Posted on 05/11/2009 12:58:21 PM PDT by Mikey76
Recently the leaders of the Republican party have gone on a “listening tour” to try to find a way to recover from their recent losses. They are trying to figure out what it is that will appeal to voters in the age of Obama. Sounds like a focus group effort to me and if that is the case, its all over for the Republicans. There is a simple reason for their recent losses. The Democrat party is much better at selling big government and all its benefits than are the Republicans.
Here is the problem for the Republican image. They say they are the party of smaller government, fiscal responsibility, national defense and social conservatism. But for six years, when they had all the power in Washington, they were fiscally irresponsible, they grew government and didn’t even make an attempt at waging war for social conservatism. The evidence points to the fact that we don’t have a two party system anymore. We have one party, the party of “Big, Powerful, Intrusive Government”, with two wings. One wing has been at the game a long time, the other is a neophyte. The Republican neophytes, however, are finding that their usefulness parallels that of a sixth toe. The voters don’t want two parties that pursue the same agenda with different language; they want real choices. Unfortunately, the system is rigged against “outsiders” so the choices remain what they are and a larger and larger percentage of the people feel disenfranchised as they lose their liberty.
The Republicans have a great advantage, if they chose to utilize it. The majority of the people in this country, for the moment, still believe in liberty. They believe in fiscal responsibility, they are socially conservative. They want to control our borders, they want smaller government, they want to hear English. When such ideas have been articulated in the past, they resulted in landslide victories for Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich. There are still people in the Republican party that believe this but they seem to be a rapidly shrinking minority. Just look at the last presidential candidate for the proof.
The rise of Sarah Palin and Bobby Gindal may give some conservatives a glimmer of hope but I will tell you here and now why the Republicans are going to go the way of the Whigs. It is more than a problem of image, it is a problem of courage. The Democrats don’t believe in the give and take of the two party system. They believe they are the smartest people in the room and the reins of government belong in their hands and no other. To a Democrat, the ends justify the means, the rule of law is only useful when it can be used against an opponent, it does not apply to them. Their only principle is the acquisition of power. In this current administration this principle is on display for everyone to see and they are not ashamed of it. The strong arm tactics of President Obama and his cronies would have made Mussolini smile. The naked grab for power in the private sector would have brought a chuckle to Stalin. Encouraging death threats against corporate leaders who dare oppose his will would have brought nods of approval from Hitler.
The crux of the matter is this. The Republicans are not going to become the party of conservatism or, dare I say it, liberty, because that would put them fully in the cross hairs of a Democrat party whose aim is to destroy the opposition by any means possible. It takes a person of great courage to stand up against that kind of onslaught and a career politician is not that kind of person. Why did Sarah Palin connect with so many people? Because she was like us. She was forthright in her speech, she had principles and she stood up for them even when it wasn’t easy. The American people respect that and the Democrats can’t stand it. Palin was not the kind of person that could be bought or intimidated so she has to be destroyed. Dick Cheney was the same way, that is why he was the most hated man on the Hill for eight years.
To make sure that no Republican ever challenges the Democrat agenda in a meaningful way again, even if they do happen to win an election now and then, they have entertained the possibility of prosecuting former administration officials for activities that were legal at the time but now meet with disapproval by those in power, i.e. Democrats. With the thought that a future administration is going to drag an official into court, ruining their reputation and bankrupting them in the process, is anyone going to take any risks? In anyone going to offer an opinion that goes against the statist vision for this country? Is anyone within the government going to stand up for the people’s freedom? No.
In addition to image and courage, the Republicans have a wrong headed strategy for growing the party. The Democrats have developed a strong base of support among those who benefit from the government's largess and contribute little or nothing to receive it. Add to this the unions and community activists who support their Marxist vision and the possibility they will incorporate millions of illegal immigrants into their voting block and they have a secure and formidable base of support. If the Republicans try to compete for that base, they will lose. If they are too intimidated to espouse the principles of the people in this country that still love liberty, they will lose. Unfortunately, it would appear that the leadership of the party is following those tends exactly and by so doing, will accompany the Whigs into the dustbin of history.
www.patricksamuels.com
True. So, if you want to throw in the towel, that's fine. But I'm going to work my ass off in the primaries to throw all the RINO's I can find out of office, including Dick Lugar, and try to get some real conservatives in there. Just a difference in philosophy, I guess.
>>>> I’ve heard these GOP cats going on about the GOP brand and I want to tell you; if you think the GOP is a brand, then either you’re in the wrong party or I am <<<<<<
Great post, and I’ve been saying the same thing about “GOP brand” since the day I first heard it uttered by some pundit.
Oddly enough, I don’t think I’ve heard anyone saying “Democrat brand” or “liberal brand” or “progressive brand.”
IMO the GOP and its “brand” are sullied beyond repair.
You keep telling yourself that, as tens of thousands have kicked the doors off the GOP big gov house, and left the damn building. The rancid stench alone drove many out.
McCain, Romney, and Steele have gone on a TELL’ YA tour.
They are TELLING US we have to be more left wing socially irresponsible in order to be members of the DC country club.
They are fools on a tour of fools, and I shall not suffer their foolishness.
This guy certainly nails it. Unfortunately, most informed people have NO REPRESENTATION regardless of how they vote because both parties have been and are actively pursuing the same agenda.
This is the big one. All this bantering about how to rebuild the party and get the right candidates is meaningless if we let the left become powerful enough to rig the elections. I don't care how conservative the candidate, you can't win in a rigged game. I think ACORN played a huge roll in this last election and with 5 billion to spend.....
It may be too late.
And Acorn uses a lot of that money to fund voter fraud. I believe that the last election was won fraudulently personally. And as far as RINO’s, get rid of them ALL. Including Lindsay Graham, Lamar Alexander, Lugar etc. etc. Every one of these stinking good for nothings, needs to get their snouts kicked right out of the public trough. Graham, made me so mad by being the ONLY Republican that could have and should have stopped Sotamayor from even getting out of Committee. Instead, he had to put on this huge hypochritical berating questioning of her and then be the ONLY Republican to vote her out of Committee. I instantly lost all respect for him and can’t wait to see the end of him and all those like him. The Republicans have far too many of these Democrap lites. CO
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.