It wasn’t so long ago that the Grand Old Party was rapidly
headed toward becoming the Grand Dead Party.  Democratic victories in
the House, the Senate, state capitols and, of course, the White House
made it disheartening for those who subscribe to archaic concepts like
limited government, a modicum of fiscal prudence and the Constitution.

          But those Democratic victories, ironically, also brought new
hope for Republicans.  From humble and shadowy beginnings came a
community organizer with the thinnest résumé this side of Paris
Hilton’s.  Yes, Barack Hussein Obama may well prove to be the GOP’s
savior.

          Look at all he’s accomplished thus far.  When a Democratic
congressman expressed his trepidation that 2010 could be a big
Republican year like 1994 was, in his customary, diffidently humble
way Obama said, “Well, the big difference here and in ‘94 was you’ve
got me.”

          That’s for sure.  President Obama campaigned
enthusiastically for Democratic gubernatorial candidates in New Jersey
and Virginia.  Both lost.

          In January, he campaigned for the Massachusetts Democratic
senatorial candidate.  So blue is Massachusetts, it was the only state
won by George McGovern.  Yet the home of Teddy Kennedy and Barney
Frank elected a Republican to the Senate for the first time since 1972
after being treated to the Obama magic.

          Today, many Democrats running for Congress are scampering
from The Anointed One like Dracula hoofing it away from a crucifix.
An endorsement from Rod Blagojevich would be as welcome.

          “This is what change looks like,” Obama declared moments
after Democrats passed his version of health care.  The problem for
him and his party is that wasn’t the change Americans wanted.  So
Democratic congressmen and senators started avoiding town hall
meetings or any other forum in which citizens could voice their
disapproval.  This isn’t the way to develop a reputation for political
courage and voters have a malevolent tendency to remember such
spinelessness.

          A handful of Democrats who voted against Obama’s plan are
bragging about it.  One is running an ad that states that when Obama
and Nancy Pelosi pressured him on health care and other issues, he
“stood up to them and voted no.”

          Most Democrats can’t make a similar claim.  So for them,
it’s “Health care?  We don’t know nuthin’ about no health care.”

          As unpopular as Barry is because of his socialized medicine
scheme, he’s in even hotter water on the economy.  A recent CBS/New
York Times poll pegs Obama’s approval rating on the economy at 41
percent.  Additionally, more Americans disapprove of his overall job
performance than approve.

          The thrill is clearly gone.  Look at all Obama’s done to
help the GOP.  Gallup has conducted generic ballot polling since 1942.
 People are asked who they would vote for:  An unnamed Republican or
an unnamed Democrat.  In August, Gallup reported that Republicans took
an unprecedented lead: “The 10-percentage-point lead is the GOP’s
largest so far this year and is its largest in Gallup’s history of
tracking the midterm generic ballot for Congress.”

          That level of advantage probably can’t be maintained.  But
this week a Rasmussen poll found Republican candidates still hold a
nine-point lead over Democrats.

          Then there is this year’s turnout in the primaries.
According to the Center for the Study of the American Electorate at
American University, involvement in Republican contests far exceeded
that in Democratic ones.  Over four million more Republicans voted
than Democrats.

          What’s notable is that this isn’t usually what happens.
Indeed, this is the first time since 1930 that the GOP had a higher
turnout.

          Still Barry continues working on boosting the Republican
vote.  Most recently, he’s enthusiastically backing the DREAM Act, yet
another attempt to grant amnesty to illegal aliens.  Obama said in a
speech week: “. . . I will do whatever it takes to support the
Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ efforts to pass this bill so that I can
sign it into law. . .”  That should really endear him to the folks who
don’t use politically-correct terms like “undocumented worker.”

          OK, so BO didn’t deliver on his promises about millions of
jobs, and the rise of the oceans beginning to slow, and healing the
planet and all that other stuff.  No one but the zombie-like Flavor
Aid drinkers believed it in the first place.

          What matters is that Obama has recruited more people into
the Republican Party than anyone since Ronald Reagan.  Sure, there are
RINOs still around, but by and large the Republican Party is the
conservative party.  This November we’ll actually get some hope and
change.

          Barry, they couldn’t have done it without you.  Thanks for
all your hard work.  Take another vacation.  You deserve it.