Many know the GOP as the Grand Old Party, or Republican Party. They’re historically known for conservative social policy. For example, most Republicans oppose equal rights for homosexuals — 76 percent, according to an August 2003 Fox News poll, oppose same-sex marriage. Some Republicans (in the case of North Dakota’s April 2003 upholding of an 1890 law) even oppose unmarried cohabitation where a man and woman live “openly and notoriously,” whatever that means. Republicans are also thought of as fiscal conservatives — espousing free market ideals, not spending more than one has, etc.

This is only marketing. The truth is that the Republican Party is merely a close-knit social group and anything but a political party. Members of social groups stick together through thick and thin. Support is given even to members in the wrong, because that’s what friends are for.

Political parties, on the other hand, fight for or against issues such as healthcare, fiscal discipline, capital punishment and other debated topics. They fight for whatever ideals they espouse, without regard to popularity or who “gets the credit.” That’s what defines the action behind principled belief.

One might, therefore, expect the Republican Party to fight for the ideals it professes. However, the GOP has proven itself incapable (or uninterested) in this. When President Bush, a so-called Republican, ended conservative opposition to government entitlements, Republicans enthusiastically supported him. During his radical, behind-the-scenes discretionary spending increases, President Bush was riding a Republican approval rating rivaled only by Saddam Hussein’s landslide 11,445,638 to zero presidential referendum. Such an unwavering constituency would make about anyone feel unaccountable.

When President Bush decided to waltz into all fifty states and tell them how to run their public schools, Republicans supported him against their own principles of states’ rights.

Not to mention that it’s a badly underfunded mandate — yet another enemy of GOP principles. States are in turn forced to fund the program either by increasing available funds via tax increases, cutting funding to groups like the Regents (and thus Iowa State), or both. Republicans happily supported him in this venture, not due to their alleged principles, but because the leader of their club made it popular.

What are friends for, anyway?

Republicans fall in line to support whatever a conservative in a position of power tells them to do. The order is given, and they obey.

President Bush’s anti-market maneuvers, in the form of huge subsidies and protectionist measures, have also failed to gain the attention of Republicans. But why should they care about the degradation of capitalism (so long as a Republican does it)?

When President Bush expanded healthcare entitlements, Republicans didn’t even bat at eye. Even Rep. Nick Smith’s R-Mich. claims of bribery on the House floor did little to anger them. The Medicare expansion is expected to spike up to trillions of dollars in cost as Baby Boomers begin to take part in the program. How do fiscal conservatives expect to pay for that?

Speaking of huge expenses, when President Bush’s style of foreign policy left American taxpayers to shoulder almost the entire financial burden of the Iraq war, Republicans joined him in insulting our allies. At $98 billion, or $327 per American, it’s a small price to pay for joining one’s comrades in unison against the rest of the world.

For fiscal year 2004, the White House has projected more than $500 billion in debt, equal to more than $1,667 in future taxes for every American. This is truly an amazing feat, even for President Bush. Somehow, beyond explanation, conservatives still support Bush — despite his utter inability to balance the budget — something even Slick Willie accomplished.

Republicans will jovially head to the polls in November in support of a man they believe sympathizes with their beliefs. With that in mind, it is almost comical their Republican savior and club president has left their ideals along the side of the road.