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Is there a sea change afoot among the conservative intelligentsia?
As the Republican Party wrestles with how to reinvent itself to appeal more broadly to an increasingly diverse electorate after its two-straight presidential losses, a handful of conservative thinkers are calling upon the GOP to cast off some of its most well-worn proposals and elements of the party’s identity.
Former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson modified their budget reduction plan. Politico's Jim VandeHei discusses.
These intellectual leaders are arguing that the GOP must embraces changes in policy. That’s significantly different than what the official organs of the Republican Party have said, which is that the party needn’t change its core policies and positions so much as frame them in a way that’s more appealing to more voters.
Take, for example, a post on Monday by Jim Pethokoukis of the American Enterprise Institute, who argued that Republicans should abandon their pursuit of a flat tax, a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution or the gold standard – three ideas that have long found advocates on the right.
“Today, the top marginal tax rate is 40 percent, and inflation is 2 percent. Health-care spending and the debt have both risen by nearly 80 percent as a share of output. The average American is 37 years old,” wrote Pethokoukis on National Review Online. “Economics and demography require a reworking of the conservative policy portfolio. But center-right politicians in Washington keep offering same-old, same-old stale solutions.”
Recommended: Obama warns looming sequester would devastate economy
That’s a sentiment similar to the one voiced by Ramesh Ponnuru on National Review in an op-ed Sunday for the New York Times. Republicans, Ponnuru wrote, should be more willing to move beyond the policy prescriptions offered three decades ago by President Ronald Reagan.
"They slavishly adhere to the economic program that Reagan developed to meet the challenges of the late 1970s and early 1980s, ignoring the fact that he largely overcame those challenges, and now we have new ones," wrote Ponnuru.
Michael Gerson and Peter Wehner, both veterans of the most recent Bush administration, argued in a new piece for Commentary magazine that the GOP should learn from the centrist examples of President Bill Clinton, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose election signaled a new era for the UK’s Labour Party. They argued that Republicans’ sweeping victories in the 2010 midterm elections were an “aberration” rather than a catalyzing moment for the GOP.
Gerson and Wehner prescribed a four-step process for the GOP: Republicans, they wrote, must first renew their focus “on the economic concerns of working-and middle-class Americans;” second, “welcome rising immigrant groups;” third, “express and demonstrate a commitment to the common good;” fourth, “engage vital social issues forthrightly but in a manner that is aspirational rather than alienating;” and fifth, “harness their policy views to the findings of science.”
They wrote that many of the existing Republican presidential frontrunners in 2016 are equipped to deliver that message.
But: “Their challenge is both to refine and relaunch the Republican message, to propose policies that symbolize values and cultural understanding, to reconnect with a middle America that looks different than it once did, and to confront old attitudes, not from time to time, but every day.”
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While Republicans are planning their own demise, there can be debate between centrist-liberals and progressive liberals.
No more arguing with the closed minded right wing who have no interest in solving our problems.
Truth is out
Since the issue
is lying or covering up attacks against America we need to re-visit the lies
that caused all this mess. The bogus Iraq war and the people that lied us into
it regardless of how many unsuspecting people voted on it since now the truth
is out- Investigate it-all of it. Since this blunder the conservatives have
tried to protect GOP policies as if lying will make people forget. Now they are
committed to side with radical thinkers for self-preservation. (SOS). Somebody
should be held accountable for all these deaths. Just as Americans have opposed
any war criminals around the globe then we should practice what we preach. The
current GOP wants to forget how we got here and how the debt rose to current
levels. But they want average tax paying Americans (some without jobs) to pay
for the lies of a few that mostly benefitted financially during the war, mortgage,
Wall street, out-sourcing scams and all other treason acts to the nation. They
continue to want war based on failed logic and want the millions of Americans
to give up access to government funds to pay the tab left by policies of the
GOP over the past 3 decades. This is not by accident that America is in this
condition, this was a plot to destroy equality of Americans for corporate
governance of the taxpaying people of America. The truth is out and we should
pursue to rid the nation of such cowards.
WTFHAPPENED
Conservative intelligencia, talk about an oxymoron!
What happens when there isn't enough money left for the Democrats to continue to buy votes through handing out food stamps and welfare checks???? ....Lazy Democrats won't be happy when they are forced to get jobs!
HopeisGone, the nonsense purveyor...
Look folks, it'll never happen. They can't evolve with further splintering their party into even smaller shards.
If a miracle does occur, they burnt so many groups for so long it'll be a long time before the gun-shy syndrome wears off.
Gee, almost all the Democrats, including myself, have jobs. Maybe for many of them it's a minimum wage job (or two,) but they are not lazy.
But I guess that doesn't fit your worldview.
