From the Desk of

Kevin Tracy

2010-06-29

Going into the year 2000, I was a Democrat. Going out of the year, I was a staunch Republican. Because I was a new member of the right, I remember the first few months of President Bush's Presidency before we were attacked very vividly. Those months were actually pretty similar to President Bush's last months in office.

I was horrified. I said to myself, "This is how Republicans are better. We treat our President with respect. We act honorably while they play stupid games."

It was a belief I held after the disastrous election in 2006, too. Knowing we were going to be in the minority for a while, I knew I didn't want to become like Democrats were a few years earlier.

If you're read this blog at all, you'll probably agree that I've given credit where I thought credit was due. Whether it was Nancy Pelosi officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide as a "genocide" or President Obama improving US-Russo relations, or Congressman Visclosky for taking my tip of an American citizen in a foreign prison so seriously.

Unfortunately, I seem to be one of the very few people on this side of the spectrum who cared to hold themselves to the higher standard. That's not to say I was the only one, I've certainly met others. The vast majority, too many for me to stomach, gave into the temptation of ignorance and slander.

Disgusted and disheartened, I've come to the realization that the only way people will listen to what you have to say is if they already agree with what you're saying or if you have a show on Fox News designed to tell conservatives what to think and when to think it.

Seeing as how I don't blindly follow the party line or brainlessly repeat Hannity's talking points that he brainlessly repeats, and seeing as how I don't have my own show on Fox News; I fail to see how my involvement in politics can positively influence the issues I'm so passionate about.

I've told Brian Donegan from the Can-Do Conservatives and Danny Higgins from the Indiana Fair Tax that I'll be around if they ever need help. I love what Brian's trying to accomplish to leave him hanging if he ever needs anything and the Fair Tax is perhaps the last great idea for reform that the GOP has to offer nationally.

But I've met too many otherwise good people in the Republican Party and the grassroots conservative movement who refuse to waiver from their Beck-head inspired nonsense about Obama being a Muslim, a Kenyan, a Indonesian, an Arab, the anti-Christ, a flag hater, an America hater, a communist, a terrorist, an environmental extremist, intentionally responsible for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a Nazi, or any oxymoronic combination thereof. Perhaps I got closer to the TEA Party movement than any open minded, sharp tongued individual should have, perhaps it was realizing that I unknowingly supported a candidate for President that thinks genocide is an acceptable solution to world conflicts, perhaps there's something about me that attracts disrespectful crazies (or perhaps the other way around); but either way, my passion for helping people by improving the operation of government is gone.

I'm not going to say it's gone forever. If the right candidate comes along one day, it might spark a flame that burns twice as hot as before. (John Thune running for President or Chip Saltsman being named Party Chairman come to mind) And should the time ever come when my community needs honest leadership and enough people think I'm the only person who can provide that, then that's a continuation of the service of my country and community and I'll run. Until such time, I'm out.

Today was my first post-politics day. I loved it. It's amazing how much time I used to spend pursuing this every day. I'm looking now at getting involved in some sort of charity activities, including an attempt to complete the Mongol Rally and hopefully counter-drug efforts in my state. I'm also finally going to have the time I need to restart my love affair with art.

I'm always going to be passionate about issues, but you're not going to get to read about them anymore.

As for this website, I have no clue what I'm going to do with it.