Comments on: Republicans: Are You A Loser Because You’re Respectable?–UPDATED

By: Mat

Mat — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 19:38:03 +0000

For some reason, Republicans during the last 20 years or so (since Reagan, actually) have had problems getting their message across. The Bush family (father and son) were woefully inept at getting their messages across.

I would argue that Republicans definitely need to get off the “McCain high-horse” and start counterattacking before they lose everything. I have a feeling that if they keep doing what they’ve been doing, then the party will dissolve and another will take their place that’s much more conservative (and maybe that’s what should happen). This bipartisanship crap I keep hearing about is making me sick.

By: LEARNED FOREVER

LEARNED FOREVER — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:08:58 +0000

[i]“Not only were Republican ideas undermined and diminished…”[/i]

What ideas? With Republicans running congress, pork barrel spending and corruption were the message — these are popular ideas with democrats. Resume enhancements. They don’t seem to work for us.

[i]“…but the very man of George W. Bush was trashed beyond recognition.”[/i]

Bushes own fault. Reagan made several appearances on primetime tv to explain policy: why tax cuts were needed, why he sent fighter-bombers to Libya, Grenada, Marine deaths in Lebanon, etc. He went around the media. He framed events. He explained. The people listened.

Except for 911, Bush did nothing. He allowed the media to run the show. Iraq was portrayed as a disaster, as was just about everything else during the last 8yrs. Bush and the Republcans are currently at the bottom of the political food chain — they’ve earned it.

By: boquernman

boquernman — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:23:28 +0000

TheBigHenry puts it succinctly and well “I think it’s possible to be tough without resorting to being ugly.” Assuming readers here believe that conservative principles produce relatively better long term cultural, political, and economic results, then… well… think through what the Dems are offering and ridicule it. For example, right now, here’s the TV ad: a bored government clerk behind the glass window at the U.S. Dept of Wasteful Stimulus, or some such; above is the label “contributors” and below “taxpayers and future generations;” in the line are males, females, ethnic and racial mix, teenagers and babies, but all, except the latter, DRESSED FOR WORK. Then next to it is the line with the sign “recipients” and under it is “trial lawyers, union bosses, Wall St. contributors, the Big 3, special interests, etc. In the corner put a small hand lettered sign “if there is any confusion about which line you should be in, we’ll decide! Democrats.” Use the camera to make the point. Hey, this is just a suggestion; somebody with skill can do a better job. But remember, the best defense is a good ofense. And, all you football fans realize how effective the prevent defense is, right? We have to ask ourselves, what core principles is the Republican going to stand up for, if any?

By: Marcus Sr.

Marcus Sr. — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:30:41 +0000

I’ve never thought of Republicans as being too respectable. Bernard Lewis’ quote about America always comes to mind when I think of Republicans: “America is harmless as an enemy and treacherous as a friend.” Republicans are weak and John McCain’s failure is testimony to that. His delusional ideas about “reaching across the aisle” and bipartisanship insure party failure. Democrats have no doubts about themselves; winning is their only option. Winning and the propagation of conservative ideals should be the Republican goal. Otherwise, why shouldn’t we all just be Democrats?
Republicans are not losers because they are respectable, they are losers because they are weak-minded and unwilling to engage in the fight that is required.

By: Franco

Franco — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:50:54 +0000

All your points are very valid but
until we have more media neutrality, frontal attack needs to be precise and targeted. First the media. Expose them at every opportunity. Republican pols need to call them out publicly.

Meanwhile we can play a little rope-a-dope. Obama and Democrats are in a real pickle. They now have to make decisions and take responsibility. This is coming as a complete SHOCK to them as we already are seeing. The hypocrisy is palpable and it has been only four days.

Now is a perfect “teaching moment” for the American drones – those you are mentioning here. No need to get hyperbolic the Dems are hanging themselves. BUT Republicans need to BE ON RECORD OPPOSING these policies, or nothing is gained.

