The New Republican Strategy for 2010
2009-11-24 - by
Now that Republicans are leading in the polls Gary’s looking a bit clairvoyant but, on the other hand, it’s now Republicans who seem to be developing the ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. For instance, the Washington Republicans have reviewed the outcome of the election three weeks ago and come up with a new political strategy to win the 2010 election called the ‘McDonnell Strategy’ – in honor of the new Governor of Virginia. The cornerstone of their plan: Don’t attack Obama.
Lord, how do they come up with these things? How can folks who are supposed to be experienced at politics get it so completely backwards?
McDonnell won in Virginia because voters were angry with Obama – so what kind of sense does it make not to criticize Obama? It’s a shame the Democrats didn’t decide not to attack George Bush last election – but, then, only a Republican from Washington could come up with a strategy of not attacking an unpopular President.
The other cornerstone of the ‘New Republican Strategy’ is to avoid ‘divisive cultural issues.’ By this the Washington Republicans mean for Republican candidates to avoid debates on abortion and gay rights – but what they also mean (and are not saying) is they want to avoid debates on immigration so they can pander for Hispanic votes.
Now, overall, avoiding ‘divisive cultural issues’ has a nice sound to it – but if I had to choose between winning the cultural war and the White House, well, I’d have to say cultural war looks more important. After all, how are Republicans going to remain a meaningful political force if the Democrats win the cultural war and the nation turns into one vast oasis full of community organizers?
Here in North Carolina several of our leaders in the State GOP have their own new strategy and it looks a bit peculiar too. The other day at the GOP Executive Committee meeting a resolution was made to ban Independents voting in Republican primaries. This is not one of the burning issues of our times but consider this: The resolution’s sponsors argued Independents shouldn’t vote in GOP primaries because they vote against conservatives. Now think about that: How many liberal Independents are actually lusting to vote in Republican primaries? Five? Six? One? The Executive Committee killed the idea.
Finally, while the Washington Republicans don’t want to attack Obama, here in Raleigh Republicans are flailing away at…Clay Aiken.
Just after the election the crooner let fly, slamming into the new Wake County School Board for ending busing – but so what? That’s what we do in America. We attack politicians we don’t like. Well, the local GOP Chairman blasted Aiken (for voting illegally) then tried to slip out of the mess he’d made by claiming he didn’t do it in retaliation for Aiken criticizing Republicans but because he wanted to clear up confusion about where a person can vote – three weeks after the election. Democrat Perry Woods had a more credible explanation saying the whole thing sounded to him like “Sour grapes and sore winners.”
So, Gary, with a Republican tide rising, Don’t worry – we’re capable of blowing it too.
The New Republican Strategy for 2010
2009-11-24/
Now that Republicans are leading in the polls Gary’s looking a bit clairvoyant but, on the other hand, it’s now Republicans who seem to be developing the ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. For instance, the Washington Republicans have reviewed the outcome of the election three weeks ago and come up with a new political strategy to win the 2010 election called the ‘McDonnell Strategy’ – in honor of the new Governor of Virginia. The cornerstone of their plan: Don’t attack Obama.
Lord, how do they come up with these things? How can folks who are supposed to be experienced at politics get it so completely backwards?
McDonnell won in Virginia because voters were angry with Obama – so what kind of sense does it make not to criticize Obama? It’s a shame the Democrats didn’t decide not to attack George Bush last election – but, then, only a Republican from Washington could come up with a strategy of not attacking an unpopular President.
The other cornerstone of the ‘New Republican Strategy’ is to avoid ‘divisive cultural issues.’ By this the Washington Republicans mean for Republican candidates to avoid debates on abortion and gay rights – but what they also mean (and are not saying) is they want to avoid debates on immigration so they can pander for Hispanic votes.
Now, overall, avoiding ‘divisive cultural issues’ has a nice sound to it – but if I had to choose between winning the cultural war and the White House, well, I’d have to say cultural war looks more important. After all, how are Republicans going to remain a meaningful political force if the Democrats win the cultural war and the nation turns into one vast oasis full of community organizers?
Here in North Carolina several of our leaders in the State GOP have their own new strategy and it looks a bit peculiar too. The other day at the GOP Executive Committee meeting a resolution was made to ban Independents voting in Republican primaries. This is not one of the burning issues of our times but consider this: The resolution’s sponsors argued Independents shouldn’t vote in GOP primaries because they vote against conservatives. Now think about that: How many liberal Independents are actually lusting to vote in Republican primaries? Five? Six? One? The Executive Committee killed the idea.
Finally, while the Washington Republicans don’t want to attack Obama, here in Raleigh Republicans are flailing away at…Clay Aiken.
Just after the election the crooner let fly, slamming into the new Wake County School Board for ending busing – but so what? That’s what we do in America. We attack politicians we don’t like. Well, the local GOP Chairman blasted Aiken (for voting illegally) then tried to slip out of the mess he’d made by claiming he didn’t do it in retaliation for Aiken criticizing Republicans but because he wanted to clear up confusion about where a person can vote – three weeks after the election. Democrat Perry Woods had a more credible explanation saying the whole thing sounded to him like “Sour grapes and sore winners.”
So, Gary, with a Republican tide rising, Don’t worry – we’re capable of blowing it too.