Since the very first election I voted in as an 18 yr old apolitical Conservative, I have voted Republican. I didn't pay much attention to politics, but I was aware that the GOP stood for low taxes, limited govt, and to a acceptable degree- keeping the govt out of my life so I could pursue my own version of happiness.

In particular, the last 30 yrs has seen the GOP move consistently leftward to the center, and in the last 15 yrs or so, to the left of center. No longer can I count on them to limit taxes, protect my freedom and liberties, or keep the govt out of every single facet of my life- both public and private.

I joined the GOP in late May of last year. It wasn't because I wanted to be a Republican, but because I came to believe that if I tried to help change it from the inside, I could possibly become proud of being a Republican and what we actually stand for.

I was directly involved in getting Dave Agema and Terri Land elected. I was directly involved in getting all of the GOP nominees on the Nov. 2012 ballot. I was directly involved in Todd Courser's campaign.

Last Saturday, we shocked the Michigan Republican Party and it's power broker elitists badly. By realizing that they won by a mere 35 votes, they became uncomfortably aware that the Conservative grass roots are a force to be reckoned with.

Without prompting, Lt. Governor Brian Calley readily admitted that they can't win any elections without us. He promised changes, admitted we've been ignored and mishandled badly in the past, but didn't go into specifics.

So we did.

We explained that the Conservative grass roots expect adherence to basic GOP principles of low taxes, limited govt, killing health insurance exchange efforts and attempts to expand Medicaid. We explained that was not our line in the sand as leaders in the grass roots movement, but that of a Conservative base that is principled and steadfast in their beliefs in our Founding Principles and traditional values.

Since Brian Calley is Snyder's right hand man, we assumed the Governor got the message. Today, the Governor and the representatives in the People's House delivered their own message. It appears they are calling our bluff.

So now what?

The Michigan leader of the U.S. Taxpayers Party made us an offer we probably won't refuse. He offered to let us take over the Party, and even change the name to anything we prefer. I'm seriously considering the offer, as well as the message I got today while sitting in the gallery observing nearly half of the House GOP Caucus giving me and you an emphatic one finger salute.

I was looking for a good Conservative Party when I joined this one, and I'll be looking for a good Conservative Party when I leave this one. But, I will not support a Party that merely pays lip service to limited govt and low taxes. And the massive losses in next year's elections will not be my fault, just the result of a Party not having enough people dedicated to supporting a Democrat-lite political party. You reap what you sow, and you don't need to be a rocket scientist to read the writing on the wall.

If the State Senate passes this latest attempt to welcome Obamacare onto the backs of Michigan's citizens, I predict a mass exodus from the Michigan Republican Party. I don't know if I'll be leading the charge, but I do know I won't be far behind.