Ellington

On the day that President Bush plans to address the nation from New Orleans, and try to heal both his and his party's broken image, Peggy Noonon writes for the Wall Street Journal:

The Republican Party right now is torn. It has muscle tears you can't see when you look at the body of the party, but they are there, and deepening. In the natural scheme of things the party would fight out its big issues in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Now I suspect the fight will begin sooner. And that's good.

There's much on the table that has to be addressed—immigration, spending, the size of government—including the very nature and purpose of modern conservatism. Getting serious about these questions will be helpful to the country, and helpful to those who begin this overdue heavy lifting. Why shouldn't the president summon forth, ask the help of and highlight the presence of the governors, congressmen and senators who will soon enough be trying to run the party themselves? They're coming anyway. Why not invite them? And work with them. And, as a side benefit, subtly get a little of the heat off your dramatic self?

Previous Comments

ID

171713

Comment

And a primary question is whether the party is going to continue to pander toward the radical right and corporations (and racists), thus losing the middle more and more? It really is a pivotal moment for Republicans. Personally, I hope a more human party emerges on the other side, whether because the current GOP excises its demons, or because the moderates just go form a new party of their own (or join reasonable Democrats). It'll be interesting to see how it unfolds, but we all knew that the Party of Greed and Even Bigger Government's days were numbered ... it is current form, anyway. Time to remake itself again. It's not like it's been this party forever. The first mistake was deciding to embrace racism of the segregationists back in the 1960s just to get cheap votes. It's been downhill from there. And Katrina (not to mention Iraq) symbolizes everything wrong with that party as it now stands.

Author

ladd

Date

2005-09-15T09:05:27-06:00

ID

171714

Comment

The other thing I would say here is that, in order to revive itself, the Democratic Party ought not get in the way of the GOP's attempt to define itself. Let them fight out who they are, what they believe in, the corporatation-vs-people issue, how to actually be conservative and compassionate, and so on. Sure, critics should point out the problems with the country's leadership and offer solutions, but no real need to get in Napoleon's way, as it were. What the Democratic Party needs to do is stand up proudly and declare itself for the people and stop trying to be a wimpy, faux-Republican Party. That doesn't mean swinging radically left -- anything but that. But it does mean that people who considers themselves progressive, or liberal, or left needs to stop friggin' apologizing for it. It's been truly amazing to watch people, for instance, cede the religious territory, when throughout the Bible, it seems to me, the most consistent and clearcut messages are about helping the poor. (Tom wil correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure.) Way too many people, including myself, have not had a party to identify with for a long time. Is it time to stop fighting over a small, and shrinking, pool of mean and selfish voters, while pushing everyone else into a place where they don't want to vote for anybody. At the same time, it is time for EVERYBODY to quit defending stupidity in public office because they're a member of a party, no matter what party. That's partisanship at its ugliest. And most people just aren't that partisan. Good people must have a tough skin when extremists try to marginalize you by thrusting you into the opposite extremeóthey are going to do this; it's part of the Rovian strategy. Just ignore it and keep speaking up for what's rightóand that inevitably is centered around helping the less than fortunate. Sure, let's figure out how to do that in a smart way, but let's not stop doing it because a bunch of greedy folks care more about corporations than people packed into ghettoes since Jim Crow ended and then forgotten about. We can be better than that. And that's my one-cup manifesto for this a.m. ;-D

Author

ladd

Date

2005-09-15T10:09:09-06:00

ID

171715

Comment

Is it time to stop fighting over a small, and shrinking, pool of mean and selfish voters, while pushing everyone else into a place where they don't want to vote for anybody. I assume you meant, "It is time..." And with that small change, this is the most concise yet accurate statement of the fundamental problem that I have yet seen. Best, Tim

Author

Tim Kynerd

Date

2005-09-15T11:45:29-06:00