PEARL in the Rough?
Corvallis residents Irma Delson and Pat Canan have organized something called the PEARL Project -- People Energizing a Republican Left. The two former Democrats switched their voter registration to Republican last year, and have been holding house parties encouraging other Democrats to do the same. Delson and Canan apparently want to steer the Republican party more toward the middle, shoring up moderate candidates, in an effort to bridge the partisan chasm and foster a sense of collaboration and cooperation. I don't buy it.
The GOP has moved farther and farther to the extreme right since President Bush took office, to the dismay of many moderate Republicans. However, the answer to retrieving control of our country from the extremists and neo-cons is certainly not to pad the roster of the Republican party with secret liberals in an attempt to wrest control.
After all, we already have a Republican Left -- the current Democratic party.
The Democrats have compromised so much over the past decade that they have replaced the more moderate Republican party. Democrats now speak out in support of the Iraq war, in favor of capital punishment, against higher taxes. They agree that we should all be fearful of imminent terrorist attacks in small town America and that we don't really need all those pesky civil liberties after all.
The answer to taking government back from the neo-cons is to provide real alternatives, not to pick and choose which Republicans "aren't that bad." Delson and Canan, as former OSU professors, are both part of the loathed intellectual liberal elite. I suspect their true motives are to sway the primary votes away from the Republicans they don't like and toward the ones who can't win.
The GOP has moved farther and farther to the extreme right since President Bush took office, to the dismay of many moderate Republicans. However, the answer to retrieving control of our country from the extremists and neo-cons is certainly not to pad the roster of the Republican party with secret liberals in an attempt to wrest control.
After all, we already have a Republican Left -- the current Democratic party.
The Democrats have compromised so much over the past decade that they have replaced the more moderate Republican party. Democrats now speak out in support of the Iraq war, in favor of capital punishment, against higher taxes. They agree that we should all be fearful of imminent terrorist attacks in small town America and that we don't really need all those pesky civil liberties after all.
The answer to taking government back from the neo-cons is to provide real alternatives, not to pick and choose which Republicans "aren't that bad." Delson and Canan, as former OSU professors, are both part of the loathed intellectual liberal elite. I suspect their true motives are to sway the primary votes away from the Republicans they don't like and toward the ones who can't win.
posted by Corvallist at
1:26 AM
4 Comments:
You are SO right! I heard about this from some students on campus and there were whispers that they were trying to do exactly what you said, but that the people involved weren't supposed to talk about it. It's stupid. They should try to support the Green party if they want real changes.
By
Anonymous, at 2:16 AM
I’m not sure of their motives, but if PEARL creates any discussion on issues, I support them.
I’m a Republican who is tired of being embarrassed by the social/religious right. I’m hoping there are more Republicans out there who want fiscal conservatism without the negative social baggage. I’m running for President in the Oregon primary hoping to prove that a moderate Republican message can find an audience. Check out my platform at www.smithforpresident.com.
PEARL’s strategy may be unorthodox. My plan may be improbable. But if we all can come together and really talk about the issues, maybe we can move the country forward. The current political environment isn’t going to move us anywhere.
Michael
By
Anonymous, at 4:11 PM
just so you know... neither delson nor canan were osu professors. before you criticize, get your facts straight. instead of 'suspecting their true motives', why don't you talk to them?
By
Anonymous, at 1:17 PM
I believe Pat Canan did co-teach some OSU physics classes (after retirement from his high school career)?
As far as some plot to split the Republican vote to the advantage of the Democrats, I was fortunate enough to take several high school classes from Pat Canan and can attest to his absolute honesty. Rest assured that the reasons he publicly gives for the PEARL project are indeed his real reasons.
By
Anonymous, at 10:55 PM
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