In the words of a Teddy Roosevelt Republican
By Brad Friedman on 9/1/2004, 7:07pm PT  

It's not often that I repost BRAD BLOG comments here as their own item.

But in honor of the nutty Zell Miller's jump to the Republican Party tonight, it seems only "Fair and Balanced" to highlight a spot-on comment from a Republican, or at least somebody who was one up until George W. Bush and his Theocrats came along and hijacked the party. Teddy was once a proud member of the GOP. However, unlike the whacky "cross-dressing" Senator Miller who will give the RNC keynote tonight, Teddy is anything but nutty.

In an attempted bi-partisan spirit, I highlighted his excellent "Bull Moose Forum" blog earlier today. I realize that this would be two pops in one day, but when one chances upon that rarest of creatures --- an intellectually honest Republican --- it seems only proper to give him his due. Especially in this fierce, Crazy World we seem to now live in.

Teddy was replying to Paul's parrot about the GOP's "Big Tent" sham on this item concerning the hypocrisy of Dubya's several flip-flops over the last two days about being able to win, and then not win, and then win the "War on Terror".

Paul is one of the BRAD BLOG's notably intellectually dishonest fake conservatives slash Bush suck-ups slash GOP apologists for those of you who may not bother to read the comments.

Here's Teddy's on-the-money reply:

Paul,

I am one of those socially-moderate fiscally conservative people you have mentioned. I was a Republican ever since I was in the third grade and we held an election between Reagan and Carter (not surprisingly, Carter was trounced). And for a long-time, I believed in the "big tent."

But no more. The big tent is a sham, a myth and a lie. This Administration has gone out of its way to demonize and marginalize every moderate Republican. Calling them "RINOs". Dennis Hastert mocking John McCain on the steps of the Capitol. Trying to pass anti-gay Constitutional Amendments. Ignoring every call to fiscally responsibility made by McCain, Snowe et al.

The "new" Republican Party doesn't want moderates like me, Paul. So fine. I'll leave them, just like TR did when he saw corruption spreading throughout the party he once loved. And maybe, just maybe, others will join me. Not only disaffected GOP moderates, but those moderate Democrats who feel marginalized as well.

And God willing, we'll stomp out both parties, because they've become walking jokes, available to the highest bidder.

Keep drinking the Kool-Aid, Paul.

Keep up the good fight, Teddy. Your party and country will thank you some day. The BRAD BLOG goes ahead and thanks you now.

We also thank Paul for his contributions here, making the difference between your father's GOP, and George W. Bush's GOP painfully clearer each and every day.

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