This is a continuation of my prior posting “Republicans need a vacation.”
If the fierce critics of President Obama really want his Administration and liberal Democrats to fail, they should not be vociferously opposing them. Instead of arguing abstractly and hypothetically about terrible things that might happen if the President gets his way, most Americans will want tangible, real, and concrete proof of failure before they consider alternatives and change course.
Republicans controlled much of the country’s economic and political policies since 1981, and had effective to complete control over the U.S. Government for most of the past 8 years. The American people were provided with the concrete proof in the dismal results of those policies. They rendered a “failed” judgment and threw the party of the White House and from both houses of Congress. Americans were patient and took some time changing course, but after seeing the wreckage wrought on the entire U.S. economy, they really had to abandon the Republican Party.
Instead of trying to modify, ameliorate or stop what they see is wrong in the President’s initiatives, Republicans should let him go “hog wild.” If the American people need concrete evidence, those democratic policies should be enacted in their entireties and then everyone will be able to see the actual results by 2012 or 2016. Republicans should give “full reign” to Democrats and the President because that also includes “full responsibility” over the economy and all the current domestic and international problems.
In order to effectively shift blame, Republicans must calmly and graciously cede all control to the Democrats, in order to ever be in a position to win it back. In reality they have little or no control, so it isn’t much to give away. However, the appearance of no longer being in charge by disappearing from public awareness may be far more effective over the long term.
Most of the discombobulated and disorientated conservative white men over the age of 50 are completely frustrated with their massive losses in November 2008. All their favorite wedge issues seem so pointless and outdated today. These aging conservative leaders, pundits, and Media entertainers cannot objectively see, yet alone acknowledge, any past mistakes. They fail to recognize that current events, new facts, and changing U.S. demographics have left them behind and out of power.
Republicans cannot become the Party of bloviating, angry, vitriolic and ranting nihilists and thus render themselves easy targets for further blame. Instead they need to put on a “happy face” and become an accommodating and gracious party, and simply let the Democrats do whatever they want with their full support. If the policies and programs of Democrats are doomed to failure, Republicans should not waste time standing in the way.
Now that Republicans are the party of no ideas, it is easier to let other try theirs – and eventually become responsible for the consequences. Even if some Republicans fear that many of the policies of the Obama Administration and Democrats might actually succeed, their attitude should still be the same. It already appears that major wealthy special interest groups are heavily lobbying conservative Democrats in Congress who will gladly fill in for Republicans and modify or even “gut” a variety of progressive proposals.
“Out of sight, out of mind” – Republicans should embrace this advice and as my prior post suggested, go on an extended vacation. If they temporarily slip away, they will not be responsible for anything that transpires, whether they publicly oppose it or not. It takes time for policies to work their way through an economy and the American electorate will likely be patient with the Obama Administration for several years. Reagan’s tax-cutting mantra, indifference to federal deficits, and deregulatory zeal did not reach their apotheosis until the Administration George W. Bush during the last 8 years. If Republicans remain in the news, they continue to remind the electorate how incompetent they were when in power and they may never be taken seriously as a responsible governing party.
What Republicans forget from their 1964 debacle is the need for patience in rebuilding. This time it may take longer to come up with worthwhile new ideas and policies for the 21st century in contrast to Democrats, but that painful process has to begin in order for the Party to ever resume its stature as a respected national party capable of governing.
Some may argue that Republicans want to be on record opposing various Democratic initiatives so if they fail, they can make the argument “we told you so.” That is not a worthy objective since most people are more resentful of those who use such smug and arrogant tactics. Instead, blame is eventually affixed where it belongs without reminding people that some might have had superior abilities for prognostication.
Democrats did not come to power in 2008 using “we told you so.” In fact, numerous failed Bush policies were often supported by many Democrats. Instead, new ideas that make sense in contrast with past mistakes and that comport with new facts and circumstances are often the best means to political redemption.
The old guard of the Republican Party has to relinquish control over the party’s future to others because time is not on the party’s side. Otherwise, Republicans might well relegate themselves to the dustbin of history along with the defunct Whigs and Federalist Parties.
Marc Pascal