Fair weather Republicans

I detest fair weather fans. You know who I'm talking about. I was able to truly enjoy seeing my alma mater win two national titles in football this decade because I endured staying until the bitter end during losing seasons in the 1990s where the game was often far, far out of reach. My freshman year we were 2-9. We were B-A-D. But because I was there for the worst of times and stayed with my team throughout those losing seasons and lean times, I was able to appreciate the best of times when all those fair weather fans got back on the bandwagon and we shocked the nation with our title runs. The gain was worth the pain.

So when I see fair weather Republicans who jump off the bandwagon to support Barack Obama, I can't help but wonder why they became Republicans in the first place. Or rather why they didn't join the Democratic Party years ago. Surely they don't believe that everything that pushed them away from the Democrats has suddenly changed. Surely they can't believe that Democrats are the best party to defend the Constitution, promote self governance, individual liberty, fiscal conservatism (both at home and in government).

Instead, Susan Eisenhower and her childhood friend, Megan Beyer have this to say to explain why they've left the GOP:

SUSAN EISENHOWER: "In my grandparents’ time, the thrust of the party was rooted in: a respect for the Constitution; the defense of civil liberties; a commitment to fiscal responsibility; the pursuit and stewardship of America’s interests abroad; the use of multilateral international engagement and "soft power"; the advancement of civil rights; investment in infrastructure; environmental stewardship; the promotion of science and its discoveries; and a philosophical approach focused squarely on the future."

"Hijacked by a relatively small few, the GOP of today bears no resemblance to Lincoln, Roosevelt or Eisenhower’s party, or many of the other Republican administrations that came after."

Thus was Susan Eisenhower's justification for leaving the GOP and endorsing Barack Obama for President.

Susan, your grandfather was publicly quoted in 1966 in Newsweek as being quite strongly against LBJ's ever-expanding welfare state. Until his dying breath, your grandfather remained a Republican. If he were alive today, he'd probably still be trying to influence the GOP from within rather than blasting it in newspapers and in public and endorsing the opposition.

On respect for the Constitution, how is Roe v. Wade respect for the Constitution and republican self governance?

On civil liberties, sure Democrats want you to be free to burn a flag lit up with a joint of medical marijuana. Woo hoo. But Democrats take away economic freedom every time they raise taxes, threaten to nationalize more and more of our lives and limit consumer choice by supporting teachers unions and single-payer health care. The higher our tax burden and the more control resides in Washington D.C., the less real freedom Americans will have. Having personal freedom to act a fool if you so please is meaningless if you have ever decreasing economic freedom to decide for yourself how to invest, save and choose your own future.

On fiscal responsibility, Bush was largely a failure. Largely because while he decreased taxes, he didn't do enough to rein in spending. But when have Democrats shown any real tendency to rein in federal spending in the last 50 years? It was a Republican Congress in the 1990s that reined in spending and balanced the budget while lucking out with a huge increase in income due to the dot-com boom. Democrats believe in balancing budgets by raising taxes and slightly decreasing the rate of new spending. Count me in with P.J. O'Rourke, the real problem is spending and every additional dollar spent by the federal government is less freedom and independence for individuals.

I could go on and on... but back to the original point. Yes, there are real, clear and present problems with the Republican Party in the last eight years. John McCain and Bobby Jindal have been quite accurately describing those problems. If you believe in the values of the party of Lincoln, TR, Eisenhower, Goldwater and Reagan, then you don't abandon it, you work to reform it and make it better, stronger and enduring. You don't jump ship to the other side.

America has its share of problems but I would never leave this country because all those values I believe in are best understood and best practiced here. No other country on the planet has held so long and so true to our core values of republican self governance. I, for one, intend to stay and fight for what I believe in.

As with a football team, sometimes you just need a new coach to lead the team. Bush was a mediocre coach at best. Even the best programs (Nebraska, Michigan, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, LSU come to mind) fall on hard times when a mediocre or downright lousy coach takes the reins. Loyal alumni who truly love their alma mater don't give up the ship, don't give up the team. They find a new coach to lead them back to their rightful position at the top of their game. Time for the GOP to go out and find the next coach who can go out and "win one for the Gipper."