The Republican candidates ought to be ashamed of themselves and their outright abuse of Ronald Reagan’s legacy. They are trying to be him, they are using his name to attack other Republicans, and they are showing disdain for anyone who at any time used to be a Democrat.

Recently, with the coordinated attacks of Newt Gingrich coming from all sides, the name of Ronald Reagan has been used to attack a fellow Republican. This is an interesting turn of events from the previous months of debates where each and every Republican candidate would attempt to wear the Ronald Reagan crown, or grab the “torch” from his hands, in an attempt to curry favor with the voters salivating on the idea of finding a politician today that could instill the hope in America as Ronald Reagan once did.

The problem is that none of them can or ever will be a Ronald Reagan because none of them will actually stand up and paint a picture of a better, stronger America that the American people can believe in.

In the past few months, the candidates have attacked themselves over every contract ever signed, dollar ever made, and word ever said about a topic no one even remembers anymore. Therefore, the only place left to go is to dig into the diaries and biographies of deceased elected officials and drag them out – posthumously – to be used as political tools in an embarrassingly desperate fight between “B grade” candidates running for president. Ronald Reagan’s private thoughts are now being used to attack Newt Gingrich.

The ultimate hypocrisy, I believe, lies in the entire Republican Party’s attitude to anyone that has/is/ever will be connected to the Democratic Party. That person is treated like the plaque, their morals are questioned, and any hint of compromise is seen as proof that this person is not a “good Republican.” On this basis, each and every candidate running for president would absolutely HATE Ronald Reagan, the shining star and mascot of the Republican Party. Reagan was not only a former Democrat, he was also married several times, he worked in Hollywood (we know the Right hates them) and he was president of a union.

The Republican Party is in a tizzy, and the Democrats know it. The compromising conservatives panic about Ron Paul, the Tea Party fumes at the thought of Gingrich or Romney, the non-religious Republicans wince at the thought of Santorum trying to appeal to the entire nation, and Ronald Reagan is being used as a political punching bag. Meanwhile, on Twitter, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer is still “running” for president.

Get ready for a wild ride until November because this party is just getting started.

The last bite…

Saturday night, I had some of the best shrimp and grits I’ve ever tasted. It wasn’t at a famous restaurant in New Orleans; no, it was served by the chef at Belle Terre Country Club. The grits were smooth, the shrimp was fresh, and the sauce was slightly sweet. For Valentine’s Day they are doing a four course dinner and champagne evening that will surely delight all who attend. I give shrimp and grits 5 (out of 5) crumbs!

Buddy Boe, a resident of Garyville, owns a public relations and program management company and is well known on the local political (and food) scenes. His column appears Wednesdays in L’Observateur.