Diagnosing The Republican Problem (From An Excellent Conservative Blog)

[THUNDER HANDS]

called The Next Right, which I read because it's basically a Daily Kos for conservatives, but it's not a knuckle-dragging conservative type of screaming blog, it's actually political nuance and minutia and stuff that I think some of you would be interested in.

Here's their post-mortem for the 2008 election:

---

Dear Republicans,

You earned the beating you took yesterday. You earned every bit of it. It is your fault. Democrats may or may not have deserved to win, but you deserved to lose.

The rebuilding and renewal of the Right will start soon. This will be very important. The Right and the Republican Party are at an inflection point, and there are many directions things can go. The destiny of the Right and the Republican Party will be determined in large part by the decisions you make in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Some of you will say "we have learned our lesson", and then try to pass off cosmetic changes as Reform. You are the problem.

Some of you will say "Republicans need to fight/hold Democrats accountable", as if it is sufficient to be against Democrats. The pendulum may eventually swing back to you, but you won't know what to do with it.


Some of you will say "Republicans need to carry our message to the American people", as if the problem is that Republicans haven't been saying "tax cuts and limited government" loudly enough. The problem is not the inability to communicate; the problem is that you have no idea how to actually deliver on those ideas.


Others will say "Republicans need to be more principled", as if the problem is a mere lack of personal courage and principle by Republicans. Even the best people can't limit government if there is not an effective strategy for implementation - for getting "from here to there". You don't need better people. You need a better strategy.

The problem is not Republican politicians, although many Republicans politicians are a problem. The problem is not with the basic ideals of limited government and personal freedom, either. The problem is a movement that plays small-ball and cedes responsibility for infrastructure to business interests, leadership that rewards those who make friends rather than waves, an entrenched Party and Movement support system that mostly supports itself, an echo chamber that has rotted our intellect, a grassroots that is ill-equipped to shape the Republican Party, and a Republican Party that has replaced strategy with tactics, substance with marketing.

These problems can be fixed, but the fix is not cosmetic. The rot is deep. We do not need reformation of the Republican Party; we need transformation of the Republican Party. That is going to require fresh blood, new ideas, new infrastructure...and perhaps more than a little time in the wilderness.

You have earned the time you will spend wandering in the wildnerness. The land on the other side is not a promised land. It will have to be earned, too.

http://thenextright.com/

[phantom power]

1. But even he doesn't get it. "Limited govt" is a failed idea.

He just thinks they failed to properly execute "limited govt and tax cuts." Limited govt and tax cuts are the problem.

[yardwork]

5. It was always a lie. The Republicans sold themselves to corporatists.

Then, when people started to catch on to Republican criminality in the 1970s, the Republicans double-mortgaged themselves to the religious right.

[unpossibles]

7. I agree.

I don't mind the discussion however, nor do I expect everyone to agree with me, but.... blech. Their ideas are truly out-dated and proven failures, as far as I am concerned.

[mreilly]

9. That's exactly what I was going to say

The people do not want limited government. They have seen what that does - the social services they care about get cut to the bone and only the military seems to flourish. People want the government to play a beneficial role in their lives and not "get out of the way" or "get off our backs."

Same on the tax cuts. Voters in my state (Massachusetts) resoundingly said NO to a proposal to eliminate the state income tax. Why, because we're tax and spend liberals who love to waste money on big government pork? No, contrary to what the GOP believes, we understand that taxes are the price one pays for a civilized society. We want decent schools, good roads, safe bridges, clean parks, emergency services, and a strong community. We want health care and Medicare and social security and understand that throwing those less fortunate than we are out into the streets with a "Fuck you, Jack - I got MINE!" is not the answer.

The Republicans as usual just aren't capable of getting it. Only the select wealthy few businessmen want "limited government" - that is just a code phrase for "Uncle Sam not picking on me by making me pay my workers overtime or ensure their working environment is safe." Only a select few greedheads, who care only about their wallets and don't give a shit about anyone else (in other words angry Republicans), who don't see the value in education, who couldn't care less about the environment, and who just plain don't want the government to spend ONE CENT on anything that doesn't directly benefit them give a rat's ass about tax cuts.

It isn't that they haven't gotten their message through, or that they've lose track of their message, or their message has been obfuscated or distorted by the "liberal media." It's the fact the people see their fucking message, loud and clear - and don't like it!"

[yardwork]

2. ...at an inflection point?

That's almost freeper-worthy. Pretentious freeper.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

3. They also need to recognize through Palin and her ilk...

... that the 'base' are white fundamentalists and neo-nazi sympathizers that take nothing but 100% thier way as the Only Way.

If they do NOT distance themselves from those who cannot live in a pluralistic society but instead cleave only unto them, then the rest of the world will pass them by.

[unpossibles]

4. interesting

I don't mind conservatives (or any ideology/philosophy, I guess) if they actually use their brains for more than a hat rack.

I'd love to see a robust house cleaning on the right, not because I agree with them on everything, but because it just makes for better politics and a more interesting national conversation, and also clears out some of the rubbish infesting their ranks right now (honestly, I feel that most of their ranks are rubbish at the moment... but you know what I mean).

[Avalux]

6. Blah blah blah.

Until the GOPers stop using the bible to cast judgement on everyone else, they will suck.

[DrToast]

8. Read some of the articles there. Many are calling for just that...

It's a good blog. Obviously ideologically opposite of those here, but it's still intelligent discourse.

[Enthusiast]

10. Limited government = unsafe food and drugs,

an unsafe workplace and dangerous environmental practices. We have seen the results of their dismantling of essential government services like FEMA during the Katrina emergency. We see how well privatized security works in Iraq. Nothing short of complete change will correct Republican excesses.