has strayed too far right for even most Republican standards and there lies in a fear among many that proving your credentials just to be a Republican is not just bad for the Party, but dangerous for the country. I agree.
The last Party that I know of that required one’s complete and utter loyalty, and still do was the Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler. We all know how that ended. If this certain faction so genuinely believes in this mere man, than they probably should form their own party and leave the Republican Party alone. The same goes with the far-left fringe who call themselves Democrats. They aren’t by the way. They are socialists and they too are dangerous for this country and must be stopped. Like that old Republican Party hack, I want my elected office holders to do their job, not declare themselves ideologically pure and do nothing for four years except incite fear and rage.
Jerry Schellhammer 