Impact of Tea Party Movement felt by Republican Party

I’ve been a Republican my entire voting life. I believe in the principles my father taught me about government, taxes and what government should and, maybe more importantly, should not be doing. There was no doubt that when it came to the two major political parties in the USA that I made the correct selection for my core beliefs. Sadly, not everyone made that distinction when they selected their party affiliation and the Republican Party suffered as a result.

While the party itself still claimed those values and espoused their virtues, the candidates that the party began nominating in primaries were not so closely tied to them. Oh sure, they would talk conservatism on the campaign trail and tout family values and fiscal responsibility. Then they would get elected to office and we found ourselves wondering how government continued to grow apparently unchecked. Something was not quite right. Read more

Timeless witticisms from our forebears

“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”

- Barry Goldwater

What constitutes ‘Republicanism’?

As you are probably aware, the Brevard County Republican Executive Committee is under the new leadership of Chairman Jason Steele.

There has been a flurry of activity since he took over, and the local party has seen many improvements since the beginning of the new year: a new web site, a meetup group on meetup.com and a well attended black tie optional Lincoln Day Dinner just to name a few.

Local Republicans are eager to have their voices heard, and the new technology is making that possible. A news tidbit on the need for the Republican Party to shake off its big government ways sent to the meetup group by Republican committeeman Steve Townsend generated 36 emails over the course of two days. I think this goes to show there are a lot of Republicans that are still disgruntled by the liberal leaders, and elected officials, of the Republican Party. 

What we need is a local party platform. 
Read more

The Right’s Pathetic Opposition to the Auto Bailout

Washington, D.C. – Republican opponents of the auto bailout are being accused of putting ideology ahead of the economy’s well-being. They are accused of having an ideological animus against bailouts.

“That criticism pays Republicans a compliment they don’t deserve,” said Yaron Brook, executive director of the Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights. “The Republican opposition to the auto bailout was not a matter of principle, but of pragmatic nit-picking.

“A principled opposition to the auto bailout would have denounced as immoral any attempt to use taxpayer money to prop up failing companies. It would have insisted that such attempts at central planning are destructive and un-American. It would have said that the government’s proper function is not to engineer the economy, but to protect individual rights and otherwise leave the economy free. That is not what the Republicans claimed.

“In his floor statement opposing the bill, leading Republican senator Mitch McConnell’s ‘stinging’ criticism consisted of finding that the bill ‘does not’ lay out ‘an effective strategy for securing the long-term viability of these companies,’ that it did not give the proposed ‘Car Czar’ enough power, and–the ultimate deal-killer for Republicans–the bill would have adjusted auto worker wage rates at ‘too slow’ a pace.

“The tragic fact is that Republicans do not regard central planning as objectionable–they merely disagree with the Democrats’ central plan.”

RPOF Threatens Legal Action Against Republican Liberty Caucus

GOP warns dissident wing
Republicans try to stop ‘Liberty Caucus’

By PETER GUINTA

State Republicans are trying to thwart a move by Ron Paul supporters to take over the party in St. Johns County and the state.

This week, the Republicans sent warning letters to 10 state chapters of the Republican Liberty Caucus — an organization within the party that promotes an agenda much the same as Ron Paul libertarians. The letter warned the caucus the law doesn’t allow them to use the word “Republican” in its name without permission. Read more

United On The Path To… What?

I have to admit I am both amused and fascinated when I attend my Republican Club meetings and the feel-good phrase “united on the path to victory” is thrown out by the Chair as our rallying cry. The question that rings in my head when I hear that statement is: “united behind what?” Read more