Posted on 01/04/2013 3:01:48 AM PST by SueRae
Ted Cruz, a Republican, represents Texas in the Senate.
Since Election Day, much energy has been spent analyzing why Republicans did so poorly. Many have urged that Republicans must “moderate their views,” by which they mean we should adopt more policies of Democrats.
That advice misdiagnoses the problem. The 2012 election did not reflect popular approval of the Obama policies of out-of-control spending, taxes, deficits and debt. To the contrary, 51 percent of voters on Election Day agreed that “government is doing too many things better left to businesses and individuals.”
Nor did the election reflect satisfaction with the paltry economic growth that President Obama’s abusive regulatory approach has produced. Voters are rightly unhappy with the anemic growth in gross domestic product the past four years; the average, just 1.5 percent, is less than half of our historic average since World War II, but 53 percent of voters believed the economy was George W. Bush’s fault.
Why did voters believe that? Obama repeated it relentlessly, and Republicans never responded.
First you win the argument, then you win the vote, Margaret Thatcher famously admonished. Republicans did neither. Nothing better illustrates that failure than “47 percent.” Not the comment itself nor the good and decent person who uttered it, but, rather, the overall narrative of Republicans. Voters were convinced that the GOP is the party of “the rich” and that Democrats are the party of everybody else.
That characterization is false, but as long as a majority of Americans believe that Republican policies do not benefit them, Republicans will continue to lose.
And far too many Republicans believe it as well.
So let me suggest an alternative course: opportunity conservatism. Republicans should conceptualize and articulate every domestic policy with a single-minded focus on easing the ascent up the economic ladder.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Ted Cruz couldn’t have said it better. Now he has to convince the rest of the pubis to follow this philosophy.
If the Republican Party is just going to throw in the towel and become the Democrat Lite Party, the Ditto Party; then what do they offer? Conceding every core principle isn’t a winning strategy. If voters aren’t offered an alternative to the Democrat Party, they’re likely to just go for the real thing and refuse to play at the alleged two-party myth.
Oh, and taking Democrat “advice” is laughable. The idea that Democrats want the Republican Party to win elections is hilarious.
This is the only way forward.
And supporting tax breaks for millionaires put the GOP on the wrong side of public opinion. It reinforced the meme the party cares about the rich and not about the middle class.
It allowed Obama to rout the party. The party needs a better argument. If it can’t make it, it should begin planning for the next defeats in 2014 and 2016.
Agreed.
The solution is not to become Democrat Lite but to return to conservative principles.
If the GOP isn’t going to do it, voters invariably will prefer the real Coke over the pretend one.
Team Romney and Rove stand for Obama and Soros
and all the antiPalin and antiConservative HATE.
The GOP is the party of Romney and Rove forever.
</0bama voter>
Let's be honest. The left, with the help of pop culture and the media have been very successful in painting the Republican party this way, and there are plenty of people out there who think well of themselves because they are voting for the ‘modern’, compassionate, well-reasoned, science-based/fact-based, ‘moderate’ democrats.
These characterizations are, of course, absolute garbage, but they are entrenched. We have to turn the tables on the left and re-characterize the Republican party as the most well-reasoned, science-based, compassionate, progressive etc. etc. party (progressive is not a bad word - it's just been given a bad connotation by its use and meaning as defined by the democrats).
We should be emphasizing that the direction of history has, with some hiccups, always been moving in the direction of greater individualism and individual liberty, and that those who push for more homogeneity in society, and collectivism, are on the wrong side of history - and are actually the real ‘throwbacks’. We need to take over ownership of the ‘diversity’ argument, and argue that the greatest and most diverse societies are those who celebrate and support individuality. All individuals are unique, and thus empowering individuals, by definition, is the best and fastest road to diversity.
We need to emphasize that ‘diversity’ isn't just a designation of color or nation of origin, but more importantly it is also the diversity of thought and opinions, and this is the type of diversity that can strengthen us. Thus, having monolithic world-views among university faculty, and news media, and the entertainment industry etc. is anti-diversity - and risks holding us back from societal progress. For the same reason, suppression of open discussion and diverse viewpoints because of fear of reprisal for not being 'politically correct' also limits diversity and holds us back.
We need to take over the ‘war on poverty’ rhetoric, and make the argument that the best way to combat poverty is to promote the ability and right of individuals to succeed. We need to emphasize that the Republican party was the original emancipation and civil rights party, and that the democrats have held back minority success and promoted a culture of government dependency and non-belief in self.
