Republicans must prepare for the future, not rewrite the past
Mon, 12/15/2008 - 11:48am | 
TheRLC
As Republicans begin debating the future of the party, it is worth noting that some in the party are already trying to rewrite the past. In recent weeks, several members of the more conservative wing of the GOP have stated that the reason the party failed so miserably this election is because it turned its back on fiscal discipline by turning toward the political center. Perhaps conservative stalwart L. Brent Bozell put it most succinctly when he said, “The liberal wing of the GOP has caused the collapse of the Republican Party.” Make no mistake — Republicans did fail to rein in spending over the past eight years. But the GOP did not lose this election because it abandoned its small-government philosophy. Rather, the party lost the election because its small-government philosophy was incomplete. For years, Republicans have extolled the virtues of getting government off our backs and out of our lives. In doing so, they were echoing the words of Ronald Reagan, who famously stated in his first inaugural address that, “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” But even Reagan knew that government has a role in our society. He understood that in addition to promising to make government smaller, Republicans also had an obligation to make sure government operated efficiently and effectively. “Now, so there will be no misunderstanding,” Reagan declared in this same inaugural address, “it is not my intention to do away with government. It is, rather, to make it work.” For years, Republicans have had selective retention with regard to what Reagan espoused. They have embraced the small-government aspect of his philosophy at the expense of the smart government part of it. And for years, they have been able to get by with a message that promised tax relief and little else. But after the mismanagement of Iraq, the ineptitude of Katrina and the failure of Walter Reed, the chickens have come home to roost. If this election has proven anything, it is that it’s no longer enough to simply say you’re going to cut people’s taxes and leave it at that. People also want to know they’re getting something of value for the money they send to Washington. It is a basic business principle: You can lower prices all you want, but if you don’t back up the low prices with quality goods and services, people are eventually going to take their business elsewhere. To take this analogy a step further, it’s like Kmart and Wal-Mart. Both offer low prices, but one has a higher market share because it is perceived as offering a better buy. In this election, both Republicans and Democrats ran on a platform of lower taxes for a majority of the American people. But when it came time for people to decide which party offered better value, eight years of incompetence left Republicans with a much harder sell. As a result, a majority of voters took their business somewhere else. Put another way, voters decided to shop at Wal-Mart instead of Kmart. And in this election, Wal-Mart equaled the Democratic brand. The challenge now facing the GOP is that smart government is not in the party’s rhetorical toolbox. It also runs counter to everything that conservatives such as Bozell represent. Yet it is going to be one of the defining issues of the next few years as taxpayers begin to demand greater accountability and transparency in how their federal tax dollars are being spent. So how should Republicans proceed? A good start is by acknowledging that government does have a role to play, and it is the responsibility of all elected lawmakers — both Republicans and Democrats alike — to get it right. Beyond this, the GOP can also play a constructive role by holding President Obama at his word to go “line by line, page by page” through the federal budget. With the deficit nearing $1 trillion, part of the Republican message has to be that priorities in America today must be measured not only by what one proposes, but by what one cuts. By embracing programs that work and calling attention to programs that don’t, Republicans will not only be bowing to this new political reality, they will also be forcing the new president’s hand. In the process, they will begin the journey back from political oblivion — a journey where success is defined by the party’s ability to bring about smaller, smarter government, and where failure doesn’t result in some in the party trying to rewrite the past.
Lou Zickar is the editor of the Ripon Forum, a centrist Republican journal of thought and opinion that has been in print for over 40 years and is now published by the Ripon Society in Washington.
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John Danforth and Dena Ladd
John Danforth and Dena Ladd are the heroes that this nation has been waiting for. As a moderate Republican voter in 1988 I was ashamed at what I saw in 1992 with Pat Buchanon and Ross Perot and the extent that G H W Bush had to pander to that devisive wing of the party. I switched parties, only to watch as Bill Clinton took away Habeus Corpus and signed DOMA into legislation. Republican locally, I voted for Dick Reardon in Los Angeles for Mayor in 1992 and 1996, but nationally voted democrat because of promised social neutrality. This time around economics trumps social issues for me, but all I hear is a a xenophobic hijacking of religious issues, when all I want is a return to the days of a Ronald Reagan style leader.
So far the only candidate that actually promises and acts on that Reagan style of strong Bipartisanship is a relative unknown named Fred Karger, the only Moderate Republican in the Presidential Race. Then I remembered my old Saint Louis neighbor John Danforth and his Republican Leadership council, and I wonder if they one, know about his candidacy, and two would be in a position to help him gain some much need attention. As a political consultant to Reagan and a political collaborator with such politicians as Alan Simpson, and Chuck Percy, Mr Karger has the experience and the knowledge to execute the tenants of the Republican Leadership Council. Fred Karger is the only one in the Presidential field who can and does promote these values on a day in day out basis.
