It is no secret that in Maine, and many places across the country, the GOP lost big in the 2012 elections. Already, the much vaunted and ever-present “circular firing squad” is taking aim within the party. But while there is certainly a reason to ask some honest questions about the direction of the party and our electoral strategies on both a macro and micro scale, it is important not to lose sight that the purpose of these questions should be to learn and adapt, not assign blame.
Like the saying goes: “Success has many parents, but failure is an orphan.” Should people wish to play the blame game, there is always plenty to go around, but it seldom accomplishes much. We had countless good candidates across the country, and what happened is not a reflection on them.
But I do not believe all, or indeed most, of the Republican Party’s future is doom and gloom. On the contrary, I believe this can serve as an opportunity to make some significant and lasting changes.
First, I want to dispel any doubt in the core tenets of conservative philosophy. The problem is not the issues, it’s the way they are sometimes presented. It is ironic that the idea of real conservatism — the right of the individual — serves to provide consistent fodder for the perceived divisions that exist in any organization.
Second, we must accept that, thus far, our efforts to court various demographics have failed. We will never “out Democrat the Democrats,” nor should we try. Rather, the GOP must stress its heritage of not only the party of personal liberty but also of personal responsibility. When grappling with the question of how to appeal to demographics that seem to have voted overwhelmingly Democratic in last week’s election, the argument must be framed in a way that highlights these broad distinctions, while still providing a compelling argument to vote Republican.
Too frequently elections come down to a contest of facts against personalities, and the analysis seems to be that if you don’t have the facts, you can still win on personality. We can no longer afford to let the other party have a monopoly on personality and trust that the facts alone will sway an electorate. To be blunt, the box that something comes in does count: A paper bag that contains a bar of gold won’t get the same attention as bright wrapping paper and glitter wrapped around a lump of coal.
Third, and most importantly, we as Republicans must get serious with ourselves. Much has been made of the divisions within our own party, and the public feuding and attacks launched by some have been reckless, to say the least.
In my background as a senior officer on a ship, I recognize that there are times when you must question the orders being given by those above you, but during a battle or emergency it is not the time to do it. In such times, everyone must pull in the same direction, and to fail to do so betrays that one is more concerned with scoring political points than actually accomplishing real victories that will benefit all of America.
Being a “conservative” and being a “Republican” is not necessarily the same thing, but the two are linked. Therefore, those who identify with one or the other — or both — must recognize that what unites us as a party, indeed what unites us all as Americans regardless of political ideology, is far more complicated than a checklist of issues, which only serves to further divide an already fractured American people. The Republican Party will win, and win big, when we start talking big.
No one has to compromise values and principles. Rather, we will achieve success because we will no longer be putting values and principles into a niche, while attempting to win an election based on pettiness, smallness and political smoke and mirrors. Once more I will reiterate: The GOP will never “out Democrat the Democrats.”
This year was not the end of the Republican Party any more than 2004 was the end of the Democrat Party. Too many political prognosticators are already chirping that this election means the end of the traditional American way and the erosion of all that we hold dear.
To that, I can only paraphrase John Paul Jones, the father of the United States Navy:
“We have not yet begun to fight.”
Patrick Calder, of Portland, is a former candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a former chairman of the Portland Republican City Committee.
It was the Republican party with their candidate Romney that was lacking in specifics….no answers about what they would do. Very small and no real ideas. On top of that, Mitt was an empty suit. You never knew where he stood on much of anything. It is obvious why that party and their candidate lost. Mr Calder does not seem , even now, to really “get it.” or if at all, only partially. The Democrats had the facts on their side and that is why they won. This talk of “personality” is ludicrous. Personality is in the eye of the beholder. I did not care for George Bush’s policies but liked his personality just fine. Maybe what it really comes down to, also, is trusting the candidate , so in that sense, liking their temperament, demeanor, etc. Mitt did not seem to inspire trust for many people. As for his personality……who knows. It seems many people found him condescending towards many people in this country. The election results reflect that. So, that aspect of his personality sure did not impress.
So, if I understood this rather strange commentary by Mr Calder, he seems to have this “personality” and “facts” analysis a bit mixed up.
Yes, most voters found the well-tailored and handsome but vague and shape-shifting Mitt Romney to be the lump of coal wrapped in glittery paper.
