by S. Mills

Created on: March 13, 2007   Last Updated: April 30, 2007

What does the GOP stand for today? It is supposed to be the more conservative of the two parties, but it is no longer representative of conservative values. The Republican Party may still call itself conservative, but the term like so many others, has clearly been redefined.

Conservatives are feeling more than a little left out of the political process at the moment. They are not being represented by those whom they elected, and now they're not even being offered a candidate that shares their values, at least not by the Republican Party. Some say it's just a small group or just the "religious right" who feel betrayed and abandoned but the RNC had better wake up. Many people who are truly conservative, religious or not, feel that the GOP no longer stands on principle, just party politics. And guess what? They're fed up.

Republicans can continue moving to the left, pretending they believe that's what the people want, because the midterm election put Democrats back in power. They know better. They know that voters were voting against liberal Republicans rather than voting for Democrats. Since they want to move further to the left however, they use this as an excuse. They're playing a dangerous game, unless of course, they don't mind putting a leftist in the White House in 2008.

There is now so little difference between the two parties that it may not matter much. Judging by the most popular presidential hopefuls at the moment, it looks like we'll end up with gun control, socialized healthcare, amnesty, and endless abortion, to name just a few items, and that's no matter which side's candidate wins.

With the emergence of Fred Thompson as a possible contender, maybe Republicans can get the limelight off Rudy Giuliani whom they have been trying to pass off as "conservative." Mr. Thompson isn't exactly the epitome of conservatism either, but at least he's further to the right of Hillary Clinton than the GOP's current frontrunners.

Could the GOP finally be getting a clue? Is the Republican Party ready to take a stand? Perhaps, but don't hold your breath.

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