"Evil, Maybe. Dumb, No. How the Repubs Train Their Young"- From Huff. Post

[Pirate Smile]

Evil, Maybe. Dumb, No. How the Repubs Train Their Young
Donnie Fowler

In last week's "New Republic," author Franklin Foer describes where young Republicans learn their talents and how the GOP Establishment supports the growth and training of its future leaders. This crowd has a good track record, producing the likes of Karl Rove, Grover Norquist, Lee Atwater, Ralph Reed, and (yes) Jack Abramoff.

There are two lessons to take from Foer's article.

First, the Republicans play the game ruthlessly while Democrats suffer from what one senior congressional aide calls "the good government instinct" that relies on good policies and not good politics to win elections. Second, the infrastructure that the Republicans have built to bring young GOPers into the top echelons of their party is unmatched by the Democrats. That puts the future of the left in as much jeopardy as it now suffers.

The article describes the nasty fight for the presidency of the College Republicans, a position that pays $75,000 a year and includes a budget of $17 million. Here are just a few excerpts from the article:

"Republicans learn how to fight hard against Democrats by practicing on one another first. 'There are no rules in a knife fight,' Grover Norquist instructed the young conventioneers in a speech."

"The is the place where Republican strategists learn their craft and acquire their knack for making their Democratic opponents look like disorganized children."

"A few weeks after the convention, I got in touch with the newly reelected president of College Democrats ... For his uncontested race, he said he raised $2,000--$198,000 less than estimated take ... His salary is $75,000 lower than the one receives--that is to say, nonexistent."

We know the Republicans are good operatives. What we on the left often forget is that our ideas, our fundraising, and our candidates are sometimes not enough when we have an infrastructure that sends us into Grover Norquist's knife fight with only our fists.

Part of the solution to this challenge is supporting Governor Dean's DNC (http://www.democrats.org/) and state parties (http://www.democrats.org/local.html) as they increase their focus on infrastructure. Another part is to do what progressives do as well as conservatives -- take up the flag locally in one's neighborhood, at work, and at play.

College Democrats - http://www.collegedems.com/
Young Democrats of America - http://www.yda.org/
Democratic National Committee - http://www.democrats.org/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donnie-fowler/evil-maybe-dumb-no-_b_8339.html

[Angry Girl]

1. The organizational infrastructure comes easy for churchies...

That's where the GOP has an advantage.

A college that trains young Christians to be politicians.
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/050627fa_fact

[I_Make_Mistakes]

2. I am sorry but their practices do not reflect Christ's teaching. Jesus

and his disciples could've put up a heck of a fight in Gethsemane, the Garden.

What Republicans (with their torture policies, shock and awe policy on an already victimized country, and those above teaching) is we will become the enemy. They do not understand, they are the same as those they fight. They have no morals, or humanity, their motto is win at all costs.

They will continue to eat their own, it is their nature. My family is predominantly Republican, and have started to turn on each other.
My friends families are in turmoil over those in power and it ain't pretty. The Re pub's may be the biggest divorce factor today in our society! And, that is sad, because, they actually say they support family values as they are tearing their own party's families to part.
That is the problem with ideologues, they lose track of their own situation, party rules.

When the Dem's, do not fight for those unable to fight for themselves, I will re think my views, but for now, we have not become the enemy.

As a former, sinner, Republican.

[texpatriot2004]

5. I like what you have to say here. I think you're right that they

don't behave like true "Christians" no matter what kind of talk comes out of their mouths.

[Angry Girl]

9. Jesus would definitely be pissed!

I NEVER meant to imply that these creeps were following Christ's teachings! There are extremists in all countries - unfortunately these dementos are in ours....

[chelaque liberal]

8. That is just plain creepy.

They are as indoctrinated as the students of madrarras'.

[NMMNG]

3. That is the Democratic Party's weakness

We are unable to be vicious and cruel like the Republicans. We cannot tear the opposition (and each other) to bits, ruthlessly ripping them to shreds without mercy. We care too much about people to do that.

[B Calm]

4. Actually we care to much about the future of the republic!

[NMMNG]

6. That too

[burythehatchet]

7. off topic - I would pay to be in a knife fight with Grover n/t