Ladies and Gentlemen, many of you have heard the term “neo-conservative”, and wondered what it meant. For the sake of discussion, let’s compare/contrast in a “republiCon” versus “Republican” method. For instance:

Ronald Reagan = Republican
George W. Bush = republiCon

Whether you liked President Reagan or not, whether you liked his politics or not, most reasonable people will agree that President Reagan was authentic, consistent, and principled. When his administration got caught up in the Iran-Contra Scandal, President Reagan spoke to the nation and accepted responsibility. What President Reagan said, is well-worth hearing again:

“I’ve studied the Board’s report. Its findings are honest, convincing, and highly critical; and I accept them. And tonight I want to share with you my thoughts on these findings and report to you on the actions I’m taking to implement the Board’s recommendations. First, let me say, I take full responsibility for my own actions and for those of my administration. As angry as I may be about activities undertaken without my knowledge, I am still accountable for those activities. As disappointed as I may be in some who served me, I’m still the one who must answer to the American people for this behavior. And as personally distasteful as I find secret bank accounts and diverted funds—well, as the Navy would say, this happened on my watch.”

Compare President Reagan’s words with the flip-flopping of Bush The Lesser with regards to the disclosure of a CIA agent’s identity. At first, Bush The Lesser said, in essence, he’d fire anyone “involved” with the leak; later he morphed that to “convicted”. At no time did Bush The Lesser ever accept responsibility for those under him; rather, he speculated that the leaker would never be caught. Bush The Lesser said everyone in his administration would “fully cooperate”; his spokesperson claimed no one was involved because “he had asked.” Yet when convicted, Libby’s prison sentence was excused via Bush’s presidential pardon.

In the administration of Bush The Lesser, those that make mistakes are promoted; those who make catastrophic mistakes are awarded medals, and Libby, who made a criminal mistake, was rewarded with a “get out of jail” card.

President Reagan was solid and consistent and a Republican; Bush The Lesser is consistently inconsistent and a republiCon. Reagan was seen as believable and credible, Bush is seen as neither.

There are more examples.

Senator Boschwitz is a Republican; Norm Coleman is a republiCon. If Norm Coleman doesn’t agree with you today, don’t worry – sooner or later, he will.

Former Governor Arne Carlson is a Republican, as is current Governor Tim Pawlenty; candidates Jon Grunseth and Allen Quist are republiCons.

Congressman Jim Ramstad is a Republican; Congressman John Kline is a republiCon. Every year, Jim Ramstad willingly meets his constituents in a series of Town Hall Meetings; citizens can and do ask unscripted questions from the floor. Congressman Ramstad wants to know what the people think. John Kline had to be shamed into holding his only Town Hall Meeting. John Kline could care less what the people think.

When activists protesting the occupation of Iraq conducted “sit ins” in all of Minnesota’s congressional offices, Congressman Ramstad’s staff treated them courteously, listened to them, and even provided coffee and other refreshments. Kline called the cops. The difference cannot be starker: Congressman Ramstad seeks to govern by the consent of the people – he is a Republican; Kline seeks to rule by the force of government – he is a republiCon.

Barry Goldwater wrote “The Conscience Of A Conservative” and was clear and unabashed about what he felt the conservative philosophy is and where it should take government. Mayor Phil Young and Council Members Brad Aho and Jon Duckstad speak in rhetoric but deny where their alleged philosophy would take this city. Goldwater was a Republican; Young, Aho, and Duckstad are republiCons.

The point here is that as the current leadership of the GOP Party in large part is controlled by the neo-con movement, most of today’s GOP Leadership cannot be called “Republican” by most reasonable people. I use the term “republiCon” where it is clear and appropriate, and I do not apologize for this. I call republiCons “republiCons” for the old-fashioned reason: they’ve EARNED it.

(crossposted at Eden Prairie News)