Two markedly different paths forward have emerged for Republicans as they decide how to rebuild and compete in the 2010 elections. These divergent paths have been characterized by the politically similar, Glenn Beck and Joe Scarborough.
Both pundits have an affable personality, but their styles are far apart. Beck makes emotional appeals and frequently embraces conspiracy theories. Scarborough focuses on reason and practical policy solutions. There is a place for emotional appeals but there must be more for a party to move forward. Practical communication of conservative principles, in Scarborough’s style, is the key to the rebirth of the Republican brand.
Republicans must overcome President Obama’s personal popularity to succeed in the 2010 midterms and in 2012. The President ran as the anti-Bush who would be all things to all people. Unlike President Obama’s 2008 campaign strategy, Republicans can’t simply run on the fact that they aren’t their opponent. While the President’s policies are losing traction with independents, his personal popularity is too strong of an asset to compete against as the anti-Obama party.
Beck attempts to appeal to the public as a likeable ordinary guy. This style will lead to a doomsday for Republicans and will squander an opportunity because it fights against the President’s primary strength, likeability. Scarborough attempts to shape the debate by putting forth practical policy suggestions. This style is a winner because it emphasizes the President’s weakness in shaping the policy debate.
President Obama has a unique ability to sell the public pseudo-truths. A recent example is the illogical idea that he can easily cut hundreds of billions of dollars in waste from Medicare without a decline in the level of care. Republicans need someone who can counter this preposterous rhetoric but do so in a style that maintains their likability across a broad swath of America.
Beck’s style has the ability to emotionally galvanize red states but it isn’t enough to win national elections. Scarborough’s even-handed style, with its practical application of conservative principles, can appeal to moderate blue and red states. For the GOP to capitalize on the President’s declining popularity, adopting Scarborough’s style is their last best hope at speaking truth to power and pointing out that the emperor has no clothes. Conveniently, the Nobel Peace Prize winner is supplying them with ample material.
I agree and disagree
makemyday Sunday, November 15th at 10:55AM EST (link)Scarborourgh’s style is calming and placating but informative, Beck’s style is high energy, alarming but informative. Under other circumstances Scarborough would work for keeping us informed but these are not normal circumstances. Never in the history of America has there been such a devious assault on our basic beliefs. There simply is no time for a Joe Scarborough to cut to the chase and inform enough people of what is transpiring. We need a Beck to slap faces, say wake up America and see for yourselves what is happening. Perhaps there will be a tipping point sometime in the near future where Joe’s approach will suffice but I don’t see it near term. Presently Beck is the way to wake people up. He is the slap in face, the splash of cold water, the smelling salt of America and I for one am glad he is on our side.
When all else fails…….. Shoot!
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” –American author Mark Twain (1835-1910)
“We should never despair, our Situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new Exertions and proportion our Efforts to the exigency of the times.” –George Washington, letter to Philip Schuyler, 1777
Sorry, I left this out
makemyday Sunday, November 15th at 11:00AM EST (link)I like them both but one without the other is fighting with one hand tied behind our backs. They should be considered as a “One Two Punch” where we wind them up and turn them loose.
Good diary BTW!
When all else fails…….. Shoot!
“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” –American author Mark Twain (1835-1910)
“We should never despair, our Situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new Exertions and proportion our Efforts to the exigency of the times.” –George Washington, letter to Philip Schuyler, 1777
Different Purposes
joejharvey Sunday, November 15th at 11:09AM EST (link)Beck definitely does a great job at pointing out what is going. The conservative movement needs people doing that. Look at what he did to Anita Dunn. But, someone like Beck shouldn’t be the same person you have out there on Meet the Press and Fox News Sunday debating policy issues. He’s too devisive and the conversation would be more about him instead of the socialist hell BO is pushing us towards. Scarborough is a good guy for policy debates and he has them every morning on his show.
I understand your point about needing to warn people about what is going on. But the person who brings things out in the open isn’t necessarily the same personality you want representing the movement. Both have important roles.
Thx for the feedback!
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Beck doesn't just spout wild conspiracy theories
bk Sunday, November 15th at 11:10AM EST (link)He methodically points out documented link after link between point A and point B. So instead of claiming some “nutcase conspiracy” he twists it so that only a nutcase can claim these are just isolated instances and coincidences.
The thing I like about Beck is
gekster Sunday, November 15th at 11:35AM EST (link)not so much that he wants you to believe in what he is saying, but wants you to THINK about what he is saying.
