"Republican Agonistes"

Sydney M. Williams

Thought of the Day

“Republican Agonistes ”

September 29, 2011

While things can change dramatically, with thirteen months to go until the 2012 election, at this point it appears that the Presidency is the Republicans to lose. The economy is stuck in neutral, if not reverse. Unemployment has risen, as interest rates have declined and as stimulus money has been spent. Confidence, the true engine of any economy, is AWOL. Yet Republicans seem determined to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

While the field of candidates includes many good people with sensible ideas about the economy and how to fix it, particularly Herman Cain, it also includes those I could only describe as nuts. When the majority of the candidates stood on the stage at the last debate, each trying to out-do the other in terms how high a wall to build along Mexico’s 1800-mile border, I could only imagine how President Reagan would have cringed at such xenophobia . Where was the sunny optimism he portrayed? Granted, Representative Ron Paul pointed out the obvious – walls keep people in, as well as keeping people out. And Rick Perry looked defensive defending his decision (correct from my perspective) that no fence be built and that the children of illegal immigrants should not be singled out when it came to the state university system. Herman Cain spoke of the role of immigration, but could have done so more forcefully. Most appalling was Mitt Romney who would have the audience know that he would build the highest and stoutest fence. Do those who want a fence really believe that the sins of ones parents should be visited on their children? Does the Bible-thumping Christian-right not believe in Jesus’ call for forgiveness? No one of the stage pointed out that our country is one of immigrants. It is that, as much as anything, which differentiates us from others in all parts of the world. When President Reagan gave his farewell address, he spoke of his vision of a “city on a hill.” He said, “…and if there had to be city walls, the walls would have doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here.”

Humor is critical to a politician, especially a President. The ability to laugh at one’s self is a sure sign of self confidence. Lincoln’s humor was famous. President Reagan often deflected criticism with humor – “there you go again,” being one of his favorite ripostes. He made an art of joking about his age. Unfortunately, Mr. Reagan’s comic touch has escaped most of his political heirs, so that when humor is attempted, they look either ridiculous or mean.

There are certainly attractive Republicans who “get it” in terms of the needs of the economy. Herman Cain does. Others who come to mind include: Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, who is endowed with a good sense of humor, and Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana, who has turned around his state and who, with self-effacing humor, often jokes about his stature. Governors Scott Walker of Wisconsin, John Kasich of Ohio, Rick Snyder of Michigan and Rick Scott of Florida are all attractive and well-spoken. Senator Mark Rubio, also of Florida is young, articulate and attractive. Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin has been the most forthright in producing policies that provide a realistic alternative to the socialist contract Mr. Obama has foisted on the country. These people represent a new-generation of Republican politicians. And there are others. I don’t worry about the future of the Republican Party, but I despair of the selection process that seems to favor those candidates from the extreme right or left – class divisiveness for those on the left and red meat for those from the red states.

One cannot help wondering whether our electoral system is fatally flawed – that the only choices we will have are those from the fringes? Are we faced with choosing between an extreme leftist (into which camp I would place our current President) and a right-wing nut like Michelle Bachman? Five states now dominate the early selection of delegates – New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina, Colorado and Nevada. Together they represent 5.4% of the U.S. population. (I was raised in New Hampshire so have emotional ties to the state, but I ask, should a state of 1.3 million people have so great an influence on a country of 308 million?) Florida, with a population larger than those five states, now wants to move their primary up a month to January 31, earlier than the Iowa caucus or the New Hampshire primary. Those two states are now threatening to bring their selection processes forward to just after the Holidays, removing what seasonal joy still remains. Perhaps it is time to consider the direct election of Presidents?

The advent of the Internet and of YouTube in particular, has meant that what we say and what we do no longer remains within the place we spoke or we acted. “What happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas.” It elevates the importance of principle of saying what we mean and meaning what we say. In his speech two days ago at the Reagan Library, Governor Chris Christie emphasized the importance of principle. “America’s role and significance in the world is defined,” he said, “first and foremost, by who we are at home. It is defined by how we conduct ourselves with each other. It is defined by how deal with our own problems.” Are you listening, Mr. President?

Among the Republican candidates there are those, like Herman Cain, Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman who, to me, seem principled, but the closer they get to the brass ring the greater is the tendency to begin braying like the jackasses they are supposed to defeat. The country faces serious problems. It needs a principled leader who will demonstrate leadership with the ability to compromise, but who holds firm to the principles that have made this nation strong – a government sympathetic to those who cannot care for themselves, the freeing of excessive regulation to those who create jobs, an understanding of markets and competition in education, as well as in trade, a system of defense that affords protection to Americans at home and abroad, and the instilling of confidence in all Americans.

The mission should be to defeat President Obama and they left-wing socialist ways he is taking the country. Arguing about a wall to keep out Mexicans, or debating who is the most God-fearing or trying to determine who is the most socially conservative is a sure road to ensuring another four years of President Obama. In my opinion, that would be bad for our economy, for the living standards of the people, and for our position in the world. We deserve better. Republicans had better understand the seriousness of financial plight we are in, otherwise they will have no one to blame but themselves.