Despite recent losses, many conservatives are optimistic about the future. But not all. David Frum, a conservative columnist, thinks it a little too optimistic to predict a Republican return in 2010.
Frum gives four reasons why it will take longer, with his main reason being "the collapsed intellectual state of the party." You can read the entire article here and see if you agree.
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The next Republican presidential candidate will likely be a current governor. That much is clear. What's unclear is which governor it will be. Many think, and hope, it will be Bobby Jindal from Louisiana.
Mr. Jindal, a 37 year-old Indian American, recently told fellow governors that Republicans have failed to inspire. "We should stand for the American dream," he said. He went on to blame Republicans in Washington for cutting taxes without cutting spending, and for not providing solutions to problems.
Today's Economist has an interesting article, "Ship of fools," about why Republicans lost the election. The author is a little harsh and doesn't mince words - as you can probably tell from the title - but his basic point is sadly accurate.
"There are any number of reasons for the Republican Party’s defeat on November 4th. But high on the list is the fact that the party lost the battle for brains... Republicanism’s anti-intellectual turn is devastating for its future. The party’s electoral success from 1980 onwards was driven by its ability to link brains with brawn. The conservative intelligentsia not only helped to craft a message that resonated with working-class Democrats, a message that emphasized entrepreneurialism, law and order, and American pride. It also provided the party with a sweeping policy agenda. The party’s loss of brains leaves it rudderless, without a compelling agenda."
You can read the entire article here.
President Bush gave a great speech today (haven't heard that one lately) about our current financial crisis. His main points were along the lines of what we previously mentioned here.
You can read more about his speech here.
What does this revitalized Republican party we've been talking about look like? Glad you asked.
The Party must become relevant to a majority of Americans once again. This means actually making an effort to reach young voters and addressing the problems facing the middle class. Our answers don't resonate with people anymore because they're solutions for old problems. Conservatives fixed the problems they set out to conquer at the outset of the Reagan Revolution, and the results of that can be seen in our country's overall prosperity in the last 28 years.
And yet, there is still more work to be done. We must apply conservative principles to a new set of problems, such as health care, energy, the environment, social security, and international development.
"It is not a mandate for a party or ideology, but a mandate for change."
-Harry Reid, senate majority leader
Obama will have to remember this: he won because he represents change, not because the majority of Americans agree with his policies. This is going to make it very difficult for Obama once he actually has to start making policy.
Come on, admit it: Obama's acceptance speech was pretty awesome. Whether or not you voted for him, it was an amazing moment in American history. We have a lot to be proud of as a nation.
The reason we found it inspiring—historical significance aside—was that Obama's speech was laced with beautiful, patriotic rhetoric espousing conservative principles:
Americans are known for one quality above all others...our willpower. When we look at our history, time and again we see the amazing feats we’ve accomplished through an iron will and a steely determination. When the French, defeated by the heat and malaria of the Panamanian jungle, gave up on constructing a canal through Panama, it was America that stepped in and made the seemingly impossible dream of the Panama Canal a reality. After World War II, it was American treasure that poured into Europe. Both friends and foes received our help after the devastation of war. History abounds with these and other examples, as time and again America’s will and determination has been called upon, and time and again it’s answered the call.
But occasionally that great American will is subverted by our own leaders. The last to do so was Jimmy Carter. Carter let America’s enemies advance with little opposition, abandoned our allies and openly contemplated whether our best years were behind us. With his weakness of spirit rubbing off on the rest of the country, it was little wonder America was mired in what Carter called a “crisis of confidence.”
With the election upon us, we conclude our series on Obama's 'Chump Change'. Today, it's his change with foreign policy we have our doubts about.
Obama Change: Pull out all troops from Iraq in 16 months and meet with rogue dictators without preconditions.
Chump Change: Leave Iraq and the entire Middle East in a state of chaos by pulling out troops too quickly and make a huge diplomatic mistake by meeting with rogue leaders without preconditions.
If history has taught us anything, it’s that countries in turmoil are great at rebuilding themselves. For example, Germany after World War I.
It's not all gloom and doom for the Rust Belt these days. In fact, this NY Times article shows how the best days might be ahead for states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Iowa.
Three thoughts (that just so happen to be ones we've been saying here at The Relevant Elephant) stood out while reading this article: