At a town-hall-style meeting recently, Jeb Bush said, "You can't beat something with nothing, and the other side has something. I don't like it, but they have it and we have to be respectful and mindful of that. So our ideas need to be forward looking and relevant. I felt like there was a lot of nostalgia and the good old days in the [Republican] messaging. I mean, it's great, but it doesn't draw people toward your cause."
I don't understand what is not forward thinking and relevant about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. What is it about the conservative message that is not forward thinking? Lower taxes is not forward thinking? Being pro-life is not forward thinking? Having a strong military and strong national security is not forward thinking? I would also like to know who in the last election had nostalgia for the Reagan era or the "good old days." If anything, McCain moved as close to the middle as he could and that is why he lost. I don't believe that people remember or evoke Reagan because they wish to go back. On the contrary, it is a desire to move forward, but with the right principals.
I didn't realize that conservatives or the Republican party has nothing to beat the other side with. According to Jeb Bush, they have something, and like it or not, we need to learn from them if we want to win an election. I am sorry, but the something that the Democrats have are the same old things they have always had. Higher taxes, national health care, downsized military, restricted practices for our national security, the fairness doctrine, and abortion on demand. The only thing the Democrats had this past election was a nominee that was good at reading a teleprompter and saying a lot about nothing.
These politicians, who are part of the National Council for New America, are traveling around on a listening tour because they believe the Republican Party needs to listen and win the hearts and minds of suburban women, Latinos, and African Americans. They want to reach out to where the Republican Party has failed in the past. There is a big difference between listening to people talk to understand the everyday American and taking what was said to fit what you think the country needs. It is so basic to me. Stand up for the principals that have and will continue to make this country successful. Life, lower taxes, strong national defense and security, and free enterprise.
If you want to attract people to the Republican Party, instead of putting these political suits in front of the camera, put the people you want to attract front and center. Get the stay-at-home mom to say why she believes in the principals of the Republican Party. Get the Latino small business owner to speak about their success and show that you can be Latino, successful, and a Republican. Show the African American who has found success in this country and let them speak their mind on why we need to stick to profound principals laid out in our Constitution. Find the woman who is pro-life and not because she wants to outlaw abortion, but rather educate girls on why they should think carefully before getting themselves in a situation where abortion is an option. These are the people that will attract others. These are the people that everyday Americans will relate to. Then maybe a candidate will come forward that understands it is not about copying Democrats or forgetting the past, but standing firm on what makes this country great that inspires people. That is what Reagan did. So inspiration based on core conservative principals is not looking or living in the past, it is success for the future.
Posts
9 comments:
Thank you! Well said. And if the Republican Party doesn't get the message and get back to basics, they will find a group creating a party to spring up and fill the void.
Well, you know that I am going to disagree with your comments.
First of all, as I have stated before, any time elected officials go on the road to talk to their constituents (past, current or future) they should be lauded. You and your ilk have been afforded the opportunity to speak directly to the power of the Republican party and voice your opinion - that is lovely.
But let me back up a bit and talk about the policies that you are enamored with. We have been ruled by Republicans for the majority of my adult life, and by and large all of the principles to which you speak have been relatively ignored. The Republican Party has become the party of greed, and while the Democrats have a few bad apples - the Repubs have turned into an art form. Fox News, WSG, and Public Radio have made the Republican platform a marketing tool on which the "prophets of the Right" garner obscene amounts of money.
I do not begrudge a person for making a buck, but how can the party's message be pure and noble when it is tied more to the profits of the few versus the welfare of the many?
If you want to win over the electorate then someone has to speak from the heart about Republican ideals and mean them (without an obvious eye toward that lucrative book deal - i.e. Joe the Plumber, Meghan McCain, California Beauty, etc.). And if you want to remain in power, then you actually have to provide good governance when in office (something the current Repubs still do not know how to do imho).
You folks, have provided a pass for the bad behavior of Republicans for entirely too long. You have become their "enablers" and allowed them to put us in the state we are in. Sure there are doubters out there, but at the end of the day, you know it is true.
If I may suggest, please focus on the representatives you have (in all levels of government). Work with them to throw out the losers even if that means voting for another party. Take back your party by reintroducing standards and consequences.
Peace.
Rick Beagle
Well, Mr. Beagle let me begin by saying that I am going to disagree with your comments.
