Last night I, along with pal Dan Tullie attended a "Tea Party" put together by the Republican Professionals. These functions, borrowing their names from the Boston Tea party, are gatherings for conservatives, or in Dan's case, the inquisitive, to express displeasure in the Federal governments increasing involvement in the U.S. economy. Having never went to a political gathering outside of Saipan, I was curious to see what grassroots Republican activism looks like.
Held at Scottsdale's W hotel, Republican activism was not what I envisioned. I had figured the meeting would occur in a conference room. Rather, the tea party took place on the W's rooftop pool.Built to appear that the shimmering water hovers above the deck that surrounds it, this the coolest pool I had ever seen, which says alot, as I come from an island crammed with resorts. Dan and I were decidedly under dressed, as I had naively believed that since the meeting was open to the public, there was no need to dress up. In a sea of crisply dressed, (mostly)young urban professionals, Dan and I were proud representatives of the Casual Republicans (at least I was). One of the two speakers was Barry Goldwater Jr., whose profile in the Arizona dusk was a dead ringer of his father. Barry Jr. is advancing in years, evinced by his definition and defence of classic Goldwaterian Republican conservatism (liberal use of the words freedom and liberty).Barry Jr. also mentioned that America was engaged in a bloody war in South East Asia, which was kinda quaint.
I was surprised that the mention of Jan Brewer's name brought cat calls from the crowd. Brewer, a Republican, is currently cutting State spending, and is in favor of temporarily raising taxes, in an effort to close a Billion dollar-plus budget deficit she is legally bound to close. There were no alternative suggestions from the speakers or from the crowd for solving Arizona's budget crisis except "no new taxes!". Jan Brewer's tax record is AAA sterling, and criticizing her for potential tax hikes requires one to see only half the problem, a luxury the Governor does not enjoy.
In the end, the Tea Pary was an interesting mix of the expected and unexpected. Amid swank, trendy Scottsdale trappings, accompanied by a soundtrack piped modern elevator music, concerned citizens gathered to express their displeasure with the countries direction. It was a fusion of classic Buckley-Goldwater conservatism and Scottsdale cocktail party, populated by attractive women in dresses colored in vibrant hues, and gents with fresh suits (including one guy in a white coat/pant ensemble Ala Scarface). Dan and I weren't given tea bags, but what we did lend was authenticity, as in the Boston Tea Party, the participants had to use makeup to appear like first Americans, while we came to the party prepared in that respect.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Lincoln / Obama
With the arrival of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, Lincoln has been receiving some well deserved attention and veneration. The occasion has also brought about an interesting phenomena, the comparing of Barack Obama with Lincoln.
There are indeed similarities. Illinois is the adopted home of both men, as Lincoln was born in Kentucky, Obama in Hawaii. Both men were lawyers by trade, and each served in the Illinois state house. Obama and Lincoln both represented Ilinois in the U.S. Congress, Lincoln in the House, and Obama in the Senate.
However, any inference of Lincol's greatness upon Obama is ridiculously premature. Obama's election may reveal the greatness of the American electoral process and social advancement, but Obama has yet to find a willing Commerce Secretary. Obama's campaign hinged on incessant railing against war, while Lincoln's presidency was defined by war. Lincoln was, by nature, a political moderate. Lip service aside, Obama is a Chicago Democrat, not to be confused with California Republican, or Alaskan Democrat. I am not saying that Obama is necessarily a radical, but it cannot be seriously disputed that he is well left of the Clinton's or JFK. Abraham Lincoln was of a truly humble upbringing, doing menial work in his early years, and was largely sel-educated to boot. Contrast Obama, who attended the best private high school in Hawaii, then went on to attend both Harvard and Columbia universities.
In the end, I am not saying that Obama is incapable of attaing greatness in his own right, or simply doing great things in government in general. I just find it intellectually lazy to say that, simply being destiny's child of Lincoln's policies, does not qualify Obama as being great. It must be noted that Lincoln, the moderate Republican, steadily moved his policies to the "left" during his Presidency. Is Obama prepared to coax his party and policies a bit to the "right" if it proves to be in the county's interest?
There are indeed similarities. Illinois is the adopted home of both men, as Lincoln was born in Kentucky, Obama in Hawaii. Both men were lawyers by trade, and each served in the Illinois state house. Obama and Lincoln both represented Ilinois in the U.S. Congress, Lincoln in the House, and Obama in the Senate.
However, any inference of Lincol's greatness upon Obama is ridiculously premature. Obama's election may reveal the greatness of the American electoral process and social advancement, but Obama has yet to find a willing Commerce Secretary. Obama's campaign hinged on incessant railing against war, while Lincoln's presidency was defined by war. Lincoln was, by nature, a political moderate. Lip service aside, Obama is a Chicago Democrat, not to be confused with California Republican, or Alaskan Democrat. I am not saying that Obama is necessarily a radical, but it cannot be seriously disputed that he is well left of the Clinton's or JFK. Abraham Lincoln was of a truly humble upbringing, doing menial work in his early years, and was largely sel-educated to boot. Contrast Obama, who attended the best private high school in Hawaii, then went on to attend both Harvard and Columbia universities.
In the end, I am not saying that Obama is incapable of attaing greatness in his own right, or simply doing great things in government in general. I just find it intellectually lazy to say that, simply being destiny's child of Lincoln's policies, does not qualify Obama as being great. It must be noted that Lincoln, the moderate Republican, steadily moved his policies to the "left" during his Presidency. Is Obama prepared to coax his party and policies a bit to the "right" if it proves to be in the county's interest?
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Meet Michael Steele
Today the the GOP elected a chairman who defies the stereotype of what a Republican is. I couldn't be happier. Michael Steele was a collegiate fencer, and Catholic seminarian. He supports affirmative action, stem cell research that does not harm embryos, opposes a Constitutional ban on gay marriage, and opposes capital punishment. Steele is also an African American. It is truly fitting that the party that was founded in opposition of the enslavement African Americans now has a black party chairman. Steele is brash, sharp, and edgy, everything the past RNC chairman was not. He is also an independent-minded Republican, the kind I love.
Chances are that you won't see Michael Steele on the cover of many magazines. There a=is actually a better chance that the GOP is relying on gimmickry for political gain. Yet Mr. Steele flies in the face of everything the Republican Party is alleged to be. Earlier this month, Joeseph Cao,the first Vietnamese-American to serve in Congress was sworn in. Cao also happens to be a Republican from....Louisiana!. These developments give me hope that the GOP is not one reserved to the country club or Texas prairie. If one is willing to look past Rush Limbaugh, you will see a party with values and a history that most of us can admire and find within ourselves.
Chances are that you won't see Michael Steele on the cover of many magazines. There a=is actually a better chance that the GOP is relying on gimmickry for political gain. Yet Mr. Steele flies in the face of everything the Republican Party is alleged to be. Earlier this month, Joeseph Cao,the first Vietnamese-American to serve in Congress was sworn in. Cao also happens to be a Republican from....Louisiana!. These developments give me hope that the GOP is not one reserved to the country club or Texas prairie. If one is willing to look past Rush Limbaugh, you will see a party with values and a history that most of us can admire and find within ourselves.
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