Opinion: We have examples right here in Arizona, individuals who believe in traditional GOP values and acted on them.
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By EJ MontiniArizona RepublicView
We forget sometimes that actual Republicans still exist.
Even worse, we forget to thank them for saving the democracy.
We have examples right here in Arizona, however, individuals who believe in traditional Republican values, things like limited government, low taxes, limited social programs, free-markets and strong foreign alliances.
Not conspiracy theories.
Not demonizing every member of the political opposition, including those in your own party.
We forget that such people still exist after having dealt with four years of Donald Trump and his zealots on the national level, along with local capos like Reps. Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs and Arizona GOP Chair Kelli Ward. They continue to lead the MAGA lemmings over the political cliff.
What used to be the Republican fringe is now the GOP mainstream. There is no doubt.
But there are still party members who hold traditional beliefs.
And some of them saved us.
County officials honored their oaths
Among them were the four Republican Maricopa County supervisors, particularly then-Chairman Clint Hickman, but also Bill Gates, Jack Sellers and Steve Chucri. They did not yield to what must have felt like unrelenting pressure to intrude upon the election process from Trump, his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and Ward.
They honored their oaths.
So, too, has Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, who has spent his time since being elected defending the integrity of his office against the Trump minions within his party.https://www.usatodaynetworkservice.com/tangstatic/html/pphx/sf-q1a2z3be0d353f.min.html
“I did not want to get involved,” Richer said earlier. “I wanted to quietly sit on the sidelines. But it is enough. I am now the leader of an office of 160 full time employees, and I am tired of hearing them defamed and ridiculed. They are good people. They are hard working people. They are people of integrity. They are my friends.”
As for those spouting condemnation based on conspiracies Richer added, “This is what happens when good people are led by bad leaders. It’s a disaster.”
They aren’t alone.
We should thank them for saving democracy
Gov. Doug Ducey – recently silent and spineless – had the backbone after the election to stand by the integrity of Arizona’s voting process and to certify the state’s Electoral College votes for President Joe Biden.
And there have been others on the national level, as well. Some of them following the example of the late Sen. John McCain, who recognized the danger and the hypocrisy in Trump’s cult of personality.
McCain once said of Trump, “I don’t agree with the way he’s conducting his presidency, obviously. He’s an individual that unfortunately is not anchored by a set of principles. I think he’s a person who takes advantage of situations.”Rep. Gosar wants to know who killed Ashli Babbitt? He ought to know Proposition 208 set out to make taxes more fair. It did the opposite Ducey could broker a truce to help golf courses save water. Will he?
True.
But there are members of McCain’s Republican Party who still are anchored by a set of principles.
And some of them live right here.
And they saved democracy.
And we should thank them.