Severed...
Just the ghost of Mittins past rearing its head. Not to worry...
@Severed - With unemployment rates in excess of 20% in the area's that voted most heavily for Obama (95%+).....one can only assume that those Obama voters CHOOSE not to work and to collect entitlements. Hence, LAZY AS @!$%# Democrats!!
Can you REALLY fix stupid?
The reason the GOP lost is not their Fiscal policies, but their social policies. If they came into the 21st century with their social thinking their Fiscal policies may still get them votes. God knows we need to rein in spending and re-look at taxes.
Why do you need BIG GOVERNMENT to have "social policies"? Can you not take care of your self? Do you alck any personal responsibility for your actions/desicions? Why can't the states take care of the "social policies" and leave BIG GOVERNMENT to take care of the 18 things it is supposed to be doing?
You mean, things like abortion, gay rights, and maybe interracial marriages? Like that worked out so well.
None of those fall within the authority of the Federal Govt under the Constitution.
Sure they do. Commerce clause, tax and spend clause, Article VI preemption, take your pick.
don't forget the 14th Amendment.
They have all been found to be constitutional by The Supreme Court and I give their opinions more weight than yours.
Gerson and Wehner prescribed a four-step process for the GOP, fifth of which is to “harness their policy views to the findings of science.”
First of all, they have 5 steps in their 4 step process? And second, they need to tell their party that they should be basing their policy views in reality? No kidding! No wonder they are having a hard time getting people on board- it is 2013, 1813. Maybe they should work on getting Rep Paul Broun off the science committee, since he does not believe in science.
Thank God the country is FINALLY turning around on "Government is the problem." I mean it sounds very good, liberating, empowering and all that, but after the 2008 Crash, seriously, are you telling us letting the Capitalists run wild because the system fixes itself. REALLY? am I going to be alive then?
John, you might want to get out of the liberal enclave you dwell in because where I'm from Big Government is still a problem with the people. So tell me John what kind of system would you prefer?
And where might that be? A bunker in rural Idaho?
September 17, 2012
Majority in U.S. Still Say Government Doing Too Much
PRINCETON, NJ -- A majority of Americans (54%) continue to believe the government is trying to do too many things that should be left to individuals and businesses, although that is down from the record high of 61% earlier this summer.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/157481/majority-say-government-doing.aspx
Conservatives care more about corporations than people.
Barrack Obama hates white people.
grababrewski...
That's nonsense of course.
Unless you can provide some proof. So please...
The GOP strategy should be to embrace the Tea Party and to completely destroy the Democrat Socialist Party, once and for all.
sonmanvb... That'll be hard to do once the next elections happen and (my prediciton) they get the door.
People have had enough of their nonsense with the exception of the radicals.
Remember Chip, winning a few elections is only a picture in time. Remember when the Democrat Socialist Party lost control of Congress for 12 years? The Democrat Socialist Parties time will arrive once again, bit I fear that arrivial will be because of a fiscal catastrophe that awaits us in the near future. I also don't think that the GOP will survive this commimg fiscal catastrophe which means another party or two will be opening up, possibly more fiscal conservitive parties.
So where's your "2nd Amendment solution" that you all keep talking about? Since you seem to be in favor of a one-party system wouldn't that be quicker?
If the "2nd Amendment solution" your talking about is to take over a tyrannical government, it is comming. We are there yet. While a lot of Americans believe in the 2nd Amendment, our government has not reached the point of it being totally tyrannical yet and can be fixed and taken back to it's Constitutional foundings, so no need for that as a solution as of yet. I don't believe in a one party system as I also don't believe in just a two party system. I think we should have as many parties as the people would want to have. It would give voters more choices then what we have today where we vote for the least of tow evils.
The GOP strategy should be to embrace the Tea Party and to completely destroy the Democrat Socialist Party, once and for all.
So tell us -- how well did that work out for you in Indiana and Missouri last November?
"If the "2nd Amendment solution" your talking about is to take over a tyrannical government, it is comming."
How well did that work last time? Remember -- back in 1861--- a huge portion of the nation decided they were going to try ""2nd Amendment solution" against what they considered a "tyrannical government." Most of the best generals went with then, they were well armed with the best weapons of the day --- and they still got their asses kicked. It's know today as the Civil War and the rebels lost.
I doubt a few 100 good ol boys running around in the woods on weekends playing army would do much better.
Hey Republicans ---- listen up. I think I have a strategy that may work for you.
Now --- Mitt Romney may have been the best you had and that’s the problem --- he was the best of a horrible, insane, ridicules batch. Seriously – Rick Santorum, Michelle Bachmann, Herman Cane, Newt Gingrich --- as president ---- any of them?? I don’t think so. But that’s all in the past. So let’s look to the 2016 election. This is my advice Republicans --- if you want to have any chance of winning in 2016
“harness their policy views to the findings of science.”
