I've never admitted this to anyone other than close friends and loved ones. I was once a Republican. Yes, me, the same person who's called the Commander-in-Chief a piece of shit in a blog and has referred to Conservatives as classless, was once on the side of the Elephant that bullied his way through the room.
I remember in 6th grade, during the 1992 Presidential Election, in my English class, the students participated in a mock vote. There were at least 25 students in the class, and I was of only 3 people who voted for George Bush. And, yes, at that time I got heat for voting Republican.
I thought, it didn't matter, George Bush would beat Bill Clinton in just a matter of weeks.
Then on Election night, I cried, because George Bush lost to Bill Clinton. A friendly reminder, I was just 12 years old.
Even though I was a Republican, I actually took to liking Bill Clinton. He was hip, articulate and knew the definition of reality.
Still I was supporting the G.O.P. For many reasons I can't write down, but it had something to do with growing up in the 80's and early 90's, and being used to the seductive optimism of Ronald Reagan and George Bush. I was too young to realize how bland and cynical they really were about how great America can really be. It was more about how Government was evil.
In High School, I carried my allegiance to the Elephant. Debating a friend about illegal immigration, I thought I could get the upper hand by saying, "Oh, yeah, well I'm a Republican!"
He didn't budge. It's as if he had a special bullet proof vest to block flying bullets from Conservatives.
I don't know when it was that I saw the light and turned into a Liberal. It might've been the Conservatives fight to illegally impeach a President because they were scared of his erection. Or, the travesty that was the 2000 Presidential Election.
I became an accidental Liberal, because I found it hypocritical for Conservatives to say let the people choose, but not give a woman the right to choose whether or not she wants an Abortion.
I find Conservatives' politicizing of Personal Responsiblity so classless and dishonest.
And, when it comes to racism, oh, let's just say that the real story behind Conservatives and racism is, that they don't believe racism exists. It's a myth in their world.
But, there's two little things I agree with Conservatives on.
Political Correctness. There's too much. Although, Conservatives believe being Politcally incorrect is grounds for being an asshole to others. I.e., Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, and Rush Limbaugh.
And, of course, Gun Control. I don't believe in Gun Control, although I will say those who are members in the NRA are bunch of gun-toting lunatics who couldn't fight a day in their lives without their precious guns.
This week, Maryland Lt. Gov, Michael Steele said that having that "R" was like a Scarlet letter. Even though he backpeddled from his remarks (don't Conservatives normally do so) it struck me as odd that the party that was once proud and true is stepping away from the word "Republican"
Prominent leaders who are running for re-election in Congress are saying in ads that they're proud Americans running for Congress, but not declaring their party afiliation.
Republicans backing away from the term "Republican."
Now why would such alleged American Patriots would do such a thing?
Well, consider this. In the last year or so, President Bush has done a brilliant job of embarrasing himself and the party as a whole. The list is endless. Hurricane Katrina, Iraq (although it's been 3 years in the making) Harriet Miers, the debt, and his Animal House like behavior at the G-8 summit.
Mr. Bush is radioactive. Individuals running for Congress or the Senate don't want to be seen with him. He's like a jilted mistress that won't go away.
He's made it hard to be a Republican these days. And, yet, Karl Rove, instead of solving those problems along the sinking ship, is still with that same old tired song of "the media is hurting the country" and "the Democrats want to cut and run"
There seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for the mighty elephant in the room. All that is left is to run away from the problems and farther away from the President who seems to be cause of it.
What happened to that old theory of seeing the President as a moral authority equal to God? Bush is no longer a God in the G.O.P., he's the Glenn Close character from Fatal Attraction.
The G.O.P. slept with the idea of giving the keys to Bush Sr's son. We thought it would work after 9/11, but it's turned out to be a colassial and historial disgrace. And, now instead of meeting the problems head on, Republicans want to cut and run from the President and the name "Republican"
You made your bed now sleep in it.
Karl Rove has a mess on his hands and its not just the war, it's trying to bring back the flock before it's too late.