Posted on 11/13/2008 6:15:52 AM PST by Kaslin
But is was far from a landslide like many in the left claimed it would be
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Vision, how able get rid of liberal Republicans and make them register as dems.
Maybe if they got their head out of their butt they could have a vision.
If the conservative movement wants to “move on”, they need to take a page from the Liberal playbook. We need to raise young men and women into the media and college faculty. That is where they capture the minds of the voting populace. Should be a 20 year plan to take back these institutions. Then, the voting public will come around.
We need leaders who put ego and personal power aside, and work to preserve the union, serve the people and the country.
We have a very compelling vision. Unfortunatly, the socialist vision is winning right now.
One reason McCain lost is obvious: the economy. Money problems are generally people’s first concern. When the economy goes sour, the party in power almost always gets thrown out. This happens in other countries as well. It’s a constant in politics that you can’t do much about.
There IS a compelling vision and there are those who have good ideas (Newt, etc.). The REAL problem is how to EFFECTIVELY communicate that vision and elect those who are COMMITTED to implement that vision.
Well gee-whiz! How about starting with being able to communicate to the American people that ever since the Democrats took over in Jan 2007, the entire US economy has tanked, and that the Democrats with their sub-prime loans now has the US in recent debt of up to $5 trillion dollars!
Naw... that's too simple.
Buy some damn air time and start running TV commercials exposing the 'Rats for what they are and what they have done! Quit waiting for campaign season to get your damn message out!
I think the issue that resounded most with voters was that Obama wasn't Bush. True, he promised change, but no one stopped long enough to ask what type of change. Now they're going to find out.
For the past 8 years, the Republicans in office, with scarce few exceptions, tax and spend like the democrats. The GOP has abandoned its smaller gov't, lower taxes principles to the point that they no longer represent how I feel about things. I'm finding more comfort in the Libertarian camp than the GOP. Indeed, I think the Libertarians would be a viable foe if they can get organized and their message gets out.
As to Obama, I have no doubt he will change things. The verdict is still out, however, on whether people will like that change.
This was not complicated.
The Republicans got beat on:
Their Tax Message, which was muddled compared to “95%”
Their Healthcare Plan, Which was confusing and kinda stupid, compared to Obama’s soothing platitudes.
Their candidate, who was just too old and non-dynamic for the period.
And finally, plan old organization; on the ground, electronic, fund-raising, the whole works.
The message of conservatives is still acceptable, but the econmoic disaster was too much for a weak campaign to overcome.
We have a vision, Reagan won on it. It needs to be followed and communicated. Rino’s are a cancer in our party and need to be cut out. We need leaders who can communicate, who act and lead like leaders. There is nothing wrong with the “vision”.
There were plenty of votes available, the rinos just did not have anyone to bring them out.
The GOP never did get its message out. In my mind, the GOP ran the worst campaign in history. Perhaps they were short-funded, but I think part of that is because a lot of us felt the GOP was rudderless on the issues and has lost sight of those things that the "old" GOP stood for: smaller gov't and lower taxes. Bush waited far too long to drag out the veto and the RINOs in both houses went along with it. The GOP may never recover from this.
An agenda that involves the federal government in effectively addressing education, retirement, jobs, the environment and the economy is Democrat-like. The "appeal" that the author speaks of is at bottom, convincing the listener that the government will be there to help the listener. It's getting the listener to look to the GOP-wing of the government for help. THAT (look to us for help) is Democrat-like.
There isn't one single politician who wants to give the country back to the people. They are all about control and power, and arguing over which party should have it.
Reality is that puuting the cart before the horse is not a good idea. American society and culture has been degenerating over the past 4 or so decades and that has produced the political climate that we now experience. Nothing short of spiritual revival will turn this situation around. Wish it were easier. But it is not. Wish we could just work toward Nov 2010 and Nov 2012. Obama and McCain were pretty good expressions of the mess that America has become. Americans(NOT everyone and present company excluded) have become lazier, more envious and jealous, more centered on their on bellies and gonads, more fantasy centered.
The only way forward is to identify and acknowledge the truth.
I am an optimist and I believe that conservatives in general will actually gain politically in the aftermath of these elections. We have learned our lessons and we will not fail from here on.
- The government has become drunk. Take the alcohol from the government
The conservatives offer freedom and liberty. Concepts that are lost on many people an times of relative freedom and prosperity. Republicans have recently been wooing voters with goodies, just like the Democrats. Goodies, but with strings attached. Why vote for less goodies?
When the stifling and oppressive hand of gov’t is acutely felt, and connected to the lack of freedom and liberty, then those ideas will become important to people. As it is, people just want to be entertained and comfortable.
Government must fail and be held in derision by the majority, like Republicanism is at present, for Conservative ideas to gain politically.
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.