Reclaiming Conservatism

Americans will soon vote in one of the most important elections in the nation's history. And it will not involve Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, or John McCain.

This is the reality of American "exceptionalism," a unique form of divided powers in which a president is the nation's "head of state" but neither head of government nor head of the government's lawmaking -- and thus priority-setting -- branch. Presidents can often persuade the Congress to move in one direction or another, but what actually happens will be Congress's decision. It is in choosing the members of the next Congress that voters will most decisively set the nation's course.

At the moment it appears increasingly likely that Democrats will not only keep control of Congress but increase their majorities, perhaps significantly. And that is perhaps as it should be. It is not that the nation has moved to the left (for the most part we remain a slightly right-of-center country, the sole reason Senator Clinton remains a marginally viable candidate) but that the country has, for seven years, observed the abysmal performance not only of the incumbent Republican president, a disaster if ever there was one, but of Republicans in the House and Senate who have repeatedly humiliated themselves in their willingness to toss aside the most important elements of American constitutional government.

Democrats have already won three traditionally Republican House seats in this year's special elections and Republican efforts to stanch the bleeding have begun to verge on the ridiculous. John Boehner, the GOP leader in the House of Representatives, wants his party's House members to adopt a mantra of "change" even as they are precisely what the nation wants to change from. Newt Gingrich, the man whose behavior as Speaker is what led to the repeated shrinking of his party's majorities and himself being shown the door by exasperated colleagues, has taken it upon himself to give his successors "guidance". And Tom Cole, the chairman of the Republican minority's campaign arm, found himself saddled with a committee that was in debt, allegedly being drained of financial resources by one of its employees, burdened by a grossly unpopular president, and faced with the retirements of 30 incumbents, most of whom would have been expected to win re-election but whose departure presents Democrats with open seats they could well win; Gingrich, of course, has indicated that the current mess is somehow Cole's fault.

Desperate to find a way to win, Republicans are in danger of doing precisely the opposite of what they should be doing. They are being advised to tie themselves to the fortunes of John McCain. It is not inconceivable that McCain could, in fact, become president, but he won't carry Republicans with him; if he wins, it'll be because the voters see him almost as an anti-Republican and because they have not been won over by the Democratic nominee. What Republicans should do is to remember the old adage, once considered beyond serious debate, that "all politics is local." They should make clear to the voters that their loyalty will be to their constitutional obligations (long since abandoned by most of them) and to their constituents. That is, in other words, that they will go back to Washington loyal to their duties and not to their political party and not to a President, even if he should happen to be one of their own.

Republican members of Congress are in trouble because they deserve to be. Because they yawned when a Republican president declared that he was free to disobey the law. Because they walked out of the House chambers rather than vote to enforce congressional subpoenas of administration officials. Because they acted like White House staff rather than as members of a separate and equal branch of government.

What should congressional Republicans do if they are to have any chance of winning even a sizable minority in November? First, they should emulate at least one element of their old "Contract With America". That is, they should all gather together one last time on the Capitol steps. And they should apologize, collectively, to the American people for their behavior both as a majority and as a minority, guilty beyond doubt of nonfeasance (not doing their duty). And then they should go home to their constituents, plead for forgiveness, and promise that if they are returned to Washington they will remember to take the oath of office seriously: to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God. If they cannot do that, they will lose and they will deserve to lose.

A member of Congress for 16 years, Mickey Edwards was a member of the House Republican leadership. His new book is "Reclaiming Conservatism" (Oxford University Press).

Comments

[WilliePilgrim]

HuffPost's Pick

Some excellent points here. The 2 party system works best when the 2 parties are actually in opposition to one another, providing a dynamic range to its effectiveness while keeping each other in check, as should the 3 parts of our national government. To hear one side demonize the other and call for its obliteration is as if my gas pedal is cursing the brake pedal. I truely want both and am in fear no matter where I'm steering when I loose faith in either's ability to do what they're designed to do...which is where I am now in regards to the 2 party system. I've heard it said that with the 17th amendment Congress became a money trough and paved the way for the system of graft and political favoritism we see now...in which case let's repeal that thing and get back to a system that cannot perpetuate its power by continuously taxing and spending more and more.

[DanBest]

Recently republicans have spoken about their broken brand. I think that's the problem.

Negative and positive branding may work with products, but we don't elect products, we elect humans. And the very human republicans could not live up to their positive branding. They also spent way too much effort negatively branding the opposition in ways that had no basis in reality. On top of alienating those in the opposition, they set up a false expectation on the part of thier idealogues and what they could accomplish.

