So, …what now?
Yes, the Government Shutdown is over, and the Federal Leviathan is lurching forward once again. Of course, this is cause for wild celebration among the Left, even as they continue to blithely impugn the motives of their political opponents.
But the problems that brought this confrontation about are still here: rising debt (thus the necessity of raising the Debt Ceiling yet again), grossly expanding government, and ever-reducing freedoms. A weakening dollar, burgeoning entitlements and continued unemployment. Full-time jobs being replaced by part-time ones, and the advent of the “glitch”-riddled Obamacare.
All this and more was (and remains) the reason so many are insisting we need to change our ways, or perish.
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Am I sorry that the Shutdown didn’t bring about any real positive change in our nation’s direction? Yes, obviously, but not for the reasons ascribed by the Media. My motivation (and that of millions of others) was not to destroy the government or ruin our credit rating: far, far from it. It was more akin to taking your alcohol-addicted brother and trying to force him to confront the dire effects of his drinking on his family and friends. This wasn’t a coup d’état born of hate; it was a tough but loving intervention.
David Limbaugh said as much on Twitter yesterday:
For weeks the President, the Senate and their media parrots were in lockstep with talk of “hostages”, “anarchists”, and “suicide bombers”. And the Peter Kings and Lindsay Grahams of DC were just as bad or worse, breaking ranks at the mere thought of playing political hardball with a president who is adept at nothing else but.
Which is why I believe that Brit Hume had perhaps the best take on all this a few days back:
Nailed it.
Virtually every patriotic Conservative and every Tea Party member have the same fear: that our nation’s current debt-fueled direction is doomed. No one and nothing can spend money they do not possess, forever, regardless of whether or not they can print their own currency. Eventually, that which is unsustainable fails to be sustained, and the end comes suddenly, like a gigantic game of Jenga when the final, crucial piece is removed.
If there was one potential bright spot here, it was this: it should be starkly obvious to the GOP Establishment that Conservatives are fed up with their tough talk during elections, only to see them govern as Liberal Lite once in office (John McCain: I’m talking to you…).
There is now renewed talk of a third party which would seek to combine Libertarians and Conservatives. Although such an undertaking is not the optimal choice, these two groups are already better aligned with each other than they are with the more moderate GOP’ers.
If too few Republicans possess the integrity or core values to govern as conservatively as they invariably promise, what other choice is there? Better to back men and women who demonstrate the convictions they espouse on the stump, than live with ones who purport to stand for freedom yet sink to the lowest common Leftist denominator, election after election, decade after decade.
The GOP has been officially put on notice: get in line or get out-of-the-way. It’s actually an incredibly easy choice, which is why I have every confidence that they’ll make the wrong one. Again.
Two Heads are Better Than One 
🙂 good read. This ‘Christian Constitutional Conservatarian’ is done with the corrupt system. No longer will I EVER cast my precious vote for the ‘lesser of two evils’, no longer will I EVER use my hard earned money (or time) to prop up a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and on and on. This was the final straw for me when it comes to the establishment elites. DONE.
Time to buckle up, it’s gonna be a very, very bumpy ride.
To God be all praise and glory, in Christ Jesus our Lord, forever, AMEN.
Good one, JTR.
Wish I could post my tweets here. I spent over an hour venting my spleen at Boehner, McConnell and the GOP this morning. I’m done with them. They’ve disappointed me for the last time. I pray the party goes the way of Whigs. Praying for wisdom here but reacting almost reflexively.
Not only did they bow to the king, they accepted his benefaction. They don’t deserve to represent us.
My vote, too, Teach, will not go to anyone who hasn’t shown loyalty to The Constitution and to the People.
And I’m working for primary challengers and looking at 3rd parties.
May the Father guide us in this.
I too am disappointed. These kind of people should not be running our government. They see what it will do, but they still give in. They have no guts. I wanted to scream after Obama got elected. I want to do more than scream. I’d love to go to Washington with another Tea Party group and voice our opinions to Congress.
The time for a third party is upon us. I simply will NOT tolerate any more McCains, Doles, or Romneys as my choice for President, Senator, or Congressman. End of story.
