While watching the returns last night and, in between, the shrill screams of Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh claiming they'd rather support a Democrat than John McCain, I thought about two very dangerous aspects of what some are referring to as "Republican suicide."

Allowing the Democrats to assume control of the legislative and executive branches of government assures our further descent into the Nanny State. Republican and Libertarian idealists who want to let this happen for four or eight years because they haven't gotten their way need to remember that we can't undo HillaryCare when she moves out of the Oval Office. There's never been a major entitlement program that's been repealed or even effectively scaled back once it's entrenched. It's not going to happen.

And the second is even more important: A Supreme Court Justice lasts forever. Well, okay, only until his or her death, but certainly longer than the next president stays in office. Encouraging the election of a Democrat just to show how ideologically pure I am is cutting off my nose to spite my face. I have my tantrum, I get Hillary, and then I have to live for the next four decades (and most of you for much longer) with the judicial branch also effectively under the control of the left wing. Even if we eventually get our way and get a conservative back in the White House, the ghosts of Hillary (or Obama) live on. In black robes.

This morning I read an article that I consider one of the most important of this election cycle. It's the most cogent and persuasive set of words I've come across to explain the importance of the Republicans NOT bailing out just because we haven't gotten Mr. Perfect for a candidate. It makes so much sense that I am compelled to share it.

Here is a teaser:

Those of you who feel soiled by focusing on what the world is today, and operating within it to reach an objective, will eschew this advice. To these people, it’s more important to get the ideology down pat in all its permutations and modifications, then find a candidate who embodies the totality of that philosophy, and then achieve power. Meanwhile, the counter-philosophy will be doing everything it can to solidify grip on the power you seek, so that when the ideology is correct and your white knight arrives, the exercise will be pointless.

Whether you agree or disagree, please go read the whole thing. Yes, it's seventeen paragraphs long and it's intellectually challenging to get through, but even I made it to the end. Please read it. If you don't have time now, bookmark it and come back tonight. It's that important.

(Oh, and I love the title :-) )

Debacalypse Now

hat tip: The Papa

Labels: News, Political Observation