How to Win and Keep Congress: A Drunken Road Map for Republicans
Well, well, well 100 hits in only three days. And on a Holiday weekend no less. Well done indeed. Now to the task at hand.
Men and women smarter and more experienced than I have talked ad nauseum about the growth over the last 20 years of the Republican party. I did not capitalize party because I do not mean registered members. Those numbers have not grown significantly in the decades of my life. The number of people who agree with and support the tenants of the Republican platform on the other hand, have swelled. While the Metropolis' of the east and west coasts rail against the Christian Right, and bemoan election results again and again, middle America has found each other and realized that we can all agree on many points:
1. America is not ready for Gay marriage, nor will it be anytime soon.
2. America does not think that abortion is a right. While we respect the private nature of a woman's medical decisions, we also respect the life of a fetus.
3. America does not like those that attack us or would attack us under the right circumstances. We care less about the method of apprehension than we do that they are caught and punished. We do not approve of torture, but we understand that a desperate enemy must be fought desperately.
4. America respects all religions and we expect ours to be respected as well.
I could go on but I think the point is made. Middle America is not Republican, it is not Democrat, it is America. The Republican party happens to be a little more American than the other guys that's all.
For the last decade, Republican's have not made great use of their position of power. During the Clinton years, instead of articulating their ideas and connecting with an often moderate President on a bipartisan agenda, they aired his dirty laundry in front of the entire world. Unnecessary and possibly damaging, except that it wasn't. After Bush's election they raided the pantry and sold their children's nest egg for a bottle of Thunderbird. Making deals with any lobbyist with a wallet and passing more pork than Jimmy Dean. Unnecessary, and possibly damaging, except it wasn't. They backed the President on a War that has turned sour and the majority of America now regrets. Unnecessary, and possibly damaging, except it wasn't. They pushed through the appointments of two Supreme Court Justices that the media and the opposition called radical and out of the mainstream. Unnecessary, and possibly damaging, except it won't be.
How can the Republican Party back unpopular wars and Justices, spend frivolously and without regard for deficits, and still hope to maintain control of (not one but) both houses of Congress? Simple really, the Democrats have apparently given up. I hear people complain about the absence of a viable third party, but I want to know what happened to the second one. The Democrats had an unbelievable opportunity to oust George W. in 2004. So great in fact that even with a shell of a candidate they almost managed to pull it off. The fact that they couldn't gives me great confidence that the Republicans will maintain most, if not all, of the national seats of power for most of my adult life.
On the other hand it scares me. A Party (even one I generally agree with) will become corrupt if left unchecked. And a corrupt Republican Party in control would only be slightly better than a Democratic Party in control. So, I therefore offer the following:
How to straighten out the Republican Party (Since we're going to be in power, we might as well use it correctly):
1. Follow John McCain. This cannot be stressed enough. He has (regardless of what you may have heard) fairly impeccable conservative credentials. Pro-life, anti-gay marriage, anti-gun control, sensible on immigration, Hawkish on foreign policy, aggressive on ethics violations and maintaining discipline fiscally
2. Stop driving wedge issues. America knows where we stand socially and they chose us. No need to give the other side excuses to shout.
3. Cut the pork and pass lobbying reform. Seriously...now. If in doubt about how to do this see suggestion #1
4. Pass sensible immigration reform. Give the conservatives a wall, give the latino's a guest worker program, and give us all a secure border.
5. Did I mention follow McCain?
John McCain is old that's true, but only Giuliani scores better in national polls about a theoretical '08 race, and besides Reagan was old and that worked out pretty well. He is not only where the Party needs to be, but where the country already is. If you have a McCain led Republican Party we don't need a third party anymore the "silent majority" of moderates would have found their place.
Men and women smarter and more experienced than I have talked ad nauseum about the growth over the last 20 years of the Republican party. I did not capitalize party because I do not mean registered members. Those numbers have not grown significantly in the decades of my life. The number of people who agree with and support the tenants of the Republican platform on the other hand, have swelled. While the Metropolis' of the east and west coasts rail against the Christian Right, and bemoan election results again and again, middle America has found each other and realized that we can all agree on many points:
1. America is not ready for Gay marriage, nor will it be anytime soon.
2. America does not think that abortion is a right. While we respect the private nature of a woman's medical decisions, we also respect the life of a fetus.
3. America does not like those that attack us or would attack us under the right circumstances. We care less about the method of apprehension than we do that they are caught and punished. We do not approve of torture, but we understand that a desperate enemy must be fought desperately.
4. America respects all religions and we expect ours to be respected as well.
I could go on but I think the point is made. Middle America is not Republican, it is not Democrat, it is America. The Republican party happens to be a little more American than the other guys that's all.
For the last decade, Republican's have not made great use of their position of power. During the Clinton years, instead of articulating their ideas and connecting with an often moderate President on a bipartisan agenda, they aired his dirty laundry in front of the entire world. Unnecessary and possibly damaging, except that it wasn't. After Bush's election they raided the pantry and sold their children's nest egg for a bottle of Thunderbird. Making deals with any lobbyist with a wallet and passing more pork than Jimmy Dean. Unnecessary, and possibly damaging, except it wasn't. They backed the President on a War that has turned sour and the majority of America now regrets. Unnecessary, and possibly damaging, except it wasn't. They pushed through the appointments of two Supreme Court Justices that the media and the opposition called radical and out of the mainstream. Unnecessary, and possibly damaging, except it won't be.
