Why I left the Republican Party

[Tom Wetmore]

Why I left the Republican Party

--Randy Ball

(Tallahassee, Opinion section, January 31, 2011)

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20110...epublican-Party

It’s an odd feeling, reflecting on what it took to drive this still-arch-right-wing-as-ever former state representative from Republican ranks. Records will show that the move was made before the Scott administration handed me the honor of being the first fired (oops, requested to resign) by the transition team. I’m not bitter. (That’s a lie. I shouldn’t have been fired for respectfully pointing out that, in a prison system where some corrections officers are already bringing in their own toilet paper, a billion cannot be cut without endangering inmates, officers and the public.) But I am still, two months later, in a state of pensive disbelief.

Leading up to the time I left the Marines and entered seminary in 1986, I grew to appreciate what the party of Lincoln stood for, and I left the Democratic Party. Republicans respect the paychecks of wage earners. They hallow marriage and the lives of the unborn. As a former homicide detective who ran for office when the Democratic answer to streets running with blood was “Rest Area, No Security” inscribed in metal, I approved of putting a wedge under prisons’ revolving doors. So what changed? The party.

Here are the new values of the Republican Party, values drilled into the head of every newly elected party adherent who demonstrates pesky inclinations toward independent thinking and

integrity:

* Militant partisanship.

Republican leaders live in a fairy land where everything good — sunshine and bright blue skies, leprechauns and laughing daffodils — is bestowed by the wise Republican king, while everything bad — mold, dark nights and dragons — is inflicted by the Democrats and their snow queen. The dark must be thrown back, the evil crushed.

And Republicans in their gleaming armor are the ones to do it. By golly, we will not vote for a Mother’s Day resolution if a Democrat submits it!

* A seismic shift in how we view and treat humans. Any prisoner, including a prisoner of war, may be tortured and held forever.

Call him a terrorist and who will challenge? Impugn the patriotism of your critics and they’ll back down. Lie and say the measure has saved hundreds of thousands and you’ll be applauded. Fail to turn over evidence of your claim for the sake of the illusory band of deep undercover informants who might be sacrificed and even liberals will be rendered silent.

* A subordination of truth. Say and do anything to bring down a Democratic idea — Death Panels!

* Cowardice. Though the bank bailout shouldn’t have proceeded until future bailouts were pre-empted by reforms, a middleschooler could have seen the necessity of preventing a meltdown of the financial system. Republicans saw it, too, but gained popularity by crouching under their desks while the majority party made the tough votes.

* Abandonment of the intellect. The president is not a citizen!

When you’re spending trillions beyond your means, cut taxes! Don’t get me started. In Florida as much as anywhere, Republican campaign platforms never rise above mantra. See Scott’s promise to cut the state government work force by 5 percent. One might think that, after 12 years of Republicans at the helm, including eight years of Jeb and three years of recession, and a state budget balanced and, in defiance of federal trends, shrinking, we could find something a smidge more original. Another 5 percent? You are kidding, right? At least tell me you don’t mean the courts or prison budget. Tell me that the suggestion to cut correction officer pay is based on something other than antipathy toward government workers based only on the fact that, well, government is bad.

With the e-universe at our fingertips, we can research any issue and develop a rudimentary awareness of any topic or controversy.

But Republicans today do no research beyond polling to detect popular anger wells that need tapping. Their knowledge of complex issues is no deeper than talking points delivered by college-age party hacks.

There is more to say, but I’ll stop. Gotta pack. My home will go into foreclosure in a month, my credit score of 801 will go to 8 (let’s talk about Republican failure to regulate bank innovations and the debt-fueled real estate bubble).

I will return to Brevard County on early retirement and without health insurance, grow a beard and long hair (no joke), and write. And not without a spasm of pain when I think of the hope Republicans once brought me and, I believed, America.

Farewell, Grand old Party. I love your values — the old ones. The new ones scare me to death.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Randy Ball was a Republican state legislator from 1994 to 2002 and was public safety coordinator under Govs. Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist. Contact him at randyball01@gmail.com.

[bonnie]

Personally with that kind of tripe what a good thing he left the republican party.

Oh and by the way,the only politician to hide under the desk is MN Governor Mark Dayton.This loony tune actually hid under his desk after sending his staff home .

