I've been reading the new book by Jim Wallis called , God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It. In it, he talks about a essay written by New York Times columnist David Brooks last summer. I remember briefly looking at it, but not really getting around to reading it.
If you haven't read it, do so. Now. It's entitled, "How To Reinvent the GOP" and it's a provactive essay on how the Republican Party can reinvigorate itself. His basic argument is that the guiding principle of the GOP in recent decades, namely the size of government, is not an issue anymore. Socialism, which called for a big and interventionist government, is a spent force and the old conservative argument over the size of government is not the issue. Instead he argues for a limited and yet robust government that would spur empowerment among individuals who would in turn, empower the nation.
There's a lot more I should be saying, but it's close to eleven and time for bed. What I can say is that Brooks is advocating for a conservatism in the view of Teddy Roosevelt, a progressive conservatism. I think it's a great blueprint for the party and I could see it expressed in someone like Chuck Hagel.
I will comment more on this article later. Bed awaits.
Posted by Dennis at March 7, 2005 11:57 PMA critique from a generally left-leaning moderate:
The moderate Republicans simply need to speak up more. You guys are, as Nixon said, the "silent majority;" moderate Republicans are probably the major group, numerically, in the Republican party. Since the Democrats aren't getting off their arses enough to be the "party out of power," your ideas will make a difference. Say them.
Your main problem is that the Republican leadership listens to the people who shout the most, and the evangelicals (and big business) have very large lungs. They've secured concessions for themselves (cutting stem cell research, deregulation, etc.), and have ignored the small-government and spend-within-the-means types simply because they haven't yelled enough. According to most political analysts, 2006 appears to be the year where they (you) will speak up. I'd advise that you rank and file moderates actually do what the Democrats have started to do and make yourself heard. The Bush Administration is hurting, but it still has some power left. Use it while it lasts.
Posted by: Lyle Wood at January 17, 2006 01:46 AMI am glad I found this site. I, too, am concerned for the Republican Party. I think the party could be a voice for a greener, more libertarian (a pragmatic libertarianism), and committed to expanding the ownership society at home and abroad. I like many of the ideas of the Center for Economic and Social Justice which talks about using the free market to create things like Capital Hometsead Accounts for all Americans and move toward broadening employee co-ownership in large business organizations.
Unfortunately, I see in my state party platform (Texas) and websites that the separation of church and state is a myth, English should be the official language of the USA, we should close the borders, get out of the UN, the WTO, NAFTA, CAFTA, etc, restore traditional values and stop the secularist and homosexual agenda. Sounds more like a Christian Phalangist Party than a Republican Party to me. I have even heard some Republicans say Kinky Friedman for Governor is starting to look good! Say a prayer for us.
Posted by: Greg Southworth at December 10, 2005 08:51 PMThis has been a blind spot for the Republican Party since the days of Ron Reagan. An organization that is suspicious of government does not govern well. They don't have the shoes for it. Those who are active in the party do not understand governing. They do not have the patience. They are too quick with idealogical platitudes and rely on them when they should be sweating the details. Democrats are too enamored with program complexity and that hurts them at election time, but the Republicans are interested enough to sweat the details. That's why in Iraq, they don't listen to the officer corps. Its whay political hacks run organizations like FEMA into the ground.
Posted by: Dave at October 4, 2005 11:28 PMThis has been a blind spot for the Republican Party since the days of Ron Reagan. An organization that is suspicious of government does not govern well. They don't have the shoes for it. Those who are active in the party do not understand governing. They do not have the patience. They are too quick with idealogical platitudes and rely on them when they should be sweating the details. Democrats are too enamored with program complexity and that hurts them at election time, but the Republicans are interested enough to sweat the details. That's why in Iraq, they don't listen to the officer corps. Its whay political hacks run organizations like FEMA into the ground.
Posted by: Dave at October 4, 2005 11:21 PMNot just a great blueprint for the U.S. but for the UK too. Progressive Conservatism is certainly growing in popularity on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Centre Right has a great future for those who oppose extreme right policies but don't want to be led by weak liberalism
Posted by: Chad Noble at August 16, 2005 06:37 AM