NewsRebuild GOP: Reclaim and Comeback Strategies for Winning Again
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The discussion centers on the need for the GOP to reform and rebuild following significant electoral losses. Participants express concern that a single-party dominance is detrimental to democracy and emphasize the importance of a multi-party system. Mickey Edwards and David Frum are highlighted as influential voices advocating for a redefined conservatism that moves away from outdated ideologies, particularly the failures of supply-side economics and trickle-down theories. The conversation reveals a split within the GOP, with factions including neo-conservatives and traditional fiscal conservatives at odds, leading to a shrinking party base. There is a call for the GOP to embrace more moderate and compassionate solutions to regain support, particularly from younger voters. The potential impact of foreign policy on future elections is also discussed, with concerns that a lack of strong leadership could embolden adversaries. Overall, the thread reflects a desire for a revitalized Republican Party that can effectively engage with contemporary issues and appeal to a broader electorate.
Rebuilding ...One brick at a time?
Well looks like the Republicans have their scapegoat. The final straw must have been the dissing of Boss Limbaugh.
RNC member calls on Steele to quit
By Reid Wilson
Posted: 03/05/09 09:44 AM [ET]
Michael Steele should resign as Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman, according to a committee member from North Carolina.
In an e-mail to fellow RNC members obtained by The Hill, Dr. Ada Fisher, North Carolina's national committeewoman, said Steele is "eroding confidence" in the GOP and that members of his transition team should encourage him to step aside. ...
Calling the Limbaugh-Steele clash a "Republican Horror Show," Fisher expressed what some other GOP strategists have until now only said privately: "I have never seen such ineptness in our GOP leadership," Fisher wrote. "And I though[t] we handled the 2008 elections very poorly."
EXCLUSIVE: Rove Warns of 'Show Trial,' Says Dems 'Would Love to Have Me Barbecued'
Karl Rove tells FOX News he is looking forward to telling the House Judiciary Committee about his alleged role in the firing of federal prosecutors and the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman.
If you're only talking about Presidential elections, then some of the stuff Limbaugh says is right. As far as conservatives are concerned, the Republican Party doesn't need to be bigger.
Eventually, the economy is going to give you a swap in parties regardless of how conservative the candidate is. It's unlikely that the economy will be as bad as it is now in 2012, so it's unlikely Obama will be beaten in 2012. But, the economy is always cyclic and, sooner or later, Democrats will be blamed for a bad economy and a Republican will be elected President (the change in votes from Republican to Democrat was about the same across all ideologies in 2008).
If you're a conservative, may as well make it worth it. If you're a social conservative, Bush wasn't a total bust. Alito and Roberts will be on the Supreme Court a long time.
Now, if you're talking about Congressional elections and state elections, Democrats are going to accumulate some long term majorities if Republicans are willing to toss every moderate out of the party. That will have an impact, too - especially having majorities when districts are redrawn after the 2010 Census.
Some of the stuff Limbaugh says is right, but it's going to come with some serious penalties, as well.
During the last 3 presidential elections (from CNN exit polls):
Ideology isn't getting more liberal, but the Republican Party might be shrinking. I think more moderates leave the party than conservatives (but I don't know of a poll showing that).
Or, the percentage of Republians was close to 35% in all three elections, with 2004 registering high and 2008 registering low. If there's really no change, then there's definitely no down side to Limbaugh's rhetoric.
Republicans See Their Party as Leaderless
http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20090309/pl_rasmussen/republicanleader20090309
Who's in charge here?
Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Republican voters say their party has no clear leader, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Another 17% are undecided.
Just five percent (5%) view either John McCain, the GOP's unsuccessful 2008 presidential candidate, or new party chairman Michael Steele as the party's leader.
Two percent (2%) see conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh in that role, and one percent (1%) name McCain's running mate, Alaska Govenror Sarah Palin. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner are each seen as GOP leader by less than one-half of one percent.
Democrats have no question who's in charge. Two-thirds of the party's voters (66%) see President Barack Obama as their leader. Nobody else reaches even the five percent (5%) level.
. . . .
Leaderless or rudderless? I heard a radio call-in program where republicans and conservatives were arguing who is a real republican/conservative! I've also heard similar arguements among democrats/liberals.
Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Republican voters say their party has no clear leader,...
Looks like the real percentage is closer to 85% to 90%, since only about 10% of the people can name a leader. That 17% undecided looks to be in with the 68% in not being able to name anyone.
Maine's senators are both moderate Republicans and they have come out publicly against Limbaugh and other extremists in the GOP. Since they win re-elections very handily here, criticizing the behavior of the right-wing is unlikely to hurt them with the voting public.
Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh is casting a shadow over the Republican Party's efforts to redefine itself after two losing election cycles.
For moderate U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, who defied the party's national trend by easily winning re-election in Maine in 2006 and 2008, respectively, it's almost too much to bear.
"You'd think they might take a page out of our book rather than trying to fight it," Snowe said of the national GOP last week. "They don't want to acknowledge where they've gone wrong."
Limbaugh, who commands a national audience estimated at 14 million listeners a week, grabbed political headlines when, during a Feb. 28 speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference, he said he wants "Barack Obama to fail."