How can the Republican Party back unpopular wars and Justices, spend frivolously and without regard for deficits, and still hope to maintain control of (not one but) both houses of Congress? Simple really, the Democrats have apparently given up. I hear people complain about the absence of a viable third party, but I want to know what happened to the second one. The Democrats had an unbelievable opportunity to oust George W. in 2004. So great in fact that even with a shell of a candidate they almost managed to pull it off. The fact that they couldn't gives me great confidence that the Republicans will maintain most, if not all, of the national seats of power for most of my adult life.
On the other hand it scares me. A Party (even one I generally agree with) will become corrupt if left unchecked. And a corrupt Republican Party in control would only be slightly better than a Democratic Party in control. So, I therefore offer the following:
How to straighten out the Republican Party (Since we're going to be in power, we might as well use it correctly):
1. Follow John McCain. This cannot be stressed enough. He has (regardless of what you may have heard) fairly impeccable conservative credentials. Pro-life, anti-gay marriage, anti-gun control, sensible on immigration, Hawkish on foreign policy, aggressive on ethics violations and maintaining discipline fiscally
2. Stop driving wedge issues. America knows where we stand socially and they chose us. No need to give the other side excuses to shout.
3. Cut the pork and pass lobbying reform. Seriously...now. If in doubt about how to do this see suggestion #1
4. Pass sensible immigration reform. Give the conservatives a wall, give the latino's a guest worker program, and give us all a secure border.
5. Did I mention follow McCain?
John McCain is old that's true, but only Giuliani scores better in national polls about a theoretical '08 race, and besides Reagan was old and that worked out pretty well. He is not only where the Party needs to be, but where the country already is. If you have a McCain led Republican Party we don't need a third party anymore the "silent majority" of moderates would have found their place.
posted by Daddy Rogue at 10:54 PM
7 Comments:
Moderates do not all agree with each other. Anymore than Republicans all agree or Democrats all agree. However Moderates are divided up into Libertarians, Populists, Social conservatives etc. John McCain is a candidate that can win these votes (as well as a few Democratic ones) because unlike Bush, he has not tied himself to the Christian Right. He has in fact disagreed and disavowed some of its leaders (Jerry Fallwell and Pat Robertson) publicly. He has said, "I share the values and goals of the rank and file of the Christian right. I have supported many of the issues that had to do with family values. Where I have differed in the past and continue to differ with Mr. Falwell and Mr. Robertson is on issues such as President Clinton. I voted to impeach President Clinton. [But] I don’t believe he’s a murderer. I want the party of Abraham Lincoln, not the party of Bob Jones."
Source: GOP debate in Los Angeles Mar 2, 2000
Not only is he willing to stand up against leaders on the far-right, but he is willing to compromise with leaders on the left. His work with Senator Russ Feingold on the campaign reform bill. As well as cross aisle commradery with Joseph Lieberman is well known. He is viewed by the majority of Americans (and is in fact) pragmatic, realistic, and NOT idealistic. He is a President that could get a lot done, without one-sided control of Congress. Hope that answers your question and thanks for the comment.
thanks for the comment, youknowwho. and nice original post/response, joel.
i am crafting my response and should have someting in the next day or so.
the thing that mccain has going for him is that he is almost universally viewed as somebody who is not afraid to point out what the problems are in both parties and propose plans to do something about it. this, along with his willingness to participate in and initiate bi-partisan legislation is appealing to moderates. yes, he may be pro-life...but i believe he has said that he would not try to push for a repeal of roe v wade...and he may be anti-gay marriage...but it is not something upon which he has built a platform or has pushed for a constitutional amendment on.
if the republicans follow mccain and the democrats would wise up and stop following dean and hillary, instead following those in the mold of lieberman, this government would run much more efficiently.
Actually McCain has said that he would support a Constitutional Amendment banning Gay Marriage. You're right though Nick, in that he hasn't built a reputation on it. Even though his views are largely conservative, he has staked his reputation and career on reform, fiscally, ethically and in campaigns. He's going to make a great President.
"push for" and "support" are two vastly different things...semantics are everything in politics. you are correct, he has stated that he would support the amendment...but seeing how mccain has operated over the years, if this was something that was truly important to him he would be writing up the amendment himself.
my opinion into the mix: i like McCain. a lot. what may make this odd is that i am rather anti-republican in many ways. he just seems to have a really good character, and that is really rare in what little i see of most politicians personalities. but to me, and to many others i'm sure, it goes a long way.
Benz, You already know where I stand on the Republicans losing power. I just don't see the Democrats getting it together enough to take control of Congress. I do think they will make SOME gains this year, but no way are taking over.
I agree with you on the spending Benz and don't worry, I am already working on a new post along those lines. by the way 10 comments!! Take that Stereo!
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