From: Tony
Re: What now?
Well, it’s over. After at least two long years, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America come January. John McCain lost. Really, the Republican Party lost, as well it should. And here’s why:
1. The Bush Administration. This alone should have guaranteed a Democratic landslide. Eight years of lies, corruption, big government, it had it all. Face it: you got drunk, broke some furniture, and were asked to leave in no uncertain terms. But wait, there’s more!
2. John McCain. Here you had a candidate that, let’s face it, none of you really cared for in the first place. McCain-Feingold, immigration, “The Gang of 14.” This was a guy who was far too “maverick-y” for your taste. But for reasons I have yet to fully understand, the party circled the wagons around a multi-term senator when it was clear the national mood was one begging for change. Not Mitt Romney, not Mike Huckabee, not Rudy Guiliani…John McCain. And then, after you filed lock step behind this senatorial relic, the campaign essentially took 5 months off. At no point did John McCain take any vigorous, passionate steps to define himself, his candidacy, or what his presidency would look like. No, he waited until the Democrats finished their squabbles and then went about attacking Barack Obama, again never really defining himself as anything other than a “maverick” who, in case you didn’t know, was once a POW.
3. Sarah Palin. The most important and most telling decision a presidential candidate can make is the choice of running mate. It speaks volumes about their judgment and decision-making ability. The Vice President will assume the duties of the President when called upon, so clearly this must be a person that, as Senator McCain himself said, must be ready on “day one.” So who does McCain pick in keeping with his campaign slogan of “Country First”? Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. A governor for about 21 months, prior to that a SMALL town mayor, and prior to that a member of that SMALL town’s city council. Bold, to say the least. Risky. Maverick-y, even. Our first real taste of Governor Palin was her nomination speech at the convention and by all standards she knocked it out of the park. The “base”, i.e., evangelicals and social conservatives, were orgasmic. FINALLY they had a reason to go to the polls in November. In the days that followed, McCain’s campaign gained steam, passion, energy. The VP nominee even threatened to overshadow the presidential nominee! And then the interviews came, first with Charlie Gibson and then with Katie Couric. And the wheels began to come off. Sarah Palin, hidden away for days to be briefed and prepped, showed little sign of understanding domestic or foreign policy and away from a teleprompter was lost in a maze of incoherent sentences, winks, and cute catchphrases. Not to mention that she’s a pathological liar. While she may have held her own in her (thankfully) only debate with Senator Joe Biden, many felt she did no real good for her or her ticket, certainly after Senator McCain himself “lost” all his debates with Barack Obama. In the days and weeks to come, when the post-mortem of the McCain campaign is fully written, I will not be surprised to see that the selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate was ultimately the fatal blow to his campaign. A Tom Ridge or Mitt Romney pick would have permanently changed the dynamic of this election and perhaps even swung the presidency his way. Alas, we will never know because rather than pick Romney (someone McCain is reported to not like very much) or Ridge (a pro-choice Republican who just happens to have been the GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA!) or even go with his gut and pick his BFF Joe Lieberman, McCain made a last minute decision (with apparently little or no vetting) to go with Sarah Palin. Not good. Not good a’tall.
4. Intolerance. McCain-Palin rallies were scary things to behold. People holding up monkeys to represent Barack Obama, attendees proudly stating they would NEVER vote for a Black man, and let’s not forget the frequent calls to “KILL HIM!” or descriptions of Obama as a “TERRORIST!” That in itself was a horrifying spectacle to witness. But worse, perhaps worst of all, was the deafening silence from both McCain and Palin in repudiating these remarks. Oh sure, John McCain, with righteous indignation, snatched a microphone from a crazy old woman at a rally who referred to Senator Obama as an “Arab.” But that was too little FAR too late. And to top it off, rather than rebuke his supporters he gushed about his pride of the people who came to his rallies, virtually endorsing the hatred and fear these people stirred up.
