I feel sorry for Republicans.
It seems to me that in the last 10 to 20 years the national party has turned into a collection of mean-spirited, ethically challenged bullies. I personally have to wonder about the moral character of anyone who would align themselves with a party that only stands up for Big Oil, Big Insurance and other corporations dedicated to standing on the backs of the American people.
When I think of conservative Republicans, my thoughts go to the past. I think of Jack Kemp, Bob Dole, Barry Goldwater, Nelson Rockefeller, William F. Buckley, Richard Nixon and even Ronald Reagan. Those men had character and resolve.
Many of them came from humble origins. They knew what it was like to work for a living, to grow up poor. They cared for working people. Today, the best the Republicans can manage is Sarah Palin. Need I say more?
If I were a Republican, I would be ashamed to hear Palin and Grassley talk about “death panels.” I would be ashamed to be thrown into the same category as Dick Armey, who pays morons to interrupt congressional listening post sessions or, even worse, parade around with pictures of our president painted with a Hitler mustache.
Is this what these people consider funny? Is this truly the best they can do?
My parents were quiet, loyal Americans. They would have found no amusement in hearing the president compared to Hitler. They would have found Roy Blunt’s joking around with Joe Wilson in Springfield a few days ago to be shameful.
Today we are faced with a huge debate over health care. Will we be content to leave 30 million Americans uninsured? Will we keep on letting people with hospital bills be sued or forced into bankruptcy?
I hope Republicans, one day, will find the courage to repudiate the lunatic fringe. I am waiting for one brave conservative to look around at his colleagues and say, “Have you no shame?” I hope that will happen, but I am not holding my breath.
Stephen Smith
Carthage
Opinion
Voices: GOP not the same
- Opinion
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Our View: Santorum's Achilles' ear
Rick Santorum knocked everyone for a loop this week, not just with his victory in Missouri but with the landslide size of the thing.
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Our View: Are school loans next 'debt bomb'?
The late American middle class struggled for decades to keep pace with an American dream slipping from its grasp.
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Our View: A better way of limit terms
A Missouri House committee on Tuesday endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to serve 16 years in the state Legislature, either the House or the Senate.
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Your View: Is it our fault?
When did coveting things and money take over character? What happened?
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Your View: No way to run a school
All throughout the state of Missouri, you’ll hear much discussion about teacher tenure and the indefinite contracts that go along with that. Most — if not nearly all — jobs in the private and public sectors have no such career protection.
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Your View: Prime suspects
If it’s too cool in the house, you can turn up the heat if you think you can afford it.
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Our View: Worldwide concern
There is growing concern worldwide that Israel might launch an attack on Iranian nuclear plants.
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Other Views: FAA deal up in air five years
The Federal Aviation Administration bill was delayed 23 times, but the agency finally has a law giving it $63 billion and full operating authority for the next four years.
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Don Ray, columnist: Obama's pipeline excuse an election-year cop-out
On Jan. 18, President Barack Obama announced he was rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline project — a project that had its beginnings some 40 months ago (September 2008).
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James Whitford, guest columnist: Broken people or broken system?
Are the people broken or is the system broken? If you walk into Watered Gardens, our rescue mission, it may seem the people are broken. But it’s a rescue mission. It just feels that way. And sometimes, it just looks that way.
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