Republicans - "like a deer in the headlights"

By bs Posted in 2008 — Comments (7) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

In today's WSJ Opinion Journal, Peggy Noonan again demonstrates why I so enjoy reading her stuff. She paints a perfect picture of the deep problems the GOP has in 2008. The biggest case in the article is made by quotes from a memo created by Rep. Tom Davis. I loved this bit of insight from Mr. Davis:

But this week a House Republican said publicly what many say privately, that there is another truth. "Members and pundits . . . fail to understand the deep seated antipathy toward the president, the war, gas prices, the economy, foreclosures," said Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia in a 20-page memo to House GOP leaders.

The party, Mr. Davis told me, is "an airplane flying right into a mountain." Analyses of its predicament reflect an "investment in the Bush presidency," but "the public has just moved so far past that." "Our leaders go up to the second floor of the White House and they get a case of White House-itis." Mr. Bush has left the party at a disadvantage in terms of communications: "He can't articulate. The only asset we have now is the big microphone, and he swallowed it." The party, said Mr. Davis, must admit its predicament, act independently of the White House, and force Democrats to define themselves. "They should have some ownership for what's going on. They control the budget. They pay no price. . . . Obama has all happy talk, but it's from 30,000 feet. Energy, immigration, what is he gonna do?"

Unfortunately, Noonan's article is not a happy one. One of her key points is one that some of us have been making here for quite some time - that the current woes of the GOP are due in large part to President Bush's failures as a president and Republican leader:

Mr. Bush has squandered the hard-built paternity of 40 years. But so has the party, and so have its leaders. If they had pushed away for serious reasons, they could have separated the party's fortunes from the president's. This would have left a painfully broken party, but they wouldn't be left with a ruined "brand," as they all say, speaking the language of marketing. And they speak that language because they are marketers, not thinkers. Not serious about policy. Not serious about ideas. And not serious about leadership, only followership.

So now we are left with a Republican party that seems helpless - like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car. Right now it appears that all that is left is for us to "rebuild locally," as Clarke Reed is quoted:

What's behind it? "American people just won't take a long war. Just – name me a war, even in a pro-military state like this. It's overall disappointment. It's national. No leadership, adrift. Things haven't worked." The future lies in rebuilding locally, not being "distracted" by Washington.

We can get out and begin to rebuild from our local districts, as Bobby Jindal is doing in Louisiana. State and local GOP organizations must seek out solidly conservative candidates that can recapture the hearts of the party. We should work to capture the POTUS with McCain, but he is not going to be the future of the GOP - the question is: "who will be?"

I don't agree that Bush is solely reponsible... by aceintx

I don't agree that Bush is solely responsible for Republican fortunes. This is an example of leadership deflecting blame from themselves because the can't admit to themselves that they are part of the problem!

Bush didn't come up with the K-street Project, Bush has not stuck one earmark on any bill, Bush did not circle the wagons to protect Foley or the dozens of other Republicans with ethics problems, Bush didn't cave to the Democrats on filibustering judges. Though he signed it, he didn't write McCain Feingold. Though he did support it, he didn't write McCain Kennedy.

Bush is guilty of not communicating a message that would sell his policies and advance Conservative/Republican principles but he doesn't control the NRCC or the NRSC, and he didn't prevent the RNC with coming up with a message that would sell and promote it themselves!

The problem with the Republican brand is that we stopped being the Party of ideas and became the party of acquiring perpetual power for unprincipled politicians.

Blaming Bush for all the GOPs woes has some Merit but he can't be blamed for it all. The fact that Republican leadership is trying to lay it all at his feet just shows that they haven't learned the lessons of 2006, and they won't fix anything till after they're handed their heads in 2008!

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5 5 5 nt by Jaded

Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion

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Ace that is the fundamental problem with our political system by Joliphant

Ideas get you elected but the misuse of the powers of the incumbency keeps you there.

Their people and our people both enjoyed being elected to office but their people never had the pretense of representing anything but graft.

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777

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I'd say it applies by aceintx

their people never had the pretense of representing anything but graft.

I'd say it applies to the current bunch of Republicans now!

Help!!/
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”

Reply To This — User Info — #4

And a recommend for the above comment by Joliphant

Well worth the read should be full diary in itself.

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777

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Thanks for the props...I might expend it and post it on it's own by aceintx

Thanks for the props...I might expend it and post it on it's own

Help!!/
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”

Reply To This — User Info — #6

I didn't say he was solely responsible by bs

nor did Noonan - "...and his party and its leaders..."

Your statement

The problem with the Republican brand is that we stopped being the Party of ideas and became the party of acquiring perpetual power for unprincipled politicians

is dead on. I made a comment similar to that the other day.

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