In Wake of Defeats, House GOP Moves to Right the Campaign Ship
Congressman Mike Pence hits the nail on the head in identifying if the problems the Party had in 2006 were a matter of “killing the message or killing the messenger.”
Bulletin to NRCC: Let the Democrats be Democrats. You folks in Washington are out of touch
with your base. If something doesn’t change in the next several months there will be more new faces in town and they won’t be Republicans.
~~John Cronin~~
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/
2008/05/21/AR2008052102570.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=
newsletter
By Ben Pershing
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Thursday, May 22, 2008; Page A03
Party strategists say the question remains whether the GOP’s electoral woes are the result of tactical mistakes or a larger identity problem in the national party. Republican leaders have been working to address the latter issue by rolling out a new legislative agenda.
“You don’t turn the Queen Mary around overnight,” Davis, a former NRCC chairman and critic, said of the GOP’s recent losing efforts. “We need more of a facelift than just shuffling at the NRCC.”
“I don’t blame the candidates,” agreed Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.). “I don’t blame the committee. The Republican Party as a whole has a credibility problem.”
May 24th, 2008 at 9:03 am
I HOPE ITS NOT TOO LATE………..
May 24th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Wow, how to save the Republicans? Until 2006, I was a Republican (conservative). No, the sex scandals didn’t run me off, nor did the corruption scandals. Not that they were really desireable traits for a political party. What did it for me is that they lied to me (BTW, that’s what sunk Bush I–his no new taxes lie). I was promised in 1994 that the Republicans would implement an agenda. And, at first, they did. However, as it inevitably seems to happen with all beltway Republicans, they all became Trent Lott (who’s go-along-to-get-along philosophy is detestable). Rather than be advocates of conservatism, they became spineless and did not fight for a conservative agenda. Instead of fighting for Reaganism, they bent over backwards to placate Chaffee (BTW, I haven’t heard from him lately–and you?) One can only ask: “Why didn’t the Republicans continue to fight for a conservative agenda?” The answer is logical: despite the 1994 elections, Republicans didn’t think Americans wanted a conservative agenda. They thought that Americans wanted pork and beans. Big pork projects in home districts for economics, and beans for a social agenda. But they got slammed in 2006 by me (yes, I was a part of it and, no, I didn’t vote Democrat or Libertarian). Next, with media assistance, they misconstrued the whole thing and appear to have been adrift ever since.
Contrary to all logic, I believe that the first thing that Republicans MIGHT attempt to do to reestablish themselves (I’ll grant that this alone will not do the trick), is to point out loudly, racously and yes, “whinningly” that the media and the public are holding the Democrats to a different standard. This must be made a campaign all by itself. You cannot swim up a waterfall.
In fact, the name of the party’s new campaign should be “Stop The Double Standard: Adopt A Higher Standard.” Point out that it was the Democrats who promised us cheaper oil back in 2006–then ask if they delivered! Point out that the Democrats pledged to stop the Iraq War–ask if they delivered (no, thank God). Point out that Republicans who take bribes are out of office and in jail within months. But are we not YEARS into Congressman Jefferson’s air-tight bribery case and he STILL might walk free? It’s not whinning to ask Americans to judge their party by the same standard that it judges the other party. Then point out that Republicans will work on cleaning up both parties (with the help of our citizens). I’ll concede that this should not be ALL that the Republicans should do, but hey, honestly speaking if they came out today with a new “contract for America”–I’d want to throw something at them (as much as I’d love to see a contract for America).
In sum, I do not consider myself to be a Republican because they do not believe in conservatism and they do not seem to believe in anything. They just want to be in control (don’t blame me or the media for this view since I do not watch television at all). The so-called moderate voices in the party have drowned out the conservative voices. Where are the conservative voices for that matter?
Last year, when I heard Newt Gingrich say that the country had to move past Reaganism, I honestly felt that the last thread attaching me to the party had been cut. It was like saying “we have to move past 2 + 2 = 4.” The one-time architect of the 1994 “Reagan revolution” now wants to discuss everything from global warming to universal health care–big government. Oh, where to, my country?
May 24th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Newt Gingrich is more interested in selling books than he is in leading the Party. I automatically delete his emails because they are just another commercial.
Mitt Romney is the best point man we have.
May 27th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I think most republicans minus a few feel that in order to further their careers they have to move center and John McCain the Maverick has been leading the pack.
America is about to be HUMBLED.