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:35:56 +0000

With all due respect, I am not sure which universe I am reading this in.

Certainly not the one that exists in reality.

By: Glynn W.

Glynn W. — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:24:10 +0000

Too nice?

Did you see the Republican Presidential Convention? Did you hear Rommney? Gulliani? The other GOP stooges? No policies were offered, no analysis, just one mindless attack after another.

It was a hot mess that culminated in Sarah Palin’s frontal attack on everything good and decent.

Too nice?

The Dems were positively academic by comparison. Both Rush and Coulter are at the center of GOP messaging. Too nice?!

Remember, “Palin around with terrorists?” Do you recall “Socialist! Commie! Hussein! Muslim! Domestic terrorist!!”

With all due respect, I am not sure which universe I am reading this in.

By: Afghan Whig

Afghan Whig — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:06:43 +0000

Two examples:

Ronald Reagan. No stranger to equanimity and civility, he marched the Republican Party rightward, away from the “me-too” party of Nixon and Ford. Even after his death, he’s possibly the most popular conservative figure of our lifetime. Americans liked Ronnie.

Ann Coulter. Provocation before discourse. A polemicist through and through, Ann Coulter can’t finish an interview about the Grateful Dead without taking pot shots at liberals. Yet she’s arguably today’s most recognizable conservative author.

What do they have in common? It’s not taking the “high road;” Coulter’s been blatantly attacking the left for years. Yet it’s not being “too nice” either. Ronald Reagan was mostly civil towards the left. This doesn’t mean he never took shots at them, but neither was he rhetorical flame-thrower. So the discussion about whether conservatives should be nice or more aggressive is a distraction.

What these immensely successful conservatives have in common is that they’re not afraid of being conservative. That in itself offends some liberals, so there’s really no option of being “too nice” for loyal right-wingers. Whether we approach liberals with dignity or with a club doesn’t make much a difference. Ronal Reagan’s genial, but assertive conservatism was a boon to the movement, while other civil conservatives (such as John McCain), are pretty much useless. Likewise, Ann Coulter does a lot more for the conservative brand than Michael Savage. What makes the most difference to attracting Americans at large is a willingness to advocate unpopular conservative ideals, and the ability to do it intelligently.

As for the three points listed above, I completely agree that if conservatives don’t show faith in their own principles, we shouldn’t expect anyone else to place faith in them either. I also agree that humans are emotional creatures, so that must be taken into account when appealing to them. But keep in mind that recruiting obnoxious liberals to the conservative fold will only make them obnoxious conservatives. I don’t want to be like the Nazis and communists in the early 20th century, fighting over the same pool of naïve idealists. I likewise believe that image matters; Sarah Palin could and should have appeared a lot more capable than she did this year. Yet image isn’t everything; substance matters just as much. Reagan and Coulter both have traits which draws people back to them, long after their novelty wears off.

By: TheBigHenry

TheBigHenry — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:05:37 +0000

I think it’s possible to be tough without resorting to being ugly, by which I do not mean you can’t call a spade a spade (and that is not a racist remark; it’s an American idiom). I’ll call some public figure a f*cking idiot if she is one (Nancy Pelosi comes to mind), but I will not routinely resort to hyperbole, as the libturds do. An occasional exaggeration to make point is OK; but incessant hyperbole and mudslinging won’t sway anyone who isn’t part of the choir. I also agree with Melissa that a candidate who can think on his/her feet and is not a stranger to public speaking and knows how to clean up and comb his/her hair is a must. And, for god’s sake, enough with the “maverick” bullshit. Most people don’t even know what that means.

By: Trish

Trish — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:36:38 +0000

We don’t have to beat them at their own game, but we do have to acknowledge the way they play the game. We also have to stop backing down in the name of politeness.
We already HAVE a clear message. We can’t get it across because the left keeps shouting it down. We have to start being honest about the kind of people we’re dealing with.