Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

Our Recent Essays Behind the Front Page

Much Sorry with Delays
Birth, Death and All That Stuff in Between
How to Honor Labor Day, Every Day
My Yom Kippur Miracle (Repost from 2010)
Good intro to fly casting
Peach update, with pie
NYC update
Easy for you to say: To the elites on mass immigration
For NYC on 9/11, Sailors' Snug Harbor
Pickled Peaches
Water Shoes
Labor Costs in U.S.
Your "identity"
Good news about The Great Courses
Uses of Hot Pepper Jelly/Sauce, Chutneys, and Jams
A Saturday Drive to Litchfield County, CT
How to Pick a Kayak
Civilized: Fruit forks and knives
Loads of kayaking on Cape Cod
Psychology Experiments' Questionable Results

Categories


All categories

Quicksearch

Links

Blog Administration

Open login screen

RSS Readers

Add to Google

Subscribe with Bloglines

Tuesday, October 2. 2007

Time to refresh the Republican "brand"

After years of a pragmatic, uninspiring and relatively non-ideological Bush, the GOP "brand" has become muddied and tattered. Thus we read depressing pieces like this one in the WSJ.

Although I do not consider myself a Republican, I do consider myself to be a Conservative, with erratically Libertarian aspects. I also believe, perhaps wrongly, that it is in the best interest of the Repubs to continue to stand for conservative ideas. However, I am fully aware that it is the only task of political parties to gain power and easy jobs with great benefits for their members, not to marry any ideology. I also predict that Iraq and terrorism will fade as the major political issue - not disappear, but move to second or third or fourth place. Why? Because Bush will have been successful in defusing some of the most ominous threats (yes, I do know Islam will be a chronic threat for many years).

I would like to see a candidate who is able to refresh the brand in a warm, cheerful, optimistic way. Am I asking for another Reagan?

Editor's note: Great minds think alike. Kudlow today: The GOP has some re-branding to do

Posted by The News Junkie in Our Essays, Politics at 13:18 | Comments (9) | Trackbacks (0)

Trackbacks
Trackback specific URI for this entry

No Trackbacks

Comments
Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

nope, you are asking for hell to freeze over.

I fully agree with your sentiments, however, I am as cynical as can be about the prospects of either party giving any ground on the power they have attained. Bush has expanded government more than anyone since FDR. People like power and the ruling elites have more than ever. They aren't giving up any time soon.

Here's another reason: the people aren't ready. Compared to 1979- today shame is an alien concept, pride as well. Navel gazing has replaced judgement. We had 3 channels to distract and misinform us. Today the internet has beaten the focus and interest out of every subject of general worthiness, such that you (and I) collect and preach to the choir, all the while thinking these are new doors opening, 'new media' as it were.

So we too are navel gazers and the power structure grows and moves in ways we cannot perceive. Common folk (the numbers required to have another "Reagan") have almost no concept of the problems we face, and therefor could not understand the proper candidate if he spoke golden jewels of truth and justice dawn till dusk.

In other words, something's got to give.
#1 phil on 2007-10-02 16:01 (Reply)
I invite you to visit the web site of the candidate for Congress in Maine's 1st Congressional District, Dean Scontras, at www.teamdean08.com.

With the theme of "Republican 2.0" as a foundation, Dean is laying out his concern for the future of the Republican Party. As a self-professed "Next Generation Republican", Dean strives to adhere to the Reagan Legacy based on Republican principles, not Republican Party politics.

Inspired by Reagan's response to a question on "Meet the Press" in 1966 as he entered politics by running for governor of California, Dean also believes that it is high time for members of the rank and file of the citizenry to get involved.

As Dean's campaign manager, I encourage you to roam around the web site, read up on his issues pieces, and please provide some feedback.
#2 Pajak (Link) on 2007-10-02 16:56 (Reply)
BD - I swear I didn't read Kudlow before I posted this.
#3 The NJ on 2007-10-02 17:03 (Reply)
Good work, Pajak. People should also be aware of--and talk about--Sarah Palin, the Alaska guv who is widely seen as a leader of the "GOP 2 movement".
#4 buddy larsen on 2007-10-02 18:56 (Reply)
That is good stuff. If Conservatism is to prevail, it needs the GOP and it needs a new coat of paint - and some new, articulate advocates.
#5 BD on 2007-10-02 19:54 (Reply)
Dean's passionate concern for the issues, coupled with his humor and joy for life, bring to mind the words of GK Chesterton, "He is a sane man who can have tragedy in his heart and comedy in his head."

It is my firm belief that Congress could use a few more sane men. If you like what you see at teamdean08.com, please help it go viral...

BL - Thanks for the heads up on Palin. As a former resident of Alaska, I could easily move back to vote for her. Winning a 5-way primary with 50% of the vote! Wow! I will study up on her and share what I learn with Dean.

Republican 2.0 will sweep the land, from Wiscasset to Wasilla!
#6 Pajak (Link) on 2007-10-02 21:27 (Reply)
Ah, give the Gipper "melancholy" a rest. I loved him too; but let's don't rewrite history. Domestic spending soared under Reagan, we got the biggest tax hike in history, and he cut and run with his tail between his legs after Hezbollah killed 279 of my Marines in Lebanon.

Don't get me wrong. I consider him the most Important President (economically) of the 20th Century. His building up of the Military, cutting away at regulations, and challenging of the Soviet Empire was of Singular Importance.

But, He's Gone. Bush has done a magnificent job on taxes, he's going to win an incredibly important victory in Iraq, and he's stood up to the Euros on Kyoto, and other Socialist ventures. He stumbled on immigration, but now he's enforcing the law.

Some of his fellow Republicans have turned into whining pussies. It's time for the Republicans to quit worrying about not getting invited to the "A" parties, and go to work.
#7 Rufus on 2007-10-03 01:46 (Reply)
Not complaining about Bush, really. Just thinking about the future.
#7.1 BD on 2007-10-03 06:25 (Reply)
Well said Rufus.
#8 Luther McLeod on 2007-10-03 09:03 (Reply)

Add Comment
(Your e-mail will not show in your comment)

By commenting on this site you agree to the site rules listed here. Email
addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for email notifications.

Quick reference guide: [i] italics [/i], [b] bold [/b], [u] underline [/u],
[url] (web address) [/url]. More tips here.

Enclosing asterisks marks text as bold (*word*), underscore are made via _word_.
E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.
CAPTCHA

BBCode format allowed
 
 
A Chris Southern Consulting website.