RadioActive Chief

Big Gov't vs. Small Gov't Tension in GOP

The Chief has commented on some general trends in government and the GOP several times in the recent past, here, and here. This is also noted in this TCS opEd, although I think that Bill Quick was a bit more direct in his comments on this.

The nut of the issue:

...why libertarians are worried about the Republican Party having a "conservative crack-up." Not because it's in any immediate danger of falling apart at the polls. But because it's in danger of no longer being conservative....

Eventually, it seems inevitable that expanding the Republican Party's power at the expense of its principles will cause it to hollow out its core and collapse. But such a day could be far away.

In the meantime, those doing the expanding and the hollowing on behalf of the Bush administration can ask themselves whether power for its own sake is a worthy end or whether power corrupts. If they listen to their consciences, they might hear one word: absolutely.

Anyone else for a modern Whig party?

UPDATE: Further commentary on the above by Bill Quick again.