May 14, 2008
Re: Got Message?
Follow-up to this post:
Last night's special election results in Mississippi confirm that yes, indeed, the generic GOP message is exceptionally bad these days. It had already grown stale by 2006, even before the Duke Cunningham's and Mark Foley's of the world poisoned the well with vigor. Yet, as Patrick Ruffini has discussed, that which is being communicated by notable portions of the Republican Party in this cycle is remarkably insufficient and uninspiring.
NRCC head Tom Cole has now issues a very public warning:
the political environment is such that voters remain pessimistic about the direction of the country and the Republican Party in general. Therefore, Republicans must undertake bold efforts to define a forward looking agenda that offers the kind of positive change voters are looking for.
Exactly. Any Republican that doesn't is likely to get whipped at this point, deservedly so. That was the whole point of our discussion a few days ago.
Posted by Eric Earling at May 14, 2008
07:22 AM | Email This
1. '..efforts to define a forward looking agenda..'
May I add (between the words 'a' and 'forward') the most operative word 'realistic'. :)
2. Given your confirmed lack of ability in the area, I don't think so... but thanks for the offer.
3. I was talking to your hero Sir Dino, sir! :)
4. The generic GOP message is great. It's candidates that completely ignore the whole small government more freedom part of it and do the exact opposite that make it look bad.
5. And the issue then is this: What qualifies? What, exactly, is that message? What does the GOP keep? What is jettisoned? Where does the quality of the candidates running come into play? What about the competency level of the party organizations?
The knee-jerk here is to blame the message. There are so many other facets that come into play before the message ever sees daylight... and yet those areas are rarely examined or critiqued.
If your candidate sucks, your message will not matter. If your campaign sucks, your message won't matter. If your party organization sucks, as the GOP state organization generally, and King County specifically, suck... again, your message won't matter, because no one will hear it.
I submit that massive changes in the GOP approach to running candidates and campaigns must take place before they fine-tune a message that has served them well in the past and will serve them equally well in the future.
That "suburban crescent" nonsense got us no where... and that was all about the "message" as well. (Oh... wait a minute. It DID get us a couple of electeds that ditched the GOP as soon as the winds changed... I'll grant you that.)
Emphasis on the "roof" has to come AFTER emphasis on the "foundation."
Any Republican that doesn't get that is likely to get whipped at this point, deservedly so.
6. Uh, dude, it's not the message that got us into all these messes; it's the policies. Hard right conservatives got just about everything they wanted over the last eight years, and all the rest of us are left suffering with the results. Better messages won't do the trick. We need better policies and that's why Republicans are losing all these special elections - in very Republican districts.
7. Bill..
Hard right???????? say what.
No the RINO's got what they wanted and as we can all see the American people said NO-thanks!
When the rinos went on a spending spree. We all took a step back.
The REP party needs to return back to less gov spending and less gov.
8. BillL You are wrong. The moderate Republicans and liberals got most of what they wanted. Senior Drug Program and Most Expansive Department of Education. Liberals wanted more money for these programs the Conservatives got to put a limit on the size of the programs. That is what you get when you work on programs with democrats. Big programs that waste money instead of looking at let the states get grants to run the programs and see which ones work and which fail. One size does not fit all.
We need to move back to States being more responsible for their own backyards instead of demanding Federal funding to do their budgets and projects. IF the states had to foot the bill by themselves you would see more resonable state programs. INstead we get Federal control Federal rules that some states do not like A one system fits all model. It doesnt work that way. WE are 50 states Each state has its own issues many states fail and become broken over time because of Political Favors. But they can look to other states that are succeeding and prospering to get ideas on how to make their state better. That is called Statesmanship Doing whats best for the State not whats best for the party. Buy votes with tax dollars is a bad way to go. Buy votes with promises of Citizenship very bad policy. Buy votes by blocking drilling for Oil to keep those vocal interests groups happy. It is interesting in this country that a handful of people prevent drilling any oil in this country. Two ways to do it Add more taxes and regulations so it is not cost effective to drill for oil at 30 per barrel not worth it at 100 to 200 sure they can make a profit over government regulations and taxes. THe other way is use the courts to block any drilling. Delay so that it costs even more to do the drilling. Lawyers love this because it makes them millionaires.
