GOP must not lose principles

Charles Krauthammer’s opinion on the future of the Republican Party, post-presidential election (Nov. 9) is one of the most sensible I’ve read!

The “gist” of this subject pertains to the future direction for the GOP.

This party was the one that soundly beat the Democrats halfway through President Barack Obama’s first term. Gaining “House” majority, and increasing numbers in the Senate showed that conservatism is still alive and welcome to most of Americans. Remember that most Americans are “pro-life” as well as “anti-big government.”

In fact, the very group that put Obama over the top were Latinos; but we shaded our similarities by disregarding “delicacy” on the immigration subject: Do “full legal normalization (just short of citizenship) in return for full border enforcement,” says Krauthammer. Can we imagine Marco Rubio advancing such a policy in 2016?

The GOP should not move to the left, lest they lose the ethical standards and patriotism for which they are known.

Besides, we don’t need two liberal parties. Party singularism in this direction constitutes socialism, which we fought against on the battlefield. “Republicans must change not just ethnically; but ideologically” — diverse inclusiveness!

Finally, there is a new group of rising leaders who are rooted in constitutional conservatism. Do not abandon these principles. Just look at European socialism which is “imploding” before our eyes. As Krauthammer noted, just look at Obama’s “increasing unsustainable big spending, big government paternalism”!

Republicans, take Krauthammer’s advice ... “no whining”; just do conservatism; but do it better. We have a whole generation of leaders to do just that.

Jean Rice

philanthropy consultant

Metairie

Comments

1) Comment by twinkie1cat - 07/12/2012

Yes y'all keep to your stands against human rights and social justice. Keep telling women that celibate men have a right to control their bodies. Tell the people that they can carry guns to church but can't go to quality public schools. Beat up on teachers. Keep telling the gay community that it doesn't exist. Be sure to stand up against the needs of the people and support for the retired and disabled. That way you will never get elected again and we will have a country that is free at least until Malia Obama is ready to run for President.

2) Comment by Bouncer - 06/12/2012

LOL. You beat me to the punch, NearBarbarian.

3) Comment by NearBarbarian - 06/12/2012

Principles? Where? When? Liberal party? Both were born out of classical liberalism; philosophically, there's not much difference between them. If you mean leftist party, there is not one with any substantial influence in America. (One guy, Democratic Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, is hardly a nationwide movement. I sure wish he was, though.) Today's Democratic Party is majority moderate/centrist and is leaning more conservative every year. Obama's fiscal policies/proposals would've been considered mainstream, pro-bourgeois policies from the 1950s through the 1980s.That's why I worry. He's more likely to drift in Boehner's direction, if precedent and the current negotiations are any indication. The right wing complains even when it's winning or at least holding everyone hostage--what a bunch of spoiled mean-girl divas!

4) Comment by nimby? - 06/12/2012

Hillary will distance herself from this administration in order to save face for 2016 . in my opinion she should have been the nominee in 2008 and the incumbent in 2012 .

5) Comment by chem - 06/12/2012

Agree with gary. Hillary Clinton will run for President and win by a huge margin. We have the first black President and in four years we will have the first woman President. All the while, the nut jobs in the Republican party will be sticking to their principles.

6) Comment by DMJ - 06/12/2012

Yeah, stick to your principles...and keep losing.

7) Comment by DMJ - 06/12/2012

"Charles Krauthammer’s opinion ... is one of the most sensible I’ve read." hahahahahahahah!!!!! If that's the case, you need to do some serious soul-searching....or brain searching, rather.

8) Comment by potkcalb - 06/12/2012

If Republican "principles" continue to be those of the ideologically and religiously driven candidates of Huckabee, Palin, Santorum, Bachman, Perry, Gingrich, and Ryan they can forget any aspirations of regaining the White House. Rubio is considered the Republicans' current best hope, but if he continues to straddle the fence and feign ignorance of the age of the earth (4.5 to 4.6 billion years) to satisfy both the fundamentalist base and rational science he can be counted out.

9) Comment by shad-o - 06/12/2012

It truly is sad to watch the Grand Old Party's slow and painful demise. Not all "Principles" are good ones, I think that the crumbling GOP is a rather poignant and unfortunate example of this.

10) Comment by chem - 06/12/2012

I totally agree with the letter. The Republicans should indeed double-down on their principles.

11) Comment by Spudaroonski - 06/12/2012

Yes, republicans must hold to their principles. Principles like the 38 republican senators that blocked this country's signing on to a treaty to protect the rights of people with disabilities worldwide. You mean principles like that? 38 republican senators went on record stating they don't care about disabled people in this country or any other country including disabled veterans injured in the line of duty. That's some fine principles to hold on to for sure. Just keep doubling down republicans and hold what you got. Oh by the way 155 nations have already signed on to this treaty including Russia and China. But maybe these principled republicans have a point because the treaty states that nations should strive to assure that the disabled enjoy the same rights and freedoms as their fellow citizens. Evil stuff.

12) Comment by gary - 06/12/2012

Ah, yes - as a moderate - this is great news - all the right wing folks should take your advice - double down on your "diverse inclusiveness" and say hello to President Clinton 2016-2024.

13) Comment by Bighug - 06/12/2012

GOP known for ethical standards? Well, yes, but those standards are very low.

14) Comment by tradewinns - 05/12/2012

i'd rather lose the principles and win the election! if you lose, you can do nothing. the democrats found this out years ago.

15) Comment by gvm - 05/12/2012

I don't want the GOP to lose their principles either - I want them to lose elections.