He lays the cards on the table, (or in many cases chalkboard,) asks you to look closely, and make up your own mind.
He’s not pushing what he says, justs asks you to examine and make up your own mind.
As for Joe, I’ve seen him enough to (IMO)
rate him with Newt.
Again, IMO.
A political party cannot be all things to all people.
It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.
Ronald Reagan
Every deer hunter in Michigan still likes to take a shot at a squirrel, rabbit, or even a troll every now and then.
I VERY MUCH disagree....
JadedByPolitics Sunday, November 15th at 12:48PM EST (link)Scarborough is exactly the type of liberal Republican who goes along to get along placating the left to win votes ie: Crist, Gingrich etc.
Glenn Beck is NOT a Republican BTW he is an Independent just because of those go along get along Republicans who have led us down this path of socialism…..he explains quite well what a slow slide we have been under for decades and that Reagan was the ONLY President to have slowed down the SLIDE! To say that Beck could NOT get people to the voting booth and the Scarborough could is absolutely WRONG! I forward you to NY-23 and who made that push? oh yeah all those “extremist” in the party, Rush, Beck, Palin, Thompson, Erickson! I as a GRASSROOTS BOOTS ON THE GROUND MONEY SUPPLYING CONSERVATIVE will take those PRINCIPLED people over a Scarborough, Gingrich, KBH, Crist, Graham ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!
WE are Conservatives FIRST Republicans SECOND and WE WANT OUR COUNTRY BACK!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
555!
Vegas_Rick Sunday, November 15th at 12:59PM EST (link)Scarborough has turned into a beltway elite. Alinsky Democrats simply love reasonable Republicans. They are much easier to slap around.
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge.
Yeah Vegas don't cha just loooovvvve those who come here....
JadedByPolitics Sunday, November 15th at 1:25PM EST (link)and tell US the GRASSROOTS how WE should receive those who WE agree with and those WE don’t. It is always Joe RINO Scarborough and Glenn crazy Beck! I will take a Glenn Beck who has brought this President’s numbers down to the 50% mark with ACORN, Jones, Dunn etc ANY DAY OF THE WEEK! W/O Beck and Big Government PUSHING those stories everyone and I mean everyone who is NOT on the internet would believe The Won was wonderful!
SCREW the “big tent” let us move forward and boldly without pastel colors……I will leave the rest of my statement for the BEST DAMN CONSERVATIVE WE HAVE HAD
“A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.
I do not believe I have proposed anything that is contrary to what has been considered Republican principle. It is at the same time the very basis of conservatism. It is time to reassert that principle and raise it to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way.”
So to all those Joe Scarborough lovers put that in your pipe and SMOKE IT!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
Joe Scarborough's a liberal???
joejharvey Sunday, November 15th at 5:31PM EST (link)What position does Joe have that is liberal? What does “go along to get along” even mean? Please tell me what is liberal about him. You can’t just make that statement without saying what you disagree with him about. He was involved in NY23. To quote Rush, “as far as I can tell, Hoffman was picked by Laura Ingraham and Joe Scarborough.” If Scarborough is such a big liberal, that must be news to Erick Erickson (the editor of RedState) as he is going to be on Joe’s radio show every Thursday from now on.
Beck lays things out and that is a good thing. But, he’s a somewhat controversial personality, just like Rush is. They both contribute significantly to conservatism but they serve a different purpose than a guy like Scarborough. Glenn Beck can’t be Glenn Beck in a policy debate on Fox News Sunday or MTP. They fulfill two different roles and we shouldn’t confuse the two.
You have to energize the grassroots and help shape the debate – Beck. But then you need someone who can articulate the debate in a way that is more palatable to independents – Scarborough. You can say, “screw the big tent,” but I’ll take the Haley Barbour position. You need votes or else the rest doesn’t really matter. A Mississippi conservative can’t get elected in Maine and a Maine conservative can’t get elected in Mississippi. They vote 90% together and are very similar on the ideological spectrum. You need both of their votes to be a majority party. Unless of course winning elections isn’t important and you want to continue down the current liberal big government road we are on.
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Ok I see your reply to apptitude has failed so here are my...
JadedByPolitics Sunday, November 15th at 6:48PM EST (link)examples…Joe thinks he knows it all - he doesn’t He allowed this FALSEHOOD about Republicans to go on! He went after Rush on Colin Powell WHO IS NOT A REPUBLICAN anyone who votes for a leftist is NOT a Republican and I will NEVER concede that EVER!
