NBC’s chief White House correspondent and political director Chuck Todd has an interesting piece on MSNBC today. In it, he outlines what he perceives as the weaknesses in the Republican Party. He lays down no holds barred analysis of what the GOP is doing wrong, the vast majority of which I agree with. His analysis is, in my opinion, dead on.
And Libertarians need to read it too.
You see, people are disenfranchised with the GOP because many feel their party turned it’s back on them. Under President Bush, the federal government exploded in size and shrank in the arena of personal freedom. We now have the Department of Homeland Security and the US PATRIOT Act. The GOP, once a viable counterbalance to the liberal Democrats, is now just the same fiscally as those same Democrats.
During the General Election, both Barrak Obama and John McCain had their own plans for health care. Neither one said “we’re going to remove tax breaks on corporate financed health care so insurance companies will be forced to drop their prices and make health care affordable for all.” Instead, both plans involved government intervention in a massive scale. The difference was in the details. Once upon a time, the idea of national health care was ridiculous. Today? We’re one step closer toward it being reality.
The GOP has lost it’s way. Many of the fiscal conservatives out there are looking for a home. We can be that home for them!
It’s easy to dismiss former Republicans, but remember that most people started out as either a Democrat or Republican before they became Libertarian. It’s time to remember that and to reach out to these people. If Todd is right, that shouldn’t be to difficult.
People who once identified with the Republican Party are asking for two primary things: Increased personal freedom, and smaller government. On those issues, Libertarianism fits the bill perfectly. Now is the idea time to step up.
Opportunity rarely knocks twice. Let’s hurry the hell up and answer the door!
Both you and Chuck Todd are correct about the reasons the majority of Republicans are not happy with their party. To paraphrase Reagan, I didn’t leave the party, the party left me!
Donna,
Might I suggest joining the Libertarian Party?
Obviously, Tom and I (and several others we know) have already made that particular jump, and I am Chair of the Libertarian Party of Southwest Georgia (as well as the South GA Rep on LP-Ga Executive Committee), so you can’t blame me for trying…
< - innocent grin - > 
I certainly can’t blame you, actually I encourage you. I feel good about being independent at the moment. I’m old enough to know I can’t tell what the future will hold so you may see me there one day.
We’ll save ya a seat.
Thanks. Are you going to write anything about the Cap and Trade legislation in the works now? HR 2454, -From Mike Sabot: Main change is dropping the reduction in CO2 from 20% to 17% by 2020. This is still estimated to cost the tax payer $3100 per year in increased electric costs alone. Fuel prices are set to sky rocket. Food prices too, fertilizer will take a big increase along with anything else that uses energy to be manufactured.
I wish I had the skill you, Jeff and Bill have when it comes to writing!
Donna,
*I* wasn’t planning on writing anything about it, don’t know about Tom. If you, Bill, or Mike wants to write something up we can certainly put it on here. Obviously, Bill can put it on himself or we can do it through ‘Publius’ for you or Mike.
I really came to respect Chuckie T during the campaign last week; quality reporting and analysis in my opinion.
slyram’s last blog post..Obama and Republicans: Circle of Friends or Enough Already
Friend, Republicans aren’t in disarray because moderates were kept out. “Moderates” took over the party, that is why it is failing.
Todd put it out there, end of discussion, turn out the lights. Everything the GOP needs to hear is right there but will they listen. When Newt ran his revolutionary takeover of congress, I ate humble pie and started listening to why the voters in Georgia wanted that crew to lead and gave Newt his due respect.
The same Republicans in my circle of friends don’t think anything is the matter other than the voters are wrong and got charmed by Obama. Keep an eye on those logical conservatives who know the return starts with honest self-analysis. Earlier this year, I attended an Isakson Town Hall meeting in Albany and he was real about what needs to happen next.
If the Obama agenda is successful, you Libertarians might need bigger meeting facilities because some traditional conservatives are doing a little home shopping.
The residual benefit of the Obama election and the Democrats’ gains in congress should be conservatives who are more open to discussion with the people rather than the mandates and directions from on high.
At this point, I am not sure the GOP will hold the governor’s mansion if the Democrats produced a real star—it might sound crazy but a blood primary battle could divide the Red Team seriously and elephants never forget.
slyram’s last blog post..Obama and Republicans: Circle of Friends or Enough Already
I hope I am reading this incorrectly because I know you are an intelligent man. Please tell me you are NOT saying that Republicans need to become more like the Democrats in order to win?
The Republican party lost in the last election because there was very little difference between them and the Democrats. The Republican machine has left the base. Why do you think this Tea Party movement has such strong appeal? Not because Obama is the president. This movement was picking up steam last fall when the Republicans started spending our money on the bailouts.
If Republicans are to gain control again it will be because they return to the core values: lower taxes, less government and more freedom.
I’ve got to agree with Donna.
The Republican Party handed out welfare to Wall Street and Detroit. Most Americans would prefer to hand out money to the poor, rather than the rich, so obviously the Democrats had the inside track.
Plenty would have responded to an old school GOP platform…if there had been one.
Absolutely! IF there had been a choice then the election would have been a genuine choice for the American electorate : Liberal vs. Democrat. The Republican party hasn’t given the voters a conservative choice since Reagan. That remark will probably upset some Bush supporters, but its true. He was not fiscally conservative.
Correction: Liberal vs Conservative!
I knew what you meant
Becareful…that is scary!
Remember, I used to be a democrat
This was after a head on collision? Just joking! I have a few friends that are Dem’s. I love them not their politics.
Nah, but it WAS a while back.
Typo’s in first two sentences. Hey, I enjoy reading them.
NBC’s chief White House correspondent and political director Chuck Todd has (in)[an] interesting piece on MSNBC today. In it, he outlines what (her)[he] perceives as the weaknesses in the Republican Party.
Um…oops