There mainstream media and the Left are all over themselves in recent weeks, trying to pin Republicans down on who leads our party. Is Rush Limbaugh our leader? Is it Mitch McConnell? Or is it Sarah Palin, or John Boehner, or Michael Steele, or someone else?
You can rest assured of two things:
- The only reason they want to know is so that they can figure out whom to destroy, and;
- It doesn’t matter.
The Republican party doesn’t have one leader right now. And that’s OK. It’s not a bad thing that a party which has been decimated in two successive elections, and which has no power in Washington, is not seen as having any one leader. The good news is that everyone who aspires to leadership agrees on the need for the GOP to get back to advocating smaller and more responsible government, more individual freedom, and strong national defense. On these points, there’s a stunning degree of unity.
It’s worth contrasting that with the Democratic party, which is torn by internal conflicts on a host of issues: the war on terror, treatment of detainees, deficits, spending, health care, energy reform, taxation, guns, ethics, congressional reform, etc. Perhaps the media should be asking who leads the Democratic party. Is it the same liberals who have been ascendant since the 1970s - people like Charlie Rangel, Henry Waxman, Barney Frank, and others - or is it the rump group of moderates and Blue Dogs who are afraid of being punished for adopting the liberal policies that the party nominally holds? Because Congressional leaders are spending more time threatening and cajoling dissidents than they are implementing their policies.
Who leads the Republicans? No one. But even ‘leaderless,’ we’re doing better in many ways than the Democrats. And that’s OK; it’s normal for a party out of power. If you don’t believe me, you can even ask David Axelrod. Here’s part of an article from USA Today, almost exactly 8 years ago:
USA TODAY
August 8, 2001, Wednesday, FINAL EDITION
No clear leader of Dems, poll says
BYLINE: Susan Page
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 1AWASHINGTON — Former vice president Al Gore begins his return to the political scene this weekend with events in Nashville, and former president Bill Clinton opened his office in Harlem last week with a celebration that drew live coverage on cable TV.
But more than six months after a Republican president took over the White House, neither Gore nor Clinton nor anyone else has emerged as the clearly recognized leader of the opposition.
Asked who is the leader of the Democratic Party, a 51% majority in a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll didn’t have an opinion.
The next most frequent answer, at 10%: No one.
The findings illustrate a classic problem for the party out of power: It doesn’t speak with a single voice. That can make it more difficult to articulate a coherent case against the side that claims the presidential bully pulpit.
“It’s the nature of being the party out of power,” says David Axelrod, a Democratic consultant based in Chicago.
Democratic strategist Gina Glantz calls the scattered results “symptomatic of what happens when a new president arrives on the scene and everything is reactive to him.”
Does the out-of-power party need a leader? Ask David Axelrod. He’s the genius who gets the credit for the bang-up job Democrats are doing with supermajorities in both the House and Senate, and the White House.
Why would we need just 1?
paint_it_red Thursday, June 11th at 6:16PM EDT (link)Was my thought whenever hearing Carville turn his firepower from Bush to Limbaugh. Limbaugh is a leader for many conservatives. So is Steele. So is Jindal, Palin, Romney, and many many others.
So long as we are organized and moving forward, we don’t need one central charismatic leader. Its 2009, not 2012.
“It is not good to cultivate a respect so much for the law as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think is right.” Henry David Thoreau
“The means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.” Martin Luther King Jr.
“If you want peace, work for Justice.” Pope John Paul II
*They* think we need one
Neil Stevens Friday, June 12th at 6:22AM EDT (link)Leader Principle and all that. There must be one Leader at the top.
Want to run for conservatives? Give.
There Is No Crisis
Old, Angry, Rich, White Men, That's Who
Swamp_Yankee Thursday, June 11th at 6:19PM EDT (link)At least that’s the stereotype they want to perpetuate. I disagree to some extent that they will automatically seek to destroy the leader. I think they like parading Dick Cheney, Newt and Rush out there. They are polorizing figures and they have no shot of winning an election. I think its funny when I hear media talking heads discussing Newt or Cheney on the 2012 ticket. Its a complete joke, but they want instill that image of the GOP. The foundation for their whole movement, and their current majorities, is identity politics and victimization.
Not Dead Yet!
I have yet to hear a credible answer...
Moe Lane Thursday, June 11th at 6:30PM EDT (link)…to the question, “Right now, what do we need a leader for?”
It’ll be nice to have one for the 2012 elections, sure, but we have a mechanism for that. In the meantime, the only purpose picking one would have would be to give the Democrats someone to shoot at.
No thanks.
Check out my new blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (blogging-related) wish list.
and more time for Republicans
JLenardDetroit Thursday, June 11th at 6:42PM EDT (link)some anyway, to complain about how that person wasn’t/isn’t their First choice and feed right into the Media feeding R infighting BS [MSM uses snippets out of context to feed Republican in-fighting narrative additional commentary on that here (speaking out against SoSo discussion) and here or try the MSM challenge - The "Pretend you're a Liberal MSM reporter (and Spin the story)" Challenge]
+working together - The “Pretend you’re a Liberal Report (and spin the story)” Challenge plus standing up about working together
+Media feeding R infighting - MSM uses snippets out of context to feed Republican in-fighting narrative additional commentary on that here (speaking out against SoSo discussion) and here
+MSM challenge - The “Pretend you’re a Liberal MSM reporter (and Spin the story)” Challenge
(RS:Help) (JLD) (Hollyweird) (Brain-deads) (SPIN-cycle) (Obamaocare) (Party of kNOw) (Conservatism) (TEApeats) (respectful) (Reco) (Quotes) (removeRINOs.com) (Merry RSmas)
+ 0bama Lies & your Bank acct will Die! (4/15 Truthers)
+ Heil “O” Hell No Obamao is NOT MY PRESIDENT! “No U won’t”
+ I want “O” to FAIL (here, here, & whole Diary (Ofail) here, is why)
“The first Liberal was Satan” - a Rush caller (other Quotes)
Agree
tarheels23 Thursday, June 11th at 7:00PM EDT (link)(liberal poster)
Prior to 12/07, Hillary Clinton was the presumed Dem nominee and one who would sail through the convention.
