Where's The Outrage?

For the last couple hours I've been scrambling the internet trying to find any sort of outrage, or even a simple sigh, from Republicans/right-wingers/neocons about George W. Bush's overhaul of the financial industry. I've found a couple mentions of the story itself but no analysis. Granted I haven't done an exhaustive search or hit every site on the internet, just a simple browsing if you will. Either the story is too new and people haven't had a chance to digest it yet; or maybe the lack of a Republican reaction to it is the final proof of Bush's irrelevancy- he's so irrelevant his own party doesn't even acknowledge his policy proposals. Or maybe it's a combination of both, further insinuating a lame duck presidency.

Even if any of the three suggestions above are remotely accurate, none of that changes the fact that Republicans would go crazy if a Democrat proposed any changes to a financial system that included expanding the size and power of the federal government. A quick glance at the GOP homepage and you see a never ending running ticker of all the supposed Obama tax increases, spending increases and socialist program expansions they claim will bankrupt America and turn us into a failed socialist European state. Listen to Rush Limbaugh for two seconds or watch Fox News and next to Rev. Wright that's all you'll hear about. For a near perfect example of how quickly Republicans come apart, without making much sense, about Democratic spending plans see my continuing saga of The Economist and its outright "huddling the masses" portrayal of Democratic front runner Barack Obama.

If this was a Democratic plan, Republicans and their lot would be the first to call Bush's major financial system overhaul what it is, another big socialist government expansion from a tax and spend president who has no clue about fiscal matters. What they fail to mention, all of them, is the fact that ending Bush's and McCain's 100 year war in Iraq would pay for every new Democratic program out there ten times over. But when their Ordained Leader runs up the largest deficit in history and increases the size of the federal government more than any one president has done since the Great Depression all the while leading us into a ill-planned military invasion of a sovereign country that had nothing to do with 9/11, not even a whimper is heard from the GOP.

This latest move by Bush's GOP only overshadows a move two weeks ago where the federal government bailed out the fifth largest banking lender in the nation, Bear Stearns. Again, not one single Republican mention of how socialist a move this was. No mention that the government should have no more responsibility bailing out businesses than it does bailing out its own citizens. I personally see much more of a responsibility for government to protect the individual (i.e., the Bill of Rights) than to protect Big Business. But the moment I say the prime function of a government of the people, by the people and for the people is that it owes to its citizenry the protections necessary for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness the GOP and its bandwagon circle jerkers immediately become small government capitalistic conservatives again.

There's no denying nor is it even fathomable to even begin to defend Bush's economic record. It is what it is. But what possibly can Republicans begin to say about their Beloved Leader when it comes to small compassionate conservative government? The Chosen One has increased the size and power of the federal government more so since FDR. Now with his newest proposal to give broader powers to an overhauled financial institution, I would even argue that Bush's determination and success at increasing the size and scope of the federal government is equal to if not greater than FDR's.

The latest proposal will without a doubt be revamped by Congress but what can the Republican Party say in defense of its president who has done the very opposite of everything they have argued and prided themselves with the last four decades? In an election year when the bedrock Republican platform issues of small government, low taxes and personal responsibility...or "government is the problem" will again be heard over and over there is no denying that the GOP doesn't stand for any of it and those wishing for a true conservative led government should look towards the Libertarian Party. Bush has left the GOP with nothing more than hypocritical elitists with a neoconservative outlook for America and the world.

Tags: Bush, Republicans, Socialism, Financial Institution Overhaul