Thread: A Word of Advice for Republicans

Admit your faults and run against President Bush, Trent Lott, Bill Frist, and John Boehner. Make this election not only about reforming the Federal Government, but reforming the Republican Party as well. If McCain is successfully tied to the policies of President Bush, then he is going to lose this election. Republicans and Democrats alike understand that President Bush has mismanaged this government. The old Republican Majority failed to represent the people that sent them to Washington in the first place, which is why the Democrats are now in power. If Republicans, especially Senator McCain, don't continuously own up to these realities, then the American people will have no reason to trust them.

Second, embrace the culture war. As disgusting a tactic as it might seem, Social Conservatives will be warmed or cooled depending upon the cultural rhetoric of their candidates.

Third, use your ticket well. Governor Palin's job should be to attack Obama. Senator McCain's job should be to protect his lead amongst Independents. The more comparisons made by the media and the Democrats between Obama and Palin, the more votes McCain will get come November. The McCain campaign needs to keep Governor Palin close. She draws the crowd. She appeals to the conservative base. She unravels the media and the Obama Campaign. McCain does none of these things.

The Republican Party is strongest when its pursuing limited government, lower taxes, bureaucratic reform, a strong national defense, and traditional conservative values. When the Republican leadership forgets this, they lose power. This is just as easy to forget as it is easy to understand. But the American people respond to leadership.

Finally, there should be three issues that the McCain Campaign focuses on: The success of "The Surge", Obama's legislative history and inexperience, and the threat of "business as usual" in Washington. Define the problem as "spending". The consequences as the eventual collapse of US social programs. McCain needs to come out and proclaim that the Democrats are a greater threat to Social Security and Welfare than the Republicans because the Democrats will spent these programs into the toilet. Then taut the success of President Clinton and Newt Gingrich, who for all their differences came together to make America better. McCain can then taut his long history of bipartisan support without scaring the shit out of Republicans.

I love the smell of clear headed analysis in the morning. You're not from around these parts, are ye?

Originally Posted by Burning Giraffe

The Republican Party is strongest when its pursuing limited government, lower taxes, bureaucratic reform, a strong national defense, and traditional conservative values. When the Republican leadership forgets this, they lose power. This is just as easy to forget as it is easy to understand. But the American people respond to leadership.

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This is what true conservatives are and what GW is not. I agree, distance yourself from the liberal GW and get back to true conservative positions.

Originally Posted by JBH100

This is what true conservatives are and what GW is not. I agree, distance yourself from the liberal GW and get back to true conservative positions.

From that I assume that you aren't going to vote for McCain because of McCain's simillar policies on the economy as Bush.

McCain should only get those conservative votes if he will actually proves how he will be economically conservative.

Originally Posted by Nerv14

From that I assume that you aren't going to vote for McCain because of McCain's simillar policies on the economy as Bush.

McCain should only get those conservative votes if he will actually proves how he will be economically conservative.

If you look at the Republican Primaries, McCain wasn't winning with any kind of mandate. He realized that he didn't have the support of the Republican Base. That's what was so remarkable about the pick of Governor Palin. It energized the base. With McCain, there is nothing to be excited about. No one is showing up at appearances or giving McCain money because of McCain. They are showing up to see Sarah Palin. They are giving money in support of her. The idea being, that McCain won't run again in 2012, paving the way for a Palin Presidency, and marking a return to core Republican values and a resurgence for the Christian Evangelical movement.

It would appear that the reason why George W. Bush got elected twice is because the Democrats ran extremely liberal campaigns in 2000 and 2004, and Bush had the undying loyalty of the Evangelical Movement. It's the Christians and the anti-liberals that kept the Bush Presidency alive and well, even though Bush was Big-Government Republican.

This is also why Senator McCain has such an opportunity now, with Governor Palin on the ticket. While McCain himself could never carry the Religious Right and Economic conservatives (leaving him the support of the Rockefeller Republicans and the Neo-Conservatives - which wouldn't be enough to get him elected), Sarah Palin brings in the rest of the GOP. They'll support McCain in order to support Governor Palin and oppose Senator Obama.

This is what the Democrats fail to recognize, that as long as they keep putting up candidates that are out of touch with the American People, people will continue to support the Republican Party in Opposition to the ideas of the Democrats.

Originally Posted by Burning Giraffe

This is what the Democrats fail to recognize, that as long as they keep putting up candidates that are out of touch with the American People, people will continue to support the Republican Party in Opposition to the ideas of the Democrats.

You're a very astute political observer!

I kinda see somethin' else too - something along the lines of - not only are the Dems out of touch with the people, the people are out of touch with the Dems too. It's like, if you ask people today, what the Dems stand for, they'll say "universal healthcare". Right? Hmm....

Whereas, you know, Republicans have this whole long LIST that everyone knows about, and could probably rattle several bullet points off the top of their heads.

There's this interesting kinda "resonance" thing among the Republicans, that doesn't happen "as much" within the Dem ranks. The Dems are more dispersed and disorganized, whereas the Reps are more unified.

Well, these veep debates are gonna be awful interesting.... seems to me, Biden may be in a position to make or break this campaign wide open - this is a big opportunity for the Dems to reclaim ground, if they can pull it off. And, it's also a huge opportunity for a gaffe or a flub - so....

opcorn:

Originally Posted by nonsqtr

Well, these veep debates are gonna be awful interesting.... seems to me, Biden may be in a position to make or break this campaign wide open - this is a big opportunity for the Dems to reclaim ground, if they can pull it off. And, it's also a huge opportunity for a gaffe or a flub - so....

opcorn:

Well, Biden worries me. I mean, if he thinks Senator Clinton would be a better choice for VP, then what the hell is he still doing on the ticket? lol Maybe the Clinton Machine has gotten to Biden. Is Biden the Brutus of the Democratic Party?

