Law-Abiding No Longer Fits with Conservatives

Remember when "law-abiding" was something conservatives prided themselves on? When they screamed at anti-war protesters for disrespecting the government? When their cars sported bumper stickers reading, "America -- Love It Or Leave It?" When they railed about the necessity to apply "the rule of law" to President Clinton?

Well, those days are long gone, along with bell bottoms and tie-dyed t-shirts.

Now, conservatives are all about attacking our government, advocating violence against it, and encouraging people to ignore laws.

For example, Michelle Bachmann has urged people not to fill out the 2010 census, despite the fact that filling out the forms is required by law. Republicans have tried to cool her off on that because it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that if people in GOP-dominated districts fail to fill out the forms, they will be underrepresented compared to Democrats when the new district lines are drawn in 2011. But after all Bachmann's campaigning, it will be hard to get that genie back into the bottle.

More recently, Bachmann said people don't have to pay taxes or obey the health care reform bill if it passes because a handful of people in Washington D.C., can't impose their will on the American people. In other words, the U.S. government and the constitution are illegitimate.

Then there is Rep. Steven King of Iowa who called for overthrowing the government of the United States in a speech to a tiny tea-bagger crowd.

Some conservatives are hailing violence against the government -- like those who call Joe Stack a hero for killing an IRS employee when he flew his plane into an IRS office building. A couple Republicans even voted against a resolution condemning the attack. And messages of support for the terrorist-pilot have poured in in the wake of the attack.

But Rep. Steven King went even farther -- encouraging conservatives to "implode" IRS offices.

King and Bachmann aren't part of the lunatic fringe in this country. They are elected officials who are part of what used to be considered the "loyal opposition" -- the out-of-power party in a democracy. But now, they are not so loyal.

Passion certainly has a place in politics. But politicians play with fire when they undermine the legitimacy of government. Consensus about the legitimacy of government is a fragile thing and when it's gone, it's hard to get back.

A Livingston Republican Concedes Defeat

The Livingston Press and Argus is full of newsy bits this morning (Oct. 26, 2008).

Let's start with the story on the $20,000 advertising buy for the local Republican Party. You've probably seen the billboards and maybe even the cable television ads touting all the "accomplishments" of local Republicans. Never a mention of the mess in Hamgburg Township or the Mission Hills matter in Green Oak. How I wish I had $20,000 to spend explaining all the effects of Republican rule in our county.

But most interesting is an admission from Mike Murphy, county Republican vice-chair.

According to the Press and Argus:

"Murphy said it's possible Republicans could 'lose a seat or two' this election to Democrats, and that the advertisements, which will run through Election Day, are intended to remind residents of 'how Republican leadership has made the county what it is today.'"

Twenty-thousand-dollars to avoid losing only "a seat or two" to Democrats?

Next item up is, of course, the Press and Argus' editorial endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president. A key portion of the endorsement says:

"It is Obama who has acted more presidential, resisting the temptations to react to cheap taunts tossed by his opponents.

"Some of Obama's positions need to be challenged. He relies too much on government solutions. His energy policies need to expand to fully use all sources, including nuclear, clean-coal, and oil-drilling both offshore and in Alaska.

"He has by far the better health-care plan, providing for the coverage of all children. His tax plan, far from socialist (more name-calling from the Republicans) is reasonable. McCain's plan is fine if you earn millions of dollars. It's not so good for the rest of us.

"While the McCain-Palin ticket seeks to benefit from a divisive campaign, Obama seeks to unify a nation needing solutions, comfort, confidence and leadership.

"'The true test of the American ideal,' said Obama, 'is whether we're able to recognize our failings and then rise together to meet the challenges of our time.'"

The newspaper endorsed John Kerry four years ago, but generally it prefers to endorse Republicans, especially at the local level. It probably will take a hit from many of its readers for endorsing Obama so it was a brave thing to do. Also the right thing.

Neither the Republican admission of their fear of losing seats to Democrats nor the newspaper endorsement of Obama will matter, though, if local Democrats fail to get out and work this last week before Election Day.

