One of the benefits of going to a Conservative University is that there is never a shortage of interesting conversation. Today, I was fortunate enough to speak with a supporter of Rudy Giuliani. It gave me some insight into the Republican mindset for the upcoming Presidential election. The conversation and its implications are below:
Me: The election should be interesting, any idea of who you're supporting?
My Friend: I'm a Conservative so I'm supporting Rudy Giuliani.
Me: Why?
My Friend: He did a good job responding to 9/11.
Me: He stood on rubble.
My Friend: That's what I hate about you liberals. You weren't in his position and you're not in President Bush's position. You cannot pass judgement on them.
Me: Ok, so by your standards, I cannot judge someone unless I have lived their life.
My Friend: Yes.
Me: That's not a conservative philosophy. That's not even a liberal philosophy. That's anarchy. It completely eliminates societal, social, and personal responsibility.
My Friend: How?
Me: Well no one can perfectly understand anyone else, unless of course you are suggesting that literally switching bodies and brains while retaining self-consciousness is possible.
My Friend: I never thought of it that way.
Me: So why else are you supporting Rudy Giuliani?
My Friend: We need to secure our borders against the Mexicans. They're invading and they are breaking the law.
Me: Do you honestly believe that?
My Friend: Well, what would you call it?
Me: Unregulated unmonitored migration. Now for your initial premise, first and foremost, it's not just Mexicans -- but implicit racism aside, how would you secure our borders?
My Friend: Private sector.
Me: Oh, you mean the same private sector that's about to get kicked out of Iraq for randomly killing civilians?
Me: But that issue aside, who would pay them?
My Friend: The Government.
Me: So you'd add a layer of beaurocracy? Also, whatever happened to not being able to object to the actions of others because we can't understand their reasons?
My Friend: And this is why I talk to you.
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The reason I included this relatively long conversation excerpt is because it is indicative of the state of the Republican Party. They have embraced anarchy for their leadership and authoritarian rule for everyone who is not a member of that leadership. We, as Democrats, have been presented with a golden opportunity to present a solid principled position for the country. When picking a Presidential candidate, we should consider that.
In a legendary act of projection during the 2004 Republican National Convention, Zell Miller criticized the Democrats for providing the world with a "yes. No. Maybe. Bowl of mush". The party he endorsed that year has provided us with one of those bowls. When our candidates run, they need to be principled. They need to be assertive. And they need to be who they are: not who their consultants tell them they should be.
If we can provide that, our win will be another wave. If we can't, then I am unsure what will happen.