After the Thumping

Opinion Journal ^ | 31 Jan 07 | Charles R. Kesler

[dirtboy]

Persuasion is the key

I disagree.

VALUES are the key. Persuasion only works when there values for the long haul to stand upon when doing the persuading.

Informericials can be quite persuasive. And they sell overpriced, overblown stuff meant to give the proprietor a quick buck.

But you don't get many repeat customers. You are basically looking for one-time suckers.

Now, if you are selling a quality product, you attract buyers AND retain them.

Kinda like what Reagan did. He did not promote an anti-communist, pro-life position because focus groups and polls told him that was a winning position. He BELIEVED in those things. And from that position, he was able to PERSUADE people to come to his point of view - voters that that were considered unreachable for the GOP, such as centrist Democrats.

That is the POWER of belief and values. And the core reason the GOP is in such bad shape is they LOST SUCH.

And until they get it back - that they give voters a reason to BELIEVE in them, instead of just saying vote for us, we ain't as bad as the other guyz - they will continue to flounder.

[dirtboy]

gratuitous ping to posts 58 and 61

[TommyDale]

Spot on, dude!

[TommyDale]

Hey, spot on again! Be careful, you might be attacked for telling the truth!

[dirtboy]

The siren call of the Rockefeller Republicans basically says throw away your rudder.

And rudderless ships eventually end up on the rocks.

[StockAyatollah]

We need to put Republicans into office if we want smaller government, lower taxes individual rights and constitutional freedom.

ROTFLMAO! You should be at the Improv!

[Reagan Man]

Well said, db.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>Kinda like what Reagan did. He did not promote an anti-communist, pro-life position because focus groups and polls told him that was a winning position. He BELIEVED in those things. And from that position, he was able to PERSUADE people to come to his point of view - voters that that were considered unreachable for the GOP, such as centrist Democrats.

Touche!

[HitmanLV]

Probably the most unapologetic and clear-speaking conservative running as an incumbent in the senate races lost by 20-points. Rick Santorum.

Rush has brainlessly said many times in the past, and it's a sentiment repeated on FR, is that when conservatives run as conservatives, they win. That's silly and always has been - there are many regions in the country where running as a clear, strong conservative loses.

[HitmanLV]

Persuasion is the key, and apparently a lot of people on Free Republic, in talk radio, and in the conservative movement don't understand this.

No kidding. The marketing of conservative principles has been awful for a long time. Still, despite that we have managed to win often. Improving marketing, and actual clear thinking, would help the GOP a lot.

[dirtboy]

Probably the most unapologetic and clear-speaking conservative running as an incumbent in the senate races lost by 20-points. Rick Santorum.

See my post #58.

The Dems got smart enough to run a pro-life Dem against him with name recognition.

And Santorum was dumb enough to get too deep into corporatism in what is still a very blue-collar, lunchbox state.

That can be a very lethal combination, as he found out.

[dirtboy]

Improving marketing, and actual clear thinking, would help the GOP a lot.

I can see it now. Vote for [insert blow-dried brain-dead Senator/Governor here]. He slices! He dices! He eliminates terrorists and unsightly mildew!

It ain't about marketing. It's about having something worthwhile to market.

[HitmanLV]

One of the consistent problems on FR is the idea that most of the american electorate is as conservative as FR is. It's nowhere close, and the more narrow the Freeper conventional wisdom gets, the more it deviates from having a clear evaluation of the general electorate.

There were Freepers insisting to the very end that the 2006 elections would actually show stunning GOP gains. Others assured themselves of an upset in the Florida Senate race. Denial ain't a river in Egypt.

[HitmanLV]

One of the consistent problems on FR is the idea that most of the american electorate is as conservative as FR is. It's nowhere close, and the more narrow the Freeper conventional wisdom gets, the more it deviates from having a clear evaluation of the general electorate.

There were Freepers insisting to the very end that the 2006 elections would actually show stunning GOP gains. Others assured themselves of an upset in the Florida Senate race. Denial ain't a river in Egypt.

[Howlin]

You know, that post was good enough to post twice. :-)

You continually surprise me with your thoughts.

[HitmanLV]

It ain't about marketing. It's about having something worthwhile to market.

The success of Bill Clinton and his status as popular former president doesn't support your thinking.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Good one!

[HitmanLV]

Conservatism is more than pro life. Santorum was clearly the conservative candidate in that race, and he lost handily.

Contrary to popular belief, the electorate is fully capable of rejecting a conservative.

[HitmanLV]

Posted twice because of a forgotten ping!

What's so surprising with my thoughts?

[dirtboy]

The success of Bill Clinton and his status as popular former president doesn't support your thinking.

The success of Bill Clinton is due largely to the fact that Bush the Elder both broke a fundamental campaign pledge and really didn't seem all that driven to win a second term.

And it was also due to the fact that the GOP accepted the notion that a hack Senator somehow was the guy to beat him as an incumbent.

In other words, the GOP first ran a guy who betrayed his values. And then ran a guy who had no values.