For the most part, the Republican Party has generally represented my conservative views – domestically on limited government, lower taxes and maximum personal freedoms. In terms of foreign policy my conservative principles lean to the advancement of democracy, our national interests, our national security and our cultural goodness (American Exceptionalism).
In modern times, I considered President Reagan as the best representative of my values. Not only was he correct on principle, but he also carried out one of the most successful foreign policies of any modern president.
What we have in Washington today is dysfunctional chaos – and it is not only coming from Republicans, as the leftwing media asserts. Nothing reveals the dysfunction more than the question of reforming and funding the immigrations system and providing military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
To me, those expenditures are existential to our own security. And we are not alone. The democracies of the world — especially NATO – are part of the essential defense against aggressive authoritarian communism. We should not only be part of that team, but we should be leading it.
My constant criticism of President Biden is based on his too little/too late policy on top of his surrender to the Taliban terrorists in Afghanistan, his reluctance to address Iran and his flip-flopping on Israel. He says the right thing — talks tough – and if his actions matched his rhetoric, I would be more complimentary of his policies. In my judgment, Biden is weakening American leadership in a world in which America has been — and needs to be – the existential leader of the world democracies.
While the media narrative myopically focuses on divisions in the Republican Party – and they do exist – less attention is paid to the division on the Democrat side. The anti-Israel, antisemitic faction of the Democratic Party seems much larger and more influential in the Party than do the MAGA folks in the Republican Party. The comparative size and influence of the agents of discourse between the two parties can be debated, but without a productive outcome. So, what about the GOP.
To a conservative who believes in America, I am dismayed by the anti-American – including our allies — sentiment on the left. Most observers believe that it was the power of the antisemitic faction of the Democratic Party that had Biden walking away from his initial strong defense of Israel.
We have an element in the Republican Party – most closely aligned to President Trump – whose policies are even more inexplicable to me than the Democrats’ policies. Unlike the leftwing Democrat establishment, the Republican Party has been the bulwark against authoritarian expansion. We have been clear that despots like Putin, Xi, Kim and the lesser tinhorn tyrants are the enemies of democracy, free market capitalism and the inalienable rights of the people.
I am amazed and saddened to see those in the Republican Party lose their zeal to defend democracy. I am perplexed that they do not see America’s obvious national security interest in defeating Putin and Hamas – and addressing the foundational Iran problem.
The idea that we and our allies would not – and should not – support Israel and Ukraine with all the money and weapons they need to defeat Hamas and Putin is as boneheaded as a policy can be. We need to do our part to provide such support – and to use our influence to encourage others to do so.
And yes, immigration reform and getting control of the border are critically important issues. We need to do that, too. And we have more than enough money to do it all. Oh … It might take wringing the waste and corruption out of the federal budget. It may mean cutting back or eliminating unessential programs.
Most members of Congress support aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and funding the border. BUT … when the border bill passed by the House and sent on to the Senate, Majority Leader Schumer used his power to bury the bill – not even a hearing. If the Senate wants to put all the funding in one package, House Speaker Johnson says it is dead on arrival. Senators allegedly agree to a bipartisan bill, but senators on both sides refuse to support it on the merits. Rejection of the bill is more bipartisan than the alleged agreement.
They should forget about the nuances of congressional political in-fighting. If they can combine the funding bill for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the border into one package, great. Do it and pass it. If they need to break them down into separate bills, okay. Just pass them. That is what responsible leaders in Washington would do. Which makes it obvious that they are not acting responsibly.
And as much as I am critical of the anti-Israel sentiment in the Democratic Party, I am exceedingly upset with the pro-Russian caucus in Congress and among Republican leaders. Do they really want Putin to take over Ukraine despite all the damage that does to American leadership and security?
The NATO alliance has been an essential force in preventing future European-based world wars. Thanks to NATO, the nations of Europe have been at peace with each other longer than any time in the past several hundred years. Trump’s reckless talk about NATO is not helpful – although I do not believe he would pull the United States out. He seems to use provocative language to get all the member nations to live up to their financial commitments. And that is not a bad request. Obviously, Trump understands that more money would strengthen NATO. Trump has been successful in the past where his predecessors have tried and failed. It is one of Trump’s positive achievements as President.
It should not need persuasion to convince the folks in Washington that Putin if a very bad guy. He has made Russia the enemy of the United States and all that we stand for — at least all of us who believe in conservative principles and values, and in the importance of America’s proactive world leadership.
I simply do not understand people who claim to be Republicans, conservatives and good Americans and cannot draw the distinction between the historic mission of the United States and those who engage in aggressive and violent hostility against the moral foundation of Americanism.
We often hear that one of the strengths of America is that the right leaders rise in times of particular trouble and turmoil. That is being put to the test today. Since I consider Reagan the best President of my lifetime (FDR to Biden), I seek another Reagan – or at least someone who can unite the country and re-establish the meaning and reality of American exceptionalism.
So, there ‘tis.