Comments Posted By ginsocal
Displaying 1 To 1 Of 1 Comments
My feeling is that we need a conservative party that recognizes and promotes classical liberal values. The Republicans have taken one beating two years ago, and are likely facing another one next week, but they are due to two things: first, Republicans, for whatever reason, abandoned the conservative values that got them elected. People were sick of it, and punished them at the polls.
This process continues a bit, but has been intensified by a mainstream media that has given up even the pretense of objectivity, which is the second of my concerns. However, we have a chance to reverse things in the next election cycle, certainly by the next presidential election. We will be able to purge any remaining non-conservative and/or corrupt individuals from the party. This should include those who aren’t politicians, but are in the “appendage” category-pundits, analysts, even whole think tanks, if necessary. Many have recently revealed themselves to be fair weather conservatives, and should be dealt with accordingly.
I believe we will have a better field next time, due in large part to the imminent extinction of the legacy media. Much has been made of the fact that they are in the tank for Obama, less so the fact that they are hemorrhaging viewers and readers at a prodigious rate. This election is their last hurrah. Next time, it will be an internet election. I already get virtually all my information from the ‘net, and suspect the younger (I’m 50) generation does, as well. I can’t remember the last time I read a newspaper, or watched the network news.
But this will only happen if we take this development seriously, and exploit it as well as our adversaries. There are a number of young, exciting conservatives out there, such as Bobby Jindal, and of course, Sarah. By seeking out and promoting folks like this, we can re-make the brand, while retaining classic values. The fact that, even with the media on their side, and over a half-billion dollars in campaign money, they still can’t manage a better than 50% approval rating, shows that much of the public doesn’t believe they have the answers. It’s mostly that they aren’t Republicans. Four years of Obama should be enough to convince them that Democrats should never be allowed to rule again. But only if we can sustain our core values, year in and year out.
Heh - you must've come from PW. I agree with Jeff, btw. What Ruffini and those guys want is not for me. What he wants is perhaps not shills for the GOP but people who will promote candidates, raise money, and do other political activist stuff.
Patrick thinks I have a hankering to be like George Will rather than a politico who associates with politicians and (eeesh) even eats with them and stuff. That kind of sharp end of the stick stuff is not for me. First of all, it's hard work. Secondly, I would have to be nice to people and that would ruin my image. But mostly it's because that kind of thing is a young man's game and I am no longer young.
Good points from you, btw.
ed.
Comment Posted By ginsocal On 30.10.2008 @ 16:35
