This is a difficult thing to say for me. But here it is. I feel like Richard Gere. But not in the way you might be thinking. Remember that scene in Officer and a Gentleman where Gere screams/cries/explains why he doesn’t leave the Army: “I’ve got nowhere else to go.”

I’m with you Richard.

I can’t stand the Republican Party. If the GOP were a great big bureaucratic disappoint Matt machine I’d say they were doing a great job. But sadly, that’s not their job. Their job is to win elections. And they’ve gotten it in their heads that acting like Democrats is the way to win.

And I’m tired of it. But I’ve got nowhere else to go. I can’t go to the Democrats because one of the biggest reasons I can’t stand the GOP is because they’re slowly transmogrifying into the Democrat Party. And I’m not a Libertarian or a Greenie.

And what happened this weekend is just the latest indication that the GOP has a better view of its own bowels than it does the country. According to the Politico:

Sarah Palin’s on-again, off-again appearance at Monday night’s gala GOP fundraising dinner is off — again.

After being invited — for a second time — to speak to the annual joint fundraiser for the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Palin was told abruptly Saturday night that she would not be allowed to address the thousands of Republicans there after all.

Why? Because the stupid Republicans didn’t want Palin to upstage Newt Gingrich.

So, the woman who just had 20,000 mob her in a small town in upstate New York can’t speak at a GOP fundraiser? Let me ask you this: What other Republican could get 20,000 people to come see them right now? I can’t think of any, can you? I wouldn’t cross the street to see any of them.

But here’s the truth of it all. The GOP is embarrassed by Sarah Palin. And by extension they’re embarrassed by me. You know why? Because she’s small town, yeah. She’s unpolished. But you know what’s worse? Sarah Palin actually believes all that social conservative stuff. And they’re just uncomfortable around her. She doesn’t approve of abortion, not because of polling but because she believes it’s the taking of a human life. She also sometimes mentions “God” in conversation. She actually believes in traditional marriage. Ick.
Conservatives 4 Palin sums up their feelings by saying to the National Republican Senatorial Committee:

The results of your leadership speak for themselves. Stop sending me fundraising letters. Have fun with Al Franken.

I honestly feel that there’s been an agenda set by the National Republicans to ignore or destroy Sarah Palin. Ignoring hasn’t worked. So Plan B is in effect. The GOP that nominated McCain still thinks the road to victory is in “moderating” the party. Why don’t they run Arlen Specter next?

For those of you who don’t understand what “moderating” means, it means more spending and ignoring the realities of abortion. Oh they’ll talk about it but won’t actually do anything about it.

I have nowhere else to go but I’m not going to do anything to fund the GOP, help the GOP, or support the GOP in any way. When we start hearing more about “right and wrong” and less about “consensus” maybe I’ll feel more at home with the GOP. Until then…I’m Richard Gere.