When WE were loving Joe Wilson because he called out Obama for LYING about ILLEGALS being covered in healthcare what does Joe do? he tweets this actually Joe you are a dumba@@
and this is a guy who is on OUR side?
you know Joe you are an IDIOT
“Michael Steele was the target of many a joke on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” after he apparently declined to appear on the show.
After asking where the RNC chairman was and what time he was scheduled to appear on the show this morning, host Joe Scarborough quipped, “Did Rush not give him permission?” ..
OBTW I could go ON AND ON where it concerns Joe Scarborough and his IGNORANCE and his playing to the liberals that infest his network but really you should look into more yourself!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
Oh and let me follow up with....
JadedByPolitics Sunday, November 15th at 6:55PM EST (link)When I watch Glenn Beck I never get ANGRY at him but I can tell you about 40% of the time IF I watch Joe I will. That is all I need to know about the two! Joe is MOST definitely of the school in which Newt, Crist, KBH, Graham, McCain all go to.
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
Oh joeharvey here is your BOY Scarborough at it again...
JadedByPolitics Monday, November 16th at 10:35AM EST (link)Can the Joe just GO on over to the DNC..yes he can!
” I know Howard Dean. I’ve spoken to Howard Dean. It is such a disservice to compare–forget ideology, conservatives!–I think Howard’s way left and all that. But it is such a disservice to compare Sarah Palin in any aspect to Howard Dean. Yes, because that is an insult to Howard Dean’s intelligence.”
If ANYONE thinks Howard Dean is smart well they are obviously as pathetically STUPID as Dean is…Scarborough is a JERK so please DO NOT come here and tell the GRASSROOTS who is best for them and who is not because usually the person “moderates” pick as best for us end up being RINO’s and that is NOT a moderate it is an ASS with a ELEPHANT head!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
Discussing vs Yelling
joejharvey Monday, November 16th at 5:55PM EST (link)The conservative movement needs to take a good hard look at how it debates. If every conversation is about picking sides and not about discussing ideas, we are doomed to elect more liberals. You haven’t really addressed any of my major points.
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WOW how bogus are you?....you asked how is...
JadedByPolitics Monday, November 16th at 6:06PM EST (link)Joe Scarborough liberal I gave you EXAMPLES you don’t like those examples so you use the canard of I didn’t address your major points…..OH YES I DID! your point as all moderates is the Glenn Beck is too “extreme” to bring voters to the booth and that “moderates” like Joe Scarborough will and I am here to tell you as one of at least 1 MILLION 9-12′er down in DC that INDEED Glenn Beck can bring the GRASSROOTS to the voting booth and that Joe Scarborough is so dismissive of the GRASSROOTS he couldn’t bring anything but the liberal Republican to the voting booth and in case you haven’t heard (NY23) the GRASSROOTS are the ones making the case for Conservatism NOT “moderates” like Scarborough.
NOW you tell me WHY should ANYONE listen to Scarborough? He is your man SELL HIM!
You NEED to take a HARD look at how to debate the Conservative Movement is JUST FINE and when WE sweep the 2010 elections RINO’s will be sitting on the sidelines watching!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
I'm not worried about overcoming Obama's "person" popularity.
penguin2 Monday, November 16th at 6:34PM EST (link)I see your diary as Beck and Conservative bashing. I live in Virginia, so does Jaded; the Independents in this state just sent a very clear message to the Left and Obama. They elected 3 known Conservatives in the top races, and downticket races also went GOP. I think Beck and conservatives are articulating the debate just fine to independents.
We aren’t trying to put a Mississippi Conservative in Maine, nor a Maine conservative in Mississippi. That is apples and oranges.
Try not to waste too much energy worrying about whether we can overcome Obama’s “personal” popularity. 10 months into his administration is showing he is taking care of that all by himself. At the end of the day, meaning elections 2010, his policies will far outweigh any residual likability he has.
Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.
Benjamin Franklin
2009 & the McDonnell model
joejharvey Monday, November 16th at 7:31PM EST (link)I like your Ben Franklin quote btw.
