Thirty years after Ronald Regan ushered in conservative ascendency in American politics, the Republican party is looking at the mistakes made during the 2008 presidential and congressional elections and working toward the strategy that once brought them to power.
The Debate
The debate about whether the Republican party should rely on veteran conservative or a younger crop of leaders illustrates the friction about what direction should be taken before the 2010 congressional elections. It is a contest between whether the GOP should return to its Reganite tradition or embark on a new reform course. Karl Rove advises that the party should embrace both tradition and reform; grass-roots Republicans...timeless conservative principals to the new circumstances facing America. (Newsweek,11/24/08)
The Proposals
At the Republican Governors Association Conference, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, called for more focus on social issues. He cited the "defense of marriage" initiative that voters supported in California, Arizona and Florida, as proof that the conservative values still matter to the American people and are worthy of the party's attention. (New York Times, 11/17/08) However, others feel that the GOP needs to broaden its appeal so that it would no longer be seen as the "angry white men's party."
Karl Rove Strategy
Among the items on that Karl Rove has laid out on a road map that the Republicans should follow are:
- Avoid mindless opposition by supporting President Obama when he is right and holding him accountable when he is wrong.
- Clarify the GOP's stands on health care and education as national security and tax issues.
- Prodding Obama on the war on terrororists if he weakens or wavers.
- Using "green" issues to attract voters 18-29 who voted for Obama by a 2-1 margin.
- Making their case in Congress on the economy, spending, taxes, health care, energy, education, values and defense.
- Mastering the new media because 70 percent of Americans say they find news on line and it was used successfully by the Democrats during the 2006 and 2008 elections.
Republican Party Looks Forward
While still licking their wounds from the congressional losses in 2006 and 2008 and now the presidency to Barack Obama, the old guard and the upstarts in the Republican party will try to come together. It is only a matter of time until one leader or a group will emerge that can lay out a cohesive plan for the 2010 congressional elections.
Meanwhile, the names of bright newcomers are being looked at seriously for leadership, names like Gov. Bobby Jindal of Lousiana, Mark Stanford of South Carolina, Representative Mike Pence of Indiana, Senator Jim Demint of Carolina and Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska who has already has a following acquired during John McCain's run for the presidency. The debate continues about whether the GOP can take the principals that brought them success under Ronald Reagan and apply them to the new circumstances of America during the 21st century.
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