Is it not clear the the politics we have been playing have failed?  It is not clear that we are so very weak?  And it is not only a concern of a weakening party that is seemingly changing but one that is changing in a time that is seeing a more extreme and strong opposition (Pelosi, Reid, Obama) that could change our political landscape for many years to come.  

Us Republicans love to talk about Reagan and how amazing he was but in 2000 the American people once again chose to put a Republican into office and the optimism that began in the 1980s seemed strong with the GOP emerging as a major and seeminly realigned party.  Yet the optimism was short lived, we gave Bush another chance and he along with the Congressional GOP elites failed to secure our majority in 2006.  Could it be safe to say that the catalyst for the GOP's influences began under a party that was disenfranchising the American dream, being friendly with the undemocratic and thus polarizing enemies, and giving no hope to the American people who were facing economic and social stratification. 

Since 2006 the Democrats controlled our elites and the president, with Republicans fearful of upsetting them, the media, and public opinion.  Two years later they were able to put up an all star team of candidates that ended with the strongest, most charismatic, and not to mention most left of them all.  But nevermind what we already know, the GOP is supposed to be known for its loyalty and for the last couple of years the party has seen inter-party conflicts that has created the fragmentations we are seeing.  There are divisions on policy, party structure, loyalties, etc.  that many scholars have said will lead to a civil war with in the party.  Social conservatives and the small-government conservatives have been strung together since the 1960s and are for the first time falling apart.  The party has been in essence facing a diversity from our common enemies hurting us from the outside but also from with in the party blowing up from the inside out.  

It is strange that many republicans have turned to the government with Bush spending $400 billion on non-defense related issues (equalling that of defense related issues), $20 billion of that on pork barrel projects, $15 million of which was given to Nancy Pelosi (tell me we haven't been friendly).  We saw in 8 years increased government programs on education, religion, and social protections many of which was brought about through the influence of Democrats, pop-culture, and a differing republican mindset.  The party that promoted self-responsibility, reliance, and respect migrated towars a party that although was preaching many of the same values was doing so through growth of government (why didn't democrats not love Bush?).

The division of the party can be attributed to the GOP elite who, unlike Reagan, abandoned the principle that kept both sides together: a commitment to limited government.  The elite also failed in the public denunciations of our president breaking Reagan's 11th commandent (look it up).  McCain along with his democratic colleagues led the charge against Bush and McCain somehow ended up being the candidate we chose (interesting).  Either way GOP elites in the past 4 years turned into the common politicians the American people had been so used to seeing for so long and in the end no wonder they lost.

The party has become a fragmented, disunited, and lost party that is on its way to major change.  The question lies in what kind of change.  The 2008 election may become the most important decisions the American people made as far as its effects go.  The Democrats have elected the most liberal government in a long while and with it a liberal and perhaps more importantly a very popular president.  The republicans must step up and get rid of our "do nothing", selfish, and annoying elites, stay away from the oxymoron that it is big government conservatism, unite the fragments, and put up better candidates.  Lets face it McCain was weak and a republican who "reached across the aisle" thus compromising GOP ideals and values. The Republican party must be redefined and filled with a new elite.  We have seen more of the same following the election.  McCain always denouned republicans for comments made against democrats but has done no such thing for comments made about his own running mate! We must put our support behind new elites, Reagan like people, who do not compromise but who seek victory and who like Reagan are able to show Americans that its values is the right model for our democracy.  Palin, Romney, Gingrich, Steele, Allen, let's fight back.  All those who are out there let's take back our party and not be fearful of what others think.  Get on tv, write to your papers, write on blogs, express your beliefs, stand together and let the revolution begin! Do not let the same republicans who got us into this mess keep us under the dark cloud we are under.  They are in position to stay in control and it is up to the us, the footsoldiers of the republican party, to demand something better. We can no longer compromise, worry about the media, or pop-culture, let's be strong as Reagan was!  We can sit around for a new Reagan but only remember and implement what he taught us!  We are the future! Next matchup: 2010!

"To sit back hoping that someday, someway, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last-- but eat you he will." -Ronald Reagan