What is happening to the GOP and Conservatism?

Republicans – party of the Big Tent. Being Big Tent provides the party with a way of including others with varying views on issues such as abortion, taxes, 2nd Amendment, and the military. This supposedly allows the party to be more inclusive and grow. Not from what I have seen. There are three legs to the conservative philosophy – Fiscal, Social, and Security.

For most, the split is usually along fiscal and social lines although some have been squabbling lately over security issues like the Iraq War. Although I am for bringing more folks into the “tent”, having such a broad array of views on issues is starting to strain the party. Government spending cost the Republican party several seats in the 2006 election and it may cost us even more.

One of the biggest problems is keeping the various factions of the party happy, especially during elections. In the current election we so far have no front runner and may not even after February 5th. The party may find itself not voting for the Republican nominee as much as voting against the opposition. I am starting to wonder if that is not exactly what the GOP wants. Sadly, this would not be the first time we faced this. Some found themselves voting for George W. Bush just to keep John Kerry out of the White House.

President Bush, a self confessed compassionate conservative, gave us massive spending along with new entitlement programs. Tax cuts are a great thing provided you have spending cuts to go along with it. His lack of wielding the veto pen was costly to both the tax payers and the Republican party in general. But then that is the core behind Fiscal Conservatives. Low spending along with low taxes allows the economy to flourish since citizens and companies alike have more money to work with.

Earmarks, No Child Left Behind, Prescription Drug Benefit, are just a few of the reasons the GOP is struggling with the conservative base of the party. But fiscal issues are not the only problems we are having. Social issues are plaguing the party as well. McCain-Kennedy, the illegal immigrant bill that equated to amnesty, was a disaster for the party. Many Republicans could not believe the party would support such bill.

Even worse, this tied directly into the Security leg of the philosophy because they refused to secure the border. President Bush, along with several Republicans in Congress were maintaining the war in Iraq, but wouldn’t do what was necessary to secure our own border. Many tried to push the conservative mantle on President Bush, but truthfully, it really didn’t fit.

Where does this leave those of us who are conservatives? Those of us who value all parts of the conservative message? After the exit of Sen. Fred Thompson from the current race, I would say out in the cold. Of the candidates running, not a single one can truly say they fit the definition of a true conservative. Conservatives have been unnecessarily scolded in the belief we are looking for another Reagan.

But it is not Reagan we are looking for so much as someone to carry the mantle with the record to prove it. Someone who will preach the first principles message and abide by them. Smaller government, lower taxes, strong military, and a point towards social issues like stopping abortion. It is not clear that the GOP is in the process of moving the party anywhere near conservatism, at least all of it. Congress and the present President are proof of that.