Nope. We're either all equal or not. You can't have it both ways.
2 Drop the formal opposition to “Amnesty” for Illegal Immigrants: Focus on securing the borders. The status of the 20 million or so illegal immigrants is now more or less an Obama/Democrat problem and has been essentially a lost issue for the GOP. We in opposition to Obama will need to cut into his Hispanic support in 2012 in order to defeat him.
You have a good point, but you're thinking that we can't do two things at the same time. Yes, we can fight amnesty and fight for a fence.
3 Drop formal opposition to Environmentalism. Yes, I know that environmental extremist are nuts, but the GOP must recognize when a battle is probably lost and not waste precious political capital on what I consider minor issues (especially when there will be major battles to be fought over major issues). Remember this is just a formal dropping of an issue, but not the issue itself in principle.
As far as I've noticed, this idea has already been picked up by the right. I don't hear a lot of protests. If anything we need to fight this point harder.
4 Focus on middle class, middle class, middle class!
OK. I'm going to say it. I *AM* MIDDLE CLASS. SCREW THE MIDDLE CLASS. I'M 38 AND I WANT TO REACH HIGHER!
5 Focus on domestic/economic/education issues. Less on foreign policy. To be sure there will certainly be new issues of both to tackle in ’12, but I can guarantee with the failed economic policies put in place by The Obama administration---domestic policies will again be front and center.
Bingo. You did hit the nail on the head with this one.
6 Build bridges to unions/working class. Historically Unions and the GOP have been arch-enemies. But the alliance between big business and the GOP in decline. Big Business seem to have found a new love REDs---“Rich Elite Democrats”. We need to counter this with courting some of there core constituencies. This may have already have begun in West Virginia and among many Hillary Clinton Dems.
Not going to comment on this one. I don't know enough on the subject... except that coal union leaders are insane or completely corrupt.
7 Continue with strong opposition to Gay “marriage”, Abortion and Adult Euthanasia.
8 Continue with strong opposition to Islamic Extremism, and Socialistic Liberal Extremism.
9 Continue to be strong on crime, the death penalty and gun ownership rights.
Yup, yup, yup.
~OK. I’m going to say it. I *AM* MIDDLE CLASS. SCREW THE MIDDLE CLASS. I’M 38 AND I WANT TO REACH HIGHER!~
My household income puts me at slightly higher than “Middle Class”....according to Democrat calculations. If one reads carefully my suggestions are all marketing/packaging of the message. Not a discarding of the principles.
An example of what I mean by this is the association the GOP has had with Big Business has hurt. The association with Small Business has not. Zero in and pound away at the positive association and let the other fade to the background.
Sarah and Todd Palin appeals to the Middle Class (whatever that means to someone). Go with that, market that appeal, pound away at it.
So the GOP is anti-affirmative action-—I certainly don’t care. But to millions of minorities it’s a huge roadblock to coming out of the “political right of center closet”. Believe me I know. Why allow that to be what you’re known for, when it’s not even on the political radar any longer.
Some one responded to my original post that the FreeRepublic was not representative of Republican Party. I respect that fact. And none of my suggestions will be implemented any way, but I know that the GOP will go through some sort of transformation. I’m wondering where we can find common ground to “grow” the right to center.....