Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
It is not quite as dramatic as Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the door of the Schlosserkirsche (castle church) in Wittenberg, but one courageous soul today published a guest opinion in the Arizona Daily Star vowing reformation of the Republican Party. It is time for "responsible Republicans" to take back the party from the lunatic fringe talkers and teabaggers who are destroying the party. Let's hope that his revolutionary zeal succeeds in ridding the Republican Party of this malignant cancer on it's soul.
Attorney Michael L. Price, a Republican, writes Rational Republicans must call out rabid right:
A hundred and sixty-seven Republicans in the U.S. House recently voted that they think it's fine that some Democrat do to the next Republican president what Joe Wilson just did to President Obama?
This is not "just politics."
It is becoming more and more difficult for reasonable Republicans to hold our heads high.
U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during the president's speech on health-care reform was an illustration of what is increasingly and correctly seen as the rabid reflex of the radical right.
It was "rabid" because most of us saw no reason, merely "fangs bared" visceral hatred in an unprovoked personal attack. It was reflex because it was preceded by no thought. It was radical because it was miles and miles outside decorum and responsible "discussion."
It was made worse by Wilson's effort to turn the episode into a fund-raising opportunity. It was made a total travesty by the Republicans who voted against a very modest "censure" resolution.
These egregious indignities come on top of the irresponsibility of shouting down anyone who might be offering a differing viewpoint during health-care town halls; the national Republican Party's suggestion that if health-care reform passes, Democrats might try to deprive Republicans of health care; and the astounding opposition to the president intending to tell children to stay in school and study hard.
It has become painfully clear why the Republican Party is not really a relevant force in terms of potential to capture a majority of public elections anytime soon. When your response is little more than rabid reflex, people simply conclude you aren't really interested in being taken seriously and they simply stop listening to you. That's what's happening to the Republicans now. Oh yes, the "base" is energized by this vitriol, but the important point is that the base continues to shrink. Real bright, guys.
Moreover, the contrast on "bipartisanship" could not be clearer.
President Obama not only adopted a portion of Republican Sen. John McCain's campaign health-care proposals, but publicly credited McCain for the good idea. That's bipartisanship. Too bad we've heard so little about McCain's idea from the Republicans.
Wilson's concept of bipartisanship is to shout "You lie" and offer no alternative of any sort. Anybody recall a "Wilson" proposal? That's a contrast Republicans apparently intend to ride over the cliff and most Americans recognize that conduct as self-defeating.
Republicans can't just keep up this sort of outrageous conduct, issue perfunctory apologies, then have Rush Limbaugh take up and espouse Wilson's absurdities as gospel and expect voters' patience with this childishness to last forever.
It's time for responsible Republicans to put an end to this. Yes, we'll initially be shouted down by the "rabids" and the journey will be long and hard because we've been silent far too long. But do it we must, over and over for as long as it takes, because our philosophic roots and the national interest require it.
We must call out the "rabids." We must vocally oppose radical candidates who may carry the narrow base of the party, but stand no realistic chance of being elected, or, even if elected, have no realistic prospect of success in terms of advancing their constituents' real interests. Ready? Let's get started.
All revolutions begin with one brave voice. Good luck to you Mr. Price, I wish you success. I look forward to the day when I can work with rational, reasonable and responsible Republicans again. It has been so long, I have almost forgotten there was a time.