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Republicans Need a Great Communicator
SeaMax news ^ | 11/16/2006 | Fr. Michael Reilly

Posted on 11/16/2006 12:45:52 PM PST by Milltownmalbay

For a change it’s the Republicans who have some soul-searching to do after the elections.

There is no doubt that the Republicans failed to control spending, failed to control illegal immigration, and failed to reform social security. Nevertheless, the biggest failure of the Republican Party has been communication with the American people.

Ronald Reagan was the Great Communicator. George Bush can’t connect subject and predicate . Bill Frist looks like a doctor telling his patient that she has cancer and Denny Hastert just looks like he wants directions to the local pub.

In spite of the proverbial six year itch, Republicans should have been able to increase their margins in both the House and the Senate and set the stage for 2008.

The economy is stronger than ever and it’s clearly due to the Bush tax cuts. How many commercials did we see touting the economy during this election cycle?

Terrible blunders on the part of the Clinton Administration culminated in the worst attack on American soil in our history and Bush met the challenge head-on.

Bush successfully struck at the Taliban in Afghanistan and passed the Patriot Act, which repaired many of the flawed policies of previous administrations.

Republicans blamed individual Democrats for voting against the Patriot Act, but Republicans never explained the Patriot Act. Why didn’t the Republicans run a national ad campaign on national security? Why didn’t they explain the parts of the Patriot Act to the American people and show us specifically how the Patriot Act has kept us safe?

Ask a question in a poll about the Patriot Act and you may get a mixed result. Ask people if they favor giving captured terrorists the same rights as American citizens and the result would be quite different. The Republicans never made that case.

The United States has not been attacked since September 11. Was that just a coincidence, or did the new policies of the Bush Administration keep us safer? If they did, the Republicans never told us how.

By simply charging that the Democrats want to cut and run in Iraq, the Republicans allowed them to turn the election into a national referendum on Iraq at a time when the war is unpopular.

Now we get to spend at least two years in the Twilight Zone of Democratic leadership. If we do not find a standard bearer who can communicate for 2008, it might be even longer.


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bush; frist; hastert; republicans; seamonkeynews
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To: The Blitherer; ichabod1
I've voted for Keyes here in Illinois in a presidential primary and for senator
(maybe I should quit voting for him, maybe he'd win)

IMHO, he's the most prinipled man in politics today, probably one of the most in the last 60-70 years. And that is exactly why the media would eat him alive, and all the Dems would scream. Because thats all they could do, because they couldn't match Keyes in a debate on issues.

Lastly, he wouldn't get elected because there would still be some whites who wouldn't vote for a black man. I doubt if very many women would find him very "charming" or "good looking" like Bill Clinton. Too many blacks call him an Uncle Tom, or that he's too whiteyized. His principles go against the lack of principles of the gay community and their enablers.

Basically, the only ones that would vote for him are the ones that believe character, integrity, and virtue are the most important asspects for a POTUS.

41 posted on 11/16/2006 1:16:43 PM PST by mountn man (The pleasure you get from life, is equal to the attitude you put into it.)
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To: wagglebee

Hannity isn't nearly smart enough.


42 posted on 11/16/2006 1:18:11 PM PST by Sloth (The GOP is to DemonRats in politics as Michael Jackson is to Jeffrey Dahmer in babysitting.)
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To: Milltownmalbay

The Republicans need a great communticator, but they also need a message to communicate. They need some guiding principles.


43 posted on 11/16/2006 1:20:02 PM PST by Sam Cree (don't mix alcopops and ufo's - absolute reality)
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To: Crimson Elephant

Sending anyone to the senate screws them up. Besides, I'm looking for support for my Snow/Pace '08 ticket.


44 posted on 11/16/2006 1:20:12 PM PST by pollyannaish
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To: Sloth

Possibly not, Tony Snow is though.


45 posted on 11/16/2006 1:20:38 PM PST by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: Red Badger

It would be better for the country if Rush kept up with his radio show as President.


46 posted on 11/16/2006 1:22:47 PM PST by AZLiberty (In Hillary's view they're not Illegal immigrants and convicted felons, but disenfranchised Democrats)
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To: AZLiberty

The Dems would demand = time.........


