The new GOP model: Virginia shows the way to win

NY Post ^ | October 31, 2009 | Rich Lowry

[scooby321]

it always starts from the bottom up.

[ScottinVA]

McDonnell has run the smoothest, most disciplined campaign I’ve ever seen from a GOPer. Amazing success can come with staying on message speaking to matters that voters actually care about, keeping a disciplined pace, not over-reacting to opposition negativity and keeping the heat on the opposition. No matter what the polls showed, McDonnell’s relaxed countenance never wavered.

Message to the GOP leadership: THAT’s how it’s done!!!

[charles1252]

Yes, the Republicans are the minority in the House & Senate, but I'm still p.o.ed these elected officials are still sitting in the back of the bus when it comes opposing all of this legislation. Most of these clowns have been in Washington forever, and they have no excuse for not at least being an organized very vocal minority to raise hell in DC like we saw the Dems do in the past. It really pisses me off, that average citizens have to organize and draw attention to these issues while these representatives
effectively sit on the sidelines. We (and they) can't just wait for the 2010 elections. These bills are coming down now and these representatives need to get off their lazy asses and raise some real hell now to show the American public how serious these changes will be.

[DemforBush]

Two excerpts caught my eye:

“They [the proposals] are conservative but pragmatic, meant to appeal to nonideological voters. Polls have McDonnell beating Deeds on taxes, economic development, education, transportation and even “issues of special concern to women.”

Bingo. The electorate wants solutions, and the way to win them back is to offer conservative approaches to solving the problems of the day, and to communicate them effectively. That is the lesson the GOP Congress forgot and McCain 2008 campaign never embraced.

“McDonnell’s comportment has perfectly complemented his campaign — relentlessly cheerful and moderate in demeanor. He’s been gracious about Obama personally, even while excoriating him on issues.”

A page right out of the playbook of Ronaldus Magnus. Reagan absolutely destroyed Carter in the debates, and dealt a similar blow to Mondale in the second of their two debates. But he did it (both times) while remaining upbeat and always represented conservatism at its very best.

[Paige]

That is the way Reagan was elected....Reagan was NOT the firt choice of the Republican Elitist. Moreover, this is the only way we’re going to win - Conservatives fighting to take and ‘keep’ one district at a time.

[LibLieSlayer]

The first sentence is true... after that... not so much. THE PROBLEM WITH the repubic party IS THAT IT HAS STRAYED FAR FROM THOSE CONSERVATIVE ROOTS THAT WERE RONALDO MAGNUS. It is proved fact that the very IDEOLOGY that left keeps telling us is why the public hates repubics... it is that very ideology that the repubics gave up for a return to the failed Rockefeller blue-blood country club repubic ideology of BIG GOOBERMENT... even newt with his “ERA OF REAGAN IS DEAD” crap... it is that ideology and the repubic abandonment of that Conservative ideology... with its principled small government foundation... that has led to a failed and collapsed party... rudderless and leaderless. It is a fact that the repubics stopped teaching and living the GOLDWATER/BUCKLEY/REAGAN ideology and declined into what we see left of "it" today.

LLS

[DarthVader]

The reason Bob is successful is because he has embraced the conservatism of Ronald Reagan and not run from it.

[Erik Latranyi]

Notice how a conservative can campaign as a conservative, without any political machine being him/her, and still win?

When was the last time you heard of a liberal campaigning as a true liberal and winning without the help of ACORN and a massive, get-out-the-vote machine?

[mathluv]

'In polls, the GOP is still suffering from its Bush-DeLay hangover.'

It is hard to get out a message when the DBM won't put one out. The tea parties are being ignored by them, too. In the primaries next year, we need to try to get rid of the RiNOs. I am not sure how we are supposed to do that when only RINOs are on the ballot.

I am hoping that next week will send a message to the GOP, and they will finally 'get it'.

[Scanian]

They can’t. For a liberal to win in anything but a safe, gerrymandered district, they have to basically “herd cats.” The Dhimmi party is just a collection of interest groups that are often opposed to each other and they require a disciplined oragizational strategy to be made to vote the party’s way.

Conservatives represent standard, American values that have broad appeal, so no such strongarm tactics are necessary on the Right.

[Ann Archy]

I agree, BUT there is NOTHING they can do!!! The Press won’t cover their conferences, so they quit having them. The Democrats are showing themselves for what they are .....TYRANTS!!

[charles1252]

If they showed up on the capitol steps as a group, or organized (actually led), Tea Party type events they would get coverage, at least on Fox. They need to be very vocal barking dogs, sounding the alarm, not laying on the porch.

[Need4Truth]

I agree, BUT there is NOTHING they can do!!! The Press won’t cover their conferences

Palin is getting her message out. She's showing us how it is done as well. Go around the SRM. I have email. My republican representative has my email address on file. I receive almost no emails from him.

[houeto]

The repeated use of repubic makes your screed unreadable.

[almcbean]

Wait a minute! I thought Bible believing Christians such as McDonnell were the ruination of the GOP. It must be true because I’ve seen so many FR posts say so.

[Scanian]

No, you’ve see so many TROLLS say so!

[LibLieSlayer]

I think that Mark Levin's name for republicans today is both accurate and thought provoking... it provoked you.

LLS

[houeto]

I just don’t get the reference. Doesn’t make sense to me.

[Maine Mariner]

Exactly right, even in difficult times Reagan ran as a candidate who was optimistic about America. We won!

Contrast that with the 1992 election, the Republicans with Bush and the two angry Pats (Buchanan and Robinson) were all pessimists. Clinton and the Demorats ran as the optimists and they won.