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Why 8th Graders Could Run the GOP More Effectively

By: Ausonius (Diary)  |  September 8th, 2009 at 09:52 PM  | 

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Recently several of my more talented 8th Graders were doing reports for “Current Events” in Social Studies. (I teach them Latin.) They wanted to know why the Republicans were not actively – key word, actively – promoting their message, especially on Health Care.

They knew some rudimentary things about the Dem plan, and were skeptical, perhaps repeating some of the skepticism from their parents. But they knew nothing specific about any alternatives from the Republicans. Some had gone to the GOP website, but one said the website was full of sign-up icons and money grubbing. In fact, you have to click through 4 pages to find the 2008 platform page on health care, which is not a very succinct page.

They expected to find – on page 1 – a punchy bullet-point page showing succinctly why NObama’s Hell-th Care Disaster is a disaster, and then the Conservative alternative.

No such plan appears there.

They agreed that the Republican plan needed to be easy to understand: a contrast to the 1300 + page monster proposed by the Dems. They also knew that the Dems refused to join the Hell-th Care Plan, which they thought was perhaps the strongest argument against the plan!

SO! Where are the ads from Republicans exposing the Dem hypocrisy? These 8th Graders said that TV shows which young voters watch are devoid of the Republican message. And not just on health care! Where and when will the Republicans hit NObama on e.g. abortion, on immigration, and cutting the military, they wanted to know.

When I mentioned that these things might happen closer to election time, they were unimpressed: they thought it needs to start now. When I mentioned further that people like Rush Limbaugh, etc. were spreading the message every day, they felt that the official party needed to clarify its positions, and not let the job be done through non-official surrogates.

My 8th Graders plan: short, on-target messages with the Facts.

e.g. A 30-second ad with “Fact: Democrats voted against joining their own Health Care Plan. If they want nothing to do with their own plan, why should you?” This should be reinforced with parallel ads on the Internet…and if there is any money left over, in print media.

So GOP: my 8th Graders are expecting you to hire them as advisors!

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  • http://www.helpawhiteguy.com livefreenh

    Reading this thread, it becomes apparent who is who. When a discussion of fact turns into a name-calling exhibition, it stinks of modern liberalism.

    The tactic is simple and effective. It’s also called “fools mate” in chess, because only fools fall for it more than once.

  • archer52

    There is a saying I heard once and I’ll paraphrase it. It goes, “If you opponent is beating himself up, don’t get in the way.”

    The GOP lost control of Congress for many reasons, being quiet was not one of them. If they decided to roll out their plan before the Dems were done hammering themselves with their own, it would be a mistake.

    You have to understand, the second the Republicans roll out an official plan the NYT, BG, LA Times, and all of the MSM will front page any problems with it. They’ll have talking head experts railing about how silly it is, yada yada yada. The spotlight will turn to them and away from the Dems spontaneous combustion event.

    Let’s let them chew on each other for awhile and see what happens. It’s like when I was a police officer and we went to a bar fight, we never got in between the combatants, that could get you hurt. We waited until they wore each other out, or one was down and then we arrested the winner.

    If they pass it against the wishes of the public they might as well toss gas on themselves and light a match. Why stop that? In 2010 if the House flips back, we’ll introduce legislation to overturn the law.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    The election isn’t for another 13 months. We can’t run *now* or people will forget. We’ll also run out of money. Heck, I don’ tthink the money’s even there yet this early for many challengers.

  • Ausonius

    You jogged a memory: I did explain that because of the loss of power the Republicans have a corresponding loss of funds, up to a point.

    But one of the boys asked how much does it cost just to have counter-arguments against NObama’s Hell-th Care Plan on a good website.

    Their main point (2 girls and 4 boys talented) was that worrying about the MSM was last century. Internet/high-tech methods of getting the message out should be the GOP’s main concern, and they thought it would not be expensive.

    Personally I have no idea, but I would think they are right: hosting a crappy webpage probably costs the same as a good one.

    I am a “both-and” kind of person: this should not be an either-or proposition. And with NObama’s numbers tanking, this is a good opportunity to show people that a Conservative message is coming from the Republicans, rather than one of compromise with liberals.

  • AceInTX

    I think one of the reasons for the rage we’re seeing at the Tea Party rallies and town halls is as much about what the Republicans are not doing as it is at what the Democrats are doing…

    What I see is an electorate standing around saying:

    “The Democrats want to do what?”….
    “Who’s going to stop them?”….
    “Where are the Republicans?”…
    “Didn’t they go along with TARP and the Stimulous?”
    “Well we can’t trust or rely on them to stop anything so we’d better damn well do it ourselves!”

    Just a little time advertising what we stand for and why we even exist as a party would go a long way to winning a majority for us in 2010!

  • Flagstaff

    If the point is that the time isn’t yet here to get too much involved as a party in countering the Democrats’ health delivery mistakes. Let the grass roots run with it for a while.

    Certainly, it’s too early to be setting out alternatives plans.

  • Ausonius

    I am also reminded by this discussion of how Conservative Talk Radio ran a better campaign for the Republicans/McCain than the Republicans/McCain.

