Rob's House Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Republican party, this is what you need to do: 1. Grow a collective set of nuts - Stop being the Conservative version of the John Kerry. Distinguish yourselves on the most imprtant issues and take them head on. Particularly on economic issues. Our economic model is unsustainable, impossible to defend, and easy to explain. Stop dancing around the issue and dive in and hammer it in common sense terms. Talk to people straight, and assume they're not retarded. A lot are, but you'll win more with logic than gimmicks and talking points. And read Milton Friedman. 2. Stop alienating women - Don't get sucked in to these stupid birth control debates (thank you Rick Santorum). And damn it, STOP TALKING ABOUT RAPE!!! What are you trying to accomplish here? How about acknowledging that although abortion is morally abhorrent, regulation of abortion is not an essential function of the federal government. That doesn't mean go pro-choice, it means talk about abortion reduction through methods other than prohibition. You'll pick up 2 voters for every 1 you lose and ironically, you'll do a lot more to reduce the number of babies snuffed out in the womb. 3. Stop demonizing Hispanics. They're actually a lot more conservative than you think. An effective immigration policy involves securing the border and making legal immigration significantly more streamlined. Cracking down on immigrants who are working is pointless. And cracking down on their employers isn't much better. If we could get them documented so they pay taxes and so we can process them w/n our criminal justice system, we eliminate most of the problems associated with illegal immigration. And stop worrying about them taking jobs. People who work help the economy. You sound like liberals talking about outsourcing. 4. Explain to blacks why free market principles are in their best interest. And talk straight; don't be patronizing or handle them with kid gloves. You'd be amazed what you can say to a black guy if you just cut through the BS and talik to him like a man. He'll respect you for it. Don't think it will work? How's your current strategy working? 5. Put your bible away. You can be as religious as you want to be, and you don't have to be shy about it, but make it damn clear that you understand the value of separation of church and state. You can acknowledge that our country was largely built on judeo-christian values, but make it clear you don't want to impose your will on others. Honestly, the most important values you derive from your religion are universal. You'd be surprised how many people have an irrational fear of a conservative theocracy. 6. Stop talking about gays. The family unit has survived across the globe and across virtually all cultures from the dawn of civilization. It's not going to collapse b/c gays get to have federally sanctioned monogamous relationships. You don't have to like it. Hell, you don't even have to support it. Just let it go. Follow this recipe, find some politicians who are halfway cool to communicate it, and not only will the party rise from the ashes, you might actually do some wonderful things to help the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjl2nd Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Great stuff. I hope they follow your suggestions because the party is a mess right now. Doing these things will help bring new members to the party and possibly have some Democrats shifting over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keukasmallies Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 What Rob said.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Adams Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Don't see it happening but bravo. Mitt did number 1 and was relatively quiet on social and religious issues. Did not reach out to Latinos effectively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VABills Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Why don't you run for office? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outsidethebox Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 They need to come down from there high horse and stop acting like they are better than everyone not a republican. That would be a good start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VABills Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 (edited) They need to come down from there high horse and stop acting like they are better than everyone not a republican. That would be a good start. Having a job and being able to support yourself and family without handouts and freebies tend to do that to people. Mitt was right about the 47% and it was shown in this election. Edited November 8, 2012 by VABills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outsidethebox Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Does that include paying your fair share in taxes? Or is it always the forty seven percent not carrying their weight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VABills Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 (edited) 47% and actually more do not pay any federal taxes at all. What is fair? paying no taxes and getting money back or paying millions even if it is 14% of your income. Don't forget that was also another 10% given to charity which helped offset his tax burden. How's about we stop all freebies and everyone pays like 15%. That way everyone pays a fair share. if