Political Clips

If you think the GOP has lost their way the only way to fix it is to vote for Democrats -- even if you don't agree with the Democrats. You can hope that a series of losses will force the GOP to return to its roots and eventually you will have the opportunity to elect new Republicans that truly believe in balanced budgets and small government.

If you think they have lost their way but you keep voting for them anyways you are just reinforcing their bad judgment.

After a series of losses and grim outlooks for 2008 elections I think the GOP is finally getting it. Here is an article that takes the composite views of several GOP "leaders" and outlines a six-step plan for building a winning party once again. I put "leaders" in quotes because I don't think the GOP has any actual leaders.

Step 1: Have an idea or two
What a concept. They spent the last 4 years that they controlled Congress voting on Gay Marriage Amendments, Flag Burning Amendments, and other wedge issues to help insure their re-election in the fall. There were no substantial votes on things that actually matter like health care or energy policies. They did pass a ban on online poker. yay.

Republicans desperately need to cook up some new ideas and craft an attractive agenda to have any chance of success.
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Voters no longer think lean government, smart and strong defense, and good old-fashioned family values when they think Republican. They think reckless spenders, misguided war and hypocrisy. Republicans “don’t have a vision,” says former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas).

In 1993, when Hillary & Bill were trying to pass socialized medicine the majority of the population was against it. The GOP did nothing to fix health care. Costs skyrocketed. Now the majority of the public is for universal health care. By offering no plan, no vision, and no leadership the GOP has doomed us to universal health care.

Bill Frist, the former Senate majority leader and now a visiting professor at Princeton University, also recommends the “big idea” approach. His prescription: “Take on health care in a way that focuses on consumer-driven health,” providing “a contrast to the big government of Democrats.”

What's that? A Health Care system driven by consumers and the free market? Wow. What a good idea. Too bad you didn't think of it 6 years ago when you could have passed that legislation with ease. But with Democrats in control of Congress for the foreseeable future it doesn't stand a chance no matter who wins the presidential race. But at least you did away with online poker!

Step 2: Stop being hypocrites

Republicans are dominating Democrats in one area right now: humiliating sex scandals. If former Rep. Mark Foley isn’t e-mailing young male pages or Sen. Larry Craig isn’t playing footsie in the bathroom, then Rep. Vito J. Fossella’s getting busted driving drunk and then admitting he fathered a love child. You can’t run on family values when you don’t practice them.

Step 3: Build a Party Infrastructure

The Republican infrastructure is crumbling. Making matters worse, Democrats are erecting a pretty impressive network of donors, think tanks and activist groups that is exploiting the GOP’s structural weakness. The GOP “needs to realize what the opposition is and how formidable it is,” said former GOP leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas).

Step 4: Stop being 'Followers'
Conservative Peggy Noonan thinks if the GOP had distanced themselves from President Bush a few years ago they would have looked wise and like leaders. If they distance from him now they will just look shallow and craven. I agree but, as this article points out, voters have short memories.

There is something honorable about loyalty. But taken too far, it can start to look downright loony to voters. President Bush is as unpopular as Richard Nixon was in the days before his resignation. Cut him loose — quick, says Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.).
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It won’t be easy, because so many marched obediently to the Bush tune for so long. But voters have short memories — exploit that.

Step 5: Diversify
Could they be rethinking their strategy of shitting all over hard-working, catholic immigrants? Who would have thought that might backfire?

The image of the white men’s club needs to go, too, says Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. “The country is changing. The Republican Party has to have a message that reflects faces and voices of America. We have to do a better job of recruiting women candidates, candidates of color and diversity.”

I got this far in the article and really felt like the GOP was finally getting it. Maybe they would return to the party of small government and balanced budgets.

But then I saw Step Six and realized that they still aren't there yet. They are still the party that wins elections with 'marketing' and not ideas. They are still a party with no leaders.

Step 6: Spread Fear, Not Hope

Fan the fear: Ignore the critics, Republican wise men say — there is still no better way to win than to stir up concerns about Democratic patriotism and their commitment to national security and killing terrorists. It often remains the best call in the GOP playbook

And, for a moment, I thought they were making some actual progress.