A message for the GOP

Given the current temperature of the GOP, and public perception pointing to Rush Limbaugh as the leading voice, even scarier, the most influential voice of the Republican party … I just have to say this.

“You people need to calm yourselves down”!
To fuel the fire, Michael Steele called Limbaugh a mere "entertainer" who is sometimes "incendiary" and "ugly," I felt relief, The new leader of the RNC, got it right… comments for which Steele later apologized. But only fleetingly…

I do understand that you are reeling from an inarguable KO, and a complete breakdown of communication and connection with the American people, but to rally toward a guy like Rush, makes me think that you are suffering from some kind of depilatory mental disease. Bush was painful, yes, but was he and his group of cronies so despicable to drive you to a state of denial about the tremendous harm, destruction, and embarrassment he caused this country on a local, global and personal level ? The answer for me is an unequivocal yes. He is despicable. He was dishonest. He was destructive. Evil, even. But he is not, nor was he ever my guy. For me to deny he did this is ignorant, for you, the Republican party, to deny he did this is ignorant and self destructive.

Come on GOP….we democrats want to win fair and square, and we are fit to fight…we are poised to win, and to keep on winning. But the last thing we want is a forfeit…

Rush is hoping for failure. He is gaining enthusiasm among all of you, to support failure. News flash … you have failed and you brought the whole country down with you. Don’t advocate failure moving forward just because you feel somewhat comfortable in it now. Even though I am a democrat, trust me on this one … it is no good to perpetuate failure. It will be hard, perhaps impossible for this country to prosper while we are failing.

Your strategy is transparent. GOP will dissect Obama’s stimulus and corrective packages to highlight all of the failures as they occur. And there will be failures. You will attack the concepts, the theories and the plan to stimulate recovery of our dire financial state. You will focus on the flawed executions of the “stimulus” and “bail out” programs. You will equate “regulation” to nationalization or even socialism. You will point to the short term struggle as negative with no regard for the resulting long term corrections. You will accuse the democrats of instituting “bad government” while advocating for “bad people and destructive decisions within government”

If you insist on looking backward, gravitating exclusively to “free market” and “deregulation” you will be increasingly alone. Because, before the stimulus packages can visibly impact the market in a positive way, many more members of the GOP will be crossing the line, undercover, asking for government assistance. Republicans have lost their jobs, too, and if you are still working, your bonus was probably not as gratuitous as it was last year. If you are going to file for unemployment, at least do it in the open and admit that without this kind of government assistance you would be SOL. Admit that deregulation was a stimulus of a different kind, one that led to our financial melt down, and that the new, positive and necessary stimulus package, while paying you, should also reinstate some level of regulatory guidelines on businesses to act ethically, legally and prudently. Admit that deregulating lead to predatory lending, debt swapping and over weight risk ratios, within our financial institutions. Admit that deregulation did not discriminate between democrats or republicans, it allowed businesses to play a high risk, non partisan game with your money. You are less rich than you were before. Admit therefore, that deregulation failed.

C’mon republicans…Admit this.

Admit that regulation is needed. Admit that it is appropriate. Admit, even that it is good.

I am confused when I detect fear associated with regulation. This fear is real, but unfounded. It therefore needs to be addressed and taken seriously.
Lawful regulation of private sector business is synonymous to lawful regulation of communities – counties – cities – states – countries. In America, we do not live in lawless communities. We willingly abide by laws and rules of coexistence. We acknowledge and respect human rights. We do not steal, inflict harm, or swindle. Those that commit these crimes, face correction and attempted rehabilitation. Lawless communities conjure up images of Iraq, Israel, Darfur, Pakistan. Chaos, brutality, unworthy and misguided leadership emerge in lawless communities. Communities can thrive in a regulated environment that supports creativity and innovation while demanding fair treatment of its constituency. Why shouldn't public and private sector industries thrive this way as well? The answer is that they have and they will. GOP, thinkthenleap….regulation will work !

In case you have forgotten, as it may have been a long time…It is much more gratifying to win when you play a fair game. It feels completely different and much more profound than stealing a win because you were willing to cheat.