The Republican Inner Circle is astutely aware of the diminished strength of the Republican Party. I quote a statement made by one segment of the party, “Rebuildtheparty”:
The Republican Party can no longer survive in a modern era if we resist this new reality. With our power in Washington waning, our grassroots are the source of our greatest strength — not a problem to be managed. To revitalize ourselves, we must invite the crowd back in and tap their energy and creativity.
This group is trying to repair the severe damage brought by the policies and behaviors of the Bush Administration and sadly endorsed by the Party faithful.
As of late I have been writing incessantly about the need to punish this Republican Party. In fact I have advocated its demise. My stated reason has been that there must be a punishment for the immoral, unethical, corruptive behavior of the GOP over the last eight years. And their behavior has earned them the right to be consigned to the dust bin of history and left to become irrelevant, represented only as a “once was” item in History books.
Watching C-Span this morning, I witnessed one Mindy Finn speak about the health of the Republican Party. Now Mindy is a die hard Republican and is wanting to save her GOP from suffering the fate that I reported in the opening sentence of this article was a Republican Party Management concern. Mindy is a co-founder of “Rebuild the Party” and her organization has put forward a 10 point action plan to ressurect the Party from certain oblivion. My point is that even the inner circle Republicans believe that they are headed for history’s dust bin if they don’t change.
But as is always the case, the Devil is in the details. As I listened and watched C-Span closely waiting for someone to call in and say “You need to get the Party to realize that they need to respond to the voice of the people”, alas no such call came. One soul did call in and speak of the need for the Party to get rid of the Neo-Cons, a must in my opinion, but the response to that caller was minimal at best and I considered it to be – ignored. The Republican Upper Management attitude is best illustrated by what Gary Eminith, elected as the North Dakota Republican Party Chairman in July, had to say in December about responding to the public : “ At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what the public thinks; it matters what 168 of us think”. The 168 he was alluding to is the upper echelon management of the Party. So Ms. Finn joined in to save the party from those that Eminith was alluding to, the Conservative status-quo. Eminith wants to rebuild the party also, but he wants a different method of electing the RNC chairman. In other words a structure change, nothing to do with Party behavior toward the public.
The Rebuildtheparty.com of Ms. Finn and her signers-on have come up with “A 10-point action plan” . This plan is best understood by what was written by the framers of that Ten Point Plan as quoted here: In Ms. Finn’s words, “We need a transformation.” And she suggested that the Party steal Obama’s phrase “Yes we can.”
Sounds like her faction of the Republican Party is trying to make amends, wouldn’t you think? Well that just might be an illusion.
As Ms. Finn discussed the 10-point plan with the C-Span moderator, Pedro Echevarria, I noticed that the most important words, or as I use them – behaviors, were never mentioned: Morality of Governance, Ethical Governance, and Fidelity to the people. Those three words Morals, Ethics, Fidelity, should be the frame for all of America and was heavily prominent as the bedrock foundation for the construction of the Constitution by our Founding Fathers.
But, well I thought, in a talk show things can be omitted due to the constraints of time, and of course the subject response is driven by the callers-in. So to really see what is contained in the rebuilding effort, I went online and visited the site, and read the 10 Point Action Plan. It is my sad duty to report that most of the plan is how to rebuild the Republican Party structure, and how to get the Republican message out. The most important words from my perspective, needed to discuss the remaking of the Republican Party; Morality of Governance, Ethical Governance, and Fidelity to the People, just wasn’t mentioned.
So the rebuilding effort ignores the very things that have brought great dishonor to the Party. Saying “Yes we can” doesn’t effect change. Change comes from within, whether it be from within an individual, or from within a Political Party. Ms. Finn, you and your Republicans MUST change the Party behavior to remain a viable political party.
Once again I call for the end of this existing Republican Party. I will never vote for a candidate from this Republican Party again.
8 comments ↓
Not saying this as an endorsement of the other ’side’ in any way, but the Republicans, in my opinion, have been pretty much criminal from the start. Big government, war-loving, and no problems trying to legislate morality. They’ve never seemed to come anywhere close to even their “best” rhetoric. I wouldn’t she a tear if I never heard from them again.
But, they’re part of the entrenched system, so will they really go away?
Michael
No they won’t go away unless forced to go away.
But the people of America can force them out of existence with one simple action. They can resolve and keep their commitment to never again vote for a Republican Candidate.
If enough people do this, those who are actually interested in becoming someone who can make a difference in our governance, they will desert the Republican Party and join an Independent Party. I can think of some Republicans who really should be Populists. Would we welcome them? Of course we would if they really believe the Populist themes.
There are possibly millions of Republicans who would join as Populists if they were aware what we stand for, they would notice that it meets their standards also. How could a moral, ethical, person support what calls itself Republican Party nowadays?
The only vote I’ve ever cast has been for Ron Paul – I can’t imagine ever voting for another republican, or any democrat for that matter either. If I were in Paul’s district, I sure wouldn’t vote against him. But, then again, he’s really an anomaly – hated by his own party “leaders”….
I’m going to have to give R.P. a big thumb’s up too. I’d vote for him no matter what party he’s in – or anyone talking about the same kinds of ideas. End to war, sound money, ending the federal reserve, no more corporate subsidies, shutting down the empire. I don’t think party has much to do with it these days, because both parties are the opposite of me on all those main issues. I second both Cliff and Michael that the republicans should be gone. I’d like to see the democrats gone too, though.
As an outsider living in the UK but one interested in politics surely the first question the Republican Party must ask itself is, ‘what process allowed previous candidates to become elected presidents?’
There is no doubt that outside the US sentiment toward the US has never been as poor as it is today (pre Obama).
Martin – that’s really a great question, because if we really are to address these kinds of problems, we have to strike at the root. The big question of course, is….what should be improved?
If you really want to get noticed by the RNC, stay registered Republican and start donating significant amounts to Democratic candidates. Notify the Republican candidate and your local RNC office that you are a registered Republican donating to the Democratic candidate because you oppose the leadership of the RNC, and until the Republican Party embraces the ideals listed by Cliff, above, you will continue to support the Democratic Party.
Philo, no doubt that this kind of action on a mass scale would get the attention of some RNC leaders….but personally, I don’t think I could give my money to the other war party just for the hope that the RNC would actually do something right.
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