I read Mrs. Krauss' post, and then I read what you wrote. What I find most amusing is that Mrs. Krauss' post was constructive criticism of Jeb Bush's comments, and the espousal of the founding principals; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Your post on the other hand was nothing more than a regurgitation of the same old tired liberal talking points that had no bearing on the original post to begin with.
The democrats have a "few bad apples?" HA! Greed is a human condition, not exclusively a Republican one. I can admit that there have been Republicans that have made poor choices that have landed them into great trouble with the people and the law. Greed and dishonesty is manifest in all things human. But to imply that greed is exclusively a Republican trait is not only dishonest, but just downright stupid. Your comments are tantamount to a telemarketer calling me in the middle of dinner; not worth my attention or time.
You speak with condescension to those who have a differing opinion to you. That is the fundamental difference between those of YOUR ilk and those of our kind. We believe that you are entitled to your opinion, however misguided it may be. But in the end, it is only your opinion. Where I come from, we have a saying about opinions. My guess is you are just like one of those; a big walking "Opinion." You can try to pass off your opinion as fact, but what you are ignorant of is that we can see right through you. You and your agenda is as apparent as the agenda of the current Custodian of the United States. You bring nothing intelligent to this conversation. Your arguments are based in flawed logic, conjecture and a whole lot of koolaid.
To be honest I find that picking apart your juvenile post a bit beneath me. Suffice it to say that the people who will read this do not need me to illustrate your lack of understanding or comprehension of the issues at hand.
If I may suggest that you spend some time overseas in some other country; take your pick (I would be happy to help you move). Perhaps if you spent some of that "adult" life of yours under the rule of some idealistic people lover like Thugo Chavez, you would have a greater appreciation of life here.
Peace can only be guaranteed from a position of (superior fire)power.
Semper Fi,
HRH
Bravo33,
Do you not see the irony in these two comments:
"That is the fundamental difference between those of YOUR ilk and those of our kind. We believe that you are entitled to your opinion, however misguided it may be."
and:
"If I may suggest that you spend some time overseas in some other country; take your pick (I would be happy to help you move)."
You are so tolerant of my opinion that you will help me move out of the country? Yeppers, real noble there Einstein - not fascist thinking at all....
As to your assertion that the Democrats are also a greedy bunch, perhaps, but that wasn't the point of the article. The author was calling on this group trying to "re-brand" the GOP to embrace the traditional values of conservatism, to which I said that the values have been corrupted by greed and though not mentioned, lust for power (read Specter as a good example).
If they and you (the conservative few) wish to win more electoral votes, then how about we actually get some good governance from the Republican Party? You know, have a few people in power actually abide and practice the values you espouse?
The Dems have their own problems (no doubt), but this doesn't seem like the right place to speak to that crowd.
One last thing on your comment about superior fire power, consider this: I am sure that I can fix a lot of things in my house with a big old hammer, but it doesn't work on everything. That's why God created duct tape.
Peace.
Rick Beagle
Beagle,
Trust a liberal to throw out the fascist card on the first date. I am inclined to believe that you have had no experience with fascism nor have ever lived under fascist rule. I would make a poor fascist. If I actually were a fascist, I would probably have you forcefully dragged out of your house by armed men in front of your family. You know, just like Elian Gonzalez. Oh wait wrong administration. But far smarter people than you or I continue to debate the definition of fascism. So the verdict is still out on that one. You claim I am fascist. I claim you are a sheep with a lobotomy. I believe my assessment is more accurate.
Tolerance? Tolerance is what you liberals preach to everyone, but what you practice is anything but tolerance. Get your own house in order before you tell me how to arrange mine. You are that child who pokes and pokes and pokes. And when he gets poked back, you whinge, complain and cry to the high heavens about injustice and intolerance and racial inequality, and of course, call people fascist. Politely suggesting to someone who is intolerable that they may have overstayed their welcome is not fascism. I call it prudence. Prudence should be a guiding force in all things. The Custodian of the United States, The House of Representatives and the Senate have all showed a severe lack of this quality.
"If they and you (the conservative few) wish to win more electoral votes, then how about we actually get some good governance from the Republican Party? You know, have a few people in power actually abide and practice the values you espouse?"
