Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Conservative and Honest (A Rare Combination)
Long known as one of the most conservative newspapers anywhere, the Dallas Morning News editorial page is putting some heat on the Republicans lately. When a conservative paper (published in a state where being conservative is an Olympic-level sport) goes after the GOP, you know things are bad.
Earlier this month, the News asked a simple question: "Why have so many conservatives rushed to the defense of White House operatives Karl Rove and Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who are under investigation for their role in the possibly illegal leaking of CIA operative Valerie Plame's name?"
That question was part of a piece written by Tom Pauken, a Dallas businessman who served in the Reagan administration and was a military intelligence officer in Vietnam.
Pauken sums up his argument this way: "Isn't it in our national interest to find out who was responsible for that misinformation rather than simply take the Republican party line on the Plame affair? Conservatives must decide which is more important: the good of our country or the good of the Republican Party."
I couldn't agree more.
This past weekend, the News posed another good question to the GOP. This time, they put the question to party chairman Ken Mehlman: "If word gets out that Republicans can't govern in the reddest of red states, how can they govern anywhere?"
The News editorial board writes: "We recommended some of these leaders for office, and we're beginning to wonder why. If something doesn't change, Republicans are going to have a tough time explaining why they should govern here and elsewhere."
It won't happen soon enough.
Earlier this month, the News asked a simple question: "Why have so many conservatives rushed to the defense of White House operatives Karl Rove and Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who are under investigation for their role in the possibly illegal leaking of CIA operative Valerie Plame's name?"
That question was part of a piece written by Tom Pauken, a Dallas businessman who served in the Reagan administration and was a military intelligence officer in Vietnam.
Pauken sums up his argument this way: "Isn't it in our national interest to find out who was responsible for that misinformation rather than simply take the Republican party line on the Plame affair? Conservatives must decide which is more important: the good of our country or the good of the Republican Party."
I couldn't agree more.
This past weekend, the News posed another good question to the GOP. This time, they put the question to party chairman Ken Mehlman: "If word gets out that Republicans can't govern in the reddest of red states, how can they govern anywhere?"
The News editorial board writes: "We recommended some of these leaders for office, and we're beginning to wonder why. If something doesn't change, Republicans are going to have a tough time explaining why they should govern here and elsewhere."
It won't happen soon enough.
