At the beginning of President George W. Bush's first term, Carl Rove predicted a Permanent Republican Majority for America. The press picked up that prediction and ran with it. With the exception of Ike's term, Rove had lived in a nation with a seemingly permanent Democratic majority.
By the time of the second George W. Bush inaugural the media believed Rove's prediction. What a difference the next two congressional elections wrought.
The young Turks of the Republican Party of Rove's youth had political beliefs and followed a creed. The party saw success with Nixon's two elections, success that was squandered by a failure to live up to those beliefs. The Republican Party was declared dead and buried, again.
But, from the first inaugural of Nixon, the Republican Party held the White House for all but twelve of the next thirty-six years.
It was lost after our representatives failed to live up to the beliefs of the Party; failed to follow the Creed. The Carter presidency was an interruption, an aberration. Then there were the Reagan years and the first Bush presidency, which ended with a failure to live up to the beliefs of the party.
During the Clinton administration, Republicans returned to their beliefs and were chosen by the people to govern. George W. Bush ran on those beliefs and was elected twice. When Republicans failed to walk the walk, they were required to stand down.
Congress did not walk the walk consistently and therefore did not do as well. As representatives strayed, the voters selected others. As the beliefs fell by the wayside, so did the incumbents.
The Republicans had the harder job. They had a clear and unambiguous set of beliefs. All the Democrats had to do was look for the weak Republican. During the last two congressional elections the voters chose someone else over the people who left their beliefs behind. So, what were those beliefs? What is this Creed? Here:
I AM A REPUBLICAN BECAUSE . . .
I believe that the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person's dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.
I believe in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age or disability.
I believe free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.
I believe government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.
I believe the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations and the best government is that which governs least.
I believe the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people.
I believe Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.
I believe Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.
Finally, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles for government.
The Republican Creed
(as written on the gravestone of Lee Atwater)
I Do Not Choose To Be A Common Man.
It Is My Right To Be Uncommon.
I Prefer The Challenges
Of Life To Guaranteed Security,
The Thrill of Fulfillment To The
State Calm of Utopia.
I Will Never Cower Before Any Master,
Save My God.
When Republicans stand for their beliefs and walk the walk, they will return to electoral success.
