There has been so much talk in the wake of the McCain's defeat about the Republican party regrouping for 2010 midterms and the 2012 Presidential and it seems people fall into 2 camps.
Camp One: They got away from message or had no message and ran a dreadful campaign. Conclusion: If you get a better (read younger, more moderate) candidate we will fare better.
Camp Two: The party is completely jacked up and the realities of an incompetent campaign is merely a distraction from the big picture problems. The party has been taken over by passionate single issue people and by radical talk radio types that energize the base but inspires nobody else. Conclusion: We've become the party of radicals in an increasingly post racial, pluralistic society and we have to take back the party and redefine it at its core.
I'm in Camp Two. Immigration, guns, abortion, homeland security and deregulation are examples of the hot button issues that have driven the radicals in our party. The only one of these that help us is homeland security. They others divide us and fail to energize new fringe voters.
My opinion is that we need to get back to what makes a conservative a conservative and it isn't necessarily those issues. Most hardworking people support the notion of self reliance and personal responsibility.
Deregulation and Enforcing Laws: Stop talking about deregulation when CEO's are stealing their companies blind. We need to talk about efficiently enforcing our laws that should be designed to create a level playing field for all to compete. We need to promote transparency and oversight not increase government's role in businesses beyond what is necessary.
Crime: KC is piling up murders fast. A no nonsense approach to dealing with crime and cleaning up our nation's major cities will actually attract urban votes we have ceded to the democrats. Look at what Rudy Guiliani did in New York. He cleaned up Times Square, cracked down on crime and everyone noticed the city was safer. During that time he was unstoppable. We could actually win in the cities if this is accomplished.
Running Government Services Better: I know KC is a tired example but the way this city is run is disgraceful. Chicago is full of deeply inbedded corruption. I'm sure there are many other examples. From our school boards to our city councils and county commissions we need be the ones to run things tighter, more efficiently and deliver more to the citizens in terms of service and responsiveness. Citizen satisfaction surveys show people are not happy with basic city services. Let's make them feel like they are getting a good deal again for government.
Education: If we want to court the LEGAL immigrant and minority vote show them that will help them educate their kids everywhere in America not just the suburbs. Nothing will make them feel like assimilating like feeling like they are an equal partner and have an equal shot at the dream. We have the first black president and he is sending his kids to the same tony private school Chelsea Clinton attended. The schools in DC are that bad that people won't even challenge him on it. He should be challenged on it. Why isn't public school good enough for his kids but good enough for everyone else?
Redefine what Smaller Government Means: Smaller government doesn't mean letting wall street steal from main street. It means create a level playing field and let the games begin. A well officiated sporting event means you hardly noticed the refs were there.....but they are there and they do their jobs. Less government also means staying out of our personal business as much as possible. Not outlawing something doesn't mean government is promoting it. We should say that outlawing something is the lazy and way to do things. Changing people's minds on an issue so they don't engage in it is the best way to change behavior. If we really believe that abortion is killing then we need to engage people and services that encourage adoption and that means being willing to take a baby somebody else doesn't want. Maybe instead of providing no cost government funded abortions we provide no cost government funded prenatal and delivery of children put up for adoption. Now that supports a culture of life. Smaller and less restrictive means on our personal lives too.
Let Freedom Ring: Instead of pissing off immigrants...especially Mexicans....by talking about locking down the border and building walls we should talk about how much we want them in our country but that they need to come legally and help make that possible. We should open the doors more widely for honest, hard working people who want to share in our dream. If you can contribute we want you but please come through the front door. Check out New Zealand's immigration policy. Nobody calls them racist.
Finally, engage the 18-29 age group: Obama was incredible in everything from cultivating volunteers, raising money, getting out his message using new technology. He is a crackberry hound like us. We sent bulk email and made excuses for McCain that he didn't use a keyboard because of his war injuries. Shoot, there are people who use computers by blowing in straws for God's sake. If McCain wanted to nothing would stop him. He redefined how campaigns will be run in the future and how they will be funded. We ran around asking for max donations from the same old people and he raised $600 million dollars in small increments and estimates are that he will raise over $1.5 BILLION for his reelection bid in 4 years. He hired the Facebook guys and had a staff of technology people larger than the entire RNC staff. We sent bulk email. We need to engage the smartest technology people now to build and run this thing and do it now.
Stay classy Johnson County.
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