Published on November 6, 2008 By ZubaZ In Politics

I've seen a number of posts and a heard a number of radio comments that suggests that the Republican Party needs to change. I believe that in the past election they failed to have a platform and a communications plan to convince the people who they are, how they represent the people, and what what they stand for.

I've hear folks saying that the party needs to become more centrist if they want to win future elections.

But how can they still be Republicans if they go too much the the center?  At that point they are the Centrist party.

I think the message should be short and sweet:

 

  • We will protect our borders from foreign invasion
  • We will have less Federal government in your lives
    • You can succeed or fail on your own
  • We will provide a Flat tax or Fair tax
    • We are all created equal we should share the burden equally

 

You can read the current platform here: http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/

What do you think needs to change?  Platform?  Communication plan?  More to the right?  More to the center?  More towards stict contitution?


Comments (Page 4)
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on Aug 05, 2012

LORD-ORION
I suppose this is the fundamental problem with most Americans when it comes to politics.

Most cannot understand that "leftist commie" Obama has shifted more to the right through his actual actions and is pretty much at the spot the 2008 Republican platform was run on, and is way more right then previous Republican platforms of the past.

Give me an example.

Or that "leftist" Obama's policies would make him a hardcore conservative right winger in any other country on the planet.

Left and right wing have a million differing definitions and they are constantly redefined by politicians as is expedient in their attempt to twist the language to support their cause.

Its like calling murdering homeless people "volunteering at the shelter" and then expressing outrage that anyone would be against volunteering at the shelter

The Political Compass site's score are not relative, they are based on political science, and it shows that there has been a fundamental shift to further right wing economics

If they think right wing economics was shifted to they are smoking crack.

at the same time there has been an erosion in civil liberties in the name of fighting terrorism in pretty much all Western democracies. Right wing / Left wing economic policies need to be decoupled from Authoritarian / Libertarian outlooks, because as shown, most Americans have their head in the sand when it comes to political science and what policies their parties are actually implementing.

That there are establishment republicans are often corrupt and erode civil liberties doesn't change what the platforms are. the democrats are openly for eroding civil liberties at the moment while the republicans at least pay lip service and sometimes more, especially if they are more serious conservatives.

You also keep on throwing buzzwords like political science without any relationship to anything else you are saying in your argument.

Also, it is funny that you guys are so uptight that I can't even be pissed off that Obama's policies have become that of a typical Republican, because it insults the typical Republicans with the same policies.

I am a libertarian, sorta. And I have legally emigrated to the USA from Israel, a socialist "utopia" with over 75% tax rate, socialized everything, massive amounts of people on government dole, etc etc etc.

So its funny how an impartial outsider is now a "you people". Also, no typical republican has ever had anything like obama's policies.

And before you bring up bush as the modern US liberal is so apt to do, the bush bailout was voted for by a super majority of democrats and against by a super-majority of republicans.

on Aug 05, 2012

I'll give you several examples of moving to the right on economic policy. (I don't mind moves further right on economic policy)

1) Extension to bush tax cuts
2) Appoints Michael Taylor (Monsanto) as advisor to FDA
3) High defense spending and appointment of Jerome Powell (this is a Bush era Military-Industrial complex guy) to the Federal Reserve
4) Free-trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Columbia

These are all large moves towards deregulation and to the right on economics of his 2008 platform.

As for "no typical Republican has ever had anything like Obama's policies" why don't you check out the 1989 Heritage Foundation's "Assuring Affordable Health Care for all Americans"... what do you know, Obamacare is actually a Republican proposition as the alternative to Clinton's healthcare reform plan.

It's still funny, nobody I know except Republicans have a problem wrapping their head around the political compass site, because for the most part they ALL have a completely asinine attachment... that anything democrats do is always evil leftist socialism.

on Aug 05, 2012

LORD-ORION
1) Extension to bush tax cuts
2) Appoints Michael Taylor (Monsanto) as advisor to FDA
3) High defense spending and appointment of Jerome Powell (this is a Bush era Military-Industrial complex guy) to the Federal Reserve
4) Free-trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Columbia

1. He did not extend them. He put forth a bill for only portions of them to be extended while giving severe tax hikes for others. Namely "the rich" aka small businesses, doctors, etc. But it was blocked by other democrats. Such class warefare and "progressive" taxation is not "moving to the right".

2. Who? (no really, who?). And an adviser to the FDA? So, not someone who actually decides anything just someone to give advice?

Did you see who he appoints to positions that matter? Eric holder, Sotomayor, and all the other liberal hacks.

