Watching the Republican Convention could put anyone to sleep. All that monoculture, sheesh. It looks like they should rename the Republicans the National White Protestant Christian Peoples Party and call it a day. The first day's "star" lineup consisted of two creationists, Thompson and Bush, and one guy who is neither a Republican or Democrat* lauding his friendship with McCain (yes, I know that third guy is, like me, Jewish). There was no spark, no compelling personality, just a bunch of old white guys palling around. It was like watching a shuffleboard match in Boca.
For me, the Republican Party is so lost and out of touch that it isn't even fun to watch them as an opponent anymore. I happen to like a good political fight. It not only is a lot more interesting; it also elevates the performance of both sides. I don't like beating up on wimps and the Republicans look oh so wimpy. Tired people. Tired ideas. Then there's all that mumbo jumbo Evangelical stuff that scares the hell out of me. The Republicans are in dire need of a makeover.
But what should that makeover be?
Gingrich, Frum, Brooks, Douthat and other conservatives have said the same thing (but much more nicely); they've come up with some ideas. I'm not a conservative by a longshot, but watching the convention, I have my own ideas as to what would make an attractive Republican Party. I probably still wouldn't vote Republican if they were implemented, but here's an unsolicited blueprint for change. If you're a Republican reading this, you don't have to thank me. I'm just doing what anyone would do to help another human being.
Right now, the Republicans are the party of dummies - creationists and aliterates - and nut job Dr. Strangelove types who want to impose American thinking on the rest of the world. They've lost their center. They've lost their sanity.
There used to be another kind of Republican out there who had a compelling image when I was a kid. It sort of had its basis in 1950s television. I'm not being glib here. Well maybe I am, but here goes. Republicans were kind of like Ward and June Cleaver, the parents in the show Leave It to Beaver. They were calm. They kept things in order. Beaver and his pals caused all of the drama, but Ward and June were above that. Ward could be counted on to provide the money for the mortgage and wash the dishes after supper. June kept a neat household and always had dinner on the table. Beaver was always getting into trouble, but Ward and June found a way to be wonderful guiding paternal forces. They even had the insight to see right through the obsequiousness of Eddie Haskell.
I propose that the Republicans drop all the religious mumbo jumbo of the Evangelicals, drop the neocons like a hot potato and readopt the Ward and June Cleaver model. They could be the no drama party, the party of good parents who were conservative because they believed in making change slowly and incrementally.
The focus of the new Republicans would be on making sure everything was in order. Bridges wouldn't collapse. Potholes would be filled quickly. Levees wouldn't fail. Public schools would have competent teachers with no cobwebs in the halls. Police and Fire departments would arrive quickly in response to any crisis. We would be cautious and conservative in every change we make, from adding new regulations to going overseas for war.
The new Republicans would also be the party of engineers. That would contrast nicely with the Democrats, who tend to be the party of Hollywood types. Instead of embracing the Evangelicals, the Republicans would embrace scientific and engineering education and offer prizes to kid math whizzes. They would foster technological innovation. They could even move the White House to the Silicon Valley. OK, I know I've overstepped my bounds with that last remark. I take it back.
But you get my point. My new Republican Party would be compelling for its vision and its sanity. It would be the party of the brainy and analytical. Our trains and planes would all run on time. Our budgets would be balanced. Again, you don't have to thank me for this blueprint, Republicans. You guys are in trouble. I'm just being a good neighbor.
*I note that Lieberman fibbed during his speech and said he was a Democrat not just once but three times. In his honor I've written this little ditty:
Sung to the Tune of Mrs. Robinson
What have you done Joseph Lieberman?
You kept on saying "I'm a Democrat"
You aren’t that
What’s that you say Joseph Lieberman
Lying for McCain is so much fun
You’re a bum
Such a bum
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
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2 comments:
Stuart,
I want to begin by stating that I enjoyed reading your post “My New Republican Party”. While you and I certainly share many different opinions on issues, which is not all bad, and we probably differ vastly on our personal views about life and many aspects of life, I am in agreement with you on the current state of the Republican Party.
If nothing else, the Republican Party allowed youth, ingenuity and vitality to win the White House. It wasn't so much that Obama was such a better candidate from the point of his experience or ideas, or more qualified, Lord knows he wasn't. The simple fact is that the Republicans lulled America to sleep by running on the same old tired agenda, with the same old tired leaders, advisers, and programs of the past and it finally caught up with them. Another way to say it is that the Democrats out youthed the Republicans.
What absolutely amazed me was the McCain Camp’s inability to grasp onto the youth movement. And no, I’m not necessarily talking about MTV or college kids, although they are certainly a part of the mix. I’m talking more about the majority of middle class Americans like me and all my contemporaries who are out here slugging it out every day trying to make a living. Yes, there is a large number of Americans from 25 to 55 who are completely disenfranchised with a Republican Party that holds onto ideas and tactics developed and implemented by people 60 and up for campaigns that were run over 20 years ago. And no, this is not a knock on older Americans. They are a wealth of wisdom and knowledge we need to tap more into. I am on the record now saying there is absolutely nothing wrong with the older Americans and what they offer our Country. In fact, we should find better ways to utilize their wisdom, resolve and resourcefulness. But in this election, it was apparent early on the same “old” political campaign activities and strategies were not going to work.
