GOP faces identity crisis

With two major elections lost by republicans we need a change of course. The Obama campaign ran on Change. We need a a new slogan. Its called Leadership. I am glad that Michael Steele was elected as the new chairman of the RNC. He is the one who can bring the party to the next phase. The reality is that elections are a numbers game and another reality is that the demographics is shifting rapidly. That is minorities are increasing their numbers over whites. That is something that the republican party must deal with if we have any chance at winning elections. The problem is not in our principles but in our practice and marketing strategy. Most minorities will tell you that the reason they identify with the democrats is that they think that the republican party is the party of the rich. We have also let democrats define who we are. We must actively demonstrate and promote who we are and what we are about. I think one of the fundamental problems we have is that we have not embraced technology the way that democrats have and that our message does not resonate with minority voters. We are percieved as being insenstive to others. I know that this not true. There are a lot of good and honest people in the party. We must let people know how democrats have failed public policy for example spending hundreds of billions of dollars in the Great Society and netting little result for that. We have democratic members who have consistently promised to deliver to minorities but then excuse ineffectiveness by stating that its an institutional failure not the individuals fault. Many areas of the country that are dominated are controlled by democrats are in continued economic disparate conditions. Doesnt that tell us something?
The fastest way to lose an election is when your principles are not on par with your practice. That is that your principles must connect with voters with what you are doing. I think that that was one of the biggest problems with the McCain campaing was that they kept stating that the economy was fundamentally sound. The economy might be fundamentaly sound but that was not the perception of most people in the country. This was especially true when there was news that Wall Street was in serious trouble. That the banking industry was on the brink of collapse.

Let the Free Market work?

I think that some republicans are clearly out of line when they say that the free market is supposed to work in this situation. Pure capitalism doesnt work because then you would have the strong manipulate the weak. We would create in essence a third world country. We have a modified version of capitalism that has served us well but we obviously got a way from the fundamentals. Those who say that this is seriously a market correction are seriously misinformed. There has to be some regulation of the system so that there is not manipulation.

City Councilman asked to resign

A local city councilman has been asked to resign after it was learned that he used city stationery to send offensive comments to a local business man. The two have not gotten along and this incident was just one of many. However some say that the city councilman crossed the line when he used official city email to address a constituent he did not like.

Post RNC

The Twin Cities highlighted its as the republicans nominated their candidate at the Xcel Energy Center. It was initially tamped down by Hurricane Gustav. But the show continued on Tuesday as speakers made their case for Senator John McCain. But the VP nominee Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, stole the show as she wowed the delegates and the national television audience with her acceptance speech. Going from a small town mayor to VP candidate for the United States. Taking the United States by storm.

McCain the new standard bearer for the GOP?

That seems to be 64,ooo dollar question. Will he still be the maverick senator from Arizona that he has always been or will he tow the party line. Is he redefining what it means to be a republican. He has some very conservative viewpoints that he has always had like being pro-life. While on others he has strayed from the party. Only time will tell which direction McCain will go and more importantly whether the party is able to convince the party faithful that he is the man worth fighting for against the presumptive democratic nominee. Needless to say 2008 has turned out to be the the most electrifying elections in decades forcing political stratagies to redraw their maps in terms of how they will shape their candidates image to the public.

How will Hillary exit the stage?

The question now seems to be how will Hillary exit the stage. Will she exit gracefully or be forced out. If she wants a chance in 2012 she will bow out gracefully to Obama.

McCain the likely nominee

Senator John McCain is likely going to be the nominee at this point. He has all the momentum and endorsements flowing his way. Huckabee is still in the race but dont expect a come kid strategy. McCain is near the finish line already.
Some conservative republicans have concerns with positions that McCain has taken in the past and I can certainly empathize with them. However we certainly had the opportunity to support the conservative candidates in our party and chose not to or they ran ineffective campaigns. So this is what we have whether we like or not. Conservatives can wine and complain all they want but its not just about ideology. I wish that Romney had stayed in the race a little bit longer. This was probably our one opportunity for our voice to be heard and not to be lectured by our elected officials about who we should vote for. We are the boots on the ground and our elected officials need to be reminded of that every once in awhile.