Comments on: Who will head up the RNC?

By: bcfunk

bcfunk — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:54:45 +0000

The old Lincoln-Republican brand is dead. They’re married to statism and will continue to see their numbers dwindle as the Left picks off more and more from their ranks. We need to return to a Jeffersonian brand of Republicanism.

By: vegas art guy

vegas art guy — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:14:32 +0000

Steele, but not by much.

By: pjean

pjean — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:19:16 +0000

I understand that Newt is endorsing Steele and offering advice. With Newt’s extensive polling, research and incredible data collected through American Solutions, he has captured what it is that ties Americans together, not just Republicans. Republicans need to articulate that,as a country that is technically center-right, conservative ideals can speak to most Americans.

Steele does not mince words in saying that the future of this party does depend on it’s ability to articulate conservative beliefs to all Americans, from many backgrounds and life stories. We don’t have to change to bring others into our fold, we need to explain better WHY it is in the favor of all Americans to support leaders who represent their beliefs and conscience, rather than support leaders who don’t.

By: Chris in NC

Chris in NC — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:15:34 +0000

Steele. Gingrich has gone soft.

By: Mark J. Goluskin

Mark J. Goluskin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:34:36 +0000

How about both Gingrich and Steele as co-chairs? Steele can do a lot of the recruiting and broadcast interviews and Gingrich can set a cohesive agenda similar to the Contract With America as well as broadcast interviews. I think both men would be a compliment to each other’s strengths.

By: Karmadancer

Karmadancer — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:24:42 +0000

Ok, guys, let’s put the bowl of sour grapes down for a minute.

If you want to see where the problem is, look at the electoral map. Obama took the Rust Belt, the northeast and the far west, while McCain’s traditional GOP message took everything else. If the election had been held in terms of land mass, we would have done well. Not much of a consolation now.

I think one of the campaign’s biggest mistakes was to not emphasize what makes a democrat different from a republican. What is that exactly? Small government? Personal responsibility? Frugal spending? And “dumbing down” the campaign was a serious error. It obviously didn’t help get the message across either.

I know that for me, my credo is simple: non-intrusive government with emphasis on personal responsibility. This unprecedented freedom is contingent on the fact that while one is free to do whatever one pleases, one is not free to deny the consequences. I do believe in global business and the free market economy; history has shown that protectionism is unproductive and ultimately destructive. In terms of the Constitution, I am a strict constructionist.

What does it mean to be conservative to you? These are the kinds of things no one — in the GOP or out of it — seems to have bothered to ask. At least, not me. How about you?

By: Leslie

Leslie — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:59:10 +0000

Well, ST, assuming your hat’s not in the ring, too, I would want to ask each to write a 250-word essay on this question:

Many people who used to vote GOP now see the party as the party of bitter and uneducated white males, which is still arguing about issues that no longer seem relevant to today’s voters. What would you do to win back those people?

By: bcfunk

bcfunk — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:38:35 +0000

If the RNC wants to compete, they’ll select someone who leans more in Ron Paul’s direction (Pro-Constitution, liberty, and commen sense government by the people, for the people). Newt isn’t change. Any run of the mill Repub is just Democrat-light.