None of this requires us to compromise our beliefs or principles. It's not about that. It's about setting the record straight. It's essential.
Many of you here have no understanding of what socialism/marxism/communism is. A tax on the rich is called a progressive income tax. That is marxism and is one of the 10 planks of the communist manifesto. Middle class is also a marxist term. That is all class warfare etc. Socialism is a great evil, never works and is the problem. the GOP should stand against taxes on "millionares" or any progressive tax
When you talk of middle class you are using the socialists terms and creations.
a tax on millionaires is part of the communist manifesto
http://www.libertyzone.com/Communist-Manifesto-Planks.html
Communism, by any other name is still communism, and is VERY VERY destructive to the individual and to the society!!
The 10 PLANKS stated in the Communist Manifesto and some of their American counterparts are...
1. Abolition of private property and the application of all rents of land to public purposes.
Americans do these with actions such as the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (1868), and various zoning, school & property taxes. Also the Bureau of Land Management (Zoning laws are the first step to government property ownership)
2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
Americans know this as misapplication of the 16th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, 1913, The Social Security Act of 1936.; Joint House Resolution 192 of 1933; and various State “income” taxes. We call it “paying your fair share”.
I love your optimism, but I guess you might as well go back to sleep for the next four years. They are still not reading what’s in the bill(fiscal cliff bill). The House had about 4 minutes. Somehow, that inspires no confidence in me and cerainly deserves a no vote in future elections. Same old, same old with not much difference in party values. Perhaps that’s why no one turned out for Mitt.
If most conservatives share the same sentiment as I and a good number of other FReepers — the two party illusion is crumbling, after the Romney disaster and the reappoint of Boo Hoo Bay-Ner...we are done with the GOP. Its time for a third Party. Actually, its past time.
Opportunity? Yuk. Old fashioned. Sounds way too much like work.
I just want my free $#@)#.
Who wants opportunity and hard work when you can just have free stuff given to you?
And yes, I hate to put it in those terms, but that seems to be a definite mindset that has taken hold since Mr. Obama was elected to office.
Dennis Miller seems to be of the opinion that the America we knew is gone. He seems to think those of us who have adhered to traditional American values of hard work and earning our way should just throw in the towel and get whatever freebies we can before the country goes bankrupt.
I don’t know that I’m that cynical... yet. But it seems to me that we need not just people who can articulate a vision of opportunity. We need people who can persuasively explain why opportunity is better than a constant stream of government swag.
Excellent points!!! I spent the last four years trying to do that on an individual basis (among Democrat friends...) and utterly failed. There are some that can’t be reached...but I’m still a believer that many/most can. I haven’t spoken to some of those former friends since the election. I hope that maybe someday the lightbulb will go on but it took a toll on me personally that I am just started to emerge from. My hopes is that as that eveil agenda continues to unfold, they will wakeup. I’m rested now and continuing with a fresh outlook. I’m ready to continue the fight...and the messaging will be critical. I count voctories like Ted Cruz and Tim Scott as points in our favor, not to mention how many governors are holding the line and devloping records of success by doing the exact OPPOSITE of the president’s agenda. I’m looking for the leadership on the national level..and will work on the good old boy level of poltics that our party and the permanent political class that is rotting the core. Cleaning house is not an overnight process..
The GOP supports the same big government politics as the Rat Party. Government employees are the only increase under Obamadork and the GOP...what have they done to put gov workers on unemployment? Yes and they will continue to do Nothing. Only a 3rd party can break the stranglehold of the Rats. I see thru the illusion and others do as well now the question is who will lead the way...and it will be a tough job the trinity of Rats GOP and Media will do everything they can to make sure a viable third party never succeeds. But the first step is to finish off the GOP. Primary every last one out and if any are sincere about conservatism they will leave the rotten GOP and join the new party.
The GOP should stand for freedom and the Constitution, and opportunity will take care of itself. But first, Republicans need to learn to stand, which they cannot do as long as they are on their knees.
Conserve America Party File.
I would agree also, if it ever got steam. But I don’t think even the true conservatives in the GOP will desert it, making a new party even harder to get off the ground.
I would agree also, if it ever got steam. But I don’t think even the true conservatives in the GOP will desert it, making a new party even harder to get off the ground.
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