3. Obama canceled nasa, canceled the railgun battleships, halved the navy, canceled most military R&D, massively slashed army spending in every possible way. hamstrung our armed forces abroad, etc etc.

4. "Free trade" is a buzz word, if you look at the details of every deal he signs you will find his marxist ideology. Trade agreements with other nations is not "conservative policy" nor does it move him to the right. The big deals he supported were meant to strip Americans of their freedoms in an authoritarian manner such as the UN gun ban, SOPA, PIPA, etc etc.

These are all large moves towards deregulation and to the right on economics of his 2008 platform.

Deregulation/regulation are stupid and annoying buzzwords thrown by both the right and the left with vague definitions. The same action can be described as both regulation and deregulation most often depending on how you phrase it. And usually IS described as both deregulation and regulation depends on what each side thinks of it.

That being said, none of the above are moves for deregulation. 

As for "no typical Republican has ever had anything like Obama's policies" why don't you check out the 1989 Heritage Foundation's "Assuring Affordable Health Care for all Americans"... what do you know, Obamacare is actually a Republican proposition as the alternative to Clinton's healthcare reform plan.

You are actually arguing that obamacare is right wing law? No wonder you are so off your rocker.

Every single democrat, republican, and moderate disagrees with you. The conservatives hate it and the liberals love it, but they all agree single payer is a liberal policy.

It's still funny, nobody I know except Republicans have a problem wrapping their head around the political compass site, because for the most part they ALL have a completely asinine attachment... that anything democrats do is always evil leftist socialism.

Libertarian.

Also what "political compass site" I am talking to you about the nonsense comments you make in this thread. I saw no link to any such site nor is it relevant to ANY of the points we are discussing.

And democrats ARE evil leftist socialists and everything they do IS for stripping away civil liberties in the name of creating a utopia via legislation... as if it ever works out.

I disagree with the republicans on some points and hate their corrupt pork barrel status quo establishment. But the tea party is making good headway there while hitting a stone wall on the democrat side.

The democrats are stripping away our freedoms and ruining the economy. Not to mention being chock full of KKK members and antisemites.

on Aug 05, 2012

Typical flame bait response

Everything you've argued is also typical Republican anti-democrat rhetoric

I see

1) You flat out are a LIAR, because 858 billion worth of Bush tax cut extensions were signed into law by Obama.
2) Appointing a VP from a company that lobbies for deregulation of the FDA, to the FDA (not a right wing economic move?)
3) Expenditures are still higher, despite whatever you say is cut. You're still lying. (mostly to yourself and every other delusional anti-democrat)
4) Reducing trade restrictions (protectionism)... and you argue, not a move to right wing economics... seriously. That one takes the cake.

Also... in my very 1st post, which started this whole thing... you will find the link to the political compass site. Typical Republican pretending to be a libertarian, jump in and make yourself look like the stereotype, everyone is laughing at you who is not a pig headed Republican.

Heh, Obama upped the bar so much in the last 4 years, that there is not actually much more room for republicans to be republicans...

So, no need to worry, it Obama wins 2012, it will be the same as if hockey mom and old dude won in 2008.
 

on Aug 05, 2012

LORD-ORION
So, no need to worry, it Obama wins 2012, it will be the same as if hockey mom and old dude won in 2008.

I don't care who you are, that's funny.

on Aug 06, 2012

LORD-ORION, the only liar here is you.

To those here with a brain:

"Sunsetting" is the practice of making a law that automatically expires unless renewed. "making permanent" is when the law is modified to remove that clause and it remains in place until manually changed by congress again. Obviously its not made perment in a "can't be changed". but it requires control of house, senate, and president to do so.

On 7/9/2012 Obama changed his tax plan compared to what he said a mere ~6 months ago.

~6 months ago he suggested making current tax rates (bush rates) permanent for those making under 250k a year and permanetly raising taxes significantly for those making over. (which includes 9/10 small businesses, and even if it wasn't it is still bs)

on 7/9/2012 he has changed that proposal to be a 1 year extension for the bush tax rates for those making under 250k a year with automatic expiration at the end of 2013. Along with immediately raising taxes on those making over 250k.

So, while in both proposals he increases taxes on those making over 250k. In the new proposal he now automatically raises taxes on EVERYONE, including the poor... but it only goes into effect AFTER the election is over.

on Aug 06, 2012

LORD-ORION
Typical Republican pretending to be a libertarian

Only thing by this moron I wont ignore.

