[Isara]

EDWIN MEESE III

There are two tactical approaches for candidates seeking their party's nomination in election campaigns. One is to strongly debate the issues and firmly advocate your positions, but to avoid personal attacks on your opponents or needless divisiveness. The other is to vigorously attack your fellow candidates, disparaging them personally and seeking to raise yourself up by dragging them down.

Ronald Reagan was famous for epitomizing the former path. Donald Trump, unfortunately, has chosen to follow the latter course.

When Reagan first ran for governor of California in 1966, his party was deeply divided by past electoral conflicts. To restore unity, he adopted a new political rule, which had been proposed by the party chairman: the Eleventh Commandment, "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." The goal was to avoid internecine warfare during the primary, which could lead to defeat in the general election.

While contending for the nomination, Reagan showed respect for his primary opponent and even left open places in his campaign organization so that he could eventually include those party leaders who had initially opposed him. The resulting coalition won the general election by an overwhelming margin. Reagan kept the Eleventh Commandment in his subsequent contests for the presidency, and it was a unifying factor in his victories in the 1980s.

At the beginning of the current campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, it appeared that the party had one of the strongest arrays of candidates in many years-successful governors, senators, business and professional leaders, etc. Today, however, the political atmosphere is polluted by the vicious personal attacks that the Republican contenders have unleashed against one another.

Heading the attackers, in both vigor and vitriol, has been Donald Trump. His broadsides can almost be predicted by the other candidates' standing in the polls. The result has been to divide and discourage potential Republican-party supporters.

Questionable assertions that an opponent is not eligible to run, or that another cannot be elected, or that still another lacks enthusiasm or energy, are a poor substitute for addressing the real issues that should be the basis for a positive campaign: restoring economic growth, strengthening national security, eliminating cronyism and corruption, and improving the lives of all Americans.

At a time when the nation is suffering under one of the most divisive and incompetent presidents in history, our people need positive, unifying leadership, not negative, destructive political rhetoric.

- Edwin Meese III served in Ronald Reagan's gubernatorial and presidential administrations. These views are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of any organization with which he is affiliated.

[Kenny]

Hey Red State, change your name to Trump Hating Tribune, would be so much more honest.

[traderrob6]

Whi listens to them, they’re both RINO’s

[Jim Robinson]

Oh, well. Seems the people are not heeding their warnings. The Trump Rebellion rages on.

[heights]

Meese, “need positive, unifying leadership”. TRANSLATION Amnesty, and simpering Rino behavior.

[hsmomx3]

I am so sick of this in-fighting as they should be going after the Dem party candidates. Geesh, grow up GOPe!!!

[goldstategop]

Trump isn’t a conservative.

Andrew Breitbart would note the GOP isn’t a conservative party.

Its surrendered repeatedly to Obama.

Trump as President can hardly do worse and he could be an improvement.

[DannyTN]

Well Andrew Brietbart’s not here to comment on this election.

[DannyTN]

Well Andrew Brietbart’s not here to comment on this election.

[editor-surveyor]

.
But but but but but but but....

Trumpie is the new metrosexual Reagan.

[jennychase]

This article is posted by every paid cruzer 20 times. Ask Cruz campaign to provide new anti-Trump articles.

[kiryandil]

I see.

Red State and Isara can make the dead Andrew Breitbart say what you want him to say about the current campaign.

Is the dead Andrew Breitbart voting Democrat, too, dn00b?

[sitetest]

Outrageously excellent post.

[onona]

These people are fricking retards. Eric Cantor wasn't enough of a sign.

WE HATE POLITICIANS !!! We hate the revolving door bull$hit that we have put up with for 50 years.

We hate paying GD near 50% taxes so scumbags can do eff all.

[KGeorge]

First Three Pages

Anti-Trump threads 13
Anti-Cruz threads ZE-RO

jusssst sayin. . .

[j.argese]

Would that be anchor baby, Michelle Malkin?

[Fhios]

And George Orwell warned us about Redstate.

[SubMareener]

Kambree Nelson shares her opinion of National Review.

https://youtu.be/PytWoOvzBhA

[LS]

I knew Andrew personally, he hosted a dinner for me, was at his house, know John Nolte and the Breitbart crew. You, and this author, don’t know what you’re talking about.

[LS]

Meese could not be more wrong. Another poll out today showing Trump beating Cankles. That’s about three in last two weeks.

Reagan had his style. Trump has his. They both work.

But keep it up. Trump is closing in on 60 now in Reuters “likely GOP voters.” Maybe more of these STUPID articles will push him to 75.

[RginTN]

Trumpsters are all in for the clinton donor so this info is for the skeptics and undecided.