Once upon a time, before TV, political candidates were chosen in smoke-filled rooms by guys whose entire lives revolved around politics and the political process.
Was it perfect ? No. But is the process of choosing a candidate any better for the country today? It is debatable.
Candidates today aren’t chosen by the American people: the media spots candidates, and if they meet the approval of powerful groups and individuals, they get the nod. The best conservative candidates in this last cycle were not even given a look because they didn’t have star power or the gift of dazzling people.
Conservative candidates who actually were conservative are problematic for the liberal and conservative media. They were also problematic for the powers-that-be because of their conservatism. Thanks to the media, too many Americans were brainwashed about who is electable and who isn’t.
The conservative media made it all about fear and loathing of Hillary Clinton. Conservatives in the race reflecting the kind of conservatism needed in the 21st century were marginalized by both liberal and conservative media: Duncan Hunter, Tom Tancredo, and Ron Paul come to mind.
Now Republicans are stuck with John McCain or Mike Huckabee, but conservatives still have a choice.
This mess must force principled conservatives to ask exactly what is it we believe.
I have heard that conservatism is a three-legged-stool consisting of national security, social conservatism, and fiscal conservatism. The problem is those three legs are not going to hold up in the 21st century because they are not specific enough or go far enough. On national security: post Cold War, the Rockefeller/Bush wing of the Republicans adopted a strategy of pre-emptive war based on the misguided notion that democracy and markets could cure any cultural, spiritual, or political problem countless societies.
Tragically, 9/11 was not simply a national security disaster; it gave that wing of the party an opportunity to invade nations already in their sites as being in need of "regime change."
They confused tough talk and bombing or providing Third World countries with democracy and KFC franchises with the war on terror. Not one single war the establishment has fought since way back when has been won. Costing trillions these wars on poverty, drugs, or terror make government bigger and more intrusive and unaccountable. The multiple wars find taxpayers and the Middle Class poorer, the establishment more disconnected, richer, powerful.
On the issue of illegal immigration and border security, the establishment agenda, Republican or Democrat, does not include real border security which should be an absolute pillar of any national security effort. Part of the problem is the establishment no longer believes in nation states or limited government.
Meantime, the Rockefeller wing of the Republican Party assumes that “professional" conservatives will shill for them no matter what they do. The conservative media has always done so in the past.
Sadly, the careerist conservatives allowed themselves to become all about access and acceptance, selling books and coffee mugs, amassing ratings rather than demanding the conservative agenda be advanced and politicians who failed to do so pay the price
The conservative media and professional Republicans expended an immense effort to elect a particular slate of pre-selected candidates acceptable to the establishment rather than actual conservatives who would BE conservative in voting and promoting. The history of the Bush Administration is one of supporting candidates like former Democrat turned Republican Norm Coleman, squish and RINO Arlen Spector over Pat Toomey or Mel Martinez.
The reward for conservative support: When Republicans had complete control of the three branches of government they produced a handful of pitiful results easily overturned or gutted by the left. They have done almost zip for conservatism and its agenda. Because of the influence of the Rockefeller wing and because democrats are what they are, the entire nation has moved left and toward overbearing corporate government.
Over the years many so-called conservative media personalities and outlets considered any criticism of the two Bush presidencies a betrayal of varying degrees. Pointing out certain facts could send conservative radio hosts like Sean Hannity into a rage or talking over the critic, Sean seemed to puff up and demand how dare anyone attack his president. It didn’t appear to matter that his president along with the Republican establishment had done a damn good job trashing conservatism while doing their level best to make sure no actual conservatives would get elected in the future.
Meantime, the idiot liberal media never ceased telling America and the world that George W. Bush was a conservative when he was anything but. John McCain has always been the acceptable Republican to the likes of the usual suspects at CNN et al because he is farther to the left than most. The liberal media have less understanding about conservatism than John McCain or George Bush.
My two sons and I have a bet which conservative talk-show host would waffle first regarding support of McCain in the general election. The smart money is on Sean Hannity. As of Feb. 7, the waffling of Sean was well underway.
So far Rush is hanging in there. Talk hosts Glenn Beck, Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan plus a handful of others have done a good job the last few years pointing out the Republicans under the Rockefeller wing trashed conservatism, the GOP, and the nation.
There is amusement in this election cycle for conservatives. The boys and I had to laugh at Fox News pundit Dick Morris. The former Clinton adviser has been telling Republicans for a decade how to defeat Hillary. He and a few others seem to have convinced enough terrified Republican voters that John McCain is the only Republican who could beat her. What he didn’t say, at least in print or on air, is that the nomination of John McCain or his election will be the stake in the heart of the Republican Party.
Morris’ advice and insider knowledge didn’t stop Hillary from running or staying in the Senate or derail the Democrats as the nation moved left. It also failed to consider Barak Obama might not terrify Republican voters making their electoral strategy a wash.
Conservatism will survive, but the two parties are fracturing and that is a good thing. Watching the process is painful but interesting as party apologists and the economic and political establishment remains clueless.
Let the creative destruction begin. The two parties are done — stick a fork in them.
The following are other Newsmax articles on the Republican Demolition Derby by Diane Alden:
The New GOP Betrays America
Crisis of Leadership
The Clintons Sold Out America
The Corporate, the Collective and George W. Bush
The Empire Builders: Leftover Leftists Rationalizing War?
North American Union: Remaking Three Nations
George Bush Doing God's Work
Republicans, H-1B Work Visas, Immigration and Charlie Brown
The Economic and Political Gospel According to the 'New' Republican Establishment
Contact alden@newsmax.com.
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