Pejam Yousefzadeh has an excellent article up at Tech Central Station on the political consequences of the 21st Century version of “Me Too Republicanism”
Republicans who participated in the GOP’s congressional takeover in 1994 are fed up with the Bush Administration’s seemingly unhesitating embrace of big government. Libertarians and small-government conservatives are outraged about the size of federal budget outlays, and increased regulation (including Internet regulation). Their message is clear: The Republican political dominance that has largely taken place over the last decade is in danger of being betrayed on the policy front as national Republicans have found their appetite for increasing the size of government — and increasing commensurately their hold on power.
As I’ve made clear many times lately, count me among the frustrated. One of the reasons I held out hope in 2000 when Bush was elected was that, unlike his father, he at least spoke the rhetoric of smaller government. In reality, Bush 43 has not been all that different that Bush 41 on the domestic front, although he at least has not repeated his father’s mistake of giving in to the Democrats on tax increases……..at least not yet.
Looking at Bush’s inner circle of advisors and the Republican leadership, there seems to be almost nobody who believes strongly in limiting the growth of government. Instead, we seem to have a bunch of people who have found they enjoy exercising political power.
The author’s solution makes sense:
The best solution to this dilemma is for small-government activists to become more engaged in finding primary challengers for “Me Too” Republicans in their districts and in their senatorial races. Neither the White House nor the Republican National Committee should continue to hold to the default position of automatically endorsing incumbent candidates in their re-election races. If Republican incumbents are found to have abandoned small-government principles, they should be challenged by insurgents who will fight to end the ongoing policy betrayal that is happening in the battle to limit government.
(….)
Obviously, not every “Me Too” Republican will be challenged by an insurgent. But the problem right now is that Republicans have grown too comfortable and complacent in power. The only way that small-government ideas can triumph on the national stage is if their espousal by national Republicans is rewarded by the loyalty and support of small-government activists. It naturally follows, then, that the betrayal of such ideas should be punished.
If this actually starts happening, I will be among the first persons standing and cheering. I’m not optimistic that it will, though. In many states, the Republican primary process is heavily controlled by social conservatives who have their own agendas. In others, it is heavily controlled by the party leadership. In general, it is next to impossible to unseat an incumbent in a primary. Given this, I expect the GOP to continue to nominate the same group of people they have been. If that means that they start losing elections and learn to return to their roots, maybe its not such a bad thing.
Read the whole thing.
