Some political commentators are dancing on what they believe to be the grave of the Republican Party, claiming that the only way the GOP can have a viable future is for them to behave like Democrats. Posted on 01/29/2013 5:49:48 AM PST by Kaslin
Some political commentators are dancing on what they believe to be the grave of the Republican Party, claiming that the only way the GOP can have a viable future is for them to behave like Democrats.
Last weekend, National Review magazine sponsored a "conservative summit" in Washington. They should have held it elsewhere.
Prior to speaking at that event, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal addressed the Republican National Committee's annual winter meeting in Charlotte, N.C., where he proposed a new strategy for Republicans and conservatives that begins, not in Washington, but at the state level.
Jindal said the Republican Party loses when it plays on the liberal Democrats' turf, allowing them to set the agenda.
"America is not the federal government," he said. He maintained Republicans have wasted too much time trying to manage bloated government and too little time growing the private sector. The media and Democrats, he added, treat any serious proposal to restrain government growth as "not serious" when the truth is, "...nothing serious is deemed serious in Washington."
Then in a face-slapping moment, Jindal added, "If this election taught us anything -- it is that we will not win elections by simply pointing out the failures of the other side. We must boldly paint the picture of what America can be, of just how incredibly bright America's future can be."
The real action is occurring away from Washington. Republican governors, a majority of state chief executives, are lowering or eliminating state incomes taxes, cutting wasteful spending, balancing budgets, or creating surpluses, and in the case of Indiana, sending rebate checks to taxpayers.
Here are three Jindalisms the public can understand: "Government spending still does not grow our economy. ... American weakness on the world stage still does not lead to peace. ... Higher taxes still do not create prosperity for all."
Poverty should not be the final verdict on any life. Republicans need to have "testimony time" during which people once addicted to government tell how they broke free and are now earning a paycheck because they embraced conservative principles. Republicans should be seen as friends of the poor instead of friends of the wealthy, who President Obama has said, are doing fine.
Republicans should also partner with churches. Stop arguing about the evils of welfare dependency and start helping people live a life of self-sufficiency. That begins with a change in attitude and a transformation of outlook. What better institution to address these internal qualities than the church?
If Republicans want to do something about the future, they should back a growing movement to pull children out of underperforming public schools where often their views, values, understanding of history and even faith are undermined. Home-schooling is an option. The public school system, seemingly a "hot house" for growing new generations of secular liberals, is a failure on many levels. It makes no sense to me to put one's children in a school system that will likely transform their minds and souls into something quite different from those of their parents. Private school is also an option. Many of them offer scholarships to children whose parents can't afford tuition. A solid education is the first step out of poverty.
Negativity doesn't inspire. Criticizing Democrats might make the base feel good, but it solves nothing. Republicans should adopt the optimism and vision of Ronald Reagan, whose main gift to this country was to persuade Americans to believe in themselves. His optimism became our optimism. In the end, "we, the people" must realize they have the power, not Washington.
Governor Jindal stated his vision in Charlotte: "...free individuals, taking risks, building businesses, inventing things from thin air, and passing immutable values from one generation to the next ... that is the root of America's greatness."
Are party members listening and willing to change, not their principles, but their approach to promoting those principles? We will know soon enough, but predictions of the party's demise are as premature as they were for Democrats during the Reagan-Bush electoral successes of 1980, '84 and '88.
Republicans aren't dead yet, but changes are essential for the GOP to get off life support. They can start by reading Gov. Jindal's speech.
Well, there are sure lots of good reasons to believe so.
Here are a couple new ones, just from today:
[Quisling ALERT] Mat Staver and Liberty Counsel come out in favor of amnesty for illegal aliens
I won't reply with a 'hate post', but I will give that statement a raspberry.
Free Republic isn't Hotel California, you know. You can check out any time you like, and you can leave.
Sorta like the Harlem Globetrotters versus the Washington Generals.
Thanks for the opinion newbie.
I strongly disagree. Conservatism wins whenever it's properly pitched to the American people, ala Reagan. What you're advocating is nothing short of the complete abandonment of our principles, in order to 'win' elections.
What on earth would we gain by electing Republicans who govern exactly like Democrats? Exactly nothing, besides permanently cementing their leftist agenda in place.
Michelle Bachmann, who abandoned our country?
FREE ICE CREAM! FREE MONEY!!
I'd say the reason is because they're not just "so-called leaders", they're also so-called conservatives. Real conservatives understand the timeless principles and practices which made this country great, down to their bones.
Real conservatives don't speak 'namby-pamby', and they're not 'bi-partisan'. Their fixed, default setting, is conservatism - plain and simple. It's the only language they know.
Americans know a real conservative when they see one, and they instinctively follow them.
Spot on. I see him as a somewhat reliable soldier of the right, but nowhere near being commanding General material.
Outstanding post, Joe. Very well said.
Pulling rank on me, eh? I guess my remark hit closer to the bone than I thought.
Listen. FR has never been a gleaming temple of conservative thought and oratory, standing like a marble beacon on some verdant mountaintop.
It's always had its weasels, nutjobs, trolls, party operatives, dunderheads, snarky snarlers, pom-pom girls, and clueless idjits. But I don't think there's another place on the internet that can also boast such a collection of wit, smarts, deep thinking, and sterling analysis.
The place has its warts and always will, but it's got backbone and brains like no place else. That is why I stay.
Well I guess if you don’t like rank being pulled, you’re welcome to go somewhere else...
The fact it it wasn’t this way up until say, 2006. It was solid, positive, and the cranks were put down, or out, quickly. After the Dems took power in the ‘06 election, the DU provacateurs in Paulshivek wingnuts started rolling in.
Ask anyone who’s been here over 10 years - this place has changed and it isn’t what it used to be.
You assume I was annoyed, when I was merely amused. Pull rank all you like :-)
I signed up in '07, but I read here for years before that. I do know what you're talking about. I've made my own observations and drawn my own conclusions about that, but in my opinion, this place still beats any other online conservative community that I know of.
Maybe, but this place used to drive conservative opinion nationally. It’s hardly in the game anymore, which is really really sad because now it’s more critical than ever.
So far I like Cruz.
Rand Paul might be interesting:Rubio was looking interesting, but he is sounding awfully glib in this illegal thing.
It's not true that there aren't any conservative leaders out there. There are plenty of them. They just haven't declared all-out war on the Democrats yet.
As Sarah said, they're not retreating - they're reloading. Keep your powder dry, and wait for the go signal.
Like I said, I've made my own observations and drawn my own conclusions. I won't deny that they're not far off yours. I'd also like to see FR realize its true potential, but sadly, you and I aren't in control of that.
Still, it's home, and I think it remains the number one gathering place for conservatives on the net.
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