But, I always like to harken back to that Prolific Pile of Prevaricating Poo: THEN Senator BHO, on the Debt Ceiling (From 2006):
“…Mr. President, I rise today to talk about America’s debt problem.
The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. Over the past 5 years, our federal debt has increased by $3.5 trillion to $8.6 trillion.
That is “trillion” with a “T.”
That is money that we have borrowed from the Social Security trust fund, borrowed from China and Japan, borrowed from American taxpayers. And over the next 5 years, between now and 2011, the President’s budget will increase the debt by almost another $3.5 trillion……Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that “the buck stops here.” Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.
I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt limit….”
Well, sir…You’re NOW at SEVENTEEN TRILLION (that’s Trillion with a “T”). By YOUR own words, what an amazing sign of LEADERSHIP FAILURE.
It’s a miracle: you and I FINALLY agree on the issue of our National Debt!
Instead of focusing on the things each faction hold in common, small government and building a wall between government and commerce, Republicans have chosen to battle each other over peripheral issues that, in the end, do nothing to change the views of the public. Continue this strategy at your own peril re the 2014 mid-terms and 2016 Presidential elections. Lose those and Republlcans are guaranteed to remain powerless for at least 2 decades.
I agree, Rick: the GOP used to stand for small gov’t, lower taxes, etc.,… I was a GOP member for many, many years, and it pains me to see what they’re doing.
Or not doing, as the case may be.
They truly seem to be hearkening back to the GOP of the 70’s, when they were in the midst of a 40 year run of not controlling the House, and seemed fine with that arrangement.
Their messaging is horrific, and they seem incapable of going around or over the media.
It’s basic PR, and yet they behave as if it’s a foreign language.
I’ve always resisted calls for a 3rd party, because I know what lies ahead if Conservatives go that route. But having the GOP simply act as the Dem’s handmaidens (or punching bags; take your pick) doesn’t do anything productive, either.
Exactly right. The solution has to come from within and through a more focused and teachable platform that deal strictly with the basic essentials and leaves the peripheral arguments for discussion outside of elections or campaigns. We need statesmen, not preachers. We need people who understand the entirety of economics and not just those economics that they favor, e.g. a combination of Keynes and Austrian ideals similar to the combination of socialism and a bastardized form of capitalism that leads to cronyism and corruption while suppressing individual rights and the rights to own and use their private property as the choose. Frankly, I see very few in the party who can live up to that without tilting a lance at windmills.
The thing is, it’s just not that difficult. That’s why I see a very solid connection with Libertarians: small government folks, vs. what the GOP seems to be preaching, which is slightly “less Bigger” government.
My suspicion is that they either (A) don’t have the strength of their convictions or (B) don’t know what the heck they’re talking about.
The Left is galvanized around one thing: BIG. Bigger government, in all its forms. If we don’t counter that and defeat it, we’re screwed.
No two ways about it.
And with the defeat of small government conservatism comes the end of hope for a world where each individual, no matter the continent, has the right and the ability to truly live free in a manner that respects the rights of all others. In my mind, that is the true apocalypse to fear.
Well….since you went there, Rick….it’s the necessary steps to get to the “One World Government” that is desired by the true puppet masters of the Left’s ideology. And it will be that One World Government that gives rise to the series of events that WILL lead to an apocalypse….IMHO….
You’re right on with your thoughts about the defeat of small government conservatism…but I would simply add that MUCH MORE than the defeat of conservatism is at stake here….
I don’t know what could be more of a loss than the loss of the ability to live your life according to your mind and your right to choose your personal path to happiness, but I do appreciate your perspective. Thanks for your opinion.
And THAT, JTR, is EXACTLY why I believe we need a Conservative Party that stands separate from the “Democrat-lite” Republican Establishment. That group seems to stand for little-to-nothing, or as you so aptly put it: are the Dems handmaidens. They’ve given the average Joe NO VISION of what they stand for, and no reason why anyone would want to join them.
IMHO, a TRUE Conservative Party at least gives people a CLEAR choice. Why elect a McCain or a Graham? Sure they have an “R” next to their name, but they are dismal in performance when it comes to Conservative principles. I’d rather stand behind a candidate I BELIEVE in, and lose, rather than have to hold my nose and vote for the Establishment candidate as I’ve done EVERY time since Reagan left office.