So right now Bush and the republicans are stuck with their idealogues. Anything he does to reach out to the center alienates those on the right to the point where anything he picks up in the center, he losses on the right. They painted themselves into this corner. Its hard to see how McCain can win over the right and hold onto the center. It seems like he has given up any notion of moderation as he tries to court a reluctant right that still wants its pony when most of America just wants lower food and gas prices and an end to this war.

[NoOneSpecial]

But the problem which goes unaddressed here by the author and his supporters is how Conservatism has tied itself for decade after decade to the entrenched corporate/money interests. It's completely lost any connection to the idea that the government is supposed to serve the common good through public (that is not-for-profit) service.

"Smaller government" is not just about cutting a government function and/or outsourcing it to a private industry which often will do the same job for a higher cost (op costs + OBSCENE PROFIT) and no accountability when things go wrong.

"Fiscal responsibility" is not just about giving another tax break to the wealthy so that when the "trickle-down" fails to occur the Fed has to borrow money from China and the states have to pick up the slack by raising their income, sales, and property taxes.

Until the Republican Party stops thinking and acting like the first order of government is to help business, it WILL NEVER represent the people. The last 30 years of Conservative ideology has been nothing but smoke are mirrors claiming to help the little guy but really just helping the ultra-wealthy and making suckers out of everyone else who supported them.

[JScott]

And in regard to the last paragraph. Judging from the behavior of GOP'ers outta the office and out of the admin (don't blame be, it wasn't my fault, spin, obfuscate, no apologies etc. etc.)-NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!!!!!!

[PaulC37943]

Reclaim conservatism? There are two reasons the conservative movement failed. The first is that those who espoused it were not skilled enough to pull it off, despite the support of all three branches of the federal government. The second is that the ideas that make up the conservative movement are not tethered to reality and the attempts to implement them have done real harm to the people of United States.

However, I agree that gathering on the Capital steps and apologizing to the American people is a fine idea. But afterward they should, to paraphrase Lyndon Johnson, act like a "jackass in a hailstorm," and just stand there and take it.

[sparkandy]

Mr Edwards
My mother was a big fan of yours. Her name was Lenore Richison and she was very involved with Republican Politics in Washington County Oklahoma. Too bad she's not still around to read this blog and your book. She'd be proud and happy that someone is trying to reclaim the true Republican Party.

[booksnmore4you]

I'm a Democrat but was a Republican

Republican's will continue to sink while their AM radio talkers keep talking.

[Butter]

mIckey: That was right on. I was your consitutent once, and you are one of the few Republicans this life-long left wing liberal democrat has ever voted for. Why? Integrity and honesty.

Last year I had coffee with Ding Lund (his real name) in my home town in Northwest MInnesota. Ding was the postmaster when I was growing up, 93 years old, and a lifelong Republican. I asked him if he'd had enough yet. Ding said "I will never vote Republican again."

The Republican party used to stand for reasonable international relations, limited federal power, and fiscal responsibility. What does it stand for now? Irresponsible war? Selling of the government to corrupt corporations? Consolidation of media so there is no independent press? Secret deals to ensure oil prices will go so high we have to convert to alternative energy sources whether we are or are not causing global energy and warming catastrophe?

We the people, Democrats and Republicans, have to take our government back from this seamless integration of multi-national corporations into the running of our federal government. Why in the world do we allow foreign governments to lobby our federal representatives? They're supposed to have diplomats, not lobbyists.

Republicans have to show they care about people, just as the Democrats must. A strong, principled opposition to the coming Democratic federal administration would be healthy for our democracy. The real question is, will there even be a Republican Party left 4 or eight years from now?

[returnofthejedi]

Hopefully the republicans can honestly repent of their repulsive ways and survive as a viable political party. Seeing some of the latest tactics used by their leader,(notice I said their leader) that idea does not seem likley. For all the damage done by this current class of republicans, that party in name has done some great things for America. It's such a shame to see how corrupt and abysmal the party of Abraham Lincoln has become. That latest stunt pulled by George Bush at the Knessett is the most shameful political act of cowardice I think I have seen. I think I was more comfortable with him playing golf while conducting a fictitious war on terror. Which by the way has caused 4,000 american mothers the pain of losing a son or daughter..­.........s­ome mothers day present. I can't understand why it has taken people so long to understand that they have
been the victims of an eight year scam perpetrated by people using the name republican.
For the sake of the children and the future of america I am asking please stop voting for people who are sending your kids off to die for the wealth of themselves and their special intrest. When they have drained you of all you have to offer thats when you will find out what they really meant to you. You know what they do with dead wood don't you?
In my opinion thats exactly what this cabal has done to the conservative cause.

