Reagan, Kemp and the Republicans

Over on the WSJ Opinion page Daniel Henninger has written one of the best columns, (Should the GOP Forget Reagan?) I have read in a while and especially lately on the current plight of the Republican party and its divide over whether or not to toss over Reagan and move toward the Obamocrats or to stand firm on their principles. The passing of life-long Reaganite Jack Kemp has pushed this conundrum into the spotlight once again. Read the entire column.

Last weekend, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor began a GOP "listening tour." What's to hear? People want what they always want: a job that will let them build a life and family. What they want from Republicans is leadership toward that goal.

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It is not conceivable that a Reagan or Kemp would have directed the U.S. economy's legendary energies into building hybrid cars, windmills and bullet trains. It would not have occurred to them that America's next Silicon Valley -- Apple, Intel and Oracle -- could grow out of "investments" listed in the federal budget. This would not have occurred to either man because their politics were rooted in the 300-year-old, singularly American tradition of individuals freely deciding how to spend their productive hours and money inside a public system that mainly provides security and safety.

Mr. Obama won the election and deserves time to see what his vision adds to the nation's productive life. If while it awaits that, the Republican Party can't renew what Reagan and Kemp gave them, its listening tour could last a very long time.