Always at the cost of we the people have to give more money that has to be used to give to the lawyers that prevent more oil to come to market and could cause the costs to drop. Our tax dollars support lawyers who sue to prevent becoming energy independent.
Republicans can win big time again but they have to be willing to talk the talk and then show success at getting it done. 2000 election President Bush said we needed over a hundred new refineries in this country. In 7 years where did they even build one. Oh yes in India, In the EU to refine oil to bring gas to the US. We build jobs in other countries because the regulations and political attacks against those who would make us stronger. CHeaper to do it overseas than here in the US. Fix the Regulation and the cost to do business in this country the jobs will come back. Make it more expensive to have employees in the US well they will do like Microsoft build overseas and get more people hired in other countries to do the work because it is both cheaper and less paperwork.
9. It was the property rights revolt in the early 90s that fired the '94 revolution and yet we here nothing now.
10. A big reason why Democrats are winning these seats is that they are running CONSERVATIVE democrats against incumbent Republicans. They are not running to the left, they are running to the right of the GOP, at least in the south. If the GOP would stick to the base that has stuck with them for the past 20+ years, they wouldn't be losing these seats, if anything they would be picking some up. And that includes the Northwest.
It's not rocket science.
11. Thank you, the orb.
What pubbies here don't seem to get is a Scoop Jackson dem can win any where in the state, including the urban areas. He came out of Sno County and was elected because he was pragmatic and had principles. A rightwing pubbie can only win in rural areas and small towns. The state is urbanizing, so there are fewer areas receptive to an extreme message. The pubbies have driven ALL people out of the party who can win in urban areas. I suppose a Scoop Jackson type would be considered a RINO. This will be a one-party state for the foreseeable future because the dems will recruit and run Scoop Jackson dems in Eastern Washington and more conservative areas of the state.
A one-party state benefits no one.
12. YOU ARE CORRECT, SIR!!! :)
13. It's not like the GOP doesn't have plenty of ammunition. Democrats voted down for the ump-teenth time, a GOP Proposal for opening up domestic oil drilling. Democrats as totally upside down on Immigration vs. the American People. JUST THOSE TWO ISSUES are enough to do the job is Republicans could just grow a spine and start HAMMERING Democrats on them. But the GOP are too "gentlemenly"... too STUPID I'd say...to duke it out over things that real conservatives care about. McCain is busy brown nosing the Global Warming hoax crowd. WHY? They aren't going to vote for him no matter what he says or does. Nope, this election will be a bloodbath for the GOP.
14. Let's again take a look at what this same Mr. Cole said immediately after the 2006 election:
"Oh, I don't think the problem was spending," Cole said. "People who argue that we lost because we weren't true to our base, that's just wrong."
So, you'll pardon me if I think Mr. Cole is full of it when it comes to 'offering positive change'.
He didn't 'get it' then. He - and the rest of the GOP leadership in DC - don't 'get it' now.
Screw 'em.
15. Duffman,
I am she. The boys call me Mr., especially when they are angry at something I said, even though they have the full dossier. This is a partisan site, but because it is the new public square, many post here to prevent it from being unchallenged propoganda.
16. Gotcha! sorry 'bout that. :)
17. I found the problem. All GOPers want to do is drill drill drill. The only people who agree with this solution are the oil companies and their shareholders. The GOP will never be successful unless it pulls control of the party from large multinational corporations.
Oh here's my proof.
"A bipartisan national survey has found that by a margin of 53 percent to 35 percent, Americans oppose proposals to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The bipartisan telephone poll of 1,003 registered voters was conducted January 13-17, 2005, by Republican firm Bellwether Research and Democratic pollsters Lake, Snell, Perry and Associates for the Alaska Coalition, an alliance of national and local groups who favor protection for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge."
Duh!