The Republicans in the state need to run Charlie Webster for Governor in 2014. Ten primary debates between Webster and LePage will really lay out the Republican vision for Maine for all voters to observe. It will guarantee that the Republicans get at least 30% of the vote!
Is it possible, in this age of extreme media saturation, to go back to the political parties of the past? With extremism on the rise, is moderation a realistic goal? People today seem to be lazy consumers of information, dependent on Fox News and MSNBC to form their political beliefs for them. I don’t know, and it is a little scary
.
As long as Rupert Murdoch, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Carl Rove, Ann Coulter and Grover Norquist — and others like them — are the arbiters of Republican orthodoxy, the Republicans will have trouble fielding candidates who can win elections.
Gee, I thought the Rs never did stop fighting :-).
On the first point, if a Party or individual does not have a valid view on the issues, no amount of spin on the presentation will solve the problem. No presentation, not even from Karl Rove, can convince a sufficient number of the electorate to accept something like the R platform.
The author’s comparison to life aboard ship is apt. As a faithful.member of the crew, Captain Queeg, I’ve seen our “senior officer” ranks taken over by a rigid group of zealots who claim to serve some higher power yet don’t care about their crew and CLEARLY don’t know how to handle a ship safely. And now they are going to “double down” because we can’t find the key to the strawberries? You’re kidding, right?
Court martial me as a RINO, Mr. Calder. I *want* the attention of a public trial that confronts the idiotic policies and lack of leadership that lost us yet another election. In fact, sir, I insist upon it.
“…not yet begun to fight” …? interesting….
It wasn’t only the democrats the republicans were fighting , it was the people of Maine… not listening to the people and insisting that the people listen to them, that the right wingers knew what was best for everyone regardless of what the people were saying.
Keep fighting boys! You will fail again in two more years.
GOP policy in 2012 seems clear to me:
Prevent the richest Americans from paying the level of taxes they paid ten years ago even if it means keeping government from operating, makes the stock markets nose-dive and our nations credit suspect for the first time in our history.
Unlike the rest of the civilized world (including every conservative party on the planet except the GOP) ensure that private insurance corporations ration medical care even though it sacrifices untold American lives.
Deregulate everything even in the face of a hundred-year-storm of a recession with its human cost brought about by bankers turning our financial system into a floating casino, loaded dice, stacked decks and all.
Prevent the delivery of needed help to our most unfortunate neighbors in the name of mythological independent spirits.
Roll back voting rights because too much democracy is a bad thing when it allows Americans who don’t look like you to have a say in state and national affairs.
We get it.
All of your “re-branding” won’t dress up this pig.
e the last point: I just read where one Republican said that they should expand their presence in the electorate. He’ll probably be a target of the ALEC-types who promoted all of the voter fraud witch hunts.
Not until liberals truly comprehend how their policies harm our economy will they change.
The GOP should take a cue from Obama and vote present for the next 4 years. Let the liberals do what they want and take all the responsibility. I am sure the left will still attempt to blame Bush and the GOP when their actions inevitably cause a fiscal collapse, but at least future generations will have a better understanding of why it is important to be fiscally responsible.
Please expound on the past 30+ years of trickle down economics, the GOP’s tax-less economic policies, the two unpaid for wars, Medicare part D, the Wall St and banking collapse, tax breaks for the 1%, and the mortgage melt down as fiscally responsible so future generations will better understand the success of GOP policies you refer to?
Boy, returning to those Clinton-era tax rates would sure be a disaster, wouldn’t it? Those times of record job growth, deficit reduction and no foreign wars were surely frightening for all of us. You are right to fear President Obama’s desire to return to those Clinton-era tax rates. Too much of a good thing is dangerous for America!
Republicans have become the party of tax cuts for the rich (despite the costs fiscal and otherwise) and seeks to tilt the playing field even more to favor the mighty. People would rally I’m sure if Republican actually truly did have principles — but what the politicians are pushing and passing? Nope, sorry.
“It is a tale told by an idi0t, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Ah…..yes…..
MacBeth would recognize today’s Republicans as villains of the same cloth as he.
“We have not yet begun to fight” Maybe is today’s mantra, but the reality of it is more like a midget playing in an NBA game.
What an astonishing piece of self delusion. If Mr. Calder’s ideas represent, as he seems to believe, a more rational (and electable) conservative/republican philosophy, the Democrats can paint the White House deep blue. They won’t be leaving it for the foreseeable future.