This piece on the Politico website offers some great insight on how the Republican party can get its act together and while maybe not get congress back into GOP hands, it may stem the tide towards the Democrats this election http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10370.html.
Some highlights include input from Mitt Romney that the Republicans need a new, modern version of the Contract With America. Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey says that the GOP needs to get back to basics. You know, cutting taxes and spending, reminding America that they, not the Democrats are the party to lead on the critical issue of the day, national security.
Another, and I like this title, is "Cut The Crap". It states the obvious. That the Republicans need to rid itself of the rotting meat. You know, cretins like boozing womanizer congressman Vito Fossella. Why he is still a member of congress is part of the problem. So-called House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) needs to tell Vito, this party is over and do not let the door hit you on the rump as you leave. Same goes with Sen. Larry "Happy Feet" Craig (R-Idaho). It is totally embarrassing that this man is still in the senate. And so-called Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell should be doing the same to Sen. Craig. This part of the article is what the GOP problem is:
This is no laughing matter to many Republicans. Voters don’t pay much attention to Congress unless there is a good scandal or bad spending.
No kidding!
We need to get those with big bucks back on our side. Even those of us who give a few bucks here and there are tired of investing good money on a bad investment. And, to many, that is the current national Republican party. Unless the GOP gets back to basics, they will be in the minority for a while.
But, there is hope as there are a great deal of fresh, new and dynamic faces out there.
And that leads to the next point.
The Republicans must have a real, conservative family-friendly agenda. And that it is time to get some new people out there to promote that agenda.
A sidebar.
The Republicans need to recruit great conservative blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and everything in between. But, these people should not run in contests that they have no chance. These kind of candidates need to run in areas that may not be known for electing people of color. Former congressman J. C. Watts ran and won a race for congress in 1994-in Oklahoma. There are plenty of Hispanics in Republican areas that need to be recruited to run-and win. It will show the Democrats that they do not have to gerrymander districts to insure minority representation. Minorities can win anywhere and with a strong, pro family agenda.
Another suggestion is what the authors refer to as "Fan The Fears" and that is in regards to the Democrats and how they would handle the terror threat. And, another issue is judges and the courts. Now that four renegade California supreme court justices, led by the chief justice, have divined a "right" to same-sex marriage and usurped the will of the people and or the legislature, this is an issue that the Democrats have to wish never came up.
One aspect of the article I felt ambivalent to is to run away hard as one can from President Bush.
On some issues, fine, but on the core issues, I do not agree that candidates should run away from the president. On the War Against Islamofacsist Terror? No way. On tax cuts? No way. Candidates do not need President Bush at the hip, but they can use him in other, yes behind the scene ways. Raising money is one way. And, as noted, the GOP needs a cash infusion like Dracula needs a lot of blood!
I hope that someone in charge in Washington is reading this piece because it is a great blueprint to restore the good name of the GOP. And maybe keep the White House and the congressional losses to a minimum.
7 comments:
I'm sort of over the GOP. I think maybe it deserves to die, or at least go on life support for a while.
There was something Sean Hannity said today that was interesting: "Perhaps the country needs to go through four years of another Carter to get to another Reagan.
I vote for Gingrich. I love Newt.
Except Newt's bought into the global warming baloney. Sitting on a park bench with Pelosi sort of detracts from his appeal.
seriously I couldn't take 4 years of Obama. I would be blogging non stop for therapy and arrested by the racist police for not bowing to the beloved. :)N
The GOP needs to get back to its core issues: fiscal responsibility, less government intrusion in our personal lives, and a strong national defense. Who know if the Contract with America would work now, it was used to showcase new GOP ideas vs. 40 years of failed Democrat policies. Well th GOP had congress for 12 years and the WH for 8, so are they going to present ideas that say "Ours ideas for the last 12 years were bad, here are new ones". The electorate won't buy it.
The GOP needs to run 435 individuals races, they need to apply core GOP ideals to practical matters to local issues: local economies, roads, schools, crime and the environment. If their districts are moderate, then thats what they need to be, the same with conservative, or liberal GOP (if they still exist) areas.
Then in 2009, the GOP house caucus needs to chuck Boehner and Blunt and their minions and get new fresh leadership, Eric Cantor, Adam Putnam, Paul Ryan-not the same tired old hacks.
64 you said the one word that is lacking in the movement right now, AGENDA. mccain has none, the house has none nor the senate. we will be in the wilderness until somebody steps forward with one!!!
That is what the Politico article has provoked. Discussion! My problem is that I agree with a little of what each of you have written. But, agenda should be at the top of the list. You know, the GOP had been totally Democrat Lite until the Great Man, Reagan, won in 1980. For some inexplicable reason, once President Bush won and they had all the levers of power, they collapsed. They reverted to Dem Lite. Oh, yes we got some bones here and there, but this earmark thing totally spun out of control. Although, maybe we all need a taste of what European socialism is like with a President Barack. But, if we were not fighting a real war with radical Islam, maybe.
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