you make 0 you pay 0. If you make 100,000 you pay 15,000. You make a million, pay 150,000. that is fair. progressive taxes is not fair. Edited November 8, 2012 by VABills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1billsfan Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Great stuff. I hope they follow your suggestions because the party is a mess right now. Doing these things will help bring new members to the party and possibly have some Democrats shifting over. Obama was a once in a lifetime, iconic, historical and charismatic figure for the dems. I was very wrong about thinking that his record was bad enough to do him in this election, overcoming these extremely strong traits. As for the future of both parties, the dems don't have another Obama waiting in the wings. Not even close. The repubs do have Marco Rubio. The dems best shot is to have the country's economy and financial stability humming along nicely four years from now. That's up to Obama getting people off food stamps and handouts and getting them full time jobs with his policies. There will be no more talk about George Bush. The dems will own whatever economy we have at that point. Even if the economy is a toss up issue, I would think the young hispanic Rubio would beat the "old, white and established" Cuomo or Hillary. The repubs need to immediately hand over the reigns to the young and diverse guns of their party. There are many of them unlike the overwhelmingly white dem leaders. The stereotype Mitt "Richie Rich" Romney face of the party should be a thing of the past starting today. The sad part of Obama winning is that it will end up hurting the people who voted for him the most. Obama won't hurt the working people because they can and will make do for another four years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdog1960 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 a leopard can't change it's spots. many republicans i've met in the rural south (and some up north) are dualists. yes/no, right/wrong. there's no nuance and without nuance, tolerance is difficult if not impossible. this ignores the fact that many folks are republicans primarily for the reasons you're wanting them to stop supporting. i'll point again to the rural south. how well will the repubs do without the southern states support? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outsidethebox Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 I'm al for a flat tax. lets do it. But to put the blame for this countrys demise on the poor is wrong. Put the blame on the cimpanys that outsourced to china or mexico or where ever. They are responsible for the decline more than anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VABills Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 I'm al for a flat tax. lets do it. But to put the blame for this countrys demise on the poor is wrong. Put the blame on the cimpanys that outsourced to china or mexico or where ever. They are responsible for the decline more than anything. Why? because the people here want to make 30 dollars an hour because the union says so? There are laws in this contry that forces companies to actually make the most for the stock holders. if that means moving jobs over seas. So be it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxrock Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Republican party, this is what you need to do: 1. Grow a collective set of nuts - Stop being the Conservative version of the John Kerry. Distinguish yourselves on the most imprtant issues and take them head on. Particularly on economic issues. Our economic model is unsustainable, impossible to defend, and easy to explain. Stop dancing around the issue and dive in and hammer it in common sense terms. Talk to people straight, and assume they're not retarded. A lot are, but you'll win more with logic than gimmicks and talking points. And read Milton Friedman. 2. Stop alienating women - Don't get sucked in to these stupid birth control debates (thank you Rick Santorum). And damn it, STOP TALKING ABOUT RAPE!!! What are you trying to accomplish here? How about acknowledging that although abortion is morally abhorrent, regulation of abortion is not an essential function of the federal government. That doesn't mean go pro-choice, it means talk about abortion reduction through methods other than prohibition. You'll pick up 2 voters for every 1 you lose and ironically, you'll do a lot more to reduce the number of babies snuffed out in the womb. 3. Stop demonizing Hispanics. They're actually a lot more conservative than you think. An effective immigration policy involves securing the border and making legal immigration significantly more streamlined. Cracking down on immigrants who are working is pointless. And cracking down on their employers isn't much better. If we could get them documented so they pay taxes and so we can process them w/n our criminal justice system, we eliminate most of the problems associated with illegal immigration. And stop worrying about them taking jobs. People who work help the economy. You sound like liberals talking about outsourcing. 4. Explain to blacks why free market principles are in their best interest. And talk straight; don't be patronizing or handle them with kid gloves. You'd be amazed what you can say to a black guy if you just cut through the BS and talik to him like a man. He'll respect you for it. Don't think it will work? How's your current strategy working? 