The addition of Byron York may be the best thing the DC Examiner has done in recent times. Well, aside from Mark paying for lunch once as I recall! And neither is meant as a criticism. As for Republicans ....
It's a longer view, likely a smarter one given the current Republican brand and the challenges of battling a media-friendly president. Or perhaps a president-friendly media would be more correct on that last point.
"You're seeing a major doctrinal shift in how Republicans are going to focus all these debates," the strategist told me. "The key is to focus on winning the issue as opposed to winning the political moment. If you win the issue, people will think you are ready to govern."
Word from the Hill via Byron York is that Republicans were disappointed in Jindal's response, as were many pundits, but it wasn't a part of this new approach. Winning on issues instead of on sound bytes? It's novel but makes sense given how far out we are from new elections. If they can accomplish this now, rhetorical victories at election time would flow from this. And without a substantive underpinning to their message and image that can develop trust, headline of the day types of victories now are hollow at best.
So now Republicans want to try something new. They point to last year's debate over energy, in which the GOP got the upper hand on the issue of drilling -- so much so that majority Democrats were forced to retreat from their position. That, the strategist says, was the kind of clearly-articulated policy alternative that Republicans will be seeking to put forward today.
The GOP discovers issues??? These are strange days indeed.
Freedom fries! Windsurfing! Bill Ayers! Barack HUSSEIN Obama!
Posted by: SpaceCat | Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 01:06 PM
And don't forget their front runners Palin/Plumber 2012!!!!! How screwed up does a political party have to be to annoint two imbeciles as their 'leaders'? And how about Limbaugh wishing the country would fail? How is that for loyal opposition? The GOP is toast - and I am smiling about it. Good riddance.
Posted by: Jumbo | Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 02:35 PM
"If you win the issue, people will think you are ready to govern."
People will not think you are ready to govern when it's only been one month after a disastrous 8 years of mis-governance. Be prepared to spend some time wandering in the wilderness before the American people are willing to let you back into the conversation. I'd guess 2012 is your first shot, 2010 is too soon.
Posted by: Joe Isuzu | Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 03:50 PM
Hilarious, really really funny.
How about this for a new issue for the GOP -- you are never going to win if your goal is to destroy government. And if you gain power and hate government, don't think anybody is going to appreciate your ridiculous ideology if it results in incompetent governance. What you basically need to do to win this "issue" battle is abandon your idiotic political ideology. It is not what American's want. They want PRACTICALITY -- Government that works. Since you hate government so much that will never happen. So, time to start from scratch.
P.S. Oh yeah, when you profess some sort of ideology like fiscal conservationism, if you don't actually PRACTICE it, nobody will believe a word you say. You should simply admit that the GOP only subscribes to its principles when it is out of power. That needs to change to. God you people are effed.
Posted by: Palooza | Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 05:56 PM
"don't think anybody is going to appreciate your ridiculous ideology if it results in incompetent governance"
Good advice for Obama, and the Democrats...but I don't think they understand that they are part of the problem, not the solution
"They want PRACTICALITY -- Government that works"
...and they'll never find it with the Democrats in power
Posted by: Mark Turner | Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 07:11 PM
The problem with liberals is that when they win the presidency, they mistakenly assume that it is a mandate for unbridled liberalism. Carter, Clinton, and Obama have all made that mistake. Carter lasted only one term; Clinton got slapped in 1994 when the GOP took over congress. Obama is heading for one or both of these outcomes.
Posted by: Mark Turner | Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 07:14 PM
"How screwed up does a political party have to be to annoint two imbeciles as their 'leaders'?"
Ask yourselves that question. You gave us Obama and Biden.
Posted by: Mark Turner | Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at 07:26 PM
"--- Ask yourselves that question. You gave us Obama and Biden. ---"
Score.
Posted by: seekeronos | Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 09:09 AM