There are no centrists on the Left anymore. Democrats within the halls of Congress vote in line with each other and the head of the executive branch at an alarming rate, signaling no change in the foreseeable future.
'Whether it is in the Senate, where only two Democrats do not vote nearly 90% in line with President Biden, or the House, where that number is even a smaller percentage, progressives threw out the idea of centrist politics long ago. Even in 2012, then-Vice President Joe Biden painted out known moderate Mitt Romney as a presidential candidate who wanted to put African-Americans “back in chains,” as he so quaintly said.
However, on the Right, that has unfortunately not been the case. Too many moderates in the House, Senate and nationwide keep stifling Republican power, progress and success. In the Senate, it is neoconservative warmongers like Lindsey Graham who want us to go to war the same way Democrats do at every opportunity. In the House, it is virtue signaling Congressmen like Tony Gonzales, who was the lone No vote against the House Rules package the new GOP majority caucus passed.
Then at the state level, you have Republicans who voted not to oust state Rep. Gloria Johnson, infamously a part of the ‘Tennessee Three,’ which made the Tennessee House GOP be attacked relentlessly as fascist racists as they expelled two African-American state lawmakers for creating disruption and trampling on House rules during the session.
For once, Republicans need to model something after the Democrats: start fighting, act like firebrand conservatives, and win. It seems for far too long the Republicans have been on the side of the political aisle that has been the ones to always cave on policy.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, there always have to be a few maverick Republicans to go against their party and make a statement about how bipartisanship is our only path forward for the country. This message never works, however, because Democrats couldn't care less about working with Republicans unless it is an issue they know they can use moderate Republicans to pass something they want.
More than ever, Democrats are capitalizing on weak-kneed conservatives. Whether it is the promotion of transgenderism as a preferred ideological approach to human rights, shifting United States foreign policy from anti-interventionist practices to wanting to start a proxy war with Russia, or passing needless spending packages relentlessly, Democrats have found a way to win without caring who they hurt.
In that fashion, Republicans should take notes. Start expelling members from state legislatures who act like activists, stop voting for bills just because you want to come off as the good guy in Congress, and start treating Democrats like Democrats treat Republicans.
If we are fascists, they are communists. If we are authoritarians, they are Marxists. Political discourse may be far away from where it was two decades ago, but it is doing Republicans zero good to continue to get run over. At the same time, they pretend as if they are on the right moral side of history.
Republicans need to start attempting to win the war rather than the battle, and firebrand conservatism needs to be prioritized as that avenue to victory.
Kenneth David Cody III is a conservative writer and activist from Northeast Tennessee. He also serves as the Southern Regional Director for Republicans for National Renewal, and is chairman of the Cocke County GOP. Mr. Cody is also an Economics and English Teacher at Cosby High School. He has an M.A. in Teaching 6-12th Grade English, from Tusculum University, and a B.A. in English Literature, from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Read Kenny Cody's Reports — More Here.