18. Duffman,
No worries. Even though this is a private site and I imagine the original intent was to fire up the partisan troops, it is read by many. The folks in charge should get use to the fact that people of all opinions post here and although, the site owner can BAN folks, to be BANNED because one expresses opinions you don't like or to use anonymous monikers to attack people for their opinions is really not going to get anyone's message out. In fact, it is UNAMERICAN. If people have superior ideas, they should be able to make an argument to advance those ideas. the marketplace of ideas will sort it out.
19. Yeah, I know you were banned by 'Pudge' and I could never really understand that? He is so articulate (& talented) can't imagine why he would want or need to ban ANYone. :)
20. Agree with No. 14.
Also, Mr. Cole doesn't practice what he preaches. From this recent pulpit: Therefore, Republicans must undertake bold efforts to define a forward looking agenda that offers the kind of positive change voters are looking for.
In practice: his latest NRCC mailer was over the top with hysterics, screeching that those horrible Democrats might win the election and institute horrible policies. His offers of 'positive change'? ZERO.
I sent him a letter recently, suggesting that he and the whole NRCC resign and leave the leadership open to some new blood who might have real ideas, and the ability to propose some positive changes, instead of waving the Pelosi caricature and screeching BOO!
21. Please continue to fight amongst yourselves. Thank you.
22. Well, Dems... the difference between your lot and ours is that we really do have a big tent that practices genuine tolerance, instead of the faux variety practiced on the left.
We actually welcome discussion of our differences. Your sort, on the other hand... well, ask Brian Baird if leftist tolerance is real.
23. "...the site owner can BAN folks, to be BANNED because one expresses opinions you don't like or to use anonymous monikers to attack people for their opinions is really not going to get anyone's message out."
Umm yeah, tell that to the liberal nazi that runs the Soundoffs over at the P-I. Liberals can post like they're at HA, but if you're a Conserative, you're usually banned within a week or so after all the tolerant lefties "report a violation".
24. People who oppose drilling are responding to liberal propaganda and fear mongering. However, I must state that I am also against drilling for the sake of drilling. I am FOR drilling in the context of a comprehensive plan which will make us energy independent (at least from people who want to kill us). I want full scale nuclear power, tidal and wave power, solar power, geothermal power, and friggin hamster power if that is what it takes to get us free of Arab/Venezuelan/Russian oil.
The problem is NEITHER party is talking about it. It's the 6000 pound gorilla in the living room and we're treating it like a pesky poodle. Either we get serious or we perish. It won't take that long if the anti-US forces in the oil producing world ever decide to cut us off. What choice would we have then? Go GET the oil via military means, or what??? Who has the answer? This election should be about long term energy independence, stopping illegal immigration, and stopping another 9/11, (including one that will happen in Israel if Iran has it's way).
25. Scott right on. But as long as politicians only listen to special interests with deep pockets. We will never get a solution.
26. Rick D,
I said that the bloggers here, and HA run private sites, but if a site purports to freely discuss political issues, in most cases, BANNING is UNAMERICAN and that includes HA. If either side CANNOT argue their philosophy and convince the electorate that they have the better mousetrap, as it were, they don't deserve to be elected. Both this site and HA are the new public square and the issues should be discussed.
27. i agree with hinton at 5. what is the message? the only thing i hear from r's is the perennial "they will raise your taxes" and the topical "rev. wright." r's don't think the government should do anything at all, they want to take it over to put it out of business, like a recent libertarian candidate for wa sec state whose one and only campaign promise was to do away with the office.
28. ..whoops, it was lieutenant governor, not sec state,
29. "I said that the bloggers here, and HA run private sites, but if a site purports to freely discuss political issues, in most cases, BANNING is UNAMERICAN..."
WVH~ you speak of being "BANNED", but somehow you're still able to post on every thread at this site...
Because someone has decided not to engage you in your particular 'circular logic' on this site does not mean they've banned you, it simply means they've weighed the "Time spent vs. Productivity resulting from it" and decided it wasn't worth pursuing.