The news is good. In recent Washington state and Island County primaries, Republicans soundly defeated the Dems in nearly all races and propositions, an astounding accomplishment for a traditionally liberal state. And it seems to be a growing trend across the country.

All indications are that we will take back America over the next two years. But there is more work to be done. The Republican Party needs to shed some outdated tenets and redefine itself to truly speak to the majority. This isn’t the Vatican, this is modern day America.

While I deplore the liberals’ tax and spend, socialist, spread the wealth, take care of everyone at big government’s expense aims, we do need to get real and revise the GOP platform. The GOP needs to recognize the need for stem cell research, a woman’s right to choose, alternative lifestyles, and the reality that all life evolved over the millennia and was not instantly created 5,000 years ago by a God that favors only our nation. With a few changes like these, the GOP can attract more independent voters and even some enlightened but formerly misguided Democrats. Palin will eventually fizzle, leaving her followers to retreat back to the newly-defined GOP (which should be called the GNP – Grand New Party).

Get the vote out — the state of the union depends on it.

Al Ballou

Oak Harbor