Palateable Republicans.

Published on October 1, 2004 By Jamie Burnside In Politics

This is my second political article in-a-row. That is something, as I am loathe to write blogs on politics. Yet here I go...

During the Reagan presidency I heard lots of talk of "Reagan Democrats." Reagan Democrats were people who would vote for Reagan even though they considered themselves to be Democrats. Reagan's "crossover appeal" led to a lot of votes and an essentially popular presidency.

I feel that Clinton and H. Bush had a little bit of crossover appeal, but not nearly as much as Reagan.

Currently I would hazard to say that George W. doesn't have that appeal. (He does appeal quite well to his base however.) George W. has a sort of "polarizing appeal," like Ted Kennedy or Hillary Clinton.

Considering this, it got me to think about which Republicans I find palateable. (I always vote Democrat.) After a bit of thought, I think that my favorite Republicans are Pat Buchanan and Henry Kissenger. Even though I don't necessarily agree with a lot of what these guys say, I trust them to be honest, credible, and non-corrupt. I think that if either of these two would ever be elected president, it wouldn't be all that bad of a thing. (Of course Kissenger can't, but that is beside my point...)

Maybe I like those two guys because they're "old school." They are the types to have a rational discussion about issues with people without resorting to dogma or equivocation. These are the types of guys who allegedly used to populate the congress in comparison to our current crop of idealogues.

To you forum posters: Who would you "cross the aisle" for? Or at least are there any representatives of a competing political party whom you consider to be less-than-completely objectionable?

Comments

Rob McGinley Myers

on Oct 03, 2004

Hey Jamie,

I hate to be predictable, but I might cross the aisle for John McCain, because he's one of the few Republicans who seems to be more interested in ordinary Americans than corporations. He also seems like a very honest and noble person. Though it's been sad to see him helping Bush out in this campaign.

I was also surpised to learn recently that Grover Norquist (I think it was him anyway), who is an extremely conservative Republican when it comes to big government (he basically thinks most government programs should be immediatly abolished) is also a big supporter of gay rights. I don't know if I'd cross the aisle for him, but I think it's interesting that Republicans have such diverse views. We liberals tend to paint them as weathy, Bible-thumping, war-mongering whack-jobs. But many of them are socially moderate.

It makes you wonder how a social moderate who votes Republican justifies that to him or herself. Do they think, "Well, yeah, I believe in gay rights, but tax cuts are more important than gay rights." Or, "Well, yeah, I'm pro-choice, but I'd rather have abortion outlawed than have to pay higher taxes." I don't get that.

Anyway (wow, I'm really rambling on here, maybe I should get my own blog), I have to say I'd never vote for Kissinger, even if he could be President. He may be a brilliant strategist, but I think he's creepy and evil. There's a lot of evidence that he's a war criminal too.

-Rob

Lee1776

on Oct 03, 2004

Since I'm an Independent and a moderate I'm not sure if I fit in your crossing over thing. But here are my choices:

Reps:
Sen. McCain
Rudy Giuliani

Bill Bradley

Dems:
Sen. Joseph Lieberman
Sen. Harry Reed, NV.
Congressman Harold E. Ford, Jr., TN., (It ticked me off when he got publicly Bitch slapped by Puloski when he wanted to be House Minority leader, with good ideas on how to reform the Democratic party into something positive)

I'm just Voting Bush to Stop Kerry from becoming my commander and chief.

Just the thought of that makes my skin crawl.

That's My Choices

cactoblasta

on Oct 03, 2004

You'd really want Kissinger in the presidency? His freedom is forfeit in dozens of countries; for a national leader he'd be forced to spend a lot of time at home or risk arrest for war crimes (both real and imagined). He's probably also one of the few US government aparatchiks that I wouldn't trust to be honest at least half of the time. The guy is a realist of the very worst kind, and seems to view morals as nothing more than an annoyance.

Then again that might be what you look for in a president.... if so, good luck with that.

I can't speak for American politics, but I don't really think there's anyone on the conservative benches in Australia who I would trust to run the country properly. They all seem either obsessed with neoliberal economics or the US alliance or both, and nearly always to an extent that is probably unhealthy and a risk to national security. It's a sad day when it's difficult to find someone in government who I can speak positively about, but for me that day has come. Maybe the next election will bring in someone better, but I'm not going to hold my breath about it.

Jamie Burnside

on Oct 03, 2004

Huh. Maybe I was too quick to choose Kissenger.

He comes off pretty well and realistic in his contemporary interviews.

Remember my qualifications however: I didn't say I agreed with these guys. I just said that I trusted them to be honest. (Maybe two of you were calling his honesty into question. If that is the case: I may just reconsider.)

drfnieyh wldt

on May 31, 2006

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drfnieyh wldt

on May 31, 2006

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