The Remaining Republicans

I often wonder how anyone can still remain a Republican. They have not done one thing right since George W. Bush stepped into office. The world is falling apart around us and it's obvious to anyone who has a bit of sense that Bush has no idea what he's doing. How can anyone continue to support this clueless and out of control party?

Remember, it's not just Bush. If it was, I might still be a Republican. Every party has a couple of bad apples. Granted this apple happens to be their head. But if Al Sharpton miraculously became president, that doesn't mean you have to stop being a Democrat. The problem isn't that Bush and Cheney have led everyone off a cliff -- the problem is they followed.

I lost all respect for Republicans in Congress when none of them would step up and challenge this administration. The worst president we've ever had and not one of them stepped up to say, "You're wrong, Mr. President. We need to go in a new direction." They bowed their heads and did exactly what they were ordered.

Even "maverick" Chuck Hagel who loves to talk a big game on the Sunday morning shows -- when has he ever voted against Bush? He loves to talk the talk, but he never walks the walk. Even in the face of a historically unpopular president and decisions he claims he is dead set against, he bows his head and does what he is told. That is so sad.

Hagel said he was going to vote for John Bolton -- come on. The man has no backbone; there is nothing he wouldn't stoop to keep his precious conservative voting record. Next time he's shooting off his big mouth, someone should ask him to name just two votes he made against the administration on things that mattered.

I don't even have to get into McCain and the rest of the fake mavericks, who are still busy kissing Bush's ass in the face of debacle after debacle. I don't want to hear any of their talk, until they back it up with actual votes to hold the president accountable. Which, of course, they will never do, because it's not in their character.

As you can tell, I am a little more than disgruntled with how the Republican Party has reacted to their bad apples. They made them kings. So, as I was wondering why any voter would still back this group of losers and yes-men, I came across two quotes that summed it all up for me. They are both from Republican voters. They both do a great job of explaining the mindset of the remaining Republicans.

First, here is a woman from Colorado who explained to the New York Times why we should never question our leadership:

"I agree with what he is doing," said Ms. Goodman, a Republican, who said the public could not always know the reasoning behind the administration's actions. "We have to trust our leadership, and we have to trust our military, and we have to trust that they want to protect us."

Facts be damned. All we need is faith. Unquestioning loyalty and complete trust. Every con man's ultimate dream. And democracy's kryptonite.

But at least it explains it. She still supports the president because she doesn't bother to check with the facts. She just turns over her judgment to blind trust of the Republican Party. For whatever else that rationale lacks, it does not lack clarity.

But just in case you missed it, a Republican voter in Georgia wants to make it even clearer. Here's what she had to say to the Associated Press:

"There are some people, and I'm one of them, that believe George Bush was placed where he is by the Lord," Tomanio said. "I don't care how he governs, I will support him. I'm a Republican through and through."

That just might be favorite quote of all time. "I don't care how he governs." There it is.

"I'm a Republican through and through." You said it!

The Young Turks

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