Originally Posted by Burning Giraffe

Well, Biden worries me. I mean, if he thinks Senator Clinton would be a better choice for VP, then what the hell is he still doing on the ticket? lol Maybe the Clinton Machine has gotten to Biden. Is Biden the Brutus of the Democratic Party?

This is what Biden is still doing on the ticket, and I fully expect him to make this point in the debate with Palin:

• Biden Jr., Joseph R. (2007). Promises to Keep. Random House. ISBN 9781400065363.
• Biden Jr., Joseph R. (2001-07-24). Administration’s Missile Defense Program and the ABM Treaty: Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate. U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Biden Jr., Joseph R. (2002-02-12). Examining The Theft Of American Intellectual Property At Home And Abroad: Hearing before the Committee On Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate. U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Biden Jr., Joseph R. (2002-08-01). Hearings to Examine Threats, Responses, and Regional Considerations Surrounding Iraq: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate. U.S. Government Printing Office. ISBN 0756728231.
• Biden Jr., Joseph R. (September 2003). Strategies for Homeland Defense: A Compilation by the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate. Diane Publishing. ISBN 0756726239.
• Biden Jr., Joseph R. (2001-07-08). Putin Administration's Policies toward Non-Russian Regions of the Russian Federation: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate. U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Biden Jr., Joseph R. (2001-09-05). Threat of Bioterrorism and the Spread of Infectious Diseases: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate. U.S. Government Printing Office.
• Biden Jr., Joseph R. (2002-02-27). How Do We Promote Democratization, Poverty Alleviation, and Human Rights to Build a More Secure Future: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate. U.S. Government Printing Office. ISBN 0756724783.
• Biden Jr., Joseph R. (January 2003). Political Future of Afghanistan: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate. Diane Publishing. ISBN 0756730392.
• Biden Jr., Joseph R. (January 2003). International Campaign Against Terrorism: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate. Diane Publishing. ISBN 0756730414.
• Biden Jr., Joseph R. (2002). Halting the Spread of HIV/AIDS: Future Efforts in the U.S. Bilateral & Multilateral Response: Hearings before the Comm. on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate. Diane Publishing. ISBN 0756734541.
• Biden Jr., Joseph R.; Jesse Helms (April 2000). Hague Convention On International Child Abduction: Applicable Law And Institutional Framework Within Certain Convention Countries Report To The Senate. Diane Publishing. ISBN 0756722500.
• Nicholson, William C. (ed.) (2005). Homeland Security Law and Policy, with a foreword by Joseph Biden, C. C Thomas. ISBN 0398075832.

I agree. Personally, I think Biden should be at the top of the Democratic Ticket - but the Democrats are in trouble if they are already hoping Biden will step down so that Senator Clinton can step up.

Originally Posted by Burning Giraffe

If you look at the Republican Primaries, McCain wasn't winning with any kind of mandate. He realized that he didn't have the support of the Republican Base. That's what was so remarkable about the pick of Governor Palin. It energized the base. With McCain, there is nothing to be excited about. No one is showing up at appearances or giving McCain money because of McCain. They are showing up to see Sarah Palin. They are giving money in support of her. The idea being, that McCain won't run again in 2012, paving the way for a Palin Presidency, and marking a return to core Republican values and a resurgence for the Christian Evangelical movement.

It would appear that the reason why George W. Bush got elected twice is because the Democrats ran extremely liberal campaigns in 2000 and 2004, and Bush had the undying loyalty of the Evangelical Movement. It's the Christians and the anti-liberals that kept the Bush Presidency alive and well, even though Bush was Big-Government Republican.

This is also why Senator McCain has such an opportunity now, with Governor Palin on the ticket. While McCain himself could never carry the Religious Right and Economic conservatives (leaving him the support of the Rockefeller Republicans and the Neo-Conservatives - which wouldn't be enough to get him elected), Sarah Palin brings in the rest of the GOP. They'll support McCain in order to support Governor Palin and oppose Senator Obama.

This is what the Democrats fail to recognize, that as long as they keep putting up candidates that are out of touch with the American People, people will continue to support the Republican Party in Opposition to the ideas of the Democrats.

I understand why people could feel like that a vote for McCain will mean that they support economic conservatism and religious values, which is because of Palin.

However, I just feel that it is a tactic of McCain's to try and get votes, when in reality Palin won't make much difference if McCain becomes president. Dick Cheney was a very different vice president with large amounts of influence, and it is very likely that if Palin becomes vice-president she won't have much influence on her administration's policies.

Neo-conservatives still seem to be running McCain's campaign and I can only assume that neo-conservatives will also make up his cabinet. It is also likely that if someone is going to vote for McCain and Palin, then they will also vote for other Republicans for congress, which may also be neo-cons.

I do not think that Palin will make a strong influence on McCain's policies. Are you saying that you believe that McCain will not follow neo-con policies because of Palin?


Also, if Palin is vice president and the presidency goes poorly because of neo-con policies, then that will harm her reputation and maybe even her values if she runs in 2012.

If someone truely wants Palin to becomes president in 2012 with her current policies, she can't be in the whitehouse between now and then.

Vote for Palin in 2012, not now.


I agree that Obama's economic policies are too liberal... so I won't vote for him. And McCain's economic and foreign policies are too neo-con... so I won't vote for him. Simply logic, if you don't like what someone will do when they are president, then don't vote for them.