The Conservative Reformation
Ten days ago, Paul Silver tossed a spotlight on a May 9 David Brooks’ column, in which the NYT writer pondered what American conservatives might learn from their British counterparts.
Among other things, Brooks claimed that British conservatives are resurgent today only after paying their dues. They wondered in the wilderness before they could emerge on the other side — chastened and wiser, more in tune with the times. Brooks further suggested that today’s American conservatives (and their disconfigured embodiment in the form of the GOP) have not yet suffered enough, as they blindly cling to dated ideologies and remain steadfastly out-of-touch with the zeitgeist.
Channeling Brooks on the same day his column was published, two other writers riffed on a similar theme.
… though generic congressional ballot questions show Democrats running more than a dozen points ahead of Republicans — the latest survey, from CBS and the New York Times, had it at 18 points, the same gap as before the 2006 elections — the NRCC has been reluctant to admit a national problem.
And Kimberley Strassel:
Republicans face tough odds, yes. But that’s because they’ve yet to prove they’ve learned a lesson …
In short, these writers agree: The Republicans (and conservatives who dominate their ranks) are bound to suffer more defeats and more embarassments before they right their listing ship.
In the 1960’s, it took a relentless thinker named Barry Goldwater to articulate a compelling vision for conservatism. But it wasn’t until 1980 — a generation later, after the domestic disasters of Nixon and the non-Republican Carter — that Ronald Reagan (with his unique brand of B-movie actor charm and appeal) ran and won on Goldwater’s vision.
So if history repeats itself, who, exactly will emerge as the Barry Goldwater of 2008 and the Ronald Reagan of 2028? Whoever they are, I suspect they will articulate and ultimately follow a much different roadmap out of the wilderness.
Up Next: A modest proposal for the next Goldwater’s consideration.
16 Responses to “The Conservative Reformation”
I don't know who, but I can guess how. Whoever it is will run on reforming the excesses and scandals that grew out of years of liberal rule. They will probably be able to recycle Reagan's message, and a new generation will forget the past 20 years that ended in failure and disgrace for the GOP.
kritt11,
If you look at places like New jersey, DC, or Detroit, running against the excesses and scandals of the Democrats is not a winning strategy.
I find the term “Conservative Reformation” oddly oxymoronic…..
Maybe the Repuglicans can copy the Shuler model and go back to the middle. The Old Guard of the Repugs are showing their age, maybe Flake Jindal and others will take the baton…
I think they're reluctant to admit there's a problem because they're afraid of alienating the base.
SD- Those are Democratic strongholds. If you read about Gingrich's engineering of the takeover of Congress in the 90's, you see that the strategy works on a national basis-just as it is working now nationally for the Democrats.
I find the move to the center most intersting.
It will be fascinating to see how the parties evolve over time.
Ideologies have to include the issue of gaining power, and thet's where things get muddlled and unpredictable.
I wonder.
I wonder in 1993 the democrats were hurting bad. They had been labeled as obsolete, out of touch and unresponsive to all but a select few. They were in disarray as the groups within the group was feeding upon itself.
They were done. Their message was obsolete and out of touch and yet. 2008 the democrats without having changed much of their message but rather having even more strongly embraced that obsolete message they are poised for what could well be an historic level of power in this nation.
They never lost sight of who they were and who they represented. This nation has been roughly 50/50 split for decades. Do we really think that the consevatives are dead? That they must change to compete.
I for one only believe that the democrats need be in power for about 8 to 12 years and this nation will be so sick of them that they will throw them out and reembrace the conservative roots. (Yet even this is not an endorsement of Conservativism as much as its a rejection of what the democrats will have done for those years in power.)
Its all cyclical. There is nothing wrong with the GOP. Other then leadership. GWB and company have single handedly destroyed the GOP but their message is powerful and strong to a lot of people. They just need their Barak Obama to speak it to the people and we will be whining in 20 years…….the Democrats are out of touch with reality.
Because my basic premise is that neither democrats nor republicans are capable of ruling for long without losing the interest of the masses who then begin embracing that proverbial “the grass is greener on the other side” syndrome.
“They never lost sight of who they were and who they represented. This nation has been roughly 50/50 split for decades”
But who are they?
The changes within each party also play a big role in their tactics as well as election results..
It's too simplistic to see it all as Democrati/Republican cycles.
Though I agree that being in power tends to result in overshooting the mark and thus being rejected by the public,, even that is more compkicated.
The 'people' are not often a rational bunch. They want, want, want, and blame, bleame blame when they don''t get what they want in short order. Part of the party cycle phenomenon is due to the nature ot the public, and can't be dontrolled by those in power, regardelss of party.
I'm waiting to see what a new generation will produce.
They may not even have the same arguments as we do now.
,
“Because my basic premise is that neither democrats nor republicans are capable of ruling for long without losing the interest of the masses who then begin embracing that proverbial “the grass is greener on the other side” syndrome.”
That's the driving force behind the swinging pendulum. If the officials we elect are to blame, then blame must be shared amongst the electorate.
:That's the driving force behind the swinging pendulum. If the officials we elect are to blame, then blame must be shared amongst the electorate.:
How true!!!
Sorry- started to comment but messed it up and don't have time to rewrite.
Sorry- started to comment but messed it up and don't have time to rewrite.
[...] [...]
Quote Neo
“They just need their Barak Obama to speak it to the people and we will be whining in 20 years…….the Democrats are out of touch with reality.”
You are a bunch of whiners now, then? lol
Spelling and punctuation can save lives:
eg:
“Let's eat kids” = canibalism
“Let's eat, kids”-=call to dinner.
Quote Neo
“They just need their Barak Obama to speak it to the people and we will be whining in 20 years…….the Democrats are out of touch with reality.”
You are a bunch of whiners now, then? lol
Spelling and punctuation can save lives:
eg:
“Let's eat kids” = canibalism
“Let's eat, kids”-=call to dinner.