5. Put your bible away. You can be as religious as you want to be, and you don't have to be shy about it, but make it damn clear that you understand the value of separation of church and state. You can acknowledge that our country was largely built on judeo-christian values, but make it clear you don't want to impose your will on others. Honestly, the most important values you derive from your religion are universal. You'd be surprised how many people have an irrational fear of a conservative theocracy. 6. Stop talking about gays. The family unit has survived across the globe and across virtually all cultures from the dawn of civilization. It's not going to collapse b/c gays get to have federally sanctioned monogamous relationships. You don't have to like it. Hell, you don't even have to support it. Just let it go. Follow this recipe, find some politicians who are halfway cool to communicate it, and not only will the party rise from the ashes, you might actually do some wonderful things to help the country. I've been preaching this for years. Especially about abortion. Educate. Not legislate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 47% and actually more do not pay any federal taxes at all. What is fair? paying no taxes and getting money back or paying millions even if it is 14% of your income. Don't forget that was also another 10% given to charity which helped offset his tax burden. How's about we stop all freebies and everyone pays like 15%. That way everyone pays a fair share. if you make 0 you pay 0. If you make 100,000 you pay 15,000. You make a million, pay 150,000. that is fair. progressive taxes is not fair. 47% are not paying federal income tax. A much higher % pays federal taxes, as they include SSI, Medicare and other excise taxes. PS as for the opening thread, nobody talks about Romney's unlikability as the primary reason for his loss. Rob is correct on all his points, but the bottom line, much of Presidential voting is a suppercharged high school popularity contest, and Romney was never able to shake off his blandness and lack of appeal. If GOP had a more charismatic candidate, he would have won, despite all of the above GOP deficiencies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Adams Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Romney was about as close to a single issue candidate as you'll see. Maybe he added some foreign policy barbs late but for the most part, he never deviated from focusing on the economy. America didn't see either that issue as the main one or didn't like his answers to that problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Large Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Great Post- the question is, the core of the GOP, do they want what is in that post? I can't answer that question, but I'd be interested to see what R's think about the prospects of such pragmatism in the estalished conservative world Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob's House Posted November 8, 2012 Author Share Posted November 8, 2012 a leopard can't change it's spots. many republicans i've met in the rural south (and some up north) are dualists. yes/no, right/wrong. there's no nuance and without nuance, tolerance is difficult if not impossible. this ignores the fact that many folks are republicans primarily for the reasons you're wanting them to stop supporting. i'll point again to the rural south. how well will the repubs do without the southern states support? Where are they going to go? I wouldn't alienate those people outright, just back up off the issues that don't matter & focus on the ones that do. I'm al for a flat tax. lets do it. But to put the blame for this countrys demise on the poor is wrong. Put the blame on the cimpanys that outsourced to china or mexico or where ever. They are responsible for the decline more than anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 (edited) Romney was about as close to a single issue candidate as you'll see. Maybe he added some foreign policy barbs late but for the most part, he never deviated from focusing on the economy. America didn't see either that issue as the main one or didn't like his answers to that problem. Romney ran on one plank: I'm not Obama! As for Rob's House's list, that would be the rational tack. I doubt it will happen. If anything expect Republicans to go harder to the right, if that is even possible. PTR Edited November 8, 2012 by PromoTheRobot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VABills Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 47% are not paying federal income tax. A much higher % pays federal taxes, as they include SSI, Medicare and other excise taxes. PS as for the opening thread, nobody talks about Romney's unlikability as the primary reason for his loss. Rob is correct on all his points, but the bottom line, much of Presidential voting is a suppercharged high school popularity contest, and Romney was never able to shake off his blandness and lack of appeal. If GOP had a more charismatic candidate, he would have won, despite all of the above GOP deficiencies. You believe it's 47% or more.I also said income tax not SSI, medicare, etc... But even then, unless you're working you don't pay those. Do you honestly believe with all the senior, unemployed, children that 47% of the population is employed and working? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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