In an exercise in futility, I tried to offer assistance, as was promised the McCain Camp wanted. I tried to tell them that I was the future of the Republican Party. I sent emails to the McCain Camp with no response, begging them to listen to me and countless others like me but they obviously knew better. Well, we all know now that they didn’t.
I know, I'm sure you, much like them, wonder who I am and why can I make such a claim that I am the future of the Republican Party. The bottom line on that issue is that I am. I am the exact person the Party needed to help identify with the ones they lost. In fact, the truth of the matter is that the Republicans have completely lost touch with Americans that actually care and until they can reconnect, they can forget it. I have that ability.
People are tired of Politicians talking at them, or about them. People want Politicians who will talk to them, with plain talk and certain actions. People want less talk of principles and more acting out of them. They’re not wanting less principles, but less talk about them. People want representatives that do the right thing for the people, not for themselves.
People are looking for representatives like them, who live like they do, where they do and how they do. People are not looking for perfection, but practical realism. We are aware that no one is perfect, and not all of the population grew up in Mayberry. Gone are the days where a candidate can truly be Mr. Rogers in the neighborhood. Whether that is good, bad, or sad, it is the truth and that’s all there is to it.
Politicians that espouse perfection and ooze piety, acting above the general populous and better than most seal their own fate when it becomes discovered that they are just like the common, middle class American that commits personal indiscretions in their own lives. It’s not so much that the Politician made the mistake, it’s that they have for so long professed their perfection and their existence above reproach that makes their fall that much harder and more enjoyable for everyday Americans like me who know we are all flawed and subject to failures in almost every area of life at any given moment.
People want representatives that will admit failures and mistakes, learn from them, correct conduct and move on. People are looking for representatives who will do whatever is best for the constituents they represent, not for themselves. Even though a politician may have some personal issues, or indiscretions that are not what most believe are best, or acceptable, they can overlook some conduct if you are doing the right thing in governing for those who put you in office. This is not a license to act out, but certainly helps when it is discovered you have done what countless of everyday Americans have done. We want politicians who put their own personal desires in the back seat and govern by principles greater than their own selfish, woeful desires. When personal calamity comes, and it will, people are more willing to forgive you if you are running our government in the responsible, stewardly and appropriate manner in which we put you there for.
Truth is, we need more common folks in political office but the fact seems to be that if you don't have millions in your personal portfolio, it's just not in the cards for you. Very few of these Washington politicians can truly identify with the mainstream American family. Who are they to talk about mortgages and foreclosures. Do you think McCain, Biden, Obama, or any of the like ever worry about making house payments or buying food, paying tuition, putting gas in their car, and the like? Absolutely not. To have them try and tell me they are representing the middle class American is a joke when they wouldn't know where to find a middle class American without some aid pointing them in the right direction. The only connection that most of them have with “us” is that they employ us to take care of their many personal interests and resort homes.
Truthfully the entire political system, which primarily includes both the Republican and Democrat parties, is ripe for an overhaul. It just seems the Democrats have jumped ahead of the curve and pulled ahead. The fact that so many were willing to overlook so much regarding Barack Obama just to have someone different in the White House is a sad commentary on our selection process for President. I certainly have nothing personal against Barack Obama, don't know the fellow, but would like to ask him some pointed questions in private. That's how I prefer to do things. And I can assure you, he would answer me. Or let me say, I would get an answer out of him. He would not get a free pass like he did from John McCain and countless others who have absolutely no idea how to pin someone down and extract an answer to a difficult question. I'm sorry, that's far afoot from our original subject. The bottom line for me is that I identify myself as a Republican based on the principles the Republican Party claims drives its membership. I do believe the vast majority of Republican politicians have lost their way and in doing so, cost us common folk our voice in forging the direction of our Country. Maybe someone will actually listen and come find me and get the goods on how to turn this tired old bag around.
I wrote this post over two months ago. It still gets read quite a bit, which surprises me. You'd think that Republicans would be looking for other Republicans for advice on how to win elections. I think I've voted for a Republican candidate once in my entire life.
At any rate, it's clear that the Republicans need to change. I keep reading comments from Republicans that say, hey this election wasn't that bad. As Johnny Mac (McEnroe not McCain) used to say, "You cannot be serious!" They got trounced by a black man with little experience with the strange name Barrack Hussein Obama. I think Obama is an admirable man and ran a great campaign, but if you couldn't beat someone who at face value had very obvious liabilities as a candidate, you can't beat anyone (well maybe you could if Dukakis makes a comeback).
I'm currently reading the book Reclaiming Conservatism by Mickey Edwards. I don't think going back to Goldwater-style conservatism is a good idea, but having some core values and having some degree of integrity - which is what Edwards argues for - would be a good place to start. I'd be happy for Republicans to lose for forever, but I don't want them to be lost on the fringe. It's not good for the country when one of its two major parties is broken.
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