I am a conservative, pro-life, Roman Catholic. Over the course of a fairly long life, I can count the number of Democratic Presidential candidates I have voted for on one hand, with more than one finger left over. In my hometown, though the elections are nominally non-partisan, I am presumed to be a Republican. I have, more than once, been invited (by quasi-personal looking correspondence), to contribute to the George W. Bush Presidential library.
I have begun this post in this manner for a reason. I must add, that I am, by trade, a trial lawyer. Do I represent insurance companies in trial? No. Do I represent Barbie in trial when she sues Bratz for billions of dollars of dolly royalties? No. Do I represent Bratz? No. Do I represent BP in trial when it tries to limit its exposure for damages caused by the Gulf oil spill? No. Do I represent BP when it tries, in a trial court, to foist its responsibility for the the Gulf oil spill on any other supplier, equipment manufacturer, engineering firm, maintenance contractor, blah, blah, blah, it can? No.
I represent injured, imperfect, common people who have been hurt in various ways through no fault of their own. So, that makes me and my views, in the eyes of those who pay the noble trial attorneys described in the previous paragraph, beneath consideration and beneath contempt.
Well, be that as it will. But the truth is that politically, I fit the stereotype of what was once called a moderate Republican than anything else. And as such, I must say I am shocked and saddened by what has become of the Republican Party.
My perception of the current GOP can best be shown in this clip. I must say I came upon it innocently enough. I am a fan of British actor Geoffrey Palmer, and my wife and I are currently working our way through all the episodes of the BBC series, As Time Goes By. It is a comedy series in which Mr. Palmer and Judi Dench play separated lovers who are reunited when they are in their very late 50s. As the series went for 13 seasons, we are now watching them play the same people in their late 60s, early 70s. This is about as benign a form of entertainment as one can find this side of a Misterogers rerun.
Back in the early to mid 1970s, Mr. Palmer played a rather daft character in the series the Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, with that great comedic actor Leonard Rossiter playing the title role. In this clip, Mr. Palmer (Jimmy) tells Mr. Rossister (Reggie) about the weapons he is stockpiling to fight for Britain in the upcoming conflict with the forces of Anarchy. AS a "Papist", unfortunately, I am included among those forces. Notice he didn't say "trial lawyers". Take a look, and see if you aren't put in mind of the current crop of Republicans.
As they say in England, when much vexed: "Oh, dear, dear, dear.
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