Quote:

Abandonment of the intellect. The president is not a citizen!

I always really like this one.Glad this gentleman does see it as a abandonment of intellect as it was the left that started that.I think Hilary Clinton was in the front of this

[phkrause]

Excellent post, but we could change the name republican for democrat with no problem.

I really liked this one though:

And Republicans in their gleaming armor are the ones to do it. By golly, we will not vote for a Mother’s Day resolution if a Democrat submits it! It reminded me of something I witnessed a number of years back when there was a vote coming up in the house and a reporter was trying to interview a republican rep. They asked him which way he was going to vote and his only response was, "which party is bringing the bill to a vote?" The reporter told him it was a democrat, so the repub rep said "NO". Than they asked him if he even knew what the vote was for and he really showed his genius, he said does it really matter? Now it could've been the other way, which I'm pretty sure that's probably happen also. That's when I realized what a farce politics really is. They don't give a rats #$@ about the people they represent, just there buddies.

[bonnie]

I am quite sure that their are those less than they should be in either party.

What I get a kick out of is when statements are made similar to this by a republican towards a democrat the poofers come out. Tom is good at demanding proof as is Shane and Laz.

I would like to see some proof of what was claimed in Tom's post

[Dr. Shane]

There has been a lot of polarization that has gone on but it is hard to blame just one of the parties. When Reagan was elected President, Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil announced the Democrats were the opposition party. They are only interested in making the other party look bad.

[Tom Wetmore]

Yep. The truths this guy wrote in his op-ed are painfully obvious it would seem except to the partisan sycophants. Reminds me of the tale of the “Emperor’s New Clothes.”

[doug yowell]

Yep. The truths this guy wrote in his op-ed are painfully obvious it would seem except to the partisan sycophants. Reminds me of the tale of the “Emperor’s New Clothes.”

THis was one of the weakest articles ever.Ball's reasons for being a Republican were specific on the issues. He then devolves into a Democrat like state of unsubstantiated accusation and name calling.I notice that he didn't reveal who he hooked up with after the great divorce, or why he failed to address why the last Republican presidential candidate was a guy who often broke with his party on several issues. Nor did he address why the last Democratic presidential candidate,senate majority leader,house majority leader,never broke ranks with their party's dogma's. If Mr. Ball has written another article that gives the same basics as to why he cannot be a Democrat (as pk alludes to)I can respectfully disagree with his position while recognizing his consistency. If not,he's just another partisan hack.

[Woody]

Originally Posted By: Tom Wetmore

Yep. The truths this guy wrote in his op-ed are painfully obvious it would seem except to the partisan sycophants. Reminds me of the tale of the “Emperor’s New Clothes.”

THis was one of the weakest articles ever.Ball's reasons for being a Republican were specific on the issues. He then devolves into a Democrat like state of unsubstantiated accusation and name calling.I notice that he didn't reveal who he hooked up with after the great divorce, or why he failed to address why the last Republican presidential candidate was a guy who often broke with his party on several issues. Nor did he address why the last Democratic presidential candidate,senate majority leader,house majority leader,never broke ranks with their party's dogma's. If Mr. Ball has written another article that gives the same basics as to why he cannot be a Democrat (as pk alludes to)I can respectfully disagree with his position while recognizing his consistency. If not,he's just another partisan hack.

Good Post Doug. This OP is just more partisan mumbo jumbo.

It seems that more and more the truth goes out the window in some of these political posts.

[Tom Wetmore]

As I was saying...

[Woody]

I pray for unity ....

One day perhaps it will be more important to do what is good for the country rather than just promote partisan partners.

[doug yowell]

I pray for unity ....

One day perhaps it will be more important to do what is good for the country rather than just promote partisan partners.

One thing that I think you're missing amidst all the siren calls, Woody, is the way in which Democratics (we're talking party here)and Republicans tend to portray each other. Ball is the perfect example of this. It's important that his argument is preceded by an attack on the character and motives of Republican ideas, or as Howard Dean once responded,:"The difference between us and Republicans is that we care whether or not children go to bed hungry at night." Do you remember Julia Roberts comments about Republicans after(or during) the 2000 election?Republicans are then by definition evil,motivated only by money,power,and a callous contempt for human suffering! Republicans generally believe that Democrats are well intentioned but advocate dangerously destructive policies to the nation,motivated by an unchecked emotional pulse.One believes the other is evil,the other believes the other's policies are evil.Both believe that their policies are what's best for the country.Therein lies the great divide...which one is right? Unity requires that both parties respect the motives of the other. When this happens it'll be a first (good) step towards fulfilling your prayer.

