I read this very insightful analysis called ‘Yes, It’s That Bad For The GOP’ by Chuck Todd of Msnb.com. I would recommend that anyone regardless of party affiliation read it. I highlighted some of the salient points below.
(Via Msnbc.com)
May 14, 2009
Things for the Republicans are bad, very bad. It is worse than just about any Republican wants to admit.
Think about it: the New Jersey governor’s race is competitive because of a disastrous Democratic situation; the Virginia governor’s race is competitive because Democrats are in a nasty primary food fight and may end up nominating their most polarizing candidate; the Illinois senate race is competitive thanks to Roland “Blagojevich” Burris; the Delaware Senate race is also competitive thanks to more appointment shenanigans; and the Connecticut Senate race is competitive because Chris Dodd continues to self-destruct.
The party is defined too much by social issues and the brands of Bush and Cheney, rather than by what some in the party wish to define it by, mainly, limited government, personal freedom and a strong national defense.
One could argue the GOP made no progress on limiting government in their four years of total control, from 2002 to 2006. If anything, government expanded like never before.
Battle around ‘New America’
One effort getting a ton of attention is called the National Council for a New America. I’m not sure the title makes a lot of sense, as it feels a bit like it was created by a C+ student in an undergrad business program. But it’s something.
The only thing that surprises me about the concept is that it is the first major attempt by a prominent Republican or two to actually address the issues of the party. In fact, I can’t believe we’re not seeing more efforts like this one. It is being launched by Eric Cantor, the Republican Whip from Virginia, and former Governors Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney.
And yet, the level of ridicule some Republicans, particularly social conservatives, are throwing at them seems completely counterproductive.
Wake-up Republicans of all stripes: You are losing confidence with every part of the American political landscape, even among true believers. Anyone who doesn’t believe the party needs to change in some form needs their head examined.
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