Tag: Political Strength

GOP Parties Like Its 2012

Can you hear it?  Listen closely!  There it is the motor of the GOP revving up for the big push in 2012….who will it be?  Who will carry the standard of conservatism into the battle for the presidency?

The GOP is thumping its chest like a sex starved chimp at the wins in New Jersey and Virginia…..they are determined to make that the quintessential (not to be confused with Quintessential Havoc an avid reader…for that I thank you)  indicator that they will take back the White House and the Congress.  And some how they lost in NewYork 23 but they see that as a win in the end…..optimism is a good thing as long as it is not fed by delusion…..

Anyway….enough chit chat….The GOP has a rising number of wannabes for 2012 and I will talk about them endless, but not now….that is for a later post….I know you will be on the edge of your seat in anticipation……

The Chicago Sun-Times has a good look at the field coming:

A year before 2012 campaigning begins in earnest, here’s a look at the moves some are making:

• Palin, the 2008 vice presidential nominee who resigned as governor of Alaska, is starting a national media tour to promote her book, Going Rogue: An American Life. Eager to show her conservative credentials, she recently endorsed grass-roots-backed conservative Doug Hoffman over the GOP-supported candidate in an upstate New York congressional race. Hoffman lost but Palin told conservative activists, “The cause goes on.”

• Pawlenty, a conservative who was on McCain’s vice presidential short list, decided not to run for a third term as governor. He has been building a political operation with Washington-based campaign veterans while working to raise his national profile and taking on Obama. He has tacked even further right recently, including backing Hoffman.

• Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, has kept a lower profile, but he has reappeared at key times to challenge Obama, primarily on economic policy.

• Barbour, Mississippi’s governor and former national GOP chairman, became chairman of the governors group this summer around the time he visited Iowa and New Hampshire.

• Gingrich, the former House speaker from Georgia, has been traveling the country talking up Republican rebirth. He has emerged as a critic of Obama’s health care and economic policy.

• Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, has been raising his national profile with a Fox News talk show and radio commentaries.

But these are not the only ones that are feeling out the field for a possible run for the roses…..Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has fueled speculation with a visit to Iowa. South Dakota Sen. John Thune and Indiana Rep. Mike Pence also are trying to raise their national profiles.

These are the majors, for now, and it will be interesting to see who will pop out into the lead for the nomination…..

What Makes A Party Strong?

Inkwell Institute Analysis

Before we go any further we need to clear the air a bit.  CIA has ALWAYS targeted people for the things they are accused of now, Sotomayor WILL be confirmed, Liz Cheney needs to shut up and the Palin drama needs to go away.  Now to the meat of the post.

There has been much debate and jokes made about the strength of the GOP,  Some say it is irrelevant and yet others say it is just in the redinition stage after a massive defeat at the polls.  But what makes for a strong party?  In the book, “The Party’s Just Begun” written by Larry J. Sabato and Bruce Larson there is a 10 point summation of what makes a strong party and in using their guidelines I will point out whether the GOP is strong or flailing around looking for a rudder.

Using the authors 10 point analysis is the GOP a strong party?

1–equity and legitimacy–the GOP is losing ground with the middle, they no longer have a legit voice for them–1/2 point.

2–electoral appeal–last election has shown that there is none..failure–0 points

3–Participation and education–The GOP is failing miserably on teaching the electorate about their positions–0 points.

4–Accountability–the party is not doing a very good job of keeping their membership in line with party core beliefs–family values comes to mind–0 points

5–Conflict control–the GOP cannot control their extreme pundits–0 points

6–Resources–I will give them the point for having a core group that will donate no matter is going on…..1 point

7–Autonomy–this one is a bit difficult to analyze so I will give them the point….1 point

8–Policy Capacity–this is a complete failure for the GOP–they have little to no policies other than just saying “no” to everything.–0 points

9–Incentives–I cannot give them the point for this for I have been unable to find any incentive that would want to make people be a Repub.–0 points

10-Candidate assitance–I cannot give them the whole point for this….but they are trying to find a way to get candidates elected….even it is mostly smoke and mirrors….1/2 point.

The total for the GOP is a 3….and that low of a score would make the party a weak party with massive work to do to return to their past glory.  May I suggest that the GOP needs to look to the young for their next leadership, people like Meghan McCain.  The days of the old white guys is over and their antiquated thinking only is playing to the South and older white men.  The party will NEVER return to their past glory without the young generations.

I would like to thank Mr. Sabato and Mr. Larsen for their book and for the grading system that I used in my analysis.