Posted by Damozel | Hurray! John Cole of Balloon Juice has made the leap across the great divide from Republican to Democrat. I'm always happy when someone with a centrist or moderate bias and a powerful line in disputation joins up. Cole writes:
"Say Hello to the Newest Member of the Vast Left Wing Conspiracy. I had finally had enough of the bullshit during the Graeme Frost escapade.... I had intended to register independent, but when I got there to do it, I had a moment of clarity- there seemed to be no point leaving the Republican party in protest and joining the unwashed masses. If I really was going to protest, it made no sense to not commit to the opposition party. Besides, as a Republican all these years, I never had any problem voting for libertarians, Democrats, etc., I don’t see why being a Democrat will change anything.
And, the 2008 election really is the most important election of my lifetime- the basic foundation of our country has been under assault for a while, now, and I want to vote in the Democratic primary as a Democrat, not as someone with no party affiliation. I want to send a message, and as small as this gesture (which should appropriately be interpreted as a middle finger to the GOP and not as a sloppy wet kiss to Nancy Pelosi) is, I want it to mean as much as possible. There is now one less Republican in WV, and one more Democrat.....I certainly don’t agree with all their positions, but they are not bat-shit crazy like the GOP. That has to count for something....Additionally, I no longer have to read posts by the 24% crowd calling me a “true conservative” with quotes o’sarcasm (you know who they are). Not any more, bitches. I repudiate you, your party, and whatever the fuck it is you are currently pretending is “conservatism.” It isn’t." "
For the Dems to avoid the selfsame errors and the selfsame hubris, we need more people who reject the certainties into which certain members of the GOP (and some Democrats) have fallen.
Balloon Juice commenter, Jake, summed up my thoughts on this score:
Will the last sane person to leave the GOP please turn out the lights?
In the meantime, sane Republicans across the blogosphere resignedly wave farewell: For example, Michael van der Galien, writes:
John’s decision does certainly fit in a pattern though: these days, less and less Americans call themselves Republicans and increasingly more register either as independent or Democrat.
The reason is, of course, that Bush is an incredibly unpopular president, but also that the Republican Party has been taken over by social conservatives, who set the agenda nowadays. Small government conservatives and libertarians can’t truly identify with the GOP any more. In fact, they can’t identify with either party.
MVDG thinks JC will be/should be "infuriated" by the Democrats' "disrespect for the right of property." Who in the what now? I'm totally respectful of the right to property; it's just that in the wealthiest country on earth... Oh, skip it; I'll think about it later. At least Democrats, a motley crew, will (mostly) be respectful of dissension within the ranks. Disorganization is the best defense against fascism, I always say.
Anyway, welcome to the Leftist Heresy, John Cole!
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