Don't let up now. Let's make Mike Murphy's admission come true -- in spades!

Press and Argus Coverage -- Mixed Bag

Sen. Barack Obama out-raising Republican John McCain in Livingston County? The Livingston Press and Argus says it's true, in a piece for Sunday (Oct. 19, 2008).

The article goes on to suggest that the money race may mean many Republicans are "jumping ship" and supporting a Democrat for president.

Could that explain the billboards that Livingston County Republicans have erected around the county bragging about the county's bond rating and tax rates? Local Republicans having to spend money to defend their turf is a new development in Livingston County.

The Press and Argus is doing what it can to help shore up the GOP base, however. What it giveth with one hand, it taketh away with the other. For while it mentioned Obama's lead in fund-raising here, the Sunday paper also featured a big spread on the local Republicans' unity dinner featuring Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Funny, but I don't remember seeing such a story when the Livingston County Democrats had a similar dinner two weeks ago featuring Sen. Carl Levin, Lt. Gov. John Cherry, and former Michigan Congressman Dave Bonioer, as well as many local candidates.

Local Republicans get together=Big News! Local Democrats get together. Not so much.

Scary People Showing Up in Some Republican Races

Sometimes the best information in the Livingston Press and Argus shows up in its letters to the editor.

That was the case Sunday (August 3, 2008) when a letter-writer raised the possibility of extreme right-wing ties of some of the Republican candidates for office in Brighton Township, specifically Tom Murphy and Lana Theis. The candidates are tied up with a group called Americans for Prosperity, which was founded by the owner of Koch Industries, the world's largest polluter. His father was co-founder of the John Birch Society.

That information didn't appear to concern the newspaper, which endorsed the two anyway.

The John Birch Society, for crying out loud. How extreme are Republicans in Livingston County getting? Are there not any moderate voices in that party that voters could turn to?

Republicans -- The Party That Shoots Together ...

Are Livingston County Republicans in training for the Michigan Militia? Are they planning a military coup for the fall? Or are they all getting ready to volunteer for a George Bush "October surprise" attack on Iran?

Why else are they planning a "shooting clinic" for women members?

Livingston County Republican Party Chair Allan Filip reminded members in a recent email (sent to me by a friend who wishes not to be named) of the July 12 shooting clinic.

There's nothing wrong with a clinic on how to shoot guns. It's perfectly legal, and many people enjoy shooting guns.

It just seems like a bizarre way for a political party to spend its monthly meeting.

At our meetings, Livingston County Democrats like to screen important documentaries, invite in interesting speakers, or learn about potential ballot issues. Afterward, we can discuss the ins and outs of the issue over a cup of coffee and a piece of cake.

I imagine that's a much more interesting conversation than bragging about how many times you hit the bull's eye or the figure's heart.

But that's just me.

Local GOP Reveals Twisted Priorities

Michigan's unemployment rate is high, jobs are going overseas, millions of Americans are without health insurance, hundreds of thousands of people are on the brink of losing their homes, billions of dollars a day are being wasted on the war in Iraq.

So what do the Livingston County Republicans say their top priorities are in 2008?

An email to local Republicans this week(provided to me by a special friend) says:

"Republican victory means:
Winning the War on Terror
Replacing Supreme Court retirements with Constructionists
Making the Bush Tax Cuts Permanent."

That's it. Do you see anything in there about jobs, about working people, about anything that affects anyone but the richest people in America?

I sure don't. All I see is fear, packing the courts with reactionary judges, and helping the rich get richer.

The same email hints that Republicans realize those priorities are not too popular. "Republican voter turnout is needed urgently this year, and this election is of profound importance. All local Republican candidates will suffer if conservative voters stay home," said the email.

And it even hints that people may not want to give money to the top-of-the ticket, noting, "We have re-designed the membership in order to maximize local candidate support this election process." In other words, we'll spend the money locally rather than send it on to John McCain.

So if more war and more tax cuts for the rich are your priorities, you know which party is for you.

If you want jobs, health care, a better future for your kids, and an end to a wasteful, pointless war in Iraq, look to the Democrats.