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I'm getting really fed up with the Republican party constantly shooting itself in the foot and making stupid decisions. The latest is about to occur when Republicans select their new Republican National Committee Chairman.
With the party down in the dumps and losing election after election in the Senate, House, Governor seats and state seats you would think the party would want to put someone in charge that has national name recognition, is a good speaker who can spread the message of the party and someone who can attract new voters. The best bet is former Md. Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. He's African-American (can bring in new voters), he's conservative, he's from the East Coast (media will pay attention then), he's an excellent speaker and he gets the point across. So he should be a shoo-in right?
Nope, not with the stupid Republicans. Instead the leading candidates are Michael Duncan, who is currently the RNC chairman and has done such a good job that they've lost the last two national elections, and then two state party chairs that no one knows who they are. So as usual the Republicans will screw something up by electing someone no one has ever heard of and no one will take notice of, they'll go on to lose a couple more elections and then they'll look for the next no-name to take over. So while the Democrats put people like Howard Dean and Gov. Tim Kaine (Virginia) in charge of their party, Republicans put no-names in charge of theirs.
You would think that taking a butt-whooping two elections in a row would make the Republican party re-shape their image and try some new things. Nope, instead they keep doing the following:
1) Electing Rep. John Boehner as head of the House of Representatives. He's old school, time to move on to some of the new guys like Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan, etc.
2) Running big names against each other for the Republican nomination rather than spreading out and beating Democrats for other seats. Example: Texas where Sen. Hutchinson is going to run against Gov. Perry for the Governor spot. Both are Republicans and both are big name Republicans. Why doesn't Hutchinson just keep her Senate seat and let Perry keep his Governor seat rather than beating each other up. Go beat up a Democrat!!
3) Kicking moderate Republicans out of the party. Look, I'm a conservative and disagree with moderates on many issues, but if they are a Republican we need to keep them as a Republican! We lost a lot of these voters to The Messiah. We can still be a conservative party but at the same time welcome in those that disagree on a couple issues. That's why people are voting Democrat, because they think it represents a broader view.
Republicans are going to lose election after election if we kick moderates out of the party. I think Republicans need to stick to their core, conservative beliefs, but at the same time you can open up debate with moderates in your party and come to some compromises.
4) Standing up to Democrats. When Republicans controlled Congress and the Presidency a few years back did the Democrats cave in to Republican requests? Nope. And that's why we are where we are today - because Republicans did nothing with the power they had. Rather than getting stuff done they were more worried about pleasing the Democrat minority and the liberal media. So nothing got done, people got fed up with Republicans for doing nothing except spending money and they started voting Democrat.
If Republicans want to get back in power they need to fight back against Democrat power. If you give in without opposition then people have no reason to vote for you. I hate Pelosi, Reid, Obama, etc., but at least they refuse to go along with Republicans on issues and stand up for their beliefs. It would be nice if some Republicans in power had the same backbone and stood up for their party rather than voting for spending bills and kissing Messiah's butt.
5) Star power - The Republican party needs to start promoting their young up-and-comers and get them in the national spotlight. The Democrats don't have the youngsters that the Republicans do right now, Messiah was their star. Republicans have a number of Governors and Congressman that can make a difference. Yet when you turn on the news it's the same old guys - Boehner, McCain, McConnell (who I actually like), etc.
Start putting the spotlight on Sarah Palin, Tim Pawlenty, Michael Steele, Bobby Jindal, Paul Ryan, Eric Cantor, Mike Pence, Rick Perry, John Thune, etc.
How many of you know who these guys are? Probably not many. Why? Because Republicans don't put them out there.
Everyone knew who Messiah was after he gave his convention speech in 2004. Why? Because Democrats knew he had star power and put him in the national spotlight right away.
Messiah can be beat in 2012, but Republicans need to start now. And it starts with putting some noticeable figures in the front of your party.
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5 comments:
As an independent who voted for Obama, here's what the problem is for me. Real conservatism is very appealing to a lot of people. People who work hard and make their own money. . .but. . .the Republican party has been kidnapped by the Right, and as numerous as they may be, independents don't want to be included in that group. The party's best characteristics have been kidnapped. . .
I totally agree with you on that. I'm a conservative and have conservative beliefs, but I don't object to independents joining the party. Far-right conservatives don't want any part of these people. You do that and you eliminate any chance of winning in the future.
I think most people do have the conservative beliefs you describe, they obviously differ on some moral issues and what not. But fiscally I think a lot of people lean conservative.
I rip on RINO's a lot, but the ones I rip on are those that defer to Democrats on everything. McCain is an example of someone that drives me nuts. Now he's right back to blasting Republicans. What are you McCain?
For your average independent like me, Pawlenty is a good example. He is what we (me) like. If there's not enough money, you cut spending. The Bush's of the world just borrow. That's not conservatism. Bush's last budget was 60% higher than Bubba's. . .he's not a conservative.
See, and that's what's funny about conservatives - they don't like Pawlenty. Here's a Republican that is likable by everyone and who the Republicans should be putting out there as a leader of the party. But they can't becuase right-wingers don't like him because of his environmental policies. We'll never win if we continue to turn away Republicans like this.
I don't know what happened with Bush and spending. I think he just didn't want to fight back, Republicans in Congress got drunk on power and spent a ton of money and Bush went along with it now it's too late to reverse it.
Yes, it's why I think the party is b.s. They stand on this platform of fiscal responsibility and just look at the numbers. It is not true. At all. That and your great point of independents thinking the Demos represent the broader view are what drives me away. . .
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