This is the first in a series of essays where I will explore the necessary foundation of a political party to replace the Republican Party. I do not call for the disillusion of that party. It remains to be seen if it can be salvaged. In the history of the United States, however, a new party with principles and commitment can grow and become a successor to one that has failed.

The Constitution of the United States is one of the most remarkable documents ever produced by man. It seeks to limit the power of the national government and to curb the powers of government at all levels. It defines the three branches of government with their checks and balances, a system that is demonstrably better than the parliamentary forms preferred by the social democracies of the world.

America is not a social democracy. Its basic tenant is that government is limited by nature and by written constraint. A political party that is true to the Constitution and the intent of the Founders will have as its primary principle that it should advocate nothing for government that can be done by the people.

Our Founders lived in a time and place that produced a cultural bias. Our nation cannot live and act as it did two hundred years ago. Each step we take that emboldens government, though, is one that should be measured against the original freedoms and not be an act of refutation of some long ago belief system.

Many of my beliefs could be classified as those of a “social conservative”. I reject that label because I do not believe that our basic freedoms should be restricted by government to prevent adults from making choices that may be immoral. The party I would build allows adults to make their own choices about what they do, who they associate with and how they spend their time and money.

During the period between the Presidential election and the inauguration in January I will be writing a great deal about governance, political parties and how to preserve our liberties. I will not be commenting on the actions, intent or faults of the President-elect. The eleven weeks until the new President takes office is best spent in thought and contemplation of those things that make the United States unique and valued in the world and to its citizens.

As a party, Republicans are about to meet and nominate their candidates for election to the offices of President and Vice President of the United States.

I have two important points to make, should the Party wish to win in November.

The first point is that you presently have a Republican President. He’s been President for eight years. You may argue about the policies, the intentions, the convictions of George Bush but you cannot argue that he has not advanced any Republican policies and principles in the last eight years.

America would be a far different place had Al Gore or John Kerry been President.

The Bush Presidency is a base to build upon, not a place to run away from. Let’s honor and respect the man who has led our Party and our nation.

My second point ought to be obvious. We are not Democrats.

In 2006 the Republican party lost an election it should have won. We forgot our principles, our history and became Democrats and it cost the Party control of the House and Senate. Since then, none of our policies and principles have been advanced except with great effort.

We are not the party of pork. We are not the party of politics. We are the Party of Principle.

As it stands when I write this editorial, the Republican Party will lose additional seats in both the House and Senate. Our ability to block Democratic socialism will be lost. Taxes will rise. The military will weaken. The government will become an increasing intrusion into every aspect of our personal affairs.

There is a lesson in the 2006 election for our Party. We must learn it and put it into practice at every level, national, state and local.

We are not Democrats.