More Quo Vadis
In my blog entitled "Quo Vadis Conservatism" I gave my thoughts on the future of conservatism. I would like to follow up on this theme and some "what ifs" that at least would lift the spirit of us conservatives.
In my opinion there are three things that are critical to our party's survival. A side note here - I refer to the GOP not as a political party identity as much as the residing place since Ronald Reagan, of the conservative movement.
First, we have to maintain in the Senate a minority sufficient to filibuster. My first "what if". What if Sen Stevens from Alaska is not seated or could be pressured to resign and allow Sarah Palin's appointment to that seat. Talk about shaking up Washington's. If she would take the job and become the leader of a conservative coalition. There still are some conservative senators in the Republican party. John Cornyn and the two Oklahoma senators come to mind. There are several more who are conservative and those that would be with good leadership. They should have learned, and I think Senator McConnell had, the lessons taught by the Democrats over the last several years on how to raise hell as the minority. Look at what the Democrat's have done, for instance, in regard to judicial appointments while in the minority. They should pick their battles carefully and not waste their political capital on issues that will fall flat because of the opinions of a vast majority of the electorate. Stated areas of Democrats, such as Supreme Court appointments, attacks on the right to work, i.e. secret ballot in union elections, attacks on freedom of speech ( the fairness doctrine) and the second amendment right to bear arms are supported by the people. The ability to stop this type of legislation would allow a great opportunity to publicize not just issues but conservative philosophy.
Second, we have to cultivate young, attractive, articulate, conservative leadership. Those mentioned in my prior blog; Paul Ryan, Tim Paulenty, Jeb Hensarling, Jeff Flake, Bobby Jindal, and many others, seem to have those qualities. The Republican Study Committee in the House is an excellent place for them to hone a conservative manifesto that articulates those principals which made the Reagan revolution so effective. We didn't succeed just because of the "great communicator", but because of Reagan's ability to communicate in understandable terms, the conservative philosophy he possessed.
Third, we need to start now to recruit good people to run for congress in 2010 and 2012. We can't afford to wait and throw a ticket together at election time. We can't succumb to the seniority rationale that brought us Bob Dole and to some extent, John McCain. We also need to work on taking over or back over state houses and state legislatures. This, I believe will be the result of a more conservative and focused party apparatus. Last we need to get our message out. We have to protect talk radio and the Internet and print sites which will give the conservative view fairly. In this regard we must articulate the virtues of the free enterprise system. It is under attack by the left from the most advantageous position in decades - control of all three sectors of government.
All is not lost, but the task is large. The "true believers" must step forward. Many of those who have flocked to the conservative banner have been opportunists instead of converts. We must spread the message and believe and live by it.
In my opinion there are three things that are critical to our party's survival. A side note here - I refer to the GOP not as a political party identity as much as the residing place since Ronald Reagan, of the conservative movement.
First, we have to maintain in the Senate a minority sufficient to filibuster. My first "what if". What if Sen Stevens from Alaska is not seated or could be pressured to resign and allow Sarah Palin's appointment to that seat. Talk about shaking up Washington's. If she would take the job and become the leader of a conservative coalition. There still are some conservative senators in the Republican party. John Cornyn and the two Oklahoma senators come to mind. There are several more who are conservative and those that would be with good leadership. They should have learned, and I think Senator McConnell had, the lessons taught by the Democrats over the last several years on how to raise hell as the minority. Look at what the Democrat's have done, for instance, in regard to judicial appointments while in the minority. They should pick their battles carefully and not waste their political capital on issues that will fall flat because of the opinions of a vast majority of the electorate. Stated areas of Democrats, such as Supreme Court appointments, attacks on the right to work, i.e. secret ballot in union elections, attacks on freedom of speech ( the fairness doctrine) and the second amendment right to bear arms are supported by the people. The ability to stop this type of legislation would allow a great opportunity to publicize not just issues but conservative philosophy.
Second, we have to cultivate young, attractive, articulate, conservative leadership. Those mentioned in my prior blog; Paul Ryan, Tim Paulenty, Jeb Hensarling, Jeff Flake, Bobby Jindal, and many others, seem to have those qualities. The Republican Study Committee in the House is an excellent place for them to hone a conservative manifesto that articulates those principals which made the Reagan revolution so effective. We didn't succeed just because of the "great communicator", but because of Reagan's ability to communicate in understandable terms, the conservative philosophy he possessed.
Third, we need to start now to recruit good people to run for congress in 2010 and 2012. We can't afford to wait and throw a ticket together at election time. We can't succumb to the seniority rationale that brought us Bob Dole and to some extent, John McCain. We also need to work on taking over or back over state houses and state legislatures. This, I believe will be the result of a more conservative and focused party apparatus. Last we need to get our message out. We have to protect talk radio and the Internet and print sites which will give the conservative view fairly. In this regard we must articulate the virtues of the free enterprise system. It is under attack by the left from the most advantageous position in decades - control of all three sectors of government.
All is not lost, but the task is large. The "true believers" must step forward. Many of those who have flocked to the conservative banner have been opportunists instead of converts. We must spread the message and believe and live by it.
posted by Oldhugh | 4:40 PM
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