Yes, its true. I canceled my defacto membership with the Democratic Party and switched my allegiance to the Grand Old Party. It was painless and long overdue.
For some time now, I have been disappointed with Democratic policies, practices, and most importantly the party's mindset. I have come to more closely align with the Republican Party of George Bush, Bill Frist and most tellingly Dennis (Denny) Hastert.
With this one act of bureaucratic change, I feel that my personality and my political affiliation are now in concert ... aligned, if you will.
More emoting below the fold:
Simply, I am a loser again. I can whine with impugnity. I can look in from the outside. I can be a rebel. When approximately 65% of the population is on my side, I feel uncomfortable. I lose that "what have you got" rebelliousness that defines me.
With approval ratings for George Bush and the Republican Congress plummeting to the teens, I will join them as they land at the outermost fringe of the political landscape. I will gladly ape (Hundred) Dollar Bill Frist's prescriptions for solving incurable problems. I will join Denny arm-in-arm as we slink off into our respective SUVs. I will shout "WAY TO GO, THAT'S THE KIND LEADERSHIP WE'RE LOOKING FOR!" That type of leadership used to be exemplified by the Democratic Party of my youth; those were the weak leaders I once followed.
Now, maybe I am to blame (in a small little way) for my own predicament. Maybe as a Democrat, I yelled at my TV a little too loudly. Maybe, I voted and supported Democratic candidates who would effect real change a little too often. Hard-charging, reform-minded Dem politicos like Dean, Obama, and Gore had maybe one too many good ideas for my own good.
Well, I am in the wilderness again. With the Republicans, I can see the rest of my political life bereft of any good ideas, good policies, or long-term positive thinking. I can envision a lifetime of railing against the opposition's policies.
As a card-carrying Republican, I can scream at my TV and reminisce about how we Republicans would respond (if only we were in power) to the cataclysmic events of that future day. I can whine about how fully-funding Social Security, paying down the national debt, or providing universal health coverage are fascist, Democratic schemes to exclude the minority party from the political process. I can be a rebel again.
You, however, are on your own.
Update [2006-5-5 14:34:15 by mwchicago04]: Based on the news just breaking, it looks like we Republicans do scandals better too - a stain on a blue dress pales to hookers.