What the Election Should Teach the Republicans by Christopher Ruddy

newsmax.com ^ | November 6, 2008 | Christopher Ruddy

[Publius804]

What the Election Should Teach the Republicans

Thursday, November 6, 2008 6:24 PM

By: Christopher Ruddy

The 2008 election is not yet a distant memory, and there are important lessons to be learned.

A good accounting of what happened will help Republicans make a comeback.

Here’s my take:

Republicans need a candidate who’s unafraid of being a Republican. For a 72-year-old, John McCain gave an impressive campaign performance, but he lost. Why? Because he failed to articulate exactly how his opponent was such a danger to our economy, national security, and American values.

The vice president counts. Sarah Palin gave McCain a huge boost and helped propel him to front-runner status by mid-September. She soon became a media target. After a stream of negative articles that went unchallenged, her favorability ratings declined among swing voters. Still, Palin did a remarkable job of bringing charisma to the ticket and raising money.

The media bias was simply unbelievable. With the exception of Fox News, Newsmax, talk radio and a handful of outlets, the major media worked overtime to elect Barack Obama. Despite all the talk of a profusion of media with cable and the Internet, the media continues to be the same old media.

Money can buy an election. Obama raised a record-breaking $650 million to win the White House. Compare that to what McCain received — $85 million — from federal financing. If Obama did not have such a huge money advantage, it is doubtful that he would have snatched the nomination from Hillary Clinton, let alone the White House from McCain.

[jwparkerjr]

re: He ran like he didn’t want to win.

What is there about getting the Republican nomination that makes someone that way. It happened to Bush the Elder, Bob Dole and John McCain. And I think it almost happened to Bush the Current.

I think it’s a matter of age. Someone who is 70 or over simply doesn’t have the drive of a person less than 50. And even if they do have the drive, the don’t have the physical ability to keep up with the pace of campaign for President.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"Republicans need a candidate who’s unafraid of being a Republican. For a 72-year-old, John McCain gave an impressive campaign performance, but he lost. Why? Because he failed to articulate exactly how his opponent was such a danger to our economy, national security, and American values. "

That's right. Conservatives need a candidate who can speak persuasively and believes what he is saying. Reagan believed in his message. It is essential that the speaker believes and understands why the conservative message is true and why the socialist one is very wrong. McCain failed to articulate a convincing narrative why he should be president and why Obama should not. He was too lite on conservatism. And not hard enough on socialism.

The candidate must be a convincing conservative without coming across as a religious kook or extremist. He has to win a blue state. They need Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire back in the win column. Florida and Ohio. They need to appeal to the middle class and average Americans like Joe the Plumber.

[Antoninus]

McCain thought the chickie vote would flock to him because of her, and he was wrong.

You know, that's one aspect of this election that shocked me in the end--how utterly catty several of the women I knew were toward Palin. They hated her from the second she was nominated and drank up every last bit of gossip about her. They WANTED to believe it all--even the most outlandish stories.

There's something deeply disturbing about the female psychology when another woman is suddenly perceived as "the enemy."

[BlessingsofLiberty]

Wow! great blog and great post. Have it bookmarked and I will be reading it daily.

Thanks for the link...well done.

[Rembrandt]

Republicans are in deep ca ca til they find a way to get ACORN out of the picture. With Dims in both houses of Congress and with Obama, I see no way that the ACORN issue will be resolved in the next couple of years.

[Ingtar]

Dirty secret - McCain could not get off of public financing at one point since the FEC is short of a quorum. I’m not sure if this effected the General as well. He probably figured that with the numbers he was getting before Palin that he would not raise enough to matter. It was one of many mistakes.

[Paul R.]

Was she really that unqualified, or is that just the picture painted by the MSM and the Obama campaign? In terms of successful EXECUTIVE experience, other than Romney, she’s arguably the best qualified and accomplished of the major candidates this time around. (Some might count Hillary ahead too, given the argument that she was really the “pants” in the Clinton Whitehouse.) Granted, she’s not an experienced national policy wonk, or an accepted member of “the ruling elite”. But, I’d take good sense and solid conservatism over most of the Washington / established government crowd, any day.

