Its a Learning Process

It wasn't that long ago that I didn't give politics a second thought. Or even a first thought.

I registered to vote for the first time sitting in Mrs. Wallace's science class during my senior year in high school in 1976. Back then Pulaski County, Kentucky was a Republican county. My parents were Republicans. I registered as a Democrat and voted for Carter for president. I have absolutely no idea why. To my credit, I realized during Carter's first year that the man was an idiot and I changed my registration. I never looked back. Honestly, I never looked period.

Afterall, I am adamantly pro-life. I believe in the free market. I believe with every fiber of my being that each of us are children of God and endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. That makes me a Republican, right?

I always assumed that the Republican party had a platform, a set of principals, and by supporting the party, I could depend on them to support our shared principals. I assumed, that was politics.

It started vague. This very subtle feeling that something wasn't right. Then one day while talking to my daughter on the phone I said, "I'm not sure I'm a republican anymore." I don't know why I said it. There was a long silence and then my daughter said, "But Mom, that's who you are."

That may be who I am, but I'm no longer sure who my party is. I've never been a "win at all cost" person but if I understand the point Newt Gingrich was trying to make when he said that Republican support for Hoffman in NY23 is equal to a "purge" I think my party has decided that winning trumps principal.

How often do wish you had the perfect words? I found them at American Power. Donald posted Stay With Me by Rod Stewart. Donald, being a gentleman, didn't post the lyrics that apply, and I missed them in the video, but good old Rod says, "Sit down, shut up..." because poor Rita is there to 'service' her master. That video sums up the attitude that the leadership in the Republican party has developed with its loyalists.

I'm slowly learning how politics works, though I don't pretend to get the behind the scenes doings. Honestly, I don't care. But one thing I've realized, I'm not Rita. I am not that party's whore. But I am proud. I am proud to be a Conservative and I am proud of my fellow Conservatives who are standing up and saying, "No more." So, Misters Gingrich, Graham, McConnell, and members of the NRCC, I'd strongly suggest you do alot less taking for granted and a whole lot more wooing because I, we, are ready to kick you out of the door.