Conjunctions

The Daily Bail posted a collection of Ron Paul videos from the 2008 campaign that are well worth watching again.  It serves as a worthwhile reminder that, during the Bush years, the most persistent and heroic voices in American politics speaking out against the administration’s abuses were Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich, not the Obama’s and Pelosi’s and Reid’s currently running the show.

Watching the Paul videos again I am struck by his popularity among the public, but the disdain he received from his colleagues and the media.  The Paul campaign was remarkably successful and it took the RNC and MSM a lot of effort to kill the outsider’s chances.  I suddenly find myself pitying the Republican Party as the true extent of their dilemma becomes clear.  Let me explain.

The dismal failure of the neo-con agenda left the Republicans in the position of the British Conservatives after Blair’s victory in 1997, or even the Dutch CDA after the formation of the ‘Paars’ coalition in 1994.  These cases have shown that discredited parties can only regain their electability once they have reformed and repudiated their arrogant past. A necessary component of this reformation is clearing out the closet:  the old people and ideas have to go.

The question for Republicans remain: In order to recalibrate the conservative movement, what alternative ideas are available?  If they discard the old wardrobe of neo-cons and evangelicals that have given them pyrrhic victories (Clinton impeachment, Schiavo) and abject failure (Iraq, Afghanistan, Wall Street, etc.), will they have to dress themselves in Ron Paul style libertarianism to regain their relevance?

Watching the Paul videos again I can understand their reluctance. Paul’s libertarian ideas are pure dynamite for Corporatism and Empire, not to mention the Evangelical Agenda.  If the Republicans embraced Ron Paul in 2008 in stead of John McCain, they might have disassociated themselves from Bush and possibly captured some of the ant-war vote that went to Obama, but they would also have endangered the very corporate system the US establishment is based on.  I can easily see how a Democratic win was preferable. 

As John Stewart remarked in his recent interview with Paul, the Tea Party protests are expressing a sentiment remarkably similar to Paul's.  The libertarian meme seems to be the only coherent idea in ascendance on the right, and the Republicans have the choice of either Going Paul, or Going Beck in the next few years.  You can see what an unappetizing dilemma the Republican Party establishment is facing.

For Progressives a libertarian inspired Republican Party could prove a blessing.  As this proves, there is a lot of common ground possible on important issues.  So let’s keep cheering for Ron Paul as well.