Part of the necessary discussion in the post-2008 world of politics for the Republican party is matching, or better yet jumping ahead of, the technology-based operation created by the Obama campaign. To some degree there are legitimate questions as to how well that individual campaign phenomena (both the structure and the people-fueled enthusiasm) can be replicated by other Democrats. Nonetheless, the bar has been set. Now, it must be equaled or raised.
This is a core subject of the "Rebuild the Party" effort I've endorsed. One of the benefits of that effort is more robust and timely discussion of the topic.
Recently, RNC Chair candidate Chip Saltsman weighed in with some relevant observations regarding "online tactics and strategy." GOP online hand Michael Turk followed with both lauding and a critique (plus notable amplification from compatriot Patrick Ruffini). Saltsman responded in what amounted to a productive dialogue.
Now, I don't actually embrace Saltsman for chair. I'd prefer a non-Southerner given the current lay of the land, as well as a chair who has not worked directly for any serious, potential contender in 2012. Nonetheless, this is the sort of discourse that not only needs to happen, the fruits of it need to be implemented. Online engagement can't just be an arm of the party, it needs to be infused throughout it.
Posted by Eric Earling at December 15, 2008 08:02 AM | Email ThisAddress that, and the rest will follow.
Posted by: Andrew Brown on December 15, 2008 08:10 AMSteele is the guy.
Yes, we do need to expand our online presence. In addition to a full time minority outreach program for the WSRP (which I've advocated for the past 8 years or so... which we've need for the past 20 years or so.... and which we still don't have...) we should have a full time web presence built on the framework of that neo-comm outfit, moveon.org.
In addition to that, we should put up web sites on every democrat incumbent and candidate. We should keep them updated on a daily basis with their latest shenanigans. The GOP campaigns could drive traffic to those websites all the time... there being no scramble for information that we've been collecting all along, since we'd already have it.
All incumbents should have sites up on all of the social networks, sites frequently updated. All should blog their sites; they should be as interactive as possible.
These things don't guarantee wins... and if you're a moron like Brown, nothing you say or do will make any difference to his ilk anyway.
But if a candidate wants to project an image online (and any serious candidate should)... then this is one way to do it.
Posted by: Hinton on December 15, 2008 09:45 AMUsing technology MIGHT eliminate that problem. However, technology won't solve the problem of running a candidate who doesn't embrace the principles and, therefore, can't energize the party.
If the party wants to adopt technology, then dump ALL the existing caucuses, primaries, and conventions and do it ALL on line--campaigning, primaries, conventions. When it comes to selecting THE candidate, do that on line, too.
Unfortunately local GOP leadership has gone with the philosphy of lead whether people follow or not and ignore principle. Not sure how that was supposed to work!
Posted by: Lysander on December 15, 2008 12:07 PMPaul supports abolishing the income tax, reducing federal spending to probably about 1/10th of what it is now. Ending social security, a re-privatization of the health and education industry, a complete reversal of all gun laws that violate the 2nd amendment (all of them basically).
You call that leftist? Perhaps this is a problem with the republican party... they called everyone a leftist moron and they were left with no one to vote for them or visit their websites???
Sarah Palin would be good as a Senator or Gov. but is not future Presidential material. She is good at spreading the message and her actions will help.
Posted by: KS on December 15, 2008 08:42 PMUnfortunately it appears that it's going take this country one county at a time to move in the right direction.
There was only one Republican campaign that was able to use the web in a positive way, the difference for the Paul campaign is that it had a legion of supporters doing all the work for them. The McCain Campaign had to hire the legions themselves. Obama and Dean were also able to use the web, and they were successful because of good marketing and they each had enough supporters doing the work to make the difference.
We know what this country needs, we know what it wants, now lets go out and make it happen.
Posted by: Michael Cathcart on December 16, 2008 06:56 PMRepublicans who run for office also need to be schooled in debate, since many of them aren't lawyers - such as most of the Democrat candidates are. Marketing is important, but so is communication, one area that they are lacking in - resonating to the electorate is important. Thinking outside of the box will be required for Republican candidates to make gains in 2010 and 2012 as long as those who run are not neo-conservatives.
Posted by: KS on December 16, 2008 09:20 PMPaul also had great debating skill. I remember on more than one occasion him getting into a skuffle in the debates with the lawyer Guilliani only to crush him with supporting facts and having guiliani respond either with "9/11" or some wise ass comment trying to dismiss Paul.
Why the GOP leadership still is trying to keep Paul and his supporters out of the GOP instead of embracing them is beyond me. The only explanation I can find reasonable is they do not support smaller government despite what they say. The rank and file that I beleive do support smaller government need to wake up and boot these thugs out of their positions of power within the party!
Posted by: Lysander on December 17, 2008 05:58 PM