Posted on 03/04/2009 8:08:29 AM PST by rabscuttle385
In the wake of the Republican Party's second consecutive electoral defeat, the question that seems to be everywhere is: "How do we reinvent conservatism?"
Most conservatives are willing to concede there is in fact a problem, but I'd simply suggest the question is itself misguided: We don't need to reinvent conservatism; we need to return to it.
The past few months have given rise to a tug of war of sorts on this very matter. On one side, we have those who think the Republican tent is simply not large enough to house a viable political coalition. On the other side stand those who think the key to our future success lies in getting back to basics. I myself fall squarely in the latter camp.
In many ways, a political party is little more than a brand, and brands thrive or wither based on how consistently they deliver on what they promise. Can we make the honest argument that the majority of those who campaigned as conservatives have governed as such? No. The Republican brand is damaged goods because Republicans have damaged it. Unless and until we get back to the principle of saying what we mean and meaning what we say, that won't change.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Mark Sanford ping!
perzackly
Now you know why Sanford is my first choice in 2012, even over Palin and Jindal.
You're not the only one who feels that way.
johnny mccain’s damaged goods!
a dud.
“The Republican brand is damaged goods because Republicans have damaged it.”
>ELECTED Republicans. Especially the ones who try to say that it’s we ‘conservative’ voters who have hijacked the party and ruined it... Burns me to no end...
It’s time for the GOP to step back, listen to the taste tests, and quietly retire New Coke.
Sorry, but we do need to reinvent part of it. That part that led to the belief that financial markets would be self-regulating - government is not always the problem - we do need adequate regulation to prevent another AIG.
The rest of it is fine, the problem is finding representatives who don't succumb to the Belway mindset.
While everyone else is trying to figure out what is next, why not start the new party. R’s and D’s are dead!
The FReeper party!
I'm not sure how the failure of the ratings agencies to adequately label risk on bonds is due to perverse incentives created by the government.
I'm not sure how AIG's failure to have adequate reserves and/or hedging to back its credit default swap commitments is due to perverse incentives created by the government.
Instead, I see raw greed, bordering on fraud and corruption, unchecked by basic government regulation, in those two instances and many others.
There were plenty of problems with government actions, such as the Dems with Fannie, Freddie and the CRA - but that is just leg of a three-legged stool. The other legs were GOP corruption in either removing regulation or failing to regulate, and raw fraund and greed in financial markets. We can't go back to having faith in financial markets until all three are adressed.
I like all three of these choices and any of them would have made a great VP for Fred if he’d have stayed in the race.....which they would have won!!!
Of course we need to get back to basics (the majority of Americans are on our side if we stand up for conservative principles), we don’t need to parle with those who go against our principles just to win some kind of pseudo-friendship!..
Yeah, I was a Fred guy too, but looking back on it all, I don't think ANY Republican could have won post-mid September when the economy started to go into its Democrat-induced slide. Maybe it's a good thing that the guy who's star definitely burned out in 2008 was a RINO like McCain, instead of one of our up-and-comers.
On the plus side, it means neither the economic conservatives (who mostly went for Romney) nor the social conservatives (who mostly went for Huck) will hold any grudges against Mark Sanford for remaining neutral.
Good observation, but I think either Fred or Mitt might have at least had a fighting chance because neither was seen as a Washington insider and neither was afraid to throw and land a few punches on Oba Mao.
Are you serious? There are dozens of 1/2 ass ed bureaucratic regulatory agencies overseeing banks, credit unions, every stock exchange as well as the idiots in Congress.....and what has that done to insure propriety in the markets. I guess you are referring to that idiot Greenspans comments?
No grudges against Sanford here and I am very impressed with him from what I’ve been reading.
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.