Advice for Republicans

Like my friend Matt, I also used to be a Republican. And honestly, I still am all for the responsible management of the people's tax dollars. I dropped the party because I could no longer abide by the mingling of the fiscal conservatives and the social conservatives (aka religious right). That marriage is on the rocks right now, and it looks to be headed for divorce, but back in 1994 everything was still all roses and love songs and breakfast in bed. I was afraid something like this would happen, though. From the Republican standpoint, I thought the affiliation with the religious right was a violation of the Constitution's separation of Church and State (a fear immediately justified by the RR's turning the Grand Old Party into the Party of God). And for the religious right (what do you know, I used to be one of those, too), I felt they were aligning themselves with people who did not share their values and who were only interested in their votes and (more importantly) their campaign contributions. (Those fears took a little more time to come to fruition, but I think they've safely been proven at this point).

So, with that as background, a little friendly advice to the Republican Party, particularly the knuckleheads in Sacramento. Take up the mantle of fiscal responsibility and play it to the hilt. In Washington, the GOP is scoring points daily on the Democrats by playing this strategy. Point out every little bit of madness that comes out of the Democrats bills. This is, by today's standards, already an old example, but it's a good one: $100k for new grass in front of the Capitol. That's not Economic Stimulus.

The Republican Party in California is shrinking in power and influence, but right now all they do is obstruct. The ones who got elected ran on a platform of fiscal conservation. You don't want to raise taxes? Well, I don't want to pay higher taxes, either. So, where's the wasteful spending? You've had enough time to look through the budgets and find it. Get it out there, in the papers, in the blogs. Stand on a corner and wave a big sign. Get the people behind you. Cut the waste, and you'll start winning back seats. Keep playing to the tax nazis and the super rich and the Democrats will drive you into irrelevancy.

And, as for my old friends in the Christian community, I say: read the Beatitudes again, both in Matthew and in Luke, and then figure out from that what side your on, and who you should be listening to.