[doug yowell]

Another thing Mr. Ball fails to elucidate on is after extolling the virtues of being pro-life,pro-hetero sexual marriage,pro-less burden on the taxpayer,ect...he now chooses to abandon the only party that holds those values.Why, do these virtues now take on less importance? Where does he go from there? Has he also jettisoned those ideals in favor of a more "human" approach? Each of his complaints (some valid,some not)could be easily be applied to the Democratic party also, so what is his political solution;"it's all the fault of those evil Republicans"??

[Guest]

To use Bonnie's word: The only people who would actually buy into a load of TRIPE like that, and take it seriously, would be your left wing partisan sycophants.

Sounds like Ball has a jar full of sour grapes, and doesn't know what to do with them. Hence the nonsensical left wing mumbo jumbo.

[karl]

His rant makes it appear that his allegience can be bought with prison funding.

Might be just another grafter.

Let's put Joe Arapaio in charge of his prison cost-cutting and see how he likes it.

[Tom Wetmore]

Yep. The truths this guy wrote in his op-ed are painfully obvious it would seem except to the partisan sycophants. Reminds me of the tale of the “Emperor’s New Clothes.”

As I was saying...

You guys are cracking me up!!!!

The more you go all in on the partisan let's-throw-this-turncoat-under-the-bus, the more you reinforce the truth of what he was saying and reinforce that partisanship is indeed very much lacking in self-awareness of it own faults.

[karl]

It's not about partisanship. It's about reducing the size, cost and power of the ever-growing government. You could be a member of the gorilla party as far as I care. If you don't want to slash spending across the board and pay down the deficit, I'm agin yer politikin.

It looks like this guy could be bought with prison funding. Simple observation. No under-the-bussedness in it.

[bonnie]

Originally Posted By: Tom Wetmore

Yep. The truths this guy wrote in his op-ed are painfully obvious it would seem except to the partisan sycophants. Reminds me of the tale of the “Emperor’s New Clothes.”

As I was saying...

You guys are cracking me up!!!!

The more you go all in on the partisan let's-throw-this-turncoat-under-the-bus, the more you reinforce the truth of what he was saying and reinforce that partisanship is indeed very much lacking in self-awareness of it own faults.

Explain this tripe

Here are the new values of the Republican Party, values drilled into the head of every newly elected party adherent who demonstrates pesky inclinations toward independent thinking and

integrity:

* Militant partisanship.

"Republican leaders live in a fairy land where everything good — sunshine and bright blue skies, leprechauns and laughing daffodils — is bestowed by the wise Republican king, while everything bad — mold, dark nights and dragons — is inflicted by the Democrats and their snow queen. The dark must be thrown back, the evil crushed."

There is nothing here to point to anything by this man other than cutest little statements

[doug yowell]

Yep. The truths this guy wrote in his op-ed are painfully obvious it would seem except to the partisan sycophants. Reminds me of the tale of the “Emperor’s New Clothes.”

As I was saying...

You guys are cracking me up!!!!

The more you go all in on the partisan let's-throw-this-turncoat-under-the-bus, the more you reinforce the truth of what he was saying and reinforce that partisanship is indeed very much lacking in self-awareness of it own faults.

Here are the new values of the Republican Party, values drilled into the head of every newly elected party adherent who demonstrates pesky inclinations toward independent thinking and

integrity:

* Militant partisanship.

"Republican leaders live in a fairy land where everything good — sunshine and bright blue skies, leprechauns and laughing daffodils — is bestowed by the wise Republican king, while everything bad — mold, dark nights and dragons — is inflicted by the Democrats and their snow queen. The dark must be thrown back, the evil crushed."

And this is your model of someone who is NOT lacking the self awareness of their own faults?? No wonder you're laughing.

[Tom Wetmore]

Explain this tripe

If you can stomach it - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripe

[bonnie]

Originally Posted By: bonnie

Explain this tripe

If you can stomach it - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripe

As much as I agree authors like this are hard to stomach I would still like to hear in your words what he means.