For the whole series of Zero themed art, go here:
Posted on 12/13/2009 10:15:20 PM PST by Steelfish
DECEMBER 13, 2009
Whole Foods Republicans The GOP needs to enlist voters who embrace a progressive lifestyle but not progressive politics.
MICHAEL J. PETRILLI
The Republican Party is resurgent—or so goes the conventional wisdom. With its gubernatorial victories in Virginia and New Jersey, an energized "tea party" base, and an administration overreaching on health care, climate change and spending, 2010 could shape up to be 1994 all over again.
Maybe. The political landscape sure looks greener than it did a year ago, when talk of a permanent Democratic majority was omnipresent. But before John Boehner starts measuring the drapes in the Speaker's office, or the party exults about its possibilities in 2012, it's worth noting that some of the key trends driving President Barack Obama's strong victory in 2008 haven't disappeared. Republicans need to address them head-on if they want to lead a majority party again.
There are the depressing numbers on young voters (two-thirds of whom voted for Mr. Obama), African-Americans and Latinos (95% and 67% went blue respectively). But these groups have voted Democratic for decades, and their strong turnout in 2008's historic election wasn't replicated this fall, nor is it likely to be replicated again.
The voting patterns of the college-educated is another story. This is a group that, slowly but surely, is growing larger every year. About 30% of Americans 25 and older have at least a bachelor's degree; in 1988 that number was only 20% and in 1968 it was 10%.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
"As less-educated seniors pass away and better-educated 20- and 30-somethings take their place in the electorate, this bloc will exert growing influence. And here's the distressing news for the GOP: According to exit-poll data, a majority of college-educated voters (53%) pulled the lever for Mr. Obama in 2008—the first time a Democratic candidate has won this key segment since the 1970s."
Here is the "tell", same as it's been from the so-called "fiscons" for a decade or longer.
Even more important is the party's message on divisive social issues. When some Republicans use homophobic language, express thinly disguised contempt toward immigrants, or ridicule heartfelt concerns for the environment, they affront the values of the educated class. And they lose votes they otherwise ought to win.
Way to denigrate cherished values and misrepresent reality.
The only Whole Foods Republicans are a percentage of the people who shop there for the pure health of it without an agenda.
I suspect this is the majority of their shoppers. Think about it, how many people really buy groceries based on global warming really?
Whole foods food is expensive.
Alot of these people are going to become naturally republican when they see their taxes go through the roof.
I think 1/3rd of these people though are already on board, they may be fooling themselves into thinking this is a new category of voters when all this is the same voters categorized differently.
For the whole series of Zero themed art, go here:
The future of the Republican Party is with the tea partyites, or rather the future of the tea partyites is with the Republican Party. I would love to see all political efforts of these disaffected folks focused on hijacking the Republican Party and turn it back into a party that Reagan could be proud of.
The author should have written "As less-indoctrinated seniors."
Now that's really funny!
With these guys in charge of the GOP and the RNC writing letters?
"Who's turn is it...?"
20 - 30 yr olds are far from better educated.
For many decades, especially since arond 1960, Public schools and universities are incubators for the Left wing.
Most do not have common knowledge of American and World history let alone common sense. I talk to this type everyday up to middle age and older with degrees.
A waste of their parents money.
>> embrace a progressive lifestyle but not progressive politics.
This is a great idea, but not a new idea, and not new to Conservatives.
Conservatism by nature, is nature friendly.
Good health and good food is apolitical.
Those guys look like the Paulites who hand out 9/11 Truther material I see around.
I think the Paulites don’t like Whole Foods because the Owner came out against ObamaCare.
“The same is true for Mrs. Palin’s inability to name a single newspaper she reads. If the GOP doesn't want to be branded the “Party of Stupid,” it could stand to nominate more people who can speak eloquently on complicated policy matters. “
Huh?
Hey, Mr MICHAEL J. PETRILLI, you condescending lame brain, Gov Plain had already written an article for the New York Times long before she was nominated by John McCain. Exactly how does one not know about newspapers when one writes articles for those sane newspapers? Everyone who writes for nespapers, raads those newspapers at least. Couric the COUGAR tart didn't do her homework.
This moron needs to read Sarah Palin’s book, and stop repeating Keith Olberman type talking points.
The author, Mr. Petrilli, is an elitist. I about went through the roof when I read, "And of course there's Sarah Palin, whose entire brand is anti-intellectual."
What a self annointed RINO. Sarah scares him also. Generally better stuff comes out of the Hoover Institution than this crap.
My own view is that every 8 to 12 years, the public will tend to elect a Dim based on their plattitudes and the public’s lack of remembering what they are like. After exposure to their policies, the public quickly reverts to their conservative nature. I think we are seeing that again this time.
Of course the consultants will want to come up with all sort of advice like go after people with progressive lifes styles but not progressive policy views so they can get paid. The last time I checked the GOP was not keeping anyone from joining their ranks even pro-card check New Yorkers. So maybe it is a matter of those who don’t care for progressive policies coming back to the GOP after seeing Obama’s leftism in action rather than the never closed to them GOP openning up?
According to exit-poll data, a majority of college-educated voters (53%) pulled the lever for Mr. Obama in 2008”
Only 53%, and that was the perfect storm for dims. An economic mess, unpopular war and a pathetic republican ticket along with a media fawning all over their new found messiah. I’d say things look pretty good.
******
“So how to woo these voters to the Republican column? The first step is to stop denigrating intelligence and education”
That’s just laughable. No one is denigrating intelligence and education. They’re pointing out the air of moral and intellectual superiority which envelops these central planners and masters of the universe who are largely responsible for the mess we’re in.
This is the same nonsense we were hearing a year ago about the pubbies having to purge the conservatives if they were to survive but now updated with a slightly different twist. If the Republicans will nominate solid conservatives who can articulate those principles we’ll clean house in 2010. Jettisoning principled moral standards to appeal to some emerging demographic is not the recipe for success but will shatter the base and will only lead to more lefties and bad policy.
Sarah has the last laugh with the thousands who came out for the book tour in lines overnight in Snow & freezing weather.
‘Paulites’ for Obamacare? What the hell are you smoking?
What election in the 1970's is the author referring to? Jimmy Carter?
Too true. I am one of those who had recently graduated from college, and I can honestly tell you that I didn’t learn a thing in the classroom. Ethics was really environmental propaganda. International business discussed the evils of a free market and how it creates poverty around the world. I submitted a paper about the real reasons for poverty and it got dinged for being insensitive. College is a joke right now.
Out of curiosity, I have been asking recent college graduates the question, “Who was the second president of the United States?”. I still have not heard one person give me the correct answer.
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