Four REAL Ways the GOP Can Save Itself (A Rejoinder to VandeHei and Allen)

Self | 5/15/08 | LS

[Mr. Jeeves]

This is all good advice, but I'm not sure there's enough time left to implement it before November. These are the kind of things that lower your approval ratings in the short run while people are getting used to hearing your new, aggressive tone. The time to have started doing these things was January of last year.

[Anti-Bubba182]

“1) New ideas? Fine. We’re all for new ideas. But as Solomon said, there is nothing new under the sun. In fact, Newt Gingrich’s techno-wonk mini-fixes to serious problems are . . . well, . . . part of the problem. Social Security does need “new ideas.” It needs an honest assault on the original idea, in which a courageous Republican will finally say, “The entire premise is wrong. You cannot tax today’s employees for the retirement security of today’s retirees and pretend they are ‘saving’ for their own retirement.” Is it a political loser? It was for Barry Goldwater. But that was almost half a century ago, before it was overwhelmingly clear that the system is heading for a massive collapse. No one understands this better than my college students, who are generally liberal, but who are tremendously open to privatization concepts. HERE IS WHERE THE BATTLE IS. Republicans, don’t run from it. Get aggressive, for a change..”

Stupid! This is a recipe for GOP destruction, especially in these times. This is the third rail.

[Grunthor]

History shows us that since the end of the Whigs (who never had a chance, hence they were called “stillborn” by one historian), we have had two viable parties and only two viable parties. That won’t change. Change must come within the GOP.

---

Those currently populating conservative third parties were once Republicans. They rightly feel especially this year, that their prescence in the party is not wanted. You get the Republican Party back on track and these folks will come home.

I say this as a 20 year Republican voter with one foot out the door.

[nicola_tesla]

You think that Republicans should remain as whiny Dem-lites ?

[G.Mason]

" ... Stupid! This is a recipe for GOP destruction, especially in these times. This is the third rail. "

You're right.

The reason is that our colleges are teaching socialism, and other than sex with anything is alright, and a few math classes that's the extent of the education for most.

Middle agers are keeping their fingers crossed that the stock market & economy doesn't go bust, causing them to lose their savings & investments.

The retirees are saying give me more of someone elses money.

The youth could care less. It will all be fixed by the time they retire ... which to them is a few thousand years from now.

[ASA Vet]

The thread to which you're responding was posted twice.
Shouldn't you post your response twice too?

[griswold3]

No response to #4 Burn the Bush.

Yeah, folks we’ve watched how the office was trashed from day one and we’ve got notes.
Karma is a bitch!

[Anti-Bubba182]

I think they should use common political sense. This is not it. It is in the category of suicide by high sounding bromide. The Democrats will slaughter the GOP if they go this way.

Mike Allen

"..Mike Allen is the chief political correspondent for Politico. He comes to us from Time magazine where he was their White House correspondent. Prior to that, Allen spent six years at The Washington Post, .."

Jim VandeHei

"..Jim VandeHei, 36, is one of the co-founders of Politico. He left The Washington Post, where he was national political reporter, to join forces with John F. Harris (his former boss at the Post) and the finest collection of journalists around to attempt to create a new and exciting way of delivering political news..."

Do you think these two have any sincere good will for the GOP?

[LS]

Why, is my response that good? Feel free.

[mo]

Guys..a lot of folks seem to think what’s happening to the GOP is suicide....I contend its homicide.

In my mind, I keep coming back to what happened to Tom Delay.....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1802383/posts

Washington is so jammed with parasites looking for a teat...that ANY organized opposition-IOW any Conservatives-will be run out of town . Period. This, folks, is a far BIGGER problem than just one with the Republican leadership.

Pay attention the the Farm Bill that just passed. Its not the average American Joe that is demanding handouts that’s driving the bus here.

Its any large organization that has the cash to buy a few K St. lobbyists to twist congess’ arm. The boys on Capitol Hill that are unresponsive to said arm twisting...well these organizations can afford to make sure they’re replaced in the next election cycle-and in fact, with what the new boys will send them legislatively will far more than make up for the cost of replacing a recalcitrant congresscritter. We American’s have a far bigger problem on our hands here than any of us could possibly imagine in our worst nightmare.

[LS]

You’re right. I certainly didn’t mean to suggest the GOP could do this before November. I fully expect to lose in November, and lose big. This is the long-term battle plan for after McCain and a few more of the incumbent wimps are gone.

[BrewingFrog]

I submit that there is indeed a large segment of the GOP voting base that thirsts for a leader who will simply tell it like it is. Somebody in the Republican Party who will stand up in front of the mics and say, “I’ve had it. McCain is a loser who ought to be in the traitor rat party.