5. Barack Obama. It’s been said that if there was no George W. Bush there would be no Barack Obama. That may be so. But the young senator’s gifts and talents have not been seen for some time on the American political landscape. The perfect storm of 8 years of corruption and a shredding of the Constitution, combined with an aging senator forever enshrined in many people’s memories as warmly hugging the aforementioned Bush, created an opportunity for, here comes the word du jour…wait for it…wait for it…change. Newness. Freshness. A calm temperament even in the face of a hostile enemy (or enemies) reassured people that in this man there would be no more “cowboy diplomacy”, “you’re either with us or against us” bluster, or “dead or alive/bring ‘em on” bravado. An oratorical gift unmatched perhaps in generations lifted people’s spirits and inspired millions to act and work for something greater than themselves. A curious intellect that refused to see things in black and white, which refused to run a drama-filled campaign that focused on a small number of states but rather, looked at a broad arc that is a presidential campaign and saw no reason that a Democrat couldn’t campaign vigorously in states that historically have voted for Republicans. Policies that seemed pragmatic and some that were bold made people remember that politicians CAN have the greater good in mind when leading. It is his time. And perhaps, just perhaps, America will be better for electing him as its President.
So now where do you go, Grand Old Party? What is next for you after such a historic election? You are basically a party in exile, adrift in the wilderness. The first step in dealing with any tragedy or problem is to acknowledge it. So, in time, you must come to grips with the fact that the party has lost its moorings. It has been separated from its core values and is in danger of becoming irrelevant in an increasingly multicultural country that will soon be run by a new generation that sees beyond bitter partisan politics.
I think the best thing to do is convene the best and brightest minds of the Republican Party and the conservative movement to chart a course for 2009 through 2016. Not only presidential elections but smaller races in the house, races in the senate, and Governors races throughout the country. Call it “Conservatism: What Now?” Take a week, 10 days, maybe even two weeks at a remote mountaintop resort to figure out exactly what you believe, what you will and will not tolerate, and just how big you want your tent (and the national government) to be. Here are some suggestions:
1. Get Newt Gingrich. He should never run for elected office again in his life, but he is the smartest guy in the party as far as I can tell and has some really good ideas. He should be your Yoda, your Obi-Wan.
2. Darken the complexion of the party. This is a tall order, but you have to get more people of color in key positions within the party and elected to national office if you have a prayer of making inroads to minority constituencies. Think Bobby Jindal and Michael Steele.
3. Keep the “Religious Right” at arms length. Don’t throw them under the bus. You need them. But don’t run to the embrace of the Dobsons and Falwells. Let them come to you. Don’t allow them to have so much control over the party platform, but hear them out and understand that certain socially conservative issues are good for you and some you’re probably going to have to get rid of.
4. Out with the old. Fresh blood, new ideas, THIS is the future of the Republican Party. For several election cycles it seems that the GOP picks whatever old white guy seems to be “in line” for the nomination and runs with it. With the exception of 1964 and 2008, there has been a Nixon, Bush, or Dole on every Republican presidential ticket since 1952. That’s a problem. Yes, you’ve won way more than you’ve lost, but how long can that last? The electorate is getting younger and they want someone they can relate to. Start grooming young talent NOW.
5. Have no tolerance for disrespect or hate. Decide on your principles and stick to them, but folks are tired of the Karl Rove playbook. Demand decency from your candidates and from your party members. Immediately and forcefully rebuke any who put the party in an embarrassing light. This means have no tolerance for racism or bigotry of any kind. If your candidate hears people making threats against the life of an opponent, they MUST repudiate it immediately and call for decorum. The party is seen as a party of hatred and intolerance and you have MUCH to do to restore and refurbish the brand.
So there you have it, Republicans. Just some advice from someone who loves the political process no matter how flawed it may be and wants to see a clean, fair fight every time. If you’ve made it this far, thanks. It will be an interesting four years but we’ll get through it. And I promise you: if Barack Obama and Joe Biden screw this up, AND you run a candidate with energy, enthusiasm, and vision, I’ll give you a look in 2012.
May the force be with you.
No comments:
Post a Comment