When RedState recently made huge changes to their website — including switching to Disqus, many of the member diarists — myself included — were very disappointed when the transfer of our old diaries was unsuccessful. For me, my diaries represented a personal history of my experiences in the political realm and losing access to referencing them leaves me more prone to repetition when I write. In any event, as a newcomer to taking an active role in politics, I wrote openly about the process I was going through and frequently self-identified with the Tea Party.

While I cannot deny that the process has been difficult, I also cannot deny that I feel enriched by the experience. Like most Tea Partyers, I felt dragged into all of this by a combination of culminating circumstances — the final straw being the passage of Obamacare. I was literally frightened at what was taking place in America and knew that I was one of the little guys that could no longer sit on the sidelines and assume that things would work themselves out or would soon get back to normal. The new American normal seemed to be changing into something I did not recognize, like, nor accept as legitimate.

So, instead of retreating into denial about my own role in the mess, I began to ask questions. Fundamental questions like how did our founders intend our government to function and how did we get where we are? It seemed the more questions I asked, the more questions I needed to answer.

Through this process, I have seen glaring faults coming from both sides of the political aisle. Now that the dust from the election has settled a bit more, I continue to agonize over what is wrong — especially in the Republican Party — and how to go about changing it.

One of the reasons I keep returning to the Constitution as a guide to return us to the true American normal is because it is the only legitimate navigational tool that we have. And I cede guilt to both parties for equally abandoning it as the main source they should be looking to when fashioning legislation of any kind — be it at the state or federal level.

Be that as it may, we find ourselves at a juncture in history where rhetoric wins over logic and propaganda — to our shame — replaces genuine discussion. In the midst of this, we must find a way to make clear that arbitrary whim — by either party — is no way to determine how to govern. And that is what we have reduced ourselves to — making arguments based on arbitrary judgments about what the government should do rather than what it is allowed to do. Obama’s demand that everyone pay their “fair share” is one egregious example of this kind of unchallenged rhetoric and it needs to stop.

Distasteful as the rhetoric is, when left unchallenged, it is the reason Dims are winning nearly all of the political battles and arguments. Without Constitutional context, they are able to transform themselves into Uncle Santa and convincingly heap shame on anyone who disagrees. And for some reason, (I imagine it may have something to do with having a guilty conscience) our party allows them free rein to get away with this continually. No one seems equipped to challenge the shallow, manipulative language used by the left to indoctrinate the nation into pushing us further and further into socialism.

At this point, nothing frustrates me more about our party. There seems to be a complete absence of eloquent statesmen who cannot only challenge the nonsense coming from the left, but make the challenge sound more noble, more ethical and more attractive than the alternative.

This has to change. Either we believe in America and all that she stands for or we do not. Not to argue in her defense is the same as participating in her downfall.

Where have all the statesmen gone? Why does our party seem so impotent in the face of the relentless political bullying coming from the left? Where are the orators who can call America back to her Constitutional roots by making clear what makes our government so different from others and so exceptional in practice?

Until these questions are answered by our party, we can kiss victory goodbye.

We truly are the party of hope because, at our core, we are supposed to believe in the principles that made this nation great. Principles that led to the most just and prosperous country that has ever existed. But if we are not even able to defend and uphold these principles when discussing our political stances, why should anyone see a reason to be a Republican?

This has to change. And it should come naturally to anyone who truly cares about the country.