Arms Race

Arms Race

"My goal is the total elimination of nuclear weapons." 
These words are not those of President Obama, who recently signed a nuclear treaty with Russia, nor those of any anti-nuclear activist. In fact, it was Ronald Reagan who made not just one, but several statements throughout his presidency speaking of his hope to remove all nuclear weaponry from the world.
Would any of today's Republicans call Reagan, a "Republican hero" according to the Republican National Committee's website, weak on national security because he wanted to eliminate nuclear weapons? Probably not. Still, Republicans easily charge Obama with the same. Obama's nuclear plan includes the removal of one-third of all nuclear weapons in four years- far less sweeping than anything Reagan aspired to.
There are enough nuclear weapons in the world to destroy it many times over. They are unstable, dangerous, and easy for terrorist groups to steal if given an opportunity. In the event of a catastrophe, the unintentional detonation of nuclear weapons would be devastating. 
Any weapon that can, literally, destroy the world is not one that any nation should have the responsibility to deal with, nor should it be a power given to any one nation. Not the United States, not Russia, not Iran or Pakistan or China. No country should have the ability to destroy the Earth. And if you take this power away from everyone, no one needs to use nuclear weapons as a defense.

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RNC

RNC

Since Michael Steele won the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee (RNC) last year, he had been involved in several scandals, both his own and those of the RNC. These have all culminated in the recent resignation of the RNC Chief of Staff, which has sparked talk that Steele is unable to carry out his responsibilities as the leader of the Republican Party. It is the job of the RNC to promote the Republican Party on a national scale, and Steele is, by tarnishing what reputation the party has left, not completing that job.

Soon after being declared chairman, Steele called Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal his "slum" buddy, referring to the Indian official in what many considered a racial slur. Later, the chairman came under fire for not hiring staff after a massive overhaul of RNC employees. More recently, Steele and the RNC have fueled contention over their spending and fundraising habits. A private RNC slideshow comparing President Obama to the Joker and calling Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid the "Evil Empire" was intercepted by Politico. The slideshow was an incentivizing fundraising presentation for high value donors, and was presented with the knowledge of Steele. Most recently, spending documents of the RNC have revealed expenses at inappropriate clubs in Los Angeles and an a liquor store.

These are not ways to improve the reputation of any party, let alone one that was sweepingly defeated in the most recent national election. Steele obviously is not the right person to project an image of a 'new' Republican Party to America- but who is? Certainly not the party's most visible members, its television representatives like Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin. Nor is the party's loudest member, Rush Limbaugh, right for the job. The Republican Party needs to turn within itself- as the Democratic Party did not so long ago- and decide what direction the party is headed. Will they turn towards their loud, fumbling leaders like Steele? Will the Tea Party become the new norm? Or will the party return to their long-loyal politicians like Mitt Romney? The decisions made over the next few years about the direction of the Republican Party could, ultimately, decide the longevity of the party on a national scale.

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