The reason I am a libertarian (who votes republican out of necessity) is:

1. Abortion: Should be legal, government should not be telling people what to do on such an issue. Even though I personally am celibate to prevent accidental pregnancy and murder of my unborn child (since men have no say in that in the USA). I would abort a retarded/autistic child though. And no, I don't believe in souls, I am an atheist. However I am also a biologist and knows when life begins (and sentience is acquired months to years after birth but we don't allow killing newborns...).

2. Gays: While I loathe their so called "gay culture" (as I do so many nasty subcultures), we cannot have a case where the government is taking away people's rights. (although those exact rights as presented by the gay community is often false due to them being ignorant of the law, most typically given example that is false is hospital visitation... its deciding what to do for a mentally incapacitated loved one that is determined by spouse. Visitation is open to ALL PEOPLE).

Anyways, denying equal legal status is not acceptable. The counter claims are much bigotry and a few valid points. Those valid points can be addressed by making the government get out of the marriage business entirely (civil unions for EVERYONE.. marriage is between you and your spouse and MAYBE church if you decide to involve one). All laws must treat civil unions to be equal to marriage.

It should be noted that democrats pay lip service to the gay community but their party platform opposes gay marriage, obama flip flops on it, and despite complete control over government and doing whatever they please they have passed many destructive laws and yet did not legalize gay marriage.

Also don't ask don't tell was passed a democrat law not a republican one.

I do not approve of people

3. Drugs: I had never done any drugs, I never even smoked a cigarette... although I did try alcohol and coffee to my shame, I abstain from both now... excepting cooking alcohol in food that is. The war on drugs is a travesty and an affront to a free society. You cannot make it a crime for a person to consume something.

Furthermore there are other severe issues. Namely that it funds terrorists and organized crime cartels.

Most importantly, people who need help are not getting it because their disease is criminalized, I know how it is to lose someone to drugs, a good friend of mine in Highschool died from overdose, he was driven to drugs by his abusive parents... People need help when they are on drugs and they cannot properly request it when mere possession is a crime and they fear of going to prison for it.

4. other issues (only so much I can write). I would never vote for ron paul though because the guy is delusional and his foreign policy is disastrous. Disarming the military is suicide.

on Aug 06, 2012

So, what are you exactly arguing, when we agree on all those issues?

That you didn't follow the link I originally posted when I stated my position that democrats are now as bad and no different from Republicans in 2012?

on Aug 07, 2012

LORD-ORION
So, what are you exactly arguing, when we agree on all those issues?

About all the issues we don't agree on. Like the disaster called obama, socialism, redistribution, etc.

on Sep 06, 2012

The government that governs least, governs best. I think if the GOP just went in that direction they could make it work.

It is hard to get that message to be popular, because people are so used to the federal government doing so much. But I think if the GOP just created an agenda and focuesed on selling it to the people, in the long run they would win out.

All Republicans need to still to the agenda and unify behind the agenda. Some agenda items would include;

  • Flat, fair, and low income tax rate
  • Gradually privitize social security
  • Transfer more power, AND responsibility to the states
  • Make immigration simple, but stand strong against illegal immigration
  • Protect individual liberties (speech, religion, press)
  • Less regulation

 

on Sep 08, 2012

"Flat, fair, and low income tax rate" Change that to "Flat, fair, and low tax rate" Income should not be taxable. Neither should inheritance for that matter.

Also, how come we got to the point where a "progressive" tax such as "10% for everyone" is called "flat tax"? If that is a flat tax then what are those old feudal taxes where people pay a yearly tax per head irregardless of their income called?

Anyways, for decades we had big government politicians on both sides, Reagan was an exception but the republicans were complicit. We now have the tea party and establishment politicians from both parties attack them. The tea party is making strong inroads into the republican party but the democrat party is just getting more openly Marxist by the day. Where are all the Reagan democrats and why aren't they able to take back their party from the establishment politicians?

on Sep 08, 2012

WilliamJenningsBryan
The government that governs least, governs best. I think if the GOP just went in that direction they could make it work.

It is hard to get that message to be popular, because people are so used to the federal government doing so much. But I think if the GOP just created an agenda and focuesed on selling it to the people, in the long run they would win out.

All Republicans need to still to the agenda and unify behind the agenda. Some agenda items would include;


Flat, fair, and low income tax rate
Gradually privitize social security
Transfer more power, AND responsibility to the states
Make immigration simple, but stand strong against illegal immigration
Protect individual liberties (speech, religion, press)
Less regulation

 
I think you are talking about the Libertarian party. 

http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/front

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