[timothe]

An excellent blog, Mickey. As a conservative, I think the Republicans are going to get trounced in both houses and deservedly so. And if that's the case, we might be better off with a Democratic president and let them put into the motion their flawed ideas of governance for four years, like during the Carter administration. If McCain wins office with a Democratic Congress, he will get blamed for all of the crappy legislation that he can't veto.

We need leadership to espouse the conservative ideas of a smaller Federal government, state's rights, secure borders, and a complete overhaul of the entitlement programs so that they don't eat us alive financially. Where will that leadership come from, when the de facto leader of the Republican party doesn't believe in these things?

[situationcritical]

Espouse the conservative ideas?

Dude, you're looking the results of those ideas right now.

[BillLumbergh]

You neocons make me chuckle. You think because idiots like a free ride (tax breaks) that they don't want the "entitlement" programs. The geenyus GOP voters are dumb, but they also know that they've seen SS and Medicare taken out of their paychecks, and you damn well better believe they feel "entitled" to those programs.
How did privatizing SS work out for you neocons? Wonder why?
The sooner you realize that people only vote GOP for the freebie tax breaks, the sooner you'll figure out why your party is in trouble. You're the 'have your cake and eat it too' party. You can only get your candidates elected when the people are in the mood for dishonesty and deception.
Maybe you could roll out more tax cuts, and a 'it's morning in America' theme, part deux.

[sytgrl]

Okay, you guys must have had a meeting, right? Because I heard these EXACT same talking points (pretty much word for word) on Hannity today. Is this the way you are going to try to save your seats in Congress?

Seriously, today on his show he was saying how repubs had drifted from conservative values, and how they should apologize to their constituents and promise to do better next time.

Are you kidding me? This hat-in-hand ploy WILL NOT WORK!

[TakeSake]

It makes them sound like a little kid promising to finish broccoli after he gets ice cream.

[Arsenic]

Reclaim what? I don't care if you call it conservatism, or if you call it being Republican. It dosen't matter. Either philosophy has failed the test of governance. Its real simple. When y'all ran for office I believe I heard every one of you Republicans claiming to be for conservative values, on your way to loot the treasury for your friends, on the way to claiming the strong values of Foley, DeLay, Vitter et al. as your own, on the way to lying and spying. Your philosophy is dead, because the proponents, you included, dont have the moral fortitude to walk your talk. Ya, y'all need to gather on the capitol steps, it will make it easier to ship y'all to The Hauge.

If you had written this say, 5 years ago it might have been believeable, now it is what it is; a vain attempt to distance yourself.....from yourself. Liberals founded the nation, now that the Republican­=Conservat­ive=Good American meme has been dashed to death by Conservative Republican actions, maybe it's just time to SYFPH and admit the bankruptcy of your philosophy.

[newshawk14]

I think both republicans and democrats need to read, "Broken Government: How Republican Rule Destroyed the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches", by John W. Dean. I strongly suspect
that the republicans are going to be consigned to the wilderness for some years, and I can only
hope that the democrats don't begin to make the same mistakes. I actually like the idea of fiscal
conservatives pointing out, when spending or programs do not make sense. I think they need to
move away from their uncompromising right wing base, and at least for a time, be the loyal
opposition, until they've regained their self respect, which Bush has destroyed.

[Singha]

Also read John Dean's "Conservations Without Conscience."
Which documents everything Ron Paul has been saying about what happened to his party.

[RobtBrock]

I love it! The rats are jumping ship.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Why should I believe ANYTHING a GOP Rep or Senator says?

They voted against wounded vets. They ran up debt to pass to my kid while telling me they are the party of fiscal responsibility.

And now the "Party of Personal Responsibility" wants to be forgiven with just an "I'm sorry"?

Whatever drugs you are taking are WAAAAYYY better than anything I ever heard of.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

"And then they should go home to their constituents, plead for forgiveness, and promise that if they are returned to Washington they will ..."

Telling them to go home is a good idea.

Telling them to plead for forgiveness is a waste of time. They will never be contrite. It is not in their nature.

Telling them to make additional promises is something that some may follow, but with their fingers crossed.

[nikto]

Total destruction of the GOP would be the best thing for America.

AS if we would be so lucky!

[desertdweller]

Bring back the Rockefeller and Chafee Republicans, someone we can do business with.