I'm asking for assistance in this problem, and can deliver a very important ally inside the RNC Finance committee named R Clark Cooper as well as others. Mr. Cooper is a decorated special Ops marine and former State employee, and also shares these RLC values. While not affiliated with Mr. Karger at this time, I believ that the three of you, RLC, Karger, and Cooper can make a significant difference to once again bring Moderate Republicans to the forefront of Republican politics and gain enough votes to take the Whitehouse in 2012 and beyond.
Those of Us who have cast a pox on both political parties are hungry for change that the rest of the country can believe in. I believe your organization can help, and will be coming to Saint Louis to meet with members of the Saint Louis Trust company on Monday the 17th of Oct to discuss other issues and would like to set up a meeting to discuss what I can do to get you to help.
Best,
Bill Mahoney
It’s our time to analyze
It’s our time to analyze what is right and wrong with the direction of the country. It’s our time to reflect on the right and wrong of our decisions in the recent past. It’s our time to ground ourselves to the foundation of our beliefs. It‘s our time to pick candidates to challenge our adversities. It’s our time to choose a statesperson who can motivate us to our cause. May our hard work and God’s grace make all this possible.
In addition to
In addition to super-accurate presidential and local race polling, Rasmussen Reports traffics in polls that ask unusual questions that have been bouncing around conservative circles. In October 2008, for example, the company asked if Americans agreed with President Ronald Reagan's first inaugural address and the statement "Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." Fifty-nine percent said yes, which directly or indirectly encouraged the McCain-Palin campaign to pound home the message that Barack Obama was a big-government redistributor of wealth. (Reagan actually said that this pertained to "our current crisis," but never mind.) Now, RR has polled the stimulus. Message: Americans like tax cuts more than "new government spending." Subtext: the Republican suggestions for the stimulus, which are all tax cuts all the time, is more popular than the Democrats' spending plans. "Many Democrats are concerned that there is not enough spending in Obama's plan," points out Rasmussen. The problem is that the Democrats are proposing both tax cuts and new spending. Obama's plan, which includes both, is favored 44-28, while the Republicans' plan is opposed 38-37. Still, I wouldn't be surprised to hear Republicans cite this poll in criticizing the Democrats' spending plans.
As a former constituent of
As a former constituent of Tom DeLay, I can honestly say that the GOP brand is in tatters. Republicans are for the most part the more conservative party in America. Yet we have squandered the message of Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Reagan with belt-busting spending bills, inefficient bureaucracies, and an invasion of our privacy in the name of countless litmus tests that have nothing to do with freedom and prosperity.
What happened as a result? Many urban and suburban areas (which make a significant chunk of this country) have trended blue, almost every young and diverse constituency has been alienated, and I can even speculate we have lost the business and entrepreneurial vote. And I don't trust the media, given that they will either portray Republicans as a bunch of radicals or force the GOP to adopt a radical statist agenda that is neither conservative nor Republican. We need to reclaim our mantle of TRUE fiscal responsibility, refine our foreign and defense policy for the 21st century, increase support for green and environmental conservatism, and embrace the Big Tent all over again.
It's time for a new day in America. Whether it's Connecticut or California or Texas, the Republican Party needs to wake up and smell the roses.
We definately need to move
We definately need to move past the past 20 plus years and look to the future. Regardless, if we must look to the past, let us return to 1966 and see how we can back from a disasterous defeat in the Presidential Race when America was turned off by a far-right candidate. We came back as a party and many great statesmen came out of the ashes of the previous election. We saw the nomination of the first African-American and last Republican Senator in Massachusetts in Edward Brooke. We saw Percy in Illinois, Mark Hatfield in Oregon, and others. Reagan came to power that year, but not running as the right would like today. We need to focus on the issues of economics and national security. We need to let individual states dictate social policy, not the national party, or we will be a regional party of the south and a few western states. You cannot win national elections that way. The Democrats started to realize that by running socially conservative candidates in the South. We need to turn the table and run candidates like Jim Douglas in Vermont. While Obama won overwhelmingly, so did Governor Douglas. We can also look to the Tories in England and see that Environmental protection can be an issue for us also, remember, the movement came out of our party with Theodore Roosevelt. I hope that we can truly be a national party again, and hope that we start to take a good look at ourselves.
