Great Leaders Part Two

This is how leaders speak:

Where is the Party of Lincoln?

Where is the Party of Lincoln?

Abraham Lincoln is my favorite American hero. Not only did he preserve the Union but he also ended the scourge of African slavery; beginning the long fight carried on by such people as Frederick Douglass, Marcus Garvey and Dr. Martin Luther King jr to prove the words, 'all men are created equal'.
Lincoln held sway over a political party which championed not only the rights of the individual but also became, for awhile, the self proclaimed protector of the Constitution. Lincoln had a vision as to what he intended to see the post-Civil War America become. Sadly, his plans were cut short by an assassin's bullet at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC.
Lincoln's dream became lost as his political descendants became embroiled with corruption and came under the influence of businessmen and corporations.
If Lincoln were alive today, I often wonder if he would recognize those who claim to be the political heirs of his legacy. Would he agree with the 'compassionate conservatism' of George W. Bush or the right wing talk of Newt Gingrich? Would he approve of Mitt Romney's Mormonism or Rudy Giuliani's stance on abortion and gay rights? Or, would he argue with Ron Paul on his absurd government conspiracy theories or agree with them?
Or would Lincoln, perhaps, find something more in common with more erstwhile Republicans such as Chuck Hagel, John McCain or Fred Thompson?
I think that over the years, the Republican party I call my own has somehow lost Lincoln's message in transmission. I am not even sure if it is even the same party Ronald Reagan called his during his administration in the 1980s. It's conservatism seems to be befuddled of late and the party acts as if it knows not which direction to steer.
I'm not sure where we are but I am sure of this: it sure would be nice to return to that long ago, Party of Lincoln again.

Does the Republican Party have to change?

Is the Republican Party in trouble? I think so.

Recently, several moderates journeyed to the White House to discuss their concerns with George Bush's intent to veto the Iraq War Bill signaling dissent and dissatisfaction within the Party of Bush over his management of the war. With the loss of the Senate and poor showings in the mid-term elections, many Republicans are concerned over the future.

In addition, Presidential candidate Rudy Guiliani has openly shown his support of pro-choice and gay rights activism which goes against the grain of the long time, Repubican platform of pro-life and family values.

Lastly, Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a lifelong Republican, former Viet Nam vet and yet another potential Republican Presidential candidate, has openly claimed that the Republican Party has been hijacked and that it is no longer the party of Reagan or Lincoln. Hagel believes it is time to form a new, third party.

Should the Republicans abandon their stance on abortion and gay rights? My thinking; no they should not. However, they do need to deflect the assault being driven upon them by the liberal (if not completely out-there) Democrats. There are other fronts that need to be fought such as greatly improving our decaying educational system and taking the lead on a national health care reform (it's time to take the air out of the insurance companies balloon). Both of these issues are, by far, of more interest to the common people than are the supposed rights of a minority.

In this age of media darlings such as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama it will be important for the Republicans must do one of two things; they either must change the way they do business or to find themselves another Ronald Reagan. As their was only one Gipper, change is most likely the path they must follow; for better or for worse.

Ronald Reagan, "It's Morning Again" 1984 TV ad