Don't Take it Personal

Well, it's over. An entrenched incumbent lost his seat in a Utah Republican primary. Chris Cannon, a 12 year vet of Washington politics, was trounced by newcomer Jason Chaffetz. If I had a chance to talk to Mr. Cannon, I'd tell him not to take it personal. He had a voting record that makes a good conservative giddy, but was guilty by association. Most conservatives are generally ticked at congress because of the pathetic state of union. On a Republican watch spending got out of control, debt mounted to the size of Everest, earmarks burdened bills, entitlements grew, corruption spread, and immigration was never solved, etc. It was amazing, you couldn't tell the difference between a Democrat or a Republican.

So you see, Mr. Cannon, you became a target by association. And other conservatives like me hope that term limits come to many more who showed no leadership to stem this unwieldy tide. Unfortunately, Bush's "compassionate conservatism" spilled over the banks and washed a slug of congressmen down river. Mr. Cannon, you were one of them. And then you had the audacity to say that there is a lack of GOP unity in Utah and the US (see Deseret News, Thursday, June 26, 2008, A1, A6). Well, how are we supposed to be unified behind the kind of leadership our esteemed politicians have given us? And you wondered why the delegates at the Utah State Convention seemed "uncivil". I'd say they were appropriately mad.

Now, if I had a chance to talk to Jason Chaffetz, I'd say: don't take it personal. I know, it's the same council I'd give Mr. Cannon. I have my reasons. You see, Mr. Chaffetz, if you let this new position go to your head (like so many others), you'll just end up like Mr. Cannon. We didn't vote you in so you can be all that. You were in essence hired by the people to do a job. You are a public servant. We have no stomach for a political aristocracy. We need a statesman. (Something you said you wouldn't go to Washington to be... remember? Dumb comment, Mr. Chaffetz.) We also need someone with vision who can influence the party to bring sanity back into the halls of congress. Oh, by the way, since "we the people" employ you to do a job, we retain the right to "take things personal" if you choose some other insane course of action.

Finally, to all those who are elected officials, or want to be, and the party elite, don't take this personal. The Republican Party keeps sending requests for money. Why would a conservative want to continue to finance a party that has allowed itself to stray so far off course? This one wouldn't... and won't. Now, I'm just a basicguy, but I'd be willing to bet that other conservatives share this stance: I'm an American first, a conservative second, and a Republican third. Understand?

The Reds of Life

I just have one question: Why can't the Dodgers play the Reds every day? The Dodgers have their number. In the two series with the Reds this year, the Dodgers have only lost one game. As a Dodger fan that's nirvana. However, I'd feel really bad for the Reds fans... for about 3 minutes.

But isn't that a lot like life? We really don't get to choose who we play. We all face an endless parade of challenges and often the order in which they come seems to be unfair or overwhelming. I suppose that's why we feel relief when we come to challenges or trials that are familiar--those that we've faced before and have successfully stood up to. Oh, that we could always face the Reds in our life's experiences.

Party or Principle?

I recently had a conversation with a colleague that really got me thinking. He shared an insight I had never considered before. Now, I'm not a young guy by any means, but most of my real political experience has happened since just before the Reagan Revolution. That fact has shaped my beliefs and assumptions about the Republican Party.

My parents were on opposite sides of the political spectrum. My dad was a WWII vet and a dyed in the wool Democrat. My mom on the other hand opted for the Republicans. There was one year when we had political signs in our yard of opposing candidates. One thing you can say is that they each had passion.

So, when it was my turn to enter the voting world and choose a party, who did I follow? My dad. Well, it does make some sense, I was a guy. Most guys were Democrats... right? Not long after I cast a vote for McGovern. However, when he lost badly, I felt like a loser. And whenever I lost in my youth, it wasn't unusual for me to quit. So, I quit politics... for a while. Then one day, I was introduced to Ronald Reagan. No, not personally. He was on TV sharing his reasons for opposing abortion. Something rang true about this man. Was it his warmth? His sincerity? He just made sense.

From that time on, I watched Reagan rise to the top of the Republican world. He brought a conservative message to the US political landscape that made sense. It drew me into the Republican Party, engaged my interest and political energy, and fired my hopes and political passion. And I wasn't alone. From Reagan on, I've assumed that republicanism was synonymous with conservatism.

So, now, back to my colleague. Tom Valletta (http://vallettapapers.blogtownhall.com/) has a similar political genealogy as mine... only he was very involved in the political process. He actually worked on McGovern's campaign. One day I expressed my frustration with the state of the Republican Party. Our ship was adrift and has left its political moorings. It was filled with politicians who have forgotten conservative principles and have done little to offset the growth of big government, entitlements, and debt.

Can you imagine how surprised I was when Tom pointed out that the party was simply returning to what it once was... the Grand Ole Party. I asked him to explain. He said, "Conservatism is a political movement or philosophy. With the rise of Reagan, conservatism hijacked the Republican Party, and has had a good run of influencing the direction of political affairs. Conservatism has simply lost its hold on the party."

We talked for a few minutes longer. It all made sense. My own history with the party was mostly a conservative history. I had never known the party to be any thing different. So, what am I? Am I a Republican or a conservative? A conservative Republican, I suppose. If the Republican Party turns its back on conservative principles (which in some ways, Bush has been guilty of this very thing), then what am I? I'm still a conservative. Basically speaking, I'm an American first, a conservative second, and party member third. Nothing else makes sense to me. And I owe it all to my colleague.