Big Government Republican

Chicago Tribune: Opinion: Kathleen Parker: Rick Santorum, President Obama’s Dream Opponent

This post was originally posted at FRS Daily Times on WordPress

Imagine this. You’re a member of the Opposition Party, facing a President that has presided over the Great Recession. The worst Recession we’ve had since the Great Depression of the 1930s. You’re facing a President that’s also presided over a fairly modest if not weak economic recovery. We are still growing at around 2% GDP with 8.2$ Unemployment. We now have a national debt that’s larger than our economy. We now have a budget deficit that’s 13% of our GDP and we have the highest Poverty Rate in twenty years.

The up incoming presidential election is almost completely about the economy. At least to Independent voters that will decide the presidential election. So all you need is a presidential nominee that can talk economics and communicate a plan back to strong economic growth. And bring down our high unemployment rate. You do that and ask the question, “are you better off today, then you were four years ago?” You win the Presidential Election by 5-10 points and take Congress with you.

I just laid out the perfect storm for how Republicans should be able to win back the White House. But the problem is we are dealing with a Republican Party. Thats now dominated by Religious and Neoconservatives that believe gay marriage and pornography are bigger threats to the country, than terrorism or the weak economic recovery. They don’t live in the same world as sane people. They care more about ideological purity than they do winning presidential elections. Someone who represents their Far-Right big government political ideology. Than winning the presidential election and doing what’s in the best interest of the country.

Which is the whole reason why Rick Santorum is seen as a serious contender for the presidential nomination. When thirty years ago he would’ve been seen as nothing more than a Far-Right presidential candidate, like Pat Robertson. But the problem with the GOP today is that they have more Pat Robertson’s than Barry Goldwater’s or Ron Reagan’s. When it comes to Social Issues and national security, sure the Far-Right has its presidential candidate. And a competitive shot at winning the presidential nomination. The problem for the GOP is most of the country isn’t part of the Far-Right. And someone like a Rick Santorum would have a hard time winning 45% of the vote. And would kill the GOP’s chances of retaining the House and winning back the Senate.