Well, the Republicans got soundly shellacked in Tuesdays election. Hugo Chavez, North Korea, Al Qaida and Iran are in complete agreement. They are glad the GOP got beaten. I am glad also, but for completely different reasons. When I was first elected to the Republican Central Committee, my mentor, Ben Gilmore, who has worked the street in politics since Barry Goldwater, asked me, "What is your job?" I replied, "To help Republicans get elected." Ben replied with another question, "To what end?" Duh, I don't know, was my confused response. Ben then explained that if a Republican politician does not pass muster with our core beliefs, then they are no better than a Democrat. In 1994, the Republicans under the leadership of Newt Gingrich swept the Democrats, to the tune of 54 seats, out of Congress. The "Contract with America" was a bold move to rid the government of tax and spend liberal Democrats who had trashed the economy and expanded the government to horrendous proportions. America spoke; both Democrats and Republicans alike trusted our conservative approach to governance.

Fast forward. Unfortunately, the last eight years has seen more and more RINO's, (Republicans In Name Only), taking over the party, believing that they had to be more like Democrats to get elected. Ronald Reagan proved that to be false. Had the Republican members of the House and Senate stuck to Constitutional principles of limited government, lower taxes, free enterprise, strong national defense and secure borders, the Republicans would be the ones celebrating right now. Unlike the Democrats and RINO's who are clueless as to why the results of last Tuesday were what they were, conservatives are clear. Our principles don't change on a whim like the latest fad in Hollywood. We don't care that our party is out of step with the liberal elites and media moguls. No, we are steady and principled. We believe in LIFE and that includes every man, woman or child irrespective of race or religion. That includes the unborn. We believe in LIBERTY which means your freedom. We believe in PROPERTY which means that individual can purchase and own real property on which the government cannot infringe. The founders viewed private property as of equal importance to liberty. We believe in strong BORDERS. This means that in this nation of immigrants, all must go through proper channels, not tunnels, over fences or in container ships, no matter how much of a demand there is for workers. What part of illegal don't you understand?

It was the conservative Republicans and Democrats (yes, they exist!) that swept out the big spending, social wishy washy RINO's out of office. Unfortunately, some very good Republicans were washed out in the bloodletting. Now, only time will tell who will be in power. Frankly, I don't care as long as they value the Constitution over there own egos.

I dream of a resurgence of the real Republican Party which will adhere to the principles of the Constitution and our founder, Abraham Lincoln.


Mark A. Zappa-Gilroy
Vice-President at Large
California Republican Assembly
www.californiarepublicanassembly.com

Jonah Goldbeg has an opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times. A must read. See it here.