It is old-school for editorialists to step aside every once a while to measure the degree of reader responses. While this may appear superficial, in reality, what readers (after putting aside the self-promoting moronic distractions) articulate is in reality, a vetting of our assertions. Reader responses either validate or (more often than not) identify the fallacies in our arguments. The ultimate winner is the train of thought which the writer initiates. Readers assure the train is going down the right track!
Last Friday’s column, Happy 154th Birthday GOP, the 10 Tenets of the Republican Party generated the most articulated and intense responses in what is rapidly materializing as a significant segment of public opinion, particularly among conservatives, that the Republican Party "ain’t what it says to be." For example:
Not Ashamed to Be Right writes: "Mr. Wirs, what you are describing is NOT the Republican Party that we see in action now, nor has it been for a long time. I just found myself scrolling down and laughing/crying at the same time. The RNC will not see one penny of mine (nor any volunteer help) donated until they actually practice what they preach."
Norman writes: "The irony is, though, that with the successful re-taking of the GOP by the country club types, maybe it is WE who are now the ‘RINO’s.’ * * * The next four years are going to stink, no matter who gets elected * * *." Norman, from what I gather, enjoys "bashing Wirs" which he confesses is the only reason he reads me, as he " just love[s] seeing the REAL grassroots come up with brilliant items like Chuck’s description of Wirs’ [columns] as a ‘RINO-gram.’" Norman also appears to be deeply religious and got into a heated exchange with another blogger, accusing him of be a "homosexual." The other blogger apparently espoused his views superior to Norman’s, to which Norman replied: "You promote your views in the public square, but don't want me to have the same right. Curious." If I recall, it was Norman, or perhaps one of his cohorts, SJ Doc, who first labeled me as a "Rockefeller Republican." Not only is that incorrect, as I am a garden-variety "Dirksen-Goldwater" Republican, but it also reveals his age.
BAMAddox writes: " Here again, we have another pitch for the RIP, formally known as the RNC * * * When the RNC threw out the Fifth Tenet [affirming Political Integrity] I started throwing out all of their contribution requests. . .
Hal writes that he believes "George Bush has been the best President Mexico has ever had. As to the ex GOP majority in Congress - maybe if their allegiance had been to American citizens and our laws, instead of blindly supporting - our President * * * maybe, just maybe they would not be in the minority."
The level of frustration is unmistakenly high. Alisa-w asserts: "Personally I’m just ready to stand in front of somebody’s tank in whatever our version of Tiananmen Square is. It's time for drastic change. Whatever it takes."
While Tombo777 states he is in Memoriam. "I will wear a black armband today in memory of what the GOP once was and is no more." Chuck writes: "Reading your article just show's us [ ] how lost the GOP is [for it is] the party of big government spending. The only difference [between Republicans and Democrats] is that the GOP wants to keep taxes low and borrow the money to give away . . ." And Virginia Patriot posts that the "Republican Party under [George W. Bush] seems intent on political suicide."
Clone states that it seems to him "the GOP has failed on most, if not all or your points of why we are Republicans." Will writes How far, far, far [the GOP] strayed from [its’] ideals. Limited government? Let's pony up another trillion for an unwinnable war (hmmm... wasted money, wasted lives, let's stop the madness folks)." Continued... |