A Party Divided Shall Stand   Discord in the Republican Party is a sign of healthy struggle between the People and politicians who have been co-opted by the political system.   Unlike a house divided, a political party "divided" shall stand. Because a political party is tent. A moveable tent. Sometimes a big tent. Occasionally, it’s a tent that’s so unwieldy that has to be moved in pieces to a new place. Which is why the divisions among Republicans in Virginia are not necessarily the wonderful opportunity Democrats see. Nor is party discord the disaster that Republican party sycophants and power junkies decry.   The struggle within the Republican Party of Virginia is good for the Party. The ’07 Conservative challenges in Republican primaries aren’t the end of the story. The conflict between Conservative Republicans and elected officials who run as Conservatives and govern as tax-and-spend, big-government elitists will continue. The challenges will go on until one side or the other gives up running candidates.   Moreover, the challenges across the Commonwealth are echoes of national dissent. A growing majority of citizens want elected representatives, including the elected President, to represent them. So, when this majority of citizens say they want something, like stopping illegal aliens at the national border and reducing traffic congestion in Virginia, or when they say they don’t want something, like amnesty for illegal aliens and unelected, unaccountable Regional Government, they expect to be served by the elected officials.   Not lectured, called names – especially with epithets as bigots, nativists, etc. -- and belittled, ignored, or patronized by politicians who are supposed to be public servants. These citizens don’t like being told they don’t know what is in legislation, or don’t understand it, when the new media of the internet and talk radio are playing show and tell – 24/7. These voters are tired of being talked down to by politicians. Especially when the politicians aren’t all that bright themselves.   Shockingly bad legislation is a clear indication of some of the mental limits of elected representatives. Yet, all too many representatives think they’re the ones fooling most of The People most of the time. But, working the polls in our primary, at least five people said almost the same words, “The politicians, Republican and Democrat, think we are stupid. We’re not. And we’re going to show them here at the polls.”   This voter feedback is more than a richly deserved comeuppance for politicians grown too arrogant in their power. The voters are coming to realize that a wholesale national house cleaning is needed. Even if “Throw the bums out” is cheap rhetoric, rarely applied to local beloved pols, it’s a mood that should make incumbents beware.   Furthermore, it’s an attitude that should shake up politicians invested in a political party for power’s sake. Because, across Virginia and the Nation, either my party will get fixed -- back on principles -- or will continue fatal bleeding of its base to a new party, or no party at all. Even if the Democrats win. Just as I heard a fellow in a Hampton Republican meeting tell RPV Chairman Ed Gillespie, “You can’t say ‘liberal, liberal, liberal’ at the Democrats and expect to win our votes.”     Recently, I heard Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling put a happy public face on the divided tent as a "family squabble." Granted, that may be his job to make nice. But let’s not play pretend in private. Look hard and see how much the RINO senators and delegates extend themselves and their big money to help the Conservative candidates this election. It’ll begin with the letters of endorsement, or not. Followed by the checks for financial endorsement, or not. Then, there will be the campaign appearances, or not.   (Note to Democrats: Your candidates can do as they have successfully since ’01 and lie about NOT raising taxes. Or, you can run on your issues that are less than 40:60, like pro-Regional Government in Tidewater or pro-illegal alien. But, don’t count that 21/51 until after the election.)   The divisions in the Republican Party in Virginia and across the Nation will lead to either a resurgence with Conservatives or its destruction with the new Whigs.  The energy of The People is a powerful thing to feel.  Throwing out a RINO incumbent in a primary when outspent over 10:1 or stopping Shamnesty in the Senate with both Virginia Senators, from both parties, getting ‘right’, finally, feels wonderful.   Keep smiling, happy, populist, political warriors. With the right candidates – we’ll put up the long pole in the tent for Virginia and America.   -- July 2, 2007