Individual Liberty — Individual Responsibility 

My party has "left" me...

Now that it's all but certain that John McCain will be the next Republican nominee for the Presidential race, I think I can honestly say that the Republican party has left me. This is a leftward turn that I find unacceptable.

The alternatives aren't exactly palatable either. Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama are both so far left that I could never vote for them. The only real hope I see for Conservatives now is to elect conservatives to Congress, where possible.

Without that, we're likely to see an unchallenged rise in socialist policies in our government. It's certain that we're going to see a more rapid departure from the principles of our founding fathers.

A third party just isn't an option either. That would just further divide the Republican party, ensuring a Democratic victory in November. For proof, you need look no further than the nominating race.

There was no lack of conservative candidates. There were too many of them. They all suffered from too much ambition and not enough principled desire to see a conservative in the White House. Too little too late, or ambition at the expense of conservatism put a liberal who falsely claims the mantle of Ronald Reagan in place.

This is what comes of turning our national selection of a President into a popularity contest. Naked ambition advances to the front and populist, socialist ideas hold sway over common sense and true Republicanism.

The founders never intended for the people to choose the President. It was always their intent that the States do so. This is why they established the electoral college. This is why the Constitution calls for the selection of the electors in a manner chosen by the state legislatures.

The President wasn't intended to lead the people after all, he was intended to lead the States. But the state legislatures turned over their responsibility and authority to the people, and gradually the States lost site of the purpose of the federal government, and their own purpose.

Today, our federal government is seen as the people's nanny, rather than as a unifying government over our States. Today, national health care is seen as more important than national border security. Today, a national social security system is seen as more important than a national defense. Today national socialism is seen as more important than individual liberties.

Liberty has become license. Character and integrity have been sacrificed to popularity. Republicanism has been replaced with national socialism. My party truly has "left" me with this leftward swing.

Tuesday was a black day for conservatism.