Are Republicans Extinct?

What happened to the Republican Party?  Where are Republicans who see a need to govern?  Cutting taxes and cutting spending make for good sound bites, but make for lousy policy.  What’s more, the history of the Republican administrations going back to the Nixon White House would demonstrate that Republicans do not cut spending.  In addition, Republican administrations going back to Nixon, while calling for smaller government and less intrusion into the lives of citizens have actually given the country far larger government with far more laws intruding into lives of citizens.  Where did Republicans in the mold of Eisenhower go?  Is the Republican in the mold of Lincoln extinct like the dinosaur?  Is there any Lincoln or Eisenhower republican DNA available in fossils that can be used to clone a republican in either image capable of governing?  The only consistent policy of today’s Republicans has morphed into hypocrisy.  First they propose policy and when the Republican proposed policy is agreed to by Democrats the Republican legislative sponsors oppose their own policies.  Examples of this Republican Reversal can be found in the healthcare mandate.  This policy was first proposed by Nixon, pushed by the Heritage Foundation, and so-sponsored by Senator Grassley, among others.  Once adopted by Obama, everyone the right opposed the mandate.  Cap and trade was originated by Senator McCain but when adopted by Democrats was turned into “cap and tax” by its creator, Senator McCain.  The “Dream Act” was filibustered by original Republicans sponsors of this legislation.  We need an opposition party that can competently govern.  Obstruction in not the same as competence and the country cannot afford four more years of obstruction.