So, if Gallup gets the same results it did this week in 1/12, maybe this talking point will merit discussion.
In the meantime, the 2010 elections will be a cattle call for Republicans to speak in unity and also co-opt Blue Dog Dems in more conservative districts to advance their cause.
At this point, I think both sides have opportunities to gain seats on the other, and the issue has been confused by Specter in PA and Crist in FL. Can’t wait. I hate the offseason.
We conservatives know what we wantand that
bobojake Thursday, June 11th at 6:45PM EDT (link)is to stop anymore rape of the taxpayers by Senators and Congressman in Washington DC and especially the Whitehouse and obamas’ thugs with foney fraudulent bills like the ARRA(America Rape and Reaping ACT).
We don’t want to double the costs of electricity, double the cost of food, double the cost gasoline, and double the cost of consumers good with obama Crap and Shove foney Carbon TAX.
Is that enough to stop in the next 6 months then we can throw anybody out that votes for obama obombanomics that has already obombed?????
I know! I know!
Lammo Thursday, June 11th at 6:48PM EDT (link)Isn’t the first thing space aliens say when they encounter Earthlings “Take me to your leader”? Just sayin’.
ACORN: Association of Criminals Obama Represented in the Nineties. (jupitersuite)
Don’t be so open minded that your brains fall out. (Fr. John Corapi, SOLT)
Crime never takes a holiday. (Dennis J. O’Shea, R.I.P.)
Unlawful is against the law. Illegal is a sick bird. (Ooold joke)
Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read. (Groucho Marx)
and they take them to the Teleprompter
tjexcite Thursday, June 11th at 9:04PM EDT (link)nt
Long Live George W. Bush liberator of Millions
Don't you all get it? We eat leaders for breakfast! Aren't they delicious? ;)
Cheetah772 Thursday, June 11th at 7:02PM EDT (link)nt
Daniel 2:20 And he [God] changeth the times and seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.
I am Spartacus...
furious Thursday, June 11th at 7:23PM EDT (link)…not we all should end up crucified along the Via Appia, or anything, but we all should step up, and make our presence felt and our voices heard. Voting, volunteering, calling in, letting our local CBS affiliate and their advertisers know how we feel about David Letterman vs. Willow Palin.
[Your City Here] Tea Party is a good place to start.
–furious
“I find your lack of faith disturbing.” — Darth Vader
When is the Republican "leadership" going to stop pretending it's a serious question?
randy streu Thursday, June 11th at 7:57PM EDT (link)Really. It ought to be a top-down policy that, no matter who asks the “who speaks for the GOP” question, the answer should always be, “your mom.”
Excellent post, Brian.
Blogging also at
SLC Republitarian
The Minority Report
The Real Leaders of the Republican Party
Linda_Shook Thursday, June 11th at 9:09PM EDT (link)The real leaders of the Republican Party are the grassroots activists in every precinct, in every county, across the country. All we need are strong, articulate conservative candidates we can get excited about.
Yeh, we don't need a "leader" with catchy slogans.
jeffreywturner Thursday, June 11th at 9:27PM EDT (link)We actually have the ability to form coherent thoughts on our own, instead of just shouting meaningless phrases like “yes we can” or “hope and change”.
“Life is too short, can’t we all just eat pork and kill some terrorists?”
I Know Who Speaks For Republicans
Dan McLaughlin Friday, June 12th at 12:39AM EDT (link)the voters, that’s who. And sooner or later, they’ll make themselves heard.
“No compromise with the main purpose, no peace till victory, no pact with unrepentant wrong.” - Winston Churchill
5, for the GOP voters must be heard -nt-
molybdanthan Friday, June 12th at 12:55AM EDT (link)Kowalski, because...
molybdanthan Friday, June 12th at 1:01AM EDT (link)“error needs the support of government, truth can stand on its own.” –Thomas Jefferson.
The leaders of yore are with us always, whispering their wisdom.
We don’t need a leader now to tell us which way the wind blows.
What individual freedoms?
Theresa Friday, June 12th at 3:15AM EDT (link)The Republican party is doing everything possible to prevent and obstruct the encompassing concept of We The People from exercising their individual freedoms. Unless you carry the party line, and its tenets, you’re out.
At least the Democrats permit, and encourage, differences in the party and try to work for compromise in a bill, from within and outside the party. When was the last time that happened when Republicans were in power?
Blah blah blah
Neil Stevens Friday, June 12th at 3:33AM EDT (link)Give it up. John had his Global Test stuffed back in his face by the American people.
G’bye, and go back to masturbating to The Leader or whatever it is you do.
Want to run for conservatives? Give.
There Is No Crisis
The inquiring command-and-control mindset wants to know
6eorge Jetson Friday, June 12th at 5:25AM EDT (link)I suppose that’s important to those that want to appropriate more of our resources and use them as Dear Leader sees fit.
I want my freedom. If that means my mental box of “Republican leader” goes unfilled for a while, that’s a teeny price to pay.