Republicans Must Stop Jumping at Shadows
Dan Abbett
May 30, 2009
Republicans suffered an embarrassing defeat in the elections of both 2006 and 2008 and they still don´t seem to have a clue as to why. The answer is because they stopped being conservative Republicans and behaved more like tepid Democrats. That is, they assumed the "big government" posture, just without the conceited arrogance.
Ironically, it is the Democrats who enact legislation that grows the size of government, imposes greater and greater limitations on personal freedom and civil liberties and seizes larger portions of our income. All this as they simultaneously blame Republicans for the consequences. Unfortunately, the response from Republican Party leaders is to assume the passive puppy position.
Watching elected Republicans, party leaders and especially some, who call themselves members of the conservative media, prostrate themselves in response to this challenge from Democrats, is grounds for revolt. The lesson is that passive opposition by Republicans, in the face of a deliberate attempt by the Democrats to marginalize, humiliate, intimidate and defeat them is not an effective strategy.
An example is the tactic of Democrats to intimidate Republicans with threats of humiliation and increasing obsolescence should they dare criticize the pick of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. The tactic serves two purposes. First, it all but guarantees that Ms. Sotomayor will not be subjected to the rigorous vetting required for the position and second, it further inflames the growing disgust of the Republican Party base for what they rightly perceive as Republican Milquetoast. For the Democrats, it epitomizes the term "win, win."
There is also an interesting contrast between the strategies of the two parties in "reaching out" to the electorate. Republicans seem intent on reaching out to their opposition while letting go of those who most support them. The Democrats are intent on reaching out to those who fall away from the Republican Party and after they have voted in their favor, dropping them like hot rocks. Loyalty it seems is subjective in both parties.
What amazes is that the socialistic policies of the left have proven to be inefficient, ineffective and debilitating in terms of governance and the public at large. By contrast, Republican policies of smaller government, with emphasis on individual and personal achievement, stands as the foundation that propelled this nation to its greatness. And yet, through demographic pandering, ridicule, manipulation and propaganda, the Democrats succeed in selling their message while the Republicans sift through the yellow pages in search of an ad agency.
The good news for Republicans is that they are at the threshold of being handed one of the greatest political opportunities since Jimmy Carter. Yes, the Democrats will, and perhaps with some success, try to place the blame for our current ills on former President Bush but the tactic is becoming stale and transparent.
As North Korea sets off nuclear and long-range missile tests, Iran moves ever closer to the nuclear club, Pakistan engages in a low-grade civil war, Russia gains a foothold in South America and our domestic tranquility turns to civil unrest, Republicans can firmly seize the mantle of leadership. The question remains as to whether they will, who their champion will be and do they have the fortitude to endure the slime of liberal intimidation, gutter tactics and mudslinging that will surely follow.
The message here is not one of heaping scorn on the Republican brand, it is a desperate plea to the Republican Party to be more than a party slogan, to shake off the intimidation of recent setbacks, be the party of Lincoln and Reagan once again and for heaven´s sake, stand up and fight. To use the pending confirmation of Judge Sotomayor as an example, Republicans will be vilified by the left and by the press regardless of what they do, so they must make their efforts count with their constituents, not their critics or their opposition.
Ironically, it is the Democrats who enact legislation that grows the size of government, imposes greater and greater limitations on personal freedom and civil liberties and seizes larger portions of our income. All this as they simultaneously blame Republicans for the consequences. Unfortunately, the response from Republican Party leaders is to assume the passive puppy position.
Watching elected Republicans, party leaders and especially some, who call themselves members of the conservative media, prostrate themselves in response to this challenge from Democrats, is grounds for revolt. The lesson is that passive opposition by Republicans, in the face of a deliberate attempt by the Democrats to marginalize, humiliate, intimidate and defeat them is not an effective strategy.
An example is the tactic of Democrats to intimidate Republicans with threats of humiliation and increasing obsolescence should they dare criticize the pick of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. The tactic serves two purposes. First, it all but guarantees that Ms. Sotomayor will not be subjected to the rigorous vetting required for the position and second, it further inflames the growing disgust of the Republican Party base for what they rightly perceive as Republican Milquetoast. For the Democrats, it epitomizes the term "win, win."
There is also an interesting contrast between the strategies of the two parties in "reaching out" to the electorate. Republicans seem intent on reaching out to their opposition while letting go of those who most support them. The Democrats are intent on reaching out to those who fall away from the Republican Party and after they have voted in their favor, dropping them like hot rocks. Loyalty it seems is subjective in both parties.
What amazes is that the socialistic policies of the left have proven to be inefficient, ineffective and debilitating in terms of governance and the public at large. By contrast, Republican policies of smaller government, with emphasis on individual and personal achievement, stands as the foundation that propelled this nation to its greatness. And yet, through demographic pandering, ridicule, manipulation and propaganda, the Democrats succeed in selling their message while the Republicans sift through the yellow pages in search of an ad agency.
The good news for Republicans is that they are at the threshold of being handed one of the greatest political opportunities since Jimmy Carter. Yes, the Democrats will, and perhaps with some success, try to place the blame for our current ills on former President Bush but the tactic is becoming stale and transparent.
As North Korea sets off nuclear and long-range missile tests, Iran moves ever closer to the nuclear club, Pakistan engages in a low-grade civil war, Russia gains a foothold in South America and our domestic tranquility turns to civil unrest, Republicans can firmly seize the mantle of leadership. The question remains as to whether they will, who their champion will be and do they have the fortitude to endure the slime of liberal intimidation, gutter tactics and mudslinging that will surely follow.
The message here is not one of heaping scorn on the Republican brand, it is a desperate plea to the Republican Party to be more than a party slogan, to shake off the intimidation of recent setbacks, be the party of Lincoln and Reagan once again and for heaven´s sake, stand up and fight. To use the pending confirmation of Judge Sotomayor as an example, Republicans will be vilified by the left and by the press regardless of what they do, so they must make their efforts count with their constituents, not their critics or their opposition.
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