Oh well... better luck next election because you just left out 75% of Repblicans... ;-)
The Republicans should just offer to double everyone's food stamps and welfare checks......maybe the Republicans can start giving away free iphones instead of those cheap flip-top Obama phones?? All the "average" voter now cares about is their government freebies and handouts......
Your comments explains perfectly what is wrong with the Republican party. They keep pissing off the hard working people of America by claiming we are lazy and waiting for freebees when most of the Democrats I know are hard working and usually involved in some sort of volunteer work to make this world better. I know facts are lost on you, but the RED states have far more welfare recipients than the BLUE states. But, I guess those welfare recipients don't count? I will never vote for another Republican until they stop this dividing of America between the rich and poor. We are all Americans. To continually put a whole group of people into a category of "takers" (Paul Ryan's theory) because they disagree with you, is prejudice. I personally wouldn't accept a thing for my vote. My vote is for what I believe would provide me and my family and friends with the best life, not the best material things. You are ignorant!
You are "lazy and waiting for freebees" if your a Democrat. The last election proves that with out a doubt. 51% of Americans are now voting for the person/party that will give them STUFF. You are ignorant carebake!
"51% of Americans are now voting for the person/party that will give them STUFF"
A comment straight out of Fox. How long has it been since any of you teatards have said anything you thought of on your own? You remind me of a well trained parrot.
The GOP need only wait for Obamacare costs to start hitting the middle class this fall.
If the 2% payroll tax and rising gas prices are enough to turn WalMart's earnings negative then imagine what Obamacare will do to middle class budgets. My employer is already warning of a "best case" 50/50 split in costs with the employees (down from 80/20). I won't qualify for Obamacare subsidies and I have no idea how I'm going to pay for it.
You better pay attention Dems. You signed it without reading it. The mid-terms could be very rough for you guys.
Agreed. By the time the mid-terms roll around, a lot of Americans will understand just what the Democrat Socialist Party has done to them. And the best part is that those that refused to read the bill and just voted yea, will not have to take part in it. Not to mention everones taxes are going to go up even more before the election. Americans vote with thier pocket books in fereral elections and thier feet in state elections.
What the Republicans really need to do is to cut loose their know-nothing, anti-everybody-but-us fundamentalist Christian wing. We don't need a theocracy in the USA, and the fundamentalist Christian element of the GOP keep talking as if that's exactly what they want to establish.
STUPID much?
sonmanvb, I do agree with your earlier observations. Political cycles are driven by a host of things. It's always happened and always will until the system changes (which it won't).
You mean the filibuster of everything and anything isn't considered "stale"
Gridlock is good. Get the hell out of our lives DC!
Yeah, who needs national defense
Gerson and Wehner's goals (help the poor / middle class / immigrants, be more inclusive and communal, acknowledge science) are very interesting. They'll do very well in the Democratic party.
How about supporting math, science, education, equal rights for women, and universal access to affordable healthcare?
That will come next. Be patient.
Those things will help the citizens of this great country.
The GOP wants not part of that
Shouldn't you be cooking dinner about now?
You eat dinner at 1:00 in the afternoon?
ahahahhahahahahhahahahha
The GOP masters, the military contractors, will force the republican'ts to get off thier azzes concerning the sequester....if they don't, watch the bloodbath in 2014 midterms.
First step in addressing a problem is recognizing that it exists. Good for them.
Multi party system is obviously best for the country so it's a good thing republican party has decided to move into the 21st century.
So I had to reread the bottom of the article....states that there is a four step process but there are actually five steps. Either bad journalism or someone can't count. Scary either way.
Tst... The media is barely worth mustering up a rasberry these days.
I noticed that too.
Being a pinko America hating liberal I kind of glossed over it because I saw "GOP" in the headline & figured all bets were off. But then I followed the link to the original article and it looks like Gerson & Wehner are in fact capable of counting to five.
So congratulations, MSNBC. You officially can't count.
I predicted last summer that there was not enough old white men or racists in this country to elect Romney. I was right, and that demographic is shrinking every day. The GOP is going to have to do a lot more if they wish to regain relevance.
“Their challenge is both to refine and relaunch the Republican message, to propose policies that symbolize values and cultural understanding, to reconnect with a middle America that looks different than it once did, and to confront old attitudes, not from time to time, but every day.” Naaaaah.....................
Conservative Thinkers......oxymoron...lol
Why change anything?
If you hate America, want to get nothing done to help the people of this country and slowly slip into irrelevance then keep the current strategy