Grand NEW Party?
5:47 AM
If the GOP has any sense of self-awareness or self-preservation at all, the party will take the shellacking that it just received from the Democrats on Tuesday and use it as an opportunity to come to a realization.
This country is going through a political realignment. The pendulum is swinging drastically toward the Democrats, and the Republicans have only one option to avoid becoming a long-term minority. That option is to completely reinvent themselves from the ground up.
It's time to get back to true conservative principles: controlled spending, personal freedom and responsibilities, small government, strong defense, the federalist approach to states' rights, and a more strict interpretation of the constitution.
And most importantly, the Republican Party MUST divorce itself from the hardcore religious right. So-called 'social conservatism' is killing their party!
In today's day and age Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1 in some states. Self-identified independents are twice the margin they were in 2004. And the worst news of all for the GOP - many Democrats are becoming far more comfortable embracing their religion on the stump.
These factors culminate into a trifecta of disaster for the marriage of the so-called religious right with the Republican Party. For these political realities, the stronghold that this faction has had over the party platform must come to an end.
Now is the time to save the soul of the GOP. People are frustrated with the Republican brand or anything associated with it. Many Republicans who gained re-election on Tuesday did so despite their party, not because of it. The Democratic Party is widely seen as the party of tomorrow; the Republicans are the party of yesterday. Americans see the GOP as out of touch, off message, out of date, and frankly - evil. Not good news for them.
Future Republican leaders will look less like George Bush and Trent Lott. They will look more like Charlie Crist and Tim Pawlenty. What's needed now is a slew of men and women who stand for the basic principles of conservatism and free market capitalism, but who employ a pragmatic and populist spin on old themes. Now is not the time for fear-baiting and divisiveness. Now is not the time to marginalize the electorate. These figures are desperately called upon for a meteoric rise within the Republican leadership to inspire a sea change from within the party, or else the Republican will be a symbol of the past.
Mark my words.
This country is going through a political realignment. The pendulum is swinging drastically toward the Democrats, and the Republicans have only one option to avoid becoming a long-term minority. That option is to completely reinvent themselves from the ground up.
It's time to get back to true conservative principles: controlled spending, personal freedom and responsibilities, small government, strong defense, the federalist approach to states' rights, and a more strict interpretation of the constitution.
And most importantly, the Republican Party MUST divorce itself from the hardcore religious right. So-called 'social conservatism' is killing their party!
In today's day and age Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1 in some states. Self-identified independents are twice the margin they were in 2004. And the worst news of all for the GOP - many Democrats are becoming far more comfortable embracing their religion on the stump.
These factors culminate into a trifecta of disaster for the marriage of the so-called religious right with the Republican Party. For these political realities, the stronghold that this faction has had over the party platform must come to an end.
Now is the time to save the soul of the GOP. People are frustrated with the Republican brand or anything associated with it. Many Republicans who gained re-election on Tuesday did so despite their party, not because of it. The Democratic Party is widely seen as the party of tomorrow; the Republicans are the party of yesterday. Americans see the GOP as out of touch, off message, out of date, and frankly - evil. Not good news for them.
Future Republican leaders will look less like George Bush and Trent Lott. They will look more like Charlie Crist and Tim Pawlenty. What's needed now is a slew of men and women who stand for the basic principles of conservatism and free market capitalism, but who employ a pragmatic and populist spin on old themes. Now is not the time for fear-baiting and divisiveness. Now is not the time to marginalize the electorate. These figures are desperately called upon for a meteoric rise within the Republican leadership to inspire a sea change from within the party, or else the Republican will be a symbol of the past.
Mark my words.
Posted by Nick Stone
on 5:47 AM.
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Curious, did you watch Obama's speech on Tuesday? What did you think?
I like the way you put this!
If the Republican Party were to successfully overhaul itself in this image, I just might join... well, maybe not; but I'd certainly tolerate them and value their opinions and arguments more. Hell, we might actually be able to effecively compromise on a few things.
To take your thoughts one step further, I'm picturing a young, vibrant man... scratch that, I mean woman who fully embraces your idea of the new Republican Party to run for the top spot in 2012. She will be able to rally the troops like the Big O did this time, while at the same time she will win over the traditional fiscal conservatives that have adopted the "independant" monicer... Pres Elect Obama and I might have our hands full for reelection.
quite frankly, if they do manage to rebrand their party so successfully, I just might join! Lucky for you and for President Obama, this is highly unlikely because of the strength of the forces against change in that party.