I agree that we need to open
I agree that we need to open our party to a wider range of beliefs. The reason Obama won is he believed in a broader view that accepted differences. The reason we lost is largely due to the last eight years, but it was also due to the Republican Party's narrow view on gays, abortion, and other issues. I'm a moderate republican, a retired military combat veteran, a heterosexual, and a father. From my view as a repbulican, if we believe in less government we should agree with Roe v. Wade, which leaves it up to the individual woman, and her communication with her family, her doctor, and her God. Roe v. Wade is what I see as a very Republican decision, but our party leadership sees it just the opposite, so many moderate republicans turn away from the party. The same with our party leadership's views on gays. I may not understand what makes people gay, but I accept them every bit as much as I accept people of other cultures within the U.S., because we're all people and all Americans. Why doesn't our party leadership recognize that? Until we do, we're going to be playing catch-up.
What a relief it is to hear
What a relief it is to hear others saying what I've been thinking for years. True conservatism should promote less government intervention in people's lives. What could be more intrusive than dictating whom you can marry or what happens within your womb? Republicans, let's re-focus on fiscal conservatism and smaller government, and stop trying to dictate morality.
Why is it when every
Why is it when every election cycle comes around, the only thing the media reports about is how the GOP is dead set against abortion and gay rights. I am a lifelong Republican and I can say that neither of these are even close to being in my top ten issues that government must address. I am actually considering changing my affiliation to Independent based on the fact that this party has been hijacked by the far right.
For the GOP to survive in coming elections, the platform must change it's stance on these two stupid issues, simply based on the fact that they are personal issues that have no place in government affairs. I'm pretty sure the party would have a net gain in members if this were to happen.
Reading this thread I'm
Reading this thread I'm certain William Buckley died of disgust. What has happened to my party?
Obama was elected because he
Obama was elected because he is a skilled lawyer. He manipulated the American people like many lawyers manipulate jurys.He has no record of anything in Government or the private sector. Thats what made him so popular. He could be anything that you wanted because he never took a definite side on a position. He even made a comment that politicians have to tell different audiences different promises just to get elected. Most politicians tell us exactly how they stand on an issue, whereas he doesn't. I would honestly like to know what he or Hillary Clinton have negotiated that makes them experienced for top jobs? I doubt you will find anything.
Republicans can keep
Republicans can keep pondering all they want about how to move forward. The reason we lost is because of CORRUPTION. In 2006 there was a potential cover up of a scandal involving Mark Foley which came out right before the election. Even though Mark Foley wasn't guilty of anything it just looked bad for Republicans and brought to light other "potential" corrupt individuals who just happened to be Republicans. In 2008 it was more of the same with Ted Stevens, Larry Craig and others. The American People were tired of Republicans. They wanted a change. Young people came out in numbers to vote for Obama because their college professors brain washed them into believing he was the best candidate. And who questions a college professor? HAHA. They know EVERYTHING!! (Thats a joke)
As a party we need to be more open to EVERY type of Republicans ideas. Ron Paul had a big following on the internet and many ideas should be taken from him. But we also need to stop acting like Democrats. I didn't like McCain at all. But I voted for him because he was the only alternative. I almost voted for Bob Barr because he was the only fiscal conservative who made sense. I still don't understand why John McCain would work with Ted Kennedy on immigration reform? Work with people within our own Party, not Democrats. We have liberal leaning people in our Party, work with them if you want support, not the opposition.
As a Party I think we need to accept a Federal Amendment allowing Gay Marriage in every State. Homosexuals have many of the same ideas as Republicans, but are turned off by our stance on this issue. We can still be a pro life party. Also abolish the death penalty.
Remember, we need to support EVERY Republican. George Bush-Don Rumsfeld-Condoleeza Rice- Sarah Palin- Ron Paul- Lincoln Chafee- Charlie Crist- John McCain- Christie Whitman- Colin Powell- Dick Cheney- the Governator- Sam Brownback- and so many more! We need to come up with a broad message that will encompass all of these people's ideas.
Christopher your message is
Christopher your message is not broad, for example: Maybe I can't tolerate Gay Marriage but agree to a acknowledge a civil union. Maybe I believe that medical issues such as female reproductive health not be mandated by law but recommended by a medical professional. Maybe I want thugs who are killing law enforcers put to death.
While you call for a broad message - the problem is that you've chosen the issues and the position and you've instantly alienated many!
We have many problems beside those you cite confronting our American community. Maybe these hot button issues should moved to a lower spot on the agenda - removed from the Republican litmus test if possible. Obama was elected because his priorities appealed to a larger number of people.
I agree... these hot button
I agree... these hot button social issues should be moved to a lower spot on the agenda and removed from the Republican litmus test. Our Party MUST start appealing to a larger number of people.
I just recently re-registered back to Republican from being an Independent for 8-years because it's important we remain loyal to our traditional Republican beliefs and take back our Party before we implode!