Republicans don’t go for illegals running wild in the streets and then being given citizenship over people who have waited in line for years to do it right.

Republicans don’t go for the b.s. of Globull Warming or for taxing and holding back only one country for its supposed effects: the United States.

Republicans are for crushing our enemies on the field of battle, as expeditiously as possible, while avoiding pointless diplomacy and negotiations with terrorists who cannot be trusted in the first place.

Republicans believe in smaller government, and work to reduce the bureaucracy.

Republicans believe in business, and work to see that American business thrives.

Republicans believe in a strong dollar, and work to see that the money we invest and save retains its value.

Republicans believe in freedom, and work to see that others who value freedom succeed in their efforts, at home and abroad.

Republicans believe that America is the best friend you’ll ever have, or the worst enemy imaginable; your choice.

Republicans believe that being dependent on foreign oil is unacceptable, and work to be self sufficient by drilling our own damned oil to drive our cars and trucks, building hundreds of Gen 4 Nuclear Reactors to produce electricity to run our growing factories and improving electrical infrastructure to reflect our growing economy.

The current nominee-in-waiting has expressly come out against these points. He is unfit to be the nominee of a party that stands by them.”

Of course, nobody in the Republican Party believes any of that anymore, or, if they did, have the guts to stand up and say it.

Rush is wrong. We’re screwed.

[M. Dodge Thomas]

This:

is the world in which we are increasing bidding against China and India for oil.

This:

is how much difference drilling in ANWR (for example) would make.

And that is why baring another worldwide depression along the lines of the 1930s, the only way we are would be getting back to $2 gas would be to invade the countries with larges slices of that first graph, and take their oil by force.

Which is why the VandeHei & Allen and their ilk are no friends of any sort of conservative movement that intends to play a useful role in US energy policy, and why time spent listing to their brand of ignorance is time spent avoiding REAL (and politically really hard) choices about energy policy.

[LS]

Burn the Bush is equally stupid. Learn from the Dems. They NEVER abandon their own. William Jefferson? Carter? Kerry? All continue to be supported. The message is, when you start trashing your own, everyone thinks less of you immediately.

This has been one of the GOP's biggest problems---the willingness to throw overboard Foley, Burns, or whomever. As much as I don't want a Foley in the party, the time to deal with him is when you are in a position of strength, quietly. You get him re-elected first, then he "suddenly" has "family issues," leaves, and you replace him. NEVER turn on one of your own currently serving. The Dems have that right.

[LS]

These young voters will be tomorrow's regular voters, and no, they "don't think it will be fixed." Quite the contrary, they know better. They want solutions. They are eager for ANYONE to take this on, and don't see anyone on the horizon.

If there is one issue in 10 years that I've seen younger voters actually glom onto, it's SS reform.

[LS]

These young voters will be tomorrow's regular voters, and no, they "don't think it will be fixed." Quite the contrary, they know better. They want solutions. They are eager for ANYONE to take this on, and don't see anyone on the horizon.

If there is one issue in 10 years that I've seen younger voters actually glom onto, it's SS reform.

But this was just an EXAMPLE of the kinds of arguments that the GOP is losing. You can't fix the country by continuing to spend on Medicare and SS. Everyone knows they both need serious repair. It's a winner.

[rstrahan]

RE: Oil There’s double the proven US reserves under North Dakota, enough to shatter the stranglehold of OPEC. RE: Ethanol. Sorgum generates four times the ethanol of corn, costs much less to produce, gives more grain per acre.

However, the big problem is that Republicans are “Democrat lite”. Until they become a different party, and become a true conservative party, there’s no reason to vote for a Republican.

[LS]

HUH? I just heard Rush agree with every one of those points. The only question is whether a Republican liberal or a Democrat liberal will be in office in 2008. I personally prefer the Dem, because I think you need to rub the GOP's noses in defeat so they really get it. I think Rush still prefers a blocking action while regrouping, but I don't know. But he has said many times we are screwed no matter who wins.

[LS]

Exactly, and this is precisely the type of argument our side should be making. "Why in the world are we paying $4 a gallon for gas when the U.S. has more than enough oil to handle us AND China?"

BTW, I think anyone in ANY discussion of energy who doesn't first and foremost begin with, "China will use more oil in 10 years every day than we import now," is utterly failing to pin the tail on the donkey. We need to make it clear that if we changed every damn light bulb and stopped every car, China and India will still suck up all the existing oil in no time. The only answer is drill, drill, drill and continue to substitute effectively and experiment. But there is no alternative but to get more energy!