No time to revisit those RINO retreads

By Christopher G. Adamo | For Watchdog.org

The Republican Party stands at the precipice of leading America back from the cultural, economic, legislative and diplomatic disasters of the Obama years, except that in recent decades it has proven itself devoid of the necessary courage, leadership, or ideology to accomplish such a feat.

Instead, it predictably reverts to what the party insiders consider politically “safe” ground, with the main goal being to avoid controversy at any cost, including the forfeiture of its very soul.

The dismantling of America’s medical services that directly resulted from the ensuing nightmare of Obamacare should have been recognized and seized as a golden opportunity for the GOP to completely reverse course, thus giving the nation a chance to restore its formerly unrivaled level of treatment. Meanwhile, the issue has polarized the people against the Democrat Party to a degree not seen since the early 1990s, thus providing an occasion to discredit the entire liberal agenda and begin repairing the devastation caused by it.

So, of course, the reasoned response from the political “experts” of the Republican Party establishment is to continually scale back any notion of actually repealing Obamacare, and suggest as an alternative some insipid “fixes” that might abate its worst aspects without overly angering those who support socialized medicine in America. Anything of greater magnitude might be labeled “extreme” by the media, which would simply be unacceptable to those erudite Republicans.

The recent primary election wins of House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are proving to be timely for the party elite, who brought big money into those races to preserve the Beltway status quo. Consequently, they can claim with an appearance of credibility that their chosen candidates will fare far better than hapless conservatives with their fixation on such annoyances as integrity and principle. Let everyone be relentlessly reminded of Todd Akin, and forewarned of a similar fate for those who fall into the disfavor of the party elite.

It is from just such a timid and thoroughly defensive standpoint that the party seeks to coast past the 2014 congressional midterm elections, thereafter to somehow placate and appease its way into the 2016 presidential election cycle. Party “leaders” and their political strategists remain convinced of the reality of the Democrat facade of invincibility conferred upon Hillary Clinton by party operatives and their echo chambers on the nightly news. With nauseating predictability, the Republican Party has avoided the presentation or promotion of any agenda of its own, and continues to contort and remake itself in response to what those on the “inside” believe to be Hillary’s devastatingly effective political skills.

The greatest problem with this plan is that it is entirely reactionary, and thus allows the left to remain perpetually in the driver’s seat, regardless of the glaring pitfalls of the liberal agenda, or of Hillary as its champion. As has invariably been the case since Ronald Reagan left office, such behavior only ensures Democrats retain their position as the agenda party, with Republicans consigned to the role of “minor adjustment and window-dressing” party. And once again, this brilliant approach to the upcoming political contest promises all of the successes of the candidacies of Bob Dole, John McCain and Mitt Romney.

Worse yet, the GOP establishment is already seeking to thwart any conservative insurgencies by offering its line-up of “business as usual” standard bearers under the auspices of being “most electable” come 2016. They are — no drum roll needed — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush — and 2012 “most electable” Republican presidential nominee — Mitt Romney. The very names of these contrived “frontrunners” should send chills down the spines of real conservatives who abhor the prospect of another eight years of Democrat rule.

It is appalling to ponder that within such circles, the primary quality being touted as reason to elect them is what these potential candidates will not do to upset the left. Rather than boldly carrying the torch of Reaganism and Americanism forward — assuming they even believe in the existence of such things — the common trait they share is a willingness to retreat to that mythical place on any issue where they naively expect to be safe from castigation from the Democrat-Alinsky political machine. And on that basis alone, the conservative grassroots across America is expected to rally to them.

A single question, posed to the Republican base, could have predicted the disastrous outcomes of all but one presidential contest since Ronald Reagan left office in 1988: “What is it that the candidate would do as president that has you enthused to vote for him in the upcoming race?” In every instance, the only plausible answer was the hope that said candidate would prevent the Democrat from taking office. Ultimately, it was the lack of a truly Republican “vision” for the nation, or the likelihood of a plan that was only a cheap imitation of that touted by the Democrats, which proved to be the undoing of Republican candidates.

Sadly, unless a truly conservative “outsider” enters the fray in the next presidential election cycle, the pattern looks like it will continue. On one issue after another, the liberal political machine is ready to denounce and decry any attempt by Republicans to impede the leftist makeover of America. For their part, Republican “experts” are willing to accept the liberal lies, rather than connecting with the grassroots and believing in the power of the people on Main Street to reclaim the freedoms and opportunities of their country’s heritage.

Americans are hopeful for big things, come inauguration day 2017. They want a restoration of their former freedom from “Big Brother” entanglements in every aspect of their lives. They want to reclaim the privacy and control of a doctor’s visit, the ability to choose the food they eat, the cars they drive and the gasoline they put into those cars. They want a government that protects and upholds the sovereignty of their nation and its borders, and contends first for America’s interests on the world scene. Such prospects could indeed invigorate the people of the Heartland, and sweep the disease of liberalism from its current dominant perch. If properly motivated, the people will unite and carry a worthy candidate to victory. So this is clearly not the time for hapless political reruns of the disappointments of past seasons.

Christopher G. Adamo is chief editorial writer for The Proud Americans, a membership advocacy group for America’s seniors, and for all Americans. His contact information and article archives can be found at www.chrisadamo.com, and he can be followed on Twitter @CGAdamo.