FAIR AND BIASED: NO HOUSE IS MORE DIVIDED THAN THE GOP!

Sunday, November 12, 2023

NO HOUSE IS MORE DIVIDED THAN THE GOP!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

CIRCULAR FIRING SQUAD

by Steve Fair

Last Tuesday was election day in America. The Democrat incumbent governor in Kentucky was reelected. A pro-abortion ballot initiative passed in Ohio. Democrats gained full control of the Virginia General Assembly. The GOP governor in Mississippi was re-elected and a Republican was elected to the NYC city council from the Bronx. Based on the success of the Ds, mainstream media and political pundits immediately begin to predict 2024 was going to be a disaster for the GOP. Three observations:

First, forecasting future elections is next to impossible. Trying to tie one race to another is foolhardy. Prognosticating 2024 elections now is like divining when an earthquake, solar flare, or asteroid will occur- no one knows until it happens. It is still too early to predict which political Party or candidate will win next year’s elections.

After every election, talking heads and self-described experts take a small sample size, extrapolate, estimate, conclude and predict future election outcomes for the sole purpose to ‘influence’ those future elections. They try to wag the dog. That is done on both ends of the political spectrum. Take all of them with a grain of salt. The truth is no one knows the future, but God Almighty.

Second, elections are won by those who vote. That sounds too simple, but the fact is turnout is the key in every election. Early analysis of Tuesday’s elections indicates Republican turnout in Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia was less than Democrat turnout. Why did GOP voters decide to stay home? Was it apathy or deliberate sabotage as an act of protest? Was it a distrust of the electoral system? Was it the candidates themselves? Most certainly, it was candidates! Ultimately, candidates win or lose races. A political Party provide the infrastructure and ballot access, but getting voters to the polls is the responsibility of each individual candidate.

Mark Levin says the GOP candidate for governor in Kentucky wasn’t conservative enough. He could be right, because down ticket Republican statewide candidates swept their races. What Levin doesn’t tell you about the governor’s race is the Democrat governor was an incumbent. Incumbents win 96.4% of the time in all races.

Third, without unity, Republicans will lose in 2024. Some Republicans blame the poor showings in Tuesday’s elections on the leadership of the Republican National Committee (RNC). Some blame illegal immigration. Some blame Party ‘messaging.’ Some blame the RINOs (Republicans in Name Only). RINOs blame the extremists. Extremists blame the establishment. Some blame earthquakes, solar flares, and asteroids. Republicans, at all levels, are engaged in a circular firing squad; a self-destructive internal conflict with mutual recriminations.

There is no unity in the GOP. Reagan’s 11^th commandment (Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republicans) is ignored. Cliques, packs, tribes and bands dominate the Republican Party and interaction with those outside the clique/pack/tribe/band is condemned. Jesus said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” No house is more divided than the GOP.

Tuesday’s elections were not a disaster for Republicans. It’s disappointing Ohio GOP voters stayed home and didn’t vote down the pro-abortion bill. But the other races were lost by candidates, not by the Republican Party.

As the economy continues to struggle, prices continue to increase and wages lag behind inflation, 2024 looks to be a year of opportunity for Republican candidates. Most Americans vote with their pocketbook.

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Why FAIR & BIASED?

FAIR- because that's my name and BIASED because the truth is we are all biased- either for something or against it. What's important is that our bias(opinions) are based on right- on absolute truth and not on changing values. What's right cannot change based on a change in circumstances. That is the basis for situational ethics.

Situation Ethics is a theory that is concerned with the outcome or consequences of an action; the end, as opposed to an action being intrinsically wrong. In the case of situation ethics, the end can justify the means. There are no absolutes. Your actions are guided only by your conscience.

A person's view of right can be subjective. But there is a way mankind can definitely know what's right and that is revealed in God's Word- the Bible. As His creatures, we should be biased toward things our Creator is for and biased against those things He is against. May God grant us the grace and understanding to know the difference.

PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

How important is political party affiliation? Some people mistakenly believe only politicians need political affiliation, which they use for support to get elected. They contend the electorate or voters, do not need to be aligned with any Party. These same people often state they “support the man, not the Party.” But whether they recognize it or not, they are supporting a party when they “support the man.”
Most of the Founding Fathers had a negative view of political parties. In his farewell address to the nation, George Washington warned about political parties saying, “However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.” In spite of Washington's warning, political parties were formed anyway.
From 1796 to 1828 the first political parties were formed. Starting with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, two opposing factions arose. Each was concerned with how the new government was to be organized. The Federalists believed in a strong central government. Their philosophy and beliefs would closely mirror the Democrat Party today. The Anti-Federalists strongly supported the rights of the states. They would more closely align with Republicans today.
Since the mid 1800s, the Ds and Rs have been the two major political parties in our country. Political parties flourished in our government mainly for legislative organization and expediencies sake. Why is Party affiliation important for the average voter? Party affiliation is important for three very simples reasons.
First, party affiliation is the first vote a citizen casts. When a citizen registers as a Democrat, then they are aligning philosophically with the values, beliefs, tenets, and positions of the Democrats on the issues. Party affiliation “defines” you are and what you stand for. It should be taken as seriously as a vote for a specific candidate. Research what each Party stands for, their positions on issues, and then align with the Party that is closest to your values. Copies of both major Party platforms are available on-line or at the local library.
Second, legislatures organize themselves and conduct business using party affiliation. The legislative branch of government is the most powerful arm of the three branches of government. Legislative bodies hold closed meeting of party members, called a caucus to decide on questions of policy or leadership. The Republicans hold a caucus meeting and the Democrats hold a caucus meeting-both at the state and federal level. Unfortunately, conservative, moderate and liberal philosophies do not hold caucus meetings or control the legislative agendas- parties do. When someone says they vote for “the man,” not the party, they fail to understand the power and function of a caucus system in a legislative body. The Party in the majority controls appointments, Chairmanships, the agenda and countless other things through the caucus.
Third, party affiliation should be a matter of conviction, not convenience. Often, people align with a party so they can vote in primary elections or based on family tradition or geographies. Even candidates will align, file and run affiliated with a Party they have little philosophical agreement with. That decision is made out of convenience, not conviction. While no political party is perfect or has all the answers, there is a distinct difference between the two major parties and honest citizens should align with the Party that reflects their convictions.
The Democrat Party is more liberal than the Republican Party. Liberals believe in more government control of business, the environment and speech, using large bureaucratic programs to address real or perceived social ills and constant reinterpretation of the Constitution. Liberals are more inclined to trust government than the people themselves. They see the role of government as a great provider of goods and services and have little faith in the individual to solve his own problems.
Republicans are more conservative than Democrats. Conservatives believe in less government control of the environment and business. They want fewer and less comprehensive government programs to address real or perceived social ills. They believe in personal responsibility and trust individuals to make decisions for themselves. Republicans believe in a strict literal interpretation of the Constitution. A person should find out which of these philosophies best fits their view if they wish to actively participate in the political process.
Party affiliation is important. Washington’s prophecy has come to past, and political parties have been used to empower “unprincipled men,” on both sides of the aisle, but like it or not, political parties are a reality in our system of government. Each concerned citizen should evaluate the philosophy, values, beliefs and tenets of each Party and align their party affiliation accordingly.

FAIR AND BIASED

Sunday, November 12, 2023

NO HOUSE IS MORE DIVIDED THAN THE GOP!

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PARTY AFFILIATION IS IMPORTANT! by Steve Fair- written in 2009

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