The establishment GOP is not the political home of conservatives, and that needs to change

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Richard A. Viguerie April 30, 2014

Wrap your mind around this.

The most important battle in politics today is the one within the Republican Party, and the tea party movement didn't start it. The GOP's civil war began in 1912 when Teddy Roosevelt made progressivism the governing philosophy of the Republican establishment.

For the 102 years since, the conflict has been between limited-government constitutional conservatives and the proponents of big government — and the big spending that goes with it.

It has been waged with conservative Republicans, such as Sens. Robert A. Taft, Barry Goldwater and Jesse Helms, on one side, and big-government Republicans, such as Presidents Eisenhower, Nixon and Ford and New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, on the other.

Many thought, wrongly, that the conservatives won with the election of Ronald Reagan and his coalition of economic, national defense and social conservatives. But today's Republican establishment frequently invokes Reagan while also pursuing a progressive agenda at odds with his principles. Big-government Republicans today include Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker John A. Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/commentary/la-oe-viguerie-gop-civil-war-within-20140501,0,6928385.story

[The Magistrate]

1. Actually, Sir, the Line Is Pretty Familiar

I remember items like 'None Dare Call It Treason' and 'A Choice Not An Echo' from when they were current sellers. Not the products of a well mind, certainly, but sturdy perennials just the same.

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2. I was surprised to see him speak for himself in such a public place.

For one thing. He has usually been more of a bag man, doling out money behind the scenes, speaking privately.

But yeah. A self-confirming self-referential belief system, must be a great comfort to him, I imagine.

A long-standing stream in our political life, yes, the plantation mentality.

[YoungDemCA]

3. Yes, esteemed small-government conservative Jesse Helms...

..who, among others, bravely and courageously stood up against the progressive agenda of the Republican Establishment.

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4. It's funny, am I right? nt