This is the only statement you have made that has any truth to it. But I believe it applies across the political spectrum. Not to just the Republicans as you would again insinuate. The corruption, intellectual dishonesty, misleading comments, and a lack of principals have found their way into the American Political system like a cancer.
To be more accurate with your analogy, POWER would be your entire toolbox, not just the hammer or tape. But you liberals would have us hand the hammer over to someone else. BTW, Duct Tape was invented by Johnson & Johnson, not God. But I think that Duct tape is a fantastic invention as well and could see how you would credit God for such a wonderful product.
"A man at twenty who is not a liberal does not have a heart. A man at 40 who is not a conservative does not have a brain." - Orphaned Quote
B33
Bravo33,
I think you have pretty much dug a hole on the whole tolerance thing, and it would be best if you quit digging. My "ilk" may be intolerant of your views, but you duplicating those tactics on me is simply not justified.
Insofar as the Democrats having similar problems, I could not agree more, but correct me if I am wrong, the overarching post to which we are commenting addressed the Republican Party, not the Democrats. My comments should not perceived as cover for the errors that the Democrats may have made (and continue to make), but rather an expression of disgust at the current Republican strategy to combat it.
Your rant on fascism is inane, and immaterial to this discussion - so I'm just going to ignore it.
You comment about duct tape is borderline hilarious, but in the end you understood the gist of the comment. There are more tools in the toolbox, and not every problem involves an invasion or outsourcing protection details to mercs.... You can blame the liberals all you want, but in the end, the Republicans (in the last eight years and I am specifically referring to Cheney) did more to damage the military and its reputation than all generations preceding them (hard to hear if you are currently active, but as a vet myself, they $%#&^ our military).
In particular, the outsourcing of traditional military elements to unsavory "contractors" (mercs) is going to be with us for a long time. And they did it because they could, and it made them money (trucks full).... But my loathing for Cheney is not the point of this article, so let me take a breath and snap out of it.
Finally:
"If they and you (the conservative few) wish to win more electoral votes, then how about we actually get some good governance from the Republican Party? You know, have a few people in power actually abide and practice the values you espouse?"
This is the only statement you have made that has any truth to it. But I believe it applies across the political spectrum. Not to just the Republicans as you would again insinuate. The corruption, intellectual dishonesty, misleading comments, and a lack of principals have found their way into the American Political system like a cancer. "
Completely agree.
Peace.
Rick Beagle
Beagle,
Everything you have said thus far is "inane" and "immaterial." I was just having fun. I didn't enter into this joust because I was trying to prove a point to you. I like pointing out liberal hippocrisy. Not to you. You are blind to or ignorant of it. But I have fun exposing it to others. You have made this an entertaining exchange, but hardly intellectually stimulating. It is obvious you think mighty high of yourself. But you have been little more than the same old liberal arguments; full of loathing and intolerance. You avoid the issues and tap dance around them like Shirley Temple. But this is no news flash. I am sure that those familiar to this blog know you and what you are. They don't need me to point that out.
So I will say sayonara Snoopy for I tire of this. I hope we all will be seeing your red shift soon. (astronomy AND political humor).
B33
Interesting exchange with former Secretary of State Colin Powell:
(CNN) — The Republican party must stop "shouting at the world" and start listening to minority groups if it is to win elections in the 21st century, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday.
In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria for Sunday's "GPS" program, President Bush's former secretary of state said his party's attempt "to use polarization for political advantage" backfired last month.
"I think the party has to take a hard look at itself," Powell said in the interview, which was taped Wednesday. "There is nothing wrong with being conservative. There is nothing wrong with having socially conservative views — I don't object to that. But if the party wants to have a future in this country, it has to face some realities. In another 20 years, the majority in this country will be the minority."
Powell, who crossed party lines and endorsed President-elect Barack Obama just weeks before the election, said the GOP must see what is in the "hearts and minds" of African-American, Hispanic and Asian voters "and not just try to influence them by… the principles and dogma."
"I think the party has to stop shouting at the world and at the country,"Powell said. "I think that the party has to take a hard look at itself, and I've talked to a number of leaders in recent weeks and they understand that." Powell, who says he still considers himself a Republican, said his party should also stop listening to conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh.
"Can we continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh?" Powell asked. "Is this really the kind of party that we want to be when these kinds of spokespersons seem to appeal to our lesser instincts rather than our better instincts?"
Post a Comment