Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) has decided to switch political parties. Republicans are reportedly devastated–which goes to the very heart of the problem with that political party.

Quite frankly, Republicans–save for the RINOs that still remain in the party–should be delighted off-loading this political opportunist, even if the sole reason is the fact that he is yet another shining example of the ruling class’s utter contempt for anything other than self-interest. Specter knew he was DOA running in a Republican primary against Pat Toomey next year. Stand on principle and bow out gracefully after serving thirty years?

Hell no. Change principles and claim it was the Republican party who left him, not the other way around. He now joins the party of such principled stalwarts as Harry Reid, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and Charles Rangel: a defeatist, two of the primary architects of the current financial crisis, and a tax dodger, respectively. He and they are welcome to each other.

More importantly, it might occur to Republicans that it is time to re-organize the pathetic nature of a party which mistakenly believes that the only way out of the wilderness is to do exactly what put them there in the first place: abandon core principles and emulate liberal Democrats.

Memo to Republicans: this so-called “Big Tent” theory is the biggest crock of b.s. ever to come down the pike. The idea that a political party should be flexible enough to be “all things to all people” is just another way of saying “when you stand for everything, you stand for nothing.”

Here’s how you get your mojo back: stand for limited government–and mean it. Stand for a strong national defense–and mean it. Stand for traditional American values and the Constitution–and mean it.

A magic carpet ride back to popularity? Of course not. But if one peruses even an iota of history, it wouldn’t be difficult to conclude that popularity ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. Hitler was popular once. So were Stalin, Mao and Castro. Such “popularity” cost the world about a hundred million souls before decent people regained control of their senses.

The Democrats are off in progressive la-la land, intending to completely re-make the most successful nation in the world. They are the essence of unbridled excess, with a dollop of contempt for all things traditional and successful. It’s in their DNA to believe that most Americans are too stupid to run their own lives without massive government intrusion. They will over-reach for one abiding reason: they always have, and a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate is their season pass.

Be the voice of opposition–principled opposition. It may take Americans a couple of election cycles to notice, but notice they will. Maybe not as quickly as Republicans would like, due a media cheering squad which studiously overlooks many of the liberals’ shortcomings. But a lapdog media can only pump things up for so long–especially if members of that profession continue to see THEIR jobs increasingly in jeopardy. Even toadies have a sense of self-preservation.

And please, once and for all, marginalize the insufferable RINOS whose “principles” are for sale to the nearest media outlet who will show them in a positive light. Dump the “geniuses” in the national committee who thought it was OK to allow Democrats to vote in the Republican state primaries, the result of which was the selection of John McCain as your presidential candidate. Perhaps it never occurred to these “experts” that an electorate faced with the choice between an old RINO and a young liberal would opt for the unknown over a tiresome mediocrity.

Lastly, remember who your friends are. They aren’t the Beltway “visionaries” who are telling you the road back to prosperity is paved with capitulation to progressivism. They aren’t an MSM which characterizes you as “wise” or “insightful” only when you’re knocking your own party. They aren’t your Democratic “colleagues” in the House and Senate who would sell you out in a New York minute in order to maintain their majority. Your friends are the Americans who’ve sent you a tough love message: if you continue to abandon us, we’ll continue to abandon you.

They are the ones with whom you need to reconcile, first and foremost. As for the “great middle” which has been characterized–by those with your worst interests at heart, no less–as irredeemable unless you kowtow to liberalism?

Courage–and principle–moves mountains.

atahlert@comcast.net

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