Posted by: McQ on Friday, May 16, 2008 First there is what most would call a fairly mainstream conservative Republican running for the top spot in the Libertarian Party (Bob Barr). Then there is the Constitution party, which trumpets many of the same goals as the Libertarian party (and, supposedly, the GOP). Now comes the American Independent Party, a creation of Alan Keyes: Alan Keyes, who was recently beaten 3-to-1 for the Constitution Party nomination for President, has decided to continue his run for President as an “Independent”. In order to facilitate with ballot-access, Keyes is trying to start a new party called “America’s Independent Party”. He has groupings of supporters in Texas, California, Florida, New York and Missouri. In what was their first major ballot-access hurdle, the Keyes campaign has failed to get on the ballot in Texas—collecting only 10,000 signatures. This is actually an impressive effort considering they had no time, no money, and no real support for such an effort, but nowhere near the 74,000 needed.While it may be an impressive effort, even on a small scale, it further demonstrates the disarray the right finds itself in. Ron Paul's candidacy is another indicator of the problem. In the near past, the Republicans were able to impose some pretty impressive party discipline, out raise their rivals and be assured they'd take the requisite seats in the expected Congressional districts. But they had a cohesive ideology around which to do that. Not this election cycle. The party is fractured, poor and looking at getting their rear-ends kicked. And rightfully so. They've managed in 8 short years to go from the party of limited government and the requisite reduced spending and intrusion that should accompany that principle to outspending the Democrats in just about every way imaginable. They've now set the stage for a Democratic political orgy to follow that, at least in my opinion, is entirely their own fault. In the meantime, the right thrashes around with former Republicans running as libertarians, Constitutionalists and now, "American Independents". If you look closely though, you see that each of these parties are, in at least one way, reflections of what Republicans once stood for but seem to no longer - parties of limited government. No matter how small or electorally insignificant these parties might be they reflect a hunger by the American right to go back to the founding principles and get government out of their lives and wallets. For proof positive of how far the present Republicans have strayed from their principles, one need only look at their nominee. A man who has said he'd rather have clean government than free speech. Who sponsored McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy and McCain-Lieberman. A candidate who is willing to commit his nation to a ruinous cap and trade system based on bad science. He is perfectly representative of why the Republican party is in the shape it is today and why many on the right are seeking alternatives to the GOP. McCain is the embodiment of the "politics over principles" mode the GOP has fallen into over the years. The irony is that while he may be the best candidate the present version of the Republican party can field against the Democratic candidates, he is a compromise candidate with compromised principles. But to those on the right, he is, for better or worse, the face of the GOP. And he is also why Barr is running as a libertarian, Paul continues his insurgent campaign and Keyes is starting another party. |
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