Ronald Reagan may have been the embodiment of the "Eleventh Commandment" among Republicans–"thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican." President Reagan spent much more time motivating and moving forward than nit-picking, sniper-shooting, and looking backwards. That is a lesson today’s Republican Party needs to learn, and desperately so.

We should appreciate–and learn from–the heritage of great leaders like Ronald Reagan and Jack Kemp. Yes, those two might not have been on the same page on every issue. But you can be sure that each supported the other, and did not waste time or sully their integrity by snipping at each other’s differences.

We need more Ronald Reagans and Jack Kemps. Declaring that is not looking backwards, but sizing up the present realistically. Too much of the new status quo–Obama, Pelosi, Reid & Company, consists of "politics as usual," political maneuvering, power-grabbing at the expense of really leading, a horrendous slide toward European socialism, and downright bad policy. To address that undesirable power structure does not include turning the gun upon ourselves and bickering and bellowing about the particular shortcomings of all persons and things Republican, or conservative.

Someone once said that there is no telling how much you can get done if you don’t care who gets the credit. How many of today’s leaders act as if they believe that? Once upon a time a lowly shepherd in his teens defeated "the Terminator" of his day with nothing more than a rock and a slingshot. It is "American" to root for the underdog. We were underdogs in starting our own country in the face of the most dominant empire of recent history. Blood, sweat and tears isn’t just the name of an old 60s band. It was a way of life for our founding fathers (and mothers).

We have had it so easy in our "charge it" and "just sign and drive" lifestyle that we don’t appreciate paying the balloon note that is now coming due. Those who have not bought into the "pipedreams" of the present administration cannot continue to keep berating each other while our present slips away into an undesirable and untenable future.

What kind of world do you want to leave your children and their children? If every generation hopes to make it better for those coming after them, just how does what is happening today fit into that picture? We need to change the direction our country is going, and the dangerous moves to the left and highly-increased Big Brother government control.

You can be sure of this: We will not accomplish that change by shooting at each other. The Left counts on Republicans stumbling to the finish line. And, this is not just about Republicans. Many who call themselves independents or conservative and moderate Democrats are disturbed by what is happening in our country. Yet, those may find little reason to be inspired by a GOP which spends too much of its time and energy fighting each other and jockeying for position.

This writer has learned over the last several months that, even in conservative circles, "the haves" like being "the haves" and do not easily admit others into their "inner circle." But here’s another "however": the problem for "the haves" is that while they are entertaining themselves and competing with each other for the public’s attention and adulation, perhaps they forget that without the rest of us–that being "the have nots"–they don’t have much of nothing. If we don’t read their books and columns and watch their shows, and buy what they seek to sell, then they become Mr. and Ms. Irrelevant, and guess who benefits from that? If you guessed "the Left" you are right on target.

It is past time for those who do not buy into "change we can believe in" to stand up and productively say "no more." But, it is hard to stand tall after one has shot themselves in the foot, or, even worse, in both feet.

Real leadership is not about turf-guarding, ego-building, or hoarding one’s marbles. None of those terms would accurately describe Ronald Reagan or Jack Kemp. "Whoever would be first among you must be your servant." Gee, who in the world said that? How out of touch were they?