The Mad Rants of an Unconventional Soccer Mom

I screwed up last night by watching MSNBC for coverage instead of C-Span or PBS. I needed my Keith fix, but ended up missing an important speech:

"As a Republican, I stand before you with deep respect for the history and traditions of my political party. But it is clear to all Americans that something is out of kilter in our great republic.... Seldom has the case for an inspiring new political ethic been more compelling. And seldom has an emerging leader so matched the needs of the moment.... I stand before you proud of my party's contributions to American history but, as a citizen, proud as well of the good judgment of good people in this good party, in nominating a transcending candidate, an individual whom I am convinced will recapture the American dream and be a truly great president: the senator from Abraham Lincoln's state -- Barack Obama.... This is not a time for politics as usual... Obama will recapture the American dream and be a truly great president."

Former Iowa Rep. Jim Leach, was a leading Republican moderate for 30 years. He is still a well respected Republican - not some wack-job Zell Miller or Joe Lieberman. He knows how important it is to end the destruction that has been caused by the party he once loved and felt it his duty to this country to speak out:

The party that once emphasized individual rights has gravitated in recent years toward regulating values. The party of military responsibility has taken us to war with a country that did not attack us. The party that formerly led the world in arms control has moved to undercut treaties crucial to the defense of the earth. The party that prides itself on conservation has abdicated its responsibilities in the face of global warming. And the party historically anchored in fiscal restraint has nearly doubled the national debt, squandering our precious resources in an undisciplined and unprecedented effort to finance a war with tax cuts.

I realize he was not the most dynamic of speakers and he looked really, really uncomfortable, but he presented a well-reasoned, articulate argument to his fellow republicans that I wish would have gotten some play in the news. Maybe it would have given some of the moderate, middle class republicans that aren't really happen with McBush something more to think about.