[gwilhelm56]

** ... or is that just the picture painted by the MSM ... **

She had more EXECUTIVE Experience than the other 3 put together.. but she also seems to have something the other 3 LACK ... COMMON SENSE!!!

[redgirlinabluestate]

Given the rumors that it has been Romneybots bad-mouthing Palin (pray for her and her family...!), it'll be interesting to see how Romney positions himself going down the road.

There is no proof to that. The story involves former Bush WH aides:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2127085/posts
Nicole's Knifework (David Frum Identifies the anti-Palin Leaker)

[Rembrandt]

“I personally do not see the republicans as a viable party any longer.”
—
Our party has been in this situation before, so have the Democrats. Both parties have risen from complete desolation to again achieve power.

Just remember that for the Republicans, the core and the key to success is Conservatives. Conservatives provide thought leadership and a guiding light out of the darkness. We have before and we will again.

[wardaddy]

none of this mattered

whites decided they wanted a black man in the white house so they could preen over voting for him

and they did

conservative whites stayed home and plotted klan meetings

/s

[Peter Libra]

The power of the press was something I have not witnessed in over fifty years of watching elections. It was a juggernaut, save for talk radio.

(1). Suppose the MSM have tried in an ethical and professional manner to cover the whole spectrum. Suppose they then declared for one or the other candidate, after analyzing the whole scene.

(2) Used their blatent bias and supported McCain/Palin in the same way they supported Obama/Biden.

Would this have meant five percent of the vote- even more? Alas, there is no way we can know. They think they have done their country a service. Time will tell. I am reminded of another species here. It has lived with mankind through out the ages.

[Rembrandt]

“Someone who is 70 or over simply doesn’t have the drive of a person less than 50. And even if they do have the drive, the don’t have the physical ability to keep up with the pace of campaign for President.”
—
Yeah, that guy named Ron, er, Ronnie, er, Reagan, yeah that’s the name. He was a good candidate but could never have won, just too old.

[Lizavetta]

I got my picture of her from what I read here at FR and what was posted here at FR telling us what others were saying about her, mostly negative.

You stated "best qualified and accomplished of the major candidates this time around". Perhaps, but that doesn't mean she's qualified. As I said, she's all we had.

And no, I don't consider Shrillary qualified either. Her "ready for the job" image was purely a media creation, as was Obama's.

I'll take good sense and solid conservatism over the Washington crowd any day too, but not if it means your candidate will get eaten alive, which I think she would have. To think she could have made a dent in the viper's nest that is the capitol is wishful thinking.

[redhead]

Thank you. it’s a very small page with low circulation. I will appreciate your attention.

[mrsmith]

You’re all wrong: fans and critics of the Governor.

She needed 2 -3 months to prepare for her role, like any good non-national politician would, and she didn’t have it. It showed.

McCain also needed her earlier to get the contributions and ground game volounteers she brought. (that’s where Obama beat him).

[Lizavetta]

She needed 2 -3 months to prepare for her role,

I guess that's where you and I disagree. This isn't a "role" to play. It's not a mid-term exam to study for. It's a serious job that requires experience, savvy, and knowledge - not to mention respect - that comes only with time.

She was not the right pick, nor was McCain. Our side blew it big time, which leads me to believe they never intended to win. It's as if the D's and R's meet beforehand and agree that one election cycle belongs to one side, the next one belongs to the other. Why would a sane party run either McCain or Dole? Or freakin' Dukakis and Kerry? Have you ever seen a bigger pack of dolts?

And the ACORN factor didn't help either. That the Justice Dept. will not look into and prosecute them leads me to believe, as a buttload of other evidence does, that the game is rigged.

[mbennett203]

"He ran like he didn't want to win."

I swear I was thinking Bob Dole 2: Electric Boogaloo when he got nominated, and *poof* it happened.

And I'm not happy about being right, at all.

[Gondring]

Yes. I’m sick of the whining, when none of them seem willing to put their money where their mouths are and buy into the media game.

[RUSHLUVER]

Why McCain Lost
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/11/why_mccain_lost.html