    Until Sarah Palin showed up at least! Then she matched the radio hosts.

  • livefreenh

    Well then I am as smart as an eighth grader. I set up a web page and made it as pretty and as convincing as I could do in an hour of hard work, just to make that point. You can click my screen name here to see it, if you are interested.

    But the point is that there are plenty of smart people out there who could do at least what I have done, and why have they not? Is it an age thing? Is it generational?

    Are conservatives holding on to the past in ways that don’t make sense, for example, mag tape answering machines, dial phones, protesters with signs, direct mail voter updates, fighting fair?

    I’m not suggesting that we stop fighting fairly. When the Iraqi badguys started using roadside bombs to kill us, we didn’t plant roadside bombs to kill them back. Instead, we countered with technology and brains.

    They use high-tech 757 aircraft and cell-phone detonators to try to kill us. We use technology to prevent it, while still respecting their human rights.

    When the rabid and radical left uses high-tech (especially taxpayer funded) to prevent our right to free speech, we should use whatever technology is available in order to be heard.

    We are in the 21st century (whatever that means). Let’s remember the past, but live in the present.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    Most notably, the fact that we have to win elections to accomplish anything, and you don’t win elections by running for office 10 months before people are paying attention?

  • Ausonius

    were saying about their examination of official GOP stuff on-line.

    And how long has that GOP website been “under construction” supposedly? It seems to be taking forever!

    LivefreeNH: maybe they will hire you as a free-lancer! :)

  • Ausonius

    I don’t know if everyone receives the same ads, but at the top of my RedState page right now is an ad from “NetBoots” offering “Conservative Campaign Websites” for $50. a month.

    $50!!! I would hope the Republican Central Committee could handle that! That would end their “under construction” page!

    “Easy to update” too! Finally GOP page One could have a private business alternative to NObama’s Hell-th Care nonsense.

    Of course, the ad does say the service is for CONSERVATIVE websites! :)

  • AceInTX

    The GOP website offers nothing…everything you go to is a solicitation for funds…there is no useful information on events, policy positions, how to get connected, networking…NOTHING…

    I have no problem with the fund raising appeals…but having SOME useful content would be nice!

  • AceInTX

    There is a saying I heard once and I

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    Not everyone bashes Republicans all the time like you and Daily Kos.

    But we know you sure do want Obama, Reid, and Pelosi to be re-elected.

  • The_Rebel

    Dick Morris that:

    http://www.christy2010.com/

    :)

  • AceInTX

    the Democrats are in permanent campaign mode and our guys want to sleep through it!

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    People still take him seriously? :-)

  • The_Rebel

    n/t

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    That’s how it ought to be. Our politicians need to keep their powder dry until the general election campaign. But activists like us, and like Sarah Palin, can stir up interest in ideas now. We can find out what’s good and what’s bad, and then the politicans can use that information next summer and fall.

  • AceInTX

    With all due respect to your position if not for you personally…you are being childish.

    M laid out an observation…that people are looking for an alternative and the Republican Party so far isn’t presenting them with one…and you post this gem…

    But we know you sure do want Obama, Reid, and Pelosi to be re-elected.

    I mean…com on…can’t you provide some facts or refute what I said instead of posting crap like that?

  • AceInTX

    we should let the grass roots do what we’ve done over the past months…but the Party could and should be working on what we stand for and what we have to offer as an alternative!

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    So I’d say I was 100% accurate.

  • AceInTX

    I can assure you…I never intended to lie about you or anything else

  • AceInTX

    I want nothing of the sort…I just don’t think you can beat them by acting like them…

    and I’m begging you to please stop the insults…it doesn’t become you!

  • AceInTX
  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens
  • Flagstaff
  • AceInTX

    I thought we were in agreement on that part of it at least…back your horse…and I’ve been clear about voting for the nominee in the general…with the exceptions I’ve noted.

    for the life of me I don’t know why you want to personalize this disagreement…but I in no way intended to lie about you in any way

  • AceInTX

    Let it stand as originally posted…LOL

  • AceInTX

    maybe I should quit while ahead

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    You supported Sheldon Whitehouse over Linc Chafee? You’d have supported Sestak over Specter if he didn’t switch? You’d support the Democrat over Crist?

    Wow, you really are a fifth column socialist weasel.

  • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

    I just misunderstood. I assumed you were on our team, instead of supporting Democrat victory.

    So no, you didn’t lie when you said I oppose Sheldon Whitehouse, Joe Sestak, and whoever the D is going to be in Florida.

  • AceInTX

    this post obviously doesn’t fit the “Facts and logic” statement you made earlier….

    maybe it’s time to put the bottle away and sleep it off?

  • AceInTX

    Seriously Neil…get a grip and stop calling names…

    I seriously don’t recall saying you supported anyone and I damned sure didn’t accuse you of supporting any Democrats and wou8ld appreciate it if you’d grow up and stop accusing me of the same…

    opposing a moderate Republican isn’t the same as supporting a Democrat no matter how many times you try to make the claim and I would think a site moderator would be able to engage in an honest discussion without stamping his feet and holding his breath like a spoiled child!