GOP Success In 2008?

The Strata-Sphere ^ | October 12th, 2007 | "AJStrata"

[2ndDivisionVet]

Lori Byrd has some words of advice on how the GOP could rally the conservative forces to win in 2008. Personally, with some key adjustments, it is more than plausible the GOP could make a resurgence. The problem is the coalition needs some internal wounds addressed. But let’s look at Lori’s suggestions:

1. Instead of taking positive action and doing the hard work necessary to elect strong conservative candidates in the primaries, whine about how the Republicans aren’t any better than the Democrats. It is sure as heck a lot easier to whine than to make phone calls, stuff envelopes and knock on doors for conservative candidates.

2. After a primary candidate is chosen (without any help from you), forget about how many more positions on issues you and the GOP candidate share, and forget how far left their Democratic opponent is, and instead work against the Republican in the general election (or withhold support from them) to “send a message.”

3. Instead of disagreeing in a civil manner over various issues with those in the party, get emotional and accuse those on your side of being mean doodyheads. (If anyone doubts this is going on, I will gladly share evidence of it with you, but will admit that generally a word worse than “doodyhead” is employed.)

4. Bask in the misery of another loss and instead of working to get conservative Republicans elected in 2010, try to pull as many others as possible into your negative state of being.

All good points. Number three is probably the most important. Civil and serious discourse. The one thing I used to enjoy doing was going over to KoS or Democrat Underground and pull out some of the abhorrent commentary that was there. Got me lots of links to be sure. BUt it also implied to me that one of the core differences between the right and left. Emotionalism without thought was a trademark of the far left - until they won in 2006. Now it seems to be a trademark of those frustrated and unable to cope with being in the minority.

When debating serious issues it is important to take them seriously and treat those we want to convince to join us with respect. That means no name calling when we disagree. People who name call when they are losing a debate just cannot be taken seriously. I work in a serious business - space flight - and we don’t name call when are views don’t carry the day. And yes, we need a majority position on questions that just aren’t cut and dry like everyone else.

It also means not being shoddy and impugning people using false ‘facts’. The Frost debacle was first and foremost a lot of people jumping to disparaging statements about the Frost family on bad information. In fact, much of it was pure speculation. I note this comment from a post on the matter at John Cole’s Balloon Juice, a comment that I actually read on a leftwing site:

Option 1: Real Journalism

1. Call the Frosts to verify the details about them. 2. Call the agency that handles S-CHIP in Baltimore to find out their situation. 3. Talk to anyone else that can independently verify the Frost’s situation (i.e. doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc.). 4. Publish the facts.

Option 2: Wingnutosphere Journalism

1. Show up at the Frost’s house unannounced and spy on them. 2. Guess as to what the Frost’s situation is based on their car, the value of their house and some Google searches. 3. Talk to neighbors and co-workers to get the inside dirt on the Frost’s (do they throw lavish parties?). 4. Publish their personal information along with your opinion of their situation and invite further scrutiny from the general public based on misinformation.

All valid points. The smear some cannot see right in front of them was taking unvalidated information and wildly speculating from there. The point is many went off half cocked and are simply being called on it.

That is what conservatives do all the time with liberals. We call them on their mistakes and errors. The Frosts are the type of self sufficient, independent free spirits who should be natural conservatives. And the S-CHIP safety net is not a bad program as long as it doesn’t morph into a government take over of our medical freedom of choice. The debate should have been one on how the Frosts are the poster child for free market health care with a minimal safety net out there for when people get into rough patches.

And one comment on assets and means testing again. It is obvious to any who understand the true cost of insurance for a family of 6 (that would be us) in this area (other areas of the country don’t count) that the Frost assets would not cover their medical bills. And they shouldn’t. Including assets in a life long, monthly stipend program like Social Security makes sense. But S-CHIP is an emergency program for those who do not have the means to deal with a medical situation. And what kind of safety net leaves the family out on the street and on the welfare roles? Anyone still myopically focused on assets is insulting the intelligence of the body politic.

I go back to Lori Byrd’s item three. Civil debate. That includes civility towards the opposition - no matter how far in the sewer they slide. Civility and respect meant fact checking and doing a serious mea culpa when the facts did not support the overheated rhetoric. Civility means treating a family that went through these tough times with respect. Yes, there have been fakes produced by the Dems. Not this time. All you had was a family who supported a program speaking about their expierence through their son’s voice. Tough to argue? So what?

I have seen people say the boy and the family were fair game. Well, then so are the people who rushed to judgement and gave conservatives an ugly, black eye. The problem with this argument is just because you can do a thing doesn’t mean you should. This American family deserved the benefit of the doubt until HARD evidence to the contrary was produced.

As I said on the outset of this mess I won’t follow a party of Begala’s and Carville’s. It would be best of the reactionaries stopped trying to be first and focused on being best. I applaud Lori’s efforts to look forward and build bridges. I wish there were more like her out there. Maybe I would feel more positive about our future.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Comments?

[Grunthor]

She a rooty rooter?

[MNJohnnie]

The only one making a “rush to judgment” here is this author. She defends the Frosts by simply turning out all factual information about them. Such as the fact the Frosts refused to talk to the local reporter or make their tax information public. Perhaps she can explain why a 3 car family with 2 kids in private school need working class people to pay for their health care?

Perhaps instead of screaming bile, this author might try actually learning some facts about the Frosts?

She can start here.

http://michellemalkin.com/2007/10/12/question-for-grown-ups-who-deserves-government-subsidized-health-insurance/

[johnny7]

Who wrote this... Jane Hall?

[MNJohnnie]

Let me see if I am understanding this article.

For the GOP to win, according to this author, We need to not fight back against Democrat Campaign propaganda with the truth. We should instead manufacture fraudulent claims about “Conservatives giving themselves a black eye on the Frosts” without offering any evidence to support that claim or to document the supposed "truth" about the Frosts. Then we should flame out at every Conservative who fought back against the Democrats for fighting back.

Who wrote this? Howard Dean?

[Soul Seeker]

Didn’t “AJ” have his own emotional rant against conservatives after Republicans lost in 2006?

And didn’t Lorie join those in rebellion against Polipundit taking pot shots at him and his stance against amnesty until Polipundit had enough and tossed her out?

There was a time I enjoyed reading them, until they made it clear they sided with REPUBLICAN growth and not CONSERVATIVE Growth.