I’m not conservative bashing at all. I’m stating that there is a difference between prominent voices like Beck/Rush and pundits like Joe. They are both conservative but that doesn’t mean they have to agree 100% of the time. They are probably closer to 80-90%
“The person who agrees with you 80% of the time is a friend and ally, not a 20% traitor.” – Ronald Reagan
If you look at our success in 2009, McDonnell, Christie, and Hoffman all stuck to the issues and ran positive campaigns. To quote Rush, “conservatism sells itself, it’s obvious.” McDonnell stuck to the issues, stayed positive and embarassed Deeds. Christie laughed off the fat jokes, told Corzine to “man up and call me fat” and he won by a safe margin. These guys stuck to the issues and won. They didn’t get into talking about the other person’s motives and all of that. (I assume Hoffman would’ve won easily if there had been a primary instead of Scuzzy.)
If our movement is going to succeed, we shouldn’t mix up the roles of prominent personalities and pundit/politicians. Both sides should avoid tearing each other down. Both have done it and it doesn’t help conservatism. We need 41 seats in the House and 11 in the Senate. That means we really can’t afford to lose any votes. If that means a moderate Republican is the 41st or 11th vote, so be it. That’s a 100x better than not having the ability to control the agenda.
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Focus on Reagan's 80%
joejharvey Monday, November 16th at 8:59AM EST (link)Nobody gets to choose who is and isn’t a Republican. As Haley Barbour has said, the party needs a broad range of conservatives that can get elected all over the country if it is to be a majority party. Conservatives shouldn’t be “kicking out” anyone with whom they disagree with a small portion of the time. Scarborough has a 95% lifetime conservative rating with the ACU. That’s not conservative enough for you?
“The person who agrees with you 80% of the time is a friend and ally, not a 20% traitor.” – Ronald Reagan
The last chapter of Scarborough’s book talked about the success of Reagan’s tone and how it built up support for him and revitalized conservatism. Look what happened to conservatives in 2006 and 2008. In 2009, in VA and NJ, the conservatives ran positive solutions-based campaigns and pounded the liberal democrats. McDonnell and his campaign in VA is the model for conservatives to follow in 2010. His campaign wasn’t characterized by its furious anger; McDonnell focused on issues, spoke civilly, and SWAMPED Deeds.
I’ll restate my previous comments: What position does Joe have that is liberal? Please tell me what is liberal about him. Scarborough was involved in NY23. To quote Rush, “as far as I can tell, Hoffman was picked by Laura Ingraham and Joe Scarborough.” If Scarborough is such a big liberal, that must be news to Erick Erickson (the editor of RedState) as he is going to be on Joe’s radio show every Thursday from now on.
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Hey Joe learn reply it gives the appearance of intelligence..nt
JadedByPolitics Monday, November 16th at 6:09PM EST (link)..
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
If Joe is that articulate,
gunnerbs Monday, November 16th at 7:20PM EST (link)then why is he only talking to about 331K people? Seems to me he’d draw the crowds in to watch his show, if he had a message that resonated. Beck, on the other hand pulls in 2.7M to his TV show.
Joe was my Representative in FL1 back in the mid-90’s, and I didn’t have a problem with him. Unfortunately, he trends towards the squishy moderate line too often anymore, and I find myself less and less surprised at his comments–like that stupid Howard Dean line today.
I start with the premise that NO ONE has a right to my Life, Liberty, or Property. Beyond that I’m open to discussion.
———————————
When you send a contribution to the candidate you support, send a copy of the check, or at least a note to his or her opponent, telling them why your money didn’t go there!
Good Point
joejharvey Monday, November 16th at 8:07PM EST (link)Morning Joe’s 331k is significantly smaller than 2.7m but that’s also because it is in the morning and not in prime time. The show does well for the morning cable ratings. It might not do as well as F&F just because it’s not FNC. Scarborough’s show is the only MSNBC show I can stand. Lots of other people probably just leave it on FNC. But, on the other hand, Morning Joe probably is many people’s only exposure to conservatism (especially if they are watching MSNBC).
He’s moderate in his tone and he debates with liberals a lot. But is there any vote or policy position you have not been side/by/side with him on? He is against “stimulus”, HC, KSM on trial in NYC and believes PC crap was partially responsible for Ft Hood. He is for military tribunals, primary elections in NY23, GITMO, gun rights, lower taxes, smaller governemnt, and Obama making a decision on Afghan. That sounds conservative to me.
I’m not sure what is squishy about that. Is he a big supporter of any issue that redstate-ers would disagree with. My personal opinion is that Scarborough’s tone is more like McDonnell, Christie, and Hoffman’s. But, his on 25 hours a week so slip-ups are bound to happen. I’ll be the first to say, I’m not sure what was up with the Howard Dean line but I view it like Rush does. If you’re on the air for many hours every week, you say some things sometimes and it is best to take things iin their entirety.
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