Are we being too picky?
Though more common in the old days, every once in a while a writer puts out a column that really makes me think, and it puts a new spin on an issue that I had long decided on. I present this article:
Steyn on “Liberal” Republicans
The most interesting point is that viewed through such a narrow conservative looking glass, even Reagan would have a hard time fitting in, despite attaining hero status in hindsight. I believe I got caught up in the hysteria of talk radio and my own beliefs, and forgot an interesting tidbit from the Mr. Hero himself. He always said if I agree with you 85% of the time, then I’m your guy.
I have painted Huckabee as a liberal Republican for a few months now, but his tax increases weren’t huge, and he raised them at the state level, which I supposedly am okay with. Mike’s biggest issue is that he wants to take out the IRS, Ron Paul style, which is probably a pipe dream. IRS reform is at the top of my list (why not lower taxes for all and eliminate ALL loopholes?), but it sounds like a kid who runs for student council on the “pop machines free at lunch” platform. He’s also running a very populism-flavored campaign, which is hard to stomach.
McCain isn’t near as liberal as I have personally painted him to be, although there are large problems with his record. Still, 85% is a stretch at this point, and there is a huge skeleton in the closet. Not only does the Keating Five campaign finance reform fiasco loom large, but he’s shown great distaste for true conservatism at many turns. I still don’t know that I can vote for him, for his record suggests a very big government agenda, but I’ll give him another look and peruse his website literature once more. He’s also got to cut out the “managing for profit” bullshit and remember that the private sector is the entire driving force of this country. Big Pharma saves our lives, John. It doesn’t destroy them, regardless of how much they charge for research and development. Remember, its government types that made the cost of FDA certification of a drug ~800 million dollars (it really is this high). If he wants businessmen to join him, that kind of talk needs to go away.
I suppose I should be happy that for once, actual politics are taking place instead of the normal republican coronation in early January, but I still feel very deflated by my choices. I will, however, look once more for any hidden conservative ideals inside of the “liberals” running for the GOP nomination.
