GOP strategist: Reagan is dead; move on

The Hill ^ | 1 Dec 13 | Molly K. Hooper

[SkyPilot]

A Republican strategist is reminding his party that President Reagan is dead.

ADVERTISEMENT Ford O'Connell, who worked on Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) 2008 presidential campaign, says if Republicans want to win the White House in 2016, they need to break free of the "obsessive Reagan disorder."

Rule #1 of the political analyst's newly released book, "Hail Mary: The 10-Step Playbook for Republican Recovery," is: "Ronald Reagan is dead. Accept it."

Such a sentiment is sure to be tough to digest for a party insistent on using the 40th president's legacy as a GOP litmus test to prove conservative credentials.

"The Reagan fixation is a drag on the future success of the GOP at the national level. It undermines the candidates because it becomes a crutch for their inability to articulate an actual agenda or a forward-looking vision," he writes.

In an interview with The Hill, O'Connell says he combines his "two loves: politics and football" into his work “Hail Mary,” a sort-of political manual for presidential hopefuls.

The native Texan contends that he is "not pushing a personal agenda" in his blunt "playbook."

He says it is aimed squarely at the 2016 Republican presidential hopefuls, whom he handicaps in a chapter entitled “2016 Republican Presidential Scouting Report."

"This was an honest attempt to say, 'Hey, if you want to win the White House, you've got to understand the obstacles and what it's going to take to get 270 electoral votes, regardless of who the nominee is," O'Connell explains.

The book is geared toward political success at the national level, not the 2014 midterm congressional elections, a point he makes in Rule #9 "The Preseason Doesn't Win You the Super Bowl."

O'Connell says that Republicans failed to capitalize on the 2010 midterm election success when the GOP regained control...

[SkyPilot]

Among the book's 10 rules or "winning plays": "Stop Giving a S--t About Obama's Birthplace," "Hug the Gays (No, Really)" and "Kill Immigration Reform, Kill the GOP."

Wow. Just wow.

Remember, this is who the GOP leadership is paying big bucks. This is who the GOP leadership is listening to after they have had a few drinks.

Truth cannot be violated - the Law of Non-contradiction basically says that that contradictory statements cannot both be true in the same sense at the same time.

Reagan chose the correct course on issues (economic, military, social) because he was dealing with God given Truth. It drove his politics.

The "new" GOP is whispering in our ear that we must abandon all that is right, just, and true - because maybe (just maybe) we might get 270 Electoral Votes in 2016.

Here is how I would answer them on just a few issues:

- Amnesty is wrong: you do NOT reward millions of invading law breakers with citizenship, Food Stamps, TANF Welfare, and "free" medical care, instead, you make those who broke your laws pay the consequences

- The US global economic and political strength is directly tied to our military might, break the neck of the latter (as we are doing at warp speed), and the former two pillars will collapse

- You cannot separate "social conservatism" from "economic conservatism" because God will not reward a nation that murders it's unborn, applauds sexual filth, and spits in the face of the Almighty

Today, our GOP leaders are gutting the military, refusing to take a stand on Biblical Truth, and are flirting with Amnesty.

[TexasCajun]

A Karl Rove, Juan MeCain, Mitt Romney candidate?

Yeah! ..that's been working well for ya!

[laconic]

Sorry, Mr. Consultant, but for a good 80 percent of those who call themselves Republicans, this is the Party of Reagan, not of either Bush, or of Ford, or of McCain or of Dole. We remember a leader who stood for something, whom a recent poll named as the Best President of the past 100 years, who brought prosperity, employment, low/no inflation and an end to the Soviet Union, and whether some liked it or not, made Americans respected, if not liked, overseas. Sure, he had his faults and errors (he was human, as are we), including Lebanon and Iran-contra, but overall the Republican presidential alternatives are VERY pale pastels.

[Paladin2]

The GOPe is the walking dead.

Ditch Mitch to send a serious message.

[Jim Noble]

I agree that it’s time to move on from Reagan.

He only STARTED what we have to FINISH.

[foreverfree]

bump

[Pollster1]

I'm with you. Reagan is dead (sadly), but that doesn't mean freedom is dead too. The Constitution means what it says, and anyone who does not support freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, protections against unreasonable search and seizure, a limited role for the federal government, or any other essential aspect of our Constitution is unacceptable.

I'm flexible in some areas, but not in the area of essential freedoms. If that is unrealistic, then so is the assumption that we can continue peaceably as one country.

[bill1952]

Worked on McCain’s campaign did he?
And how did that work out for him?

I have a better message.
McCain’s style of Republicanism is deader than dico as far as ever winning again at the National level...

[txrangerette]

This bunch is dead but don’t yet know it.

Reagan is timeless.

[BwanaNdege]

This idiot is the “Republican” twin of Valerie Jarrett.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Ford O'Connell, John McNuts, Lindsey Grahamnesty, etc. is what is WRONG with the GOP!

Ted Cruz & Mike Lee are what it RIGHT with the GOP...

[traderrob6]

The man may be dead but his ideas are certainly not.

Screw you O’Connell!

[Caipirabob]

GOP strategist: Reagan is dead; move on

Newsflash, so are Hitler, Stalin and Lenin. FO...

[irish guard]

I’ll agree to ditch Mitch as long as it doesn’t end up getting a democrat elected. Then the idea is foolish.

[Paladin2]

"The evidence is overwhelming that O'Connell's ideas, in general, will fail. Becoming a liberal to defeat liberals has failed over and over and over and over again. But, like the liberals that are the Republican establishment, never learn from failure. Just double down and do the same thing again. "

The GOP obviously needs a better strategery than this drivel (Ford's kr@p).

[Paladin2]

Mitch needs to go, one way or the other.

[Vaquero]

“have you driven a ford lately”

Ford O’Connell??

Not this ford. Likely this Ford would be pushing president Ford instead of Reagan. Please leave the party and join the other side. That would help us. If not? SHUT UP AND GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Let me guess: he wants yes to nominate Christie

[cripplecreek]

I think we should double down on Reagan's principles and challenges.

Ronald Reagan 1980 Republican National Convention Acceptance Address

[Bernard]

Ford O'Connell, who worked on Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) 2008 presidential campaign,

I don't need any advice from this guy. He sounds like Bob Bechel being an expert on political matters, while Fat Bobby waits by the phone expecting Walter Mondale to call looking for campaign advice.