Derek Walter » Election 2010 http://derekwalter.com Freelance writer Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:06:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The new Republican religion http://derekwalter.com/the-new-republican-religion/ http://derekwalter.com/the-new-republican-religion/#comments Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:38:11 +0000 Derek Walter http://derekwalter.com/?p=586 Continue reading →]]> Is being a Republican, or more specifically a conservative, really a way of life? Some seem to think so.

A group at Fresno Pacific University called the Sunbird Conservatives sent out a notice yesterday publicizing an inaugural (of course they used the grammatically incorrect term “first annual”) Conservatives Conference. The e-mail proclaimed, “Conservatism is not a policy but rather a way of life.  It is a life based on principles and values that transcend time and political parties.”

Really? And what is this way of life? Watching FOX News, listening to Rush Limbaugh and stockpiling guns? Language like “transcend time and politics” involve bigger ideas than a political party. Such universal principles are what a national identity, or a religion, is founded on. Religions and political parties have very different purposes. One seeks to understand truth, articulate a worldview, and win converts. The other tries to influence a broad coalition in order to win power (if you can’t tell which is which, see your priest). Unfortunately too many have confused the two. Too many are trying to create theological purity in this new faith and purge the ranks of the heretics.

These are dark days indeed for the party of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. In fact, would any of this great trio recognize, or be welcomed, in today’s Republican Party?

]]> http://derekwalter.com/the-new-republican-religion/feed/ 1 Steele and Limbaugh Doing Their Part to Ruin GOP http://derekwalter.com/steele-and-limbaugh-doing-their-part-to-ruin-gop/ http://derekwalter.com/steele-and-limbaugh-doing-their-part-to-ruin-gop/#comments Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:46:14 +0000 Derek Walter http://blog.derekwalter.com/?p=463 Continue reading →]]> This is the state of the nation’s two political parties: the Democrats are led by a young, dynamic, and popular president. The Republicans are locked in a power struggle between a rambling radio host and a maundering party chairman.

After trashing the McCain campaign, Rush Limbaugh is now actively cheering for Obama to fail and having a war of words with inept Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. The spat is all over the media with The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and others devoting coverage to the implosion that is now the Republican Party. When Rush isn’t busy hoping Obama will fail, Steele is promising to reach out to “urban-suburban hip-hop settings” with an “off the hook” campaign. At one point he even criticized Rush, arguing the Sacred Large Cow was merely an entertainer and not the true leader of the party.

Unfortunately, cowardice won over courage.

There are plenty of articulate voices that could be leading the dialogue. New York Times columnist David Brooks is a far better choice from the media than Limbaugh. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has also now felt the need to kowtow to the hard right. Instead, right now we have Steele pledging to win over “one-armed midgets.”

So thank you, Michael Steele, for ruining things for all Republicans ever. Anyone up for re-forming the Whig Party?

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