It\’s Every Man For Himself
May 15th, 2008 by 
Kevin
![\"GOPs](\"http://www.eckernet.com/images/ass_on_a_platter.jpg\")
It\’s every man for himself….
…..at least that appears to be the new motto for the GOP. What\’s more, leadership at all levels of the GOP have started engraving \”Abandon Faith All Ye Who Enter Here\” above their offices and are sending out resumes to anyone that will listen. The third straight special election loss for the GOP doesn\’t exactly give one warm fuzzies about November. Already there are those that are claiming that 2008 will be 1994 in reverse, and they have no shortage of reasons to think so.
It could honestly be said it couldn\’t happen to a more deserving group as well. For over a decade Republicans have squandered majorities and public trust. Rather than advancing conservatives principles, they\’ve indulged in greed and power at the taxpayer\’s expense. And while Republican leadership will probably change hands, it\’s not likely to improve anything. There are few Republicans who aren\’t guilty of the same behavior and there isn\’t exactly a born leader waiting in the wings.
One could be excused for pondering if conservatism is dead. But one would also be wrong. In both 2006 and in the last three special election losses, many of the races that the GOP has lost, were lost to Blue Dog Democrats….essentially moderate conservatives. People are sick of being betrayed by Republican candidates that claim to be conservatives but then get to Washington and do a 540-degree turn. Instead they vote for the Democrat who at least claims to hold conservatives views…which itself should be a clear statement of how little trust people have in the GOP.
Republicans need to ditch the \”at least we\’re not Democrats\” approach to campaigning, not even fellow conservatives are buying that BS anymore. They need to explain in clear and no uncertain terms what they are going to do…..and it better include core conservative principles. Here\’s a couple examples :
Immigration – This is a 90% issue that Republicans have never taken advantage of. Half the GOP still advances the idea of amnesty, the other half even though it opposes it is too damn timid to pursue enforcement. The public is overwhelmingly in favor of border enforcement. Plus this is an issue if handled right could split the Blue Dog Democrats from their more liberal leadership.
Tax&Spending – The economy is in a bit of a down spot at the moment, people aren\’t going to want to hear about more taxes. Push more tax relief. Declare that a major goal is a balanced budget amendment. It probably won\’t happen but it plays well in the public. For one those who can\’t print our own money (hint : that\’s the taxpayers), are used to this concept….we do it at the end of every month. Second it is red meat for the conservative base. The same conservatives who thought we were voting for the party of limited government and instead got stuff with bridges to nowhere and other such nonsense.
Energy – We need to reduce our foreign dependence and do it quickly. This is a widespread issue but it had a lot of points on which Republican can act with wide public support. Nuclear, domestic drilling, refineries, etc….reducing foreign dependence. The problem is all those solution will take years (decades?) to see an effect….public patience is limited. Deregulation and standardizing fuel mixtures could create a more immediate effect.
Those are three issues right there that are likely to play well to the current public mood. Plus all three are also red meat for conservatives.
Even if I\’m entirely wrong on these three issues, it\’s clear that Republicans need to come up with a new message. Republicans need to define themselves rather than just label themselves \”Democrats Light\”.
[Crossposted at True North]
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Posted in 2008 Elections, Immigration, Taxes, True North | 
12 Comments »
May 15th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Let me bang the drum again. People do not vote Republican because they fear Democrats. People have a set of values that they want to see reflected in public policy, and will vote for the Party and the candidate which best reflects those values.
Republicans for too long have believed that you win elections by voter turnout and negative campaigning. What they have missed is the critical necessity of a clear POSITIVE message, at either the State or National level. The Contract with America worked! Doesn’t the current leadership understand that?
May 15th, 2008 at 11:04 am
I would argue that negative campaigning does and has worked. However, once you’re done explaining how awful the other person is, you need to follow that up with how great YOU are.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Absolutely. I still believe our losses in 2006 were because turnout and negatives were all we had. Go negative and early is part of any good campaign, best done by someone other than the candidate. Turnout is driven by giving people a reason to vote for a candidate, rather than a lot of harrassing phone call. If all the GOP wants us to do is not vote for Al Franken, we can do that by staying home. Not a winning strategy.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
J. Ewing:
I would LOVE to hear you explain how the “Contract with America” worked. Please, details.
The reality is, conservatives are just as much a fan of big government as democrats. What “difference” exist are merely cosmetic. Both subscribe to tax, tax, spend, spend, elect, elect. It worked wonders for FDR, and it’s working wonders today.
Only a fool would get behind McCain or any other “republican” in hopes that we’ll return to conservative principles…or whatever slogan the party offers.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
“conservatives are just as much a fan of big government as democrats”
Says you….
May 15th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Oh? Care to examine some statistics, Kevin? Simple google searches will reveal your (and J Ewing’s) ignorance.
Methinks an intrepid blogger like you, who enjoys spouting “I’m the victim!” rhetoric, cares not for pesky little things like statistics.
I’ll give you a few hints to get you started:
– Department of Education funding
– Department of Homeland Security funding
– TSA funding
But you go on and play the victim if that’s what pleases you – there will always exist republicans to “feel your pain” while picking your pocket.
Orwell was right: ignorance IS strength.
May 15th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Speaking of ignorance and knee-jerk reactions, you’ll notice I used CONSERVATIVES.
Thanks for playing, bye now.
I’m not even gonna ask where you think I declared myself a victim. At this point, I’m fairly certain you live in your own world.
May 15th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
…And? Your point? I used it, too. But that was SSssoooooo two comments above yours, and research is a pain–that’s why you don’t do it, right?
May 15th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Wow, you’re completely clueless.
Your first reaction is to insult, maybe you’ll add substance after that.
My point is
Conservatives != Republicans
Your statement might have been correct if you had said :
“Most Republicans are just as much a fan of big government as democrats”
I think if you ever care to come out of your hole and actually engage in civil conversation you’ll find that few conservatives like big government.
For instance, I see no reason for a Department of Education at all. I see no reason for a Department of Homeland Security…our intel agencies can coordinate without a lot of additional bureaucracy. TSA, see above.
May 15th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Ah! My mistake – I assumed too much. You’re right. We’re in agreement, big government is a waste.
I’d go one further and say government is responsible for the overwhelming majority of our problems – up to, and including, overseas interventions.
By why would a conservative vote for McCain? Seems like a conflict of interest.
Why is it so difficult to see that we are losing our freedom in fighting an non-entity?
May 15th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Why would a conservative vote for McCain? Because McCain will be the most conservative candidate on the Presidential ballot!! Unless you are aware of some magical way to get somebody else on the ballot and guarantee them 50 million votes, that’s your choice! It doesn’t matter one bit what you want or wish or will to happen, that will still be your choice. You can vote for McCain or you can allow an ultraliberal to win. I don’t like it either, but that is reality. Deal with it.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
The Contract with America is credited with giving Republicans their 1994 majority, their first in 40 years. At least 7 of the 10 conservative promises in the Contract were enacted into law. That’s success by any measure, and certainly better than being in the minority and not even stopping all the liberal advances.
It is like I said earlier– elections have consequences and you cannot advance the agenda if you don’t win. But an organization– a Party in this case– that does not have a set of goals tends to wander about at best. A new Contract could fix that.