By Dave Begel Contributing Writer Published Apr 23, 2015 at 11:16 AM

The opinions expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the opinions of OnMilwaukee.com, its advertisers or editorial staff.

The Republican Party was born March 20, 1854 in a little white schoolhouse in Ripon.

I have driven by this historic landmark several hundred times and I can’t help but wonder what the men who gathered there then would think of what their party has become more than a century and a half later.

I don’t think either major political party has absolutely clean skirts, but I’m a proud Democrat, and here are the top 10 beliefs that I think far-right Republicans should be ashamed of:

  1. The only English language word they can speak is "no." It hardly matters what the president might propose. It’s going to be met with the absolutely same reaction. Forget it buddy. It’s not as if Republicans bother to come up with some other suggestions. Taking their cue from Nancy Reagan, they "just say no."

  2. Just because you are a woman in love with a woman or a man in love with a man doesn’t mean that they need to recognize it. Everybody knows that God said that marriage is between a man and a woman. The rest of this crap is just some kind of leftist plot to undermine the WORD OF GOD!

  3. There is no such thing as climate change. The same people who drew up that fake birth certificate for Barack Obama drew up this research that shows the climate is changing. Everybody knows that Al Gore is crazy. Plus, this kind of science is dangerous for young people. Instead you should just teach things like creationism in our schools.

  4. Jesus loves THEM. They are pretty sure he isn’t all that fond of anyone else. If you think, for example, that a woman should have the right to make decisions about her own body, they are pretty sure Jesus ain’t too happy about that. I could make a long list of things, but, nah!

  5. Business, the bigger the better, is the answer to all of our problems. You people don’t realize that if big business makes tons of money then we are a rich country. Even poor people can go around saying they live in the richest country in the world. Republicans think that makes poor people feel much better about their lives.

  6. Ben Carson, Donald Trump, Rebecca Kleefisch, Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Michele Bachmann.  Also  Michelle Bachmann. And finally, Michele Bachmann.

  7. It’s good to have economic interests in China and Vietnam because they are good commies. Cuba is bunch of bad commies so let’s just keep them isolated. No trade clauses.

  8. Republicans are sick of all this talk about treatment for some of this stuff: drug addicts and alcoholics can’t be treated. It’s a moral failing. If they’d just accept their god into their lives, they’d be a lot happier. But it has to be THEIR god. Not some other one.

  9. Republicans use too much hair spray. The men glob it on so they think they look serious. None of that hippie kind of hair. The woman can’t get enough of it, either. The stuff makes them look like has-been, never made it, country and western singer. That’s the look they are going for.

  10. They hate way too much. Included in that list are: Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, gun control freaks, people who don’t stand up for the flag, wine and cheese parties, government trying to help people, Social Security and Medicare, most Muslims, food stamps, equal rights, parts of the 14th amendment, Green Day, soccer, NPR and all of us "unsaved" people.
Dave Begel Contributing Writer

With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.

He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.

This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.

Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.