Tea Anyone?

Now, I’m not a tea drinker… never have been. Actually, some forms of it is against my religion. However, there is one particular tea I’m very partial to. It both tastes good and feels right. It’s something that anyone can taste or feel at your local tea party. What am I talking about?

Well, there have been “tea parties” sweeping the nation for at least a year now and they keep coming. The name was borrowed from our early revolutionists who opposed British taxation on local tea and ended with a major tea party in Boston harbor. The movement today is a national stand of regular people against big government and irresponsible spending. In essence it’s a citizen’s revolt against the policies of intrusion by the Obama White house and the wasteful and out of control spending of Congress. And to me, it’s the only tea that both tastes and feels good going down.

I’ve watched it with a great deal of interest and feel swells of patriotism for my country. A glimmer of hope fills me knowing that I’m no longer alone in a world that once appeared to be slipping into political and economic insanity. But of course, if we’re not careful, all of this hope can be dashed upon rocks of reality. I see worries on the horizon.

Tea Partiers beware! Political forces see you as a prime source to exploit, are at your doors. Don’t get sucked into their web. Many are conspiring for their own gain. The GOP would love to “catch” your wave and claim you as its own. Now, I’m a republican, a say this carefully. I may be a Republican, but I’m a conservative first. Republicans like Democrats use movements to gain power. Republicans “used” conservatism for this purpose and once in control ended up wielding their new-found power to simply maintain job security on the people’s dime. Conservatives felt betrayed when those entrusted with the reins of power defaulted to party politics. The same thing will happen to the Tea Party movement if you are not careful.

Another warning I can see is the temptation to establish a third party. Political parties tend to exist less for movements, and more for those who seize control of them. Power invested in the few has a debilitating affect on mere mortals. They tend to think its all about them instead of an opportunity to use talents for the greater good… servants of the people. With this in mind, I was glad to see Mark Skoda (a Tea Party organizer in Memphis, TN) says:

“This movement is beginning to mature… not as a third party but a force to be reckoned with in the traditional party structure.”

Now that makes the most sense to a basicguy like me. The Tea Party needs to remain as a movement. There may a star around which the movement takes voice such as a Sarah Palin or a Mit Romney. But as soon as any one person sees it as a chance to seize some power and wealth, and Tea Partiers allow it to happen, then the movement dies. So, let’s keep our fingers crossed… no, let’s stay ever vigilant and not allow for any one person or entity to rest it from the hands of the people.

Finally, a tea the tastes and feels good going down… and that isn’t against my religion. Tea anyone?

A New Dawn for America?

The morning the New Year dawned I woke up feeling positive about the future. That hadn’t happened in some time. For much of the previous two years a depressing pall hung over my life. I noticed that a similar pall hung over the country. But 2010 opened with a glimmer of hope… a lighter feeling… a bit of excitement. I related these feelings to some friends and when they asked why I thought I felt differently, I really couldn’t explain it.

Who would have known that any news out of Massachusetts would have provided a glimpse into my glimmer of hope… a tentative glimmer to be sure… but there is no doubting the hopeful feeling inside. Scott Brown… Chevy truck… healthcare reform is dead… Democrats getting frantic… Kennedy’s seat… wake-up call… Is it Martha or Marcia Coakley? Each of these words and phrases fueled the hope within until I heard the news… Brown Wins! Then in his acceptance, Brown declared: “This isn’t Kennedy’s seat, or my seat, but your seat!”

That is like music to my ears. I detest the growing political aristocracy in America. Political offices are a right of passage to some. To others the seat is bought off. And still to others, once they get the office, it becomes their job… their profession. Brown has the right idea… the seat belongs to the people and those that the people put in the seat serves them. Where has this idea gone?

Well, I’m happy for Scott Brown and the Republican Party. I’m happy that there is a chance to turn the tide of big fat government controlling every aspect of our country. There is a chance that the free enterprise system can be saved from government take-over. Maybe some sanity will set in and we’ll learn to live within our means, strengthen the dollar, and re-establish the hope of America.

However, I have a warning for Scott Brown and other Republicans like him. First, don’t get caught up in the thought that the Massachusetts shocker is a repudiation of the Democratic Party and a mandate for the Republicans. It has little to do with party, but everything to do with ideals… conservative ideals.

I’m a registered Republican, but I’m a conservative American first. I believe in a lean central government that fulfills the mandate written in the Constitution. I think the Founding Father’s stand head and shoulders above their peers and see hardly anyone today who can even be considered their peer. I believe in America’s Christian heritage that opens the door to other religions and non-religions to exist in a free society. I believe in our imperfect but free enterprise system that fuels the greatest nation on earth. When these things are tempered in the hands of a moral people… a people who accept personal responsibility… then truly there is such a thing as an American dream.

So, is it a New Dawn for traditional American ideals? I truly hope so. As for now, my hope index is up… may yours be too.

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.