A Thoughtful Critique Of The Governor's Comments (on rebranding the GOP) in the Chronicle

Flashreport ^ | May 19, 2008 | Jeff Greene

[GodGunsGuts]

I agree with our esteemed Governor and many other critics both right and left that the GOP is a rudderless disaster and out of touch with the general voting public (especially in CA), or at least incapable of expressing themselves in a way that is both heard and understood by the great unwashed masses. But while he gives a lot of examples of where we are "wrong", he has no examples whatsoever of where we are right. No examples whatsoever of how we can successfully distinguish ourselves from the Dems and become a winning party...

[griswold3]

If Republicans are going to behave like Democrats, why do we need two parties?

We need statesmen to run for office who don’t just taylor policy to the next election. We need candidates who believe in civil society and this nation as standard bearer of Liberty.
Is it too late? Are there enough patriots still around to take on the ‘enemy within’?

[GodGunsGuts]

Precisely! Kind of reminds me of the title of Robert Bork’s book, “Slouching Towards Gomorrah.”

[Liberty Valance]

"I agree with our esteemed Governor and many other critics both right and left that the GOP is a rudderless disaster..."

I don't. That's just what the MSM says over and over again. I think the media, the DNC and their front-running candidates are godless opportunists who are doing their best to obliterate what the USA and it's Constitution stand for.

[PsyOp]

“Conservatism, we are told, is out-of-date. The charge is preposterous and we ought boldly to say so. The laws of God, and of nature, have no dateline. The principles on which the Conservative political position is based have been established by a process that has nothing to do with the social, economic and political landscape that changes from decade to decade and from century to century. These principles are derived from the nature of man, and from the truths that God has revealed about His creation. Circumstances do change. So do the problems that are shaped by circumstances. But the principles that govern the solution of the problems do not. To suggest that the Conservative philosophy is out of date is akin to saying that the Golden Rule, or the Ten Commandments or Aristotle's Politics are out of date. The Conservative approach is nothing more or less than an attempt to apply the wisdom and experience and the revealed truths of the past to the problems of today.” – Barry Goldwater, The Conscience Of A Conservative, 1960.

Barry Goldwater, The Conscience Of A Conservative.

[GodGunsGuts]

I agree with your comments re: the demorats, but do you honestly think the Republican Party, the Party of Ronald Reagan, is on the right track? Just because our enemies (also) recognize our ship is taking on water doesn’t make it any less true. In fact, it makes repairing the ship all the more urgent—GGG

[Liberty Valance]

"...but do you honestly think the Republican Party, the Party of Ronald Reagan, is on the right track?"

You are correct. The GOP could use a few course corrections to starboard.

[GodGunsGuts]

Excellent quote...too bad he has since gone off the deep-end.

[TBP]

They ought to be honest and rebrand themselves Whigs because they are just like them.

[NewJerseyJoe]

> the Republican Party, the Party of Ronald Reagan

I think many (most?) here on FR would agree with me, that those two are no longer the same thing.

[GodGunsGuts]

I pretty confident it’s “most.”

[calcowgirl]

Greene makes some good points. Here is a longer excerpt:

Assuming we listen to the standard voices for "reform" in the GOP, and specifically the Governor, and abandon the pro-family groups, embrace an environmentalist regulatory regime, be more flexible about taxes and gun control, support some form of universal health care, back off on immigration enforcement, and pull out of the Mideast, what exactly is left? ...

... So what the hell does becoming the party of the center mean? We would pull troops out 6 months later than the Dems? We would phase in universal health care over 3 years instead of doing it tomorrow? We only support gay marriage if they're not flamboyant? Abortion is okay as long as you don't enjoy it? We accept illegal immigration as long as we don't have to pay them minimum wage to mow our lawns?

Is rebranding the party solely as the one that would spend 5% less than the Dems really something that will grab the imagination of California or America? Is there any other distinction he or the other reformists would make between our party and theirs? I haven't heard him express one in ages, and I ask this in all sincerity. What is his envisioned winning majority based on? I guess we're still the party of being tougher on sex offenders and gang members, but is that enough? ... ... But getting back to the original point, I would love to hear the Governor's roadmap to becoming a majority party. Because a party based on famous figureheads is not a party at all. And being the party of "moderation" (especially when you are completely unwilling to identify the other party's extremism for fear of hurting their feelings) doesn't rally the troops particularly well, either.

I could reference the biblical references to being neither hot nor cold, or the cliches about the middle of the road being the most dangerous place to stand, but for me, it calls to mind the old light beer advertising slogan: "Everything you always wanted in a party--and less." That might sell light beer, but I hate light beer. And it makes an especially crappy slogan for a political party.

[GodGunsGuts]

I’m pretty confident it’s “most.”

[goldstategop]

If the GOP follows Red Arnold's advice and "rebrands" itself, it deserves to disappear. If you don't stand up for conservative values and have only nuanced differences with the Democrats, there's no more reason for the CAGOP to exist. If it gives up the ghost on taxes and spending it will be gone from the California political scene for good.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

If you sell socialism lite, why would any one want to buy it? The Democrats offer the real, original version. Moving to the center means moving Left but it means occupying ground the Democrats have already taken. That's not a strategy for building a majority party in California - or anywhere else in the country.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[GodGunsGuts]

EXCELLENT POINT!