47 posted on 11/16/2006 1:23:51 PM PST by Red Badger (New! HeadOn Hemorrhoid Medication for Liberals!.........Apply directly to forehead.........)
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To: Red Badger

They've got it -- it's called Air America.


48 posted on 11/16/2006 1:27:18 PM PST by AZLiberty (In Hillary's view they're not Illegal immigrants and convicted felons, but disenfranchised Democrats)
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To: Red Badger

And wouldn't I love to see a Presidential debate between Rush Limbaugh and Al Franken!


49 posted on 11/16/2006 1:28:59 PM PST by AZLiberty (In Hillary's view they're not Illegal immigrants and convicted felons, but disenfranchised Democrats)
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To: July 4th
I agree with that, however Mitt is no slouch either.

Romney is the GOP possibility I'm most interested in learning about right now, along with Guiliani. I don't know what these guys think about foreign policy, the military or what their views on Islamism and the WOT are. McCain I admire in many ways, but McCain-Feingold is a monstrosity which is hard to forgive.
50 posted on 11/16/2006 1:30:18 PM PST by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: Milltownmalbay

What do Republicans stand for these days? Is there a consensus amongst party members? I don't see it. All I see is dissension.


51 posted on 11/16/2006 1:31:14 PM PST by petitfour
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To: Milltownmalbay

Well, the Great Entertainer is waiting in the wings with a lot of money and liberal enough social policies...I won't vote for him though, but people might be desperate enough post-Hill.


52 posted on 11/16/2006 1:32:08 PM PST by rjp2005 (Lord have mercy on us)
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To: Milltownmalbay

At least the phony "Reaganesque" George Allen is out of the way for 2008. I had never understood why people liked him so much when he is dumb as a board. Reagan, by contrast, had a superior intellect.


53 posted on 11/16/2006 1:32:23 PM PST by montag813
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To: Milltownmalbay
. If we do not find a standard bearer who can communicate for 2008, it might be even longer.

First we need to restate the message..."Contract with America 2" and then get someone as eloquent as Newt to restate it. Socialism lurks over the horizon..Pelosi, Hillary, you pick 'em. "Lets Roll!"

54 posted on 11/16/2006 1:33:55 PM PST by Don Corleone (Leave the gun..take the cannoli)
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To: Uncledave
I don't know the answer to countering the drive by media, but they have eclipsed their partisonship of the Reagan years.

They have countered the alternative media with precision coordination with the DNC and other leftist. They will ruin as many "great communicators" as come before them.

I have seen many "great communicators" come and go, only to be ruined by the drive by media.

Attacking the media should be a major focus of Conservatives, and not just relying on a messenger.

55 posted on 11/16/2006 1:34:20 PM PST by lormand (Weinerism is a mental disorder)
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To: meandog
The best options are Newt and Rush. If an actor can be President, why not a radio commentator?

Saa-a-a-ay, now that's a winning ticket....probably would sweep the entire country no matter whom the Dims put up to run against them!

Oooops, forgot the < /sarc > button!

56 posted on 11/16/2006 1:39:03 PM PST by meandog (These are the times that try men's souls!)
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To: garv

I, too, like Romney. He does need a 'makeover', a new haircut would do wonders. A lib friend of mine gave a typical 'knee jerk' observation that would sink his 'first impression' if they used it.


57 posted on 11/16/2006 1:39:28 PM PST by griswold3 (I cried when I erased my tagline....)
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To: lormand

The right candidate can neutralize the MSM. They're not unbeatable. And the public in general, from surveys I've read, rank the media about as trustworthy as used car salesmen and congress critters.


58 posted on 11/16/2006 1:46:22 PM PST by Uncledave
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To: Teflonic
...too bad about those ethics violations..."

Huh?

59 posted on 11/16/2006 1:46:53 PM PST by Cobra64 (Why is the War on Terror being managed by the DEFENSE Department?)
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To: ErnBatavia

Haley Barbour would be a great pick. Unfortunately for the rest of us, he prefers Mississippi to Washington.


60 posted on 11/16/2006 1:47:00 PM PST by Gritty (Scandalwise, the GOP always play the submissive masochists but the Dems are bi-swingers -Mk Steyn)
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