Cassandra v Donald On The GOP

A disagreement over Republican tactics against Sotomayor between Cassandra at VC and Donald Douglas at American Power. I'm a blog friend to both and can't really say I disagree with either; however, I think Cassandra has the more critical point.

Cassandra argues that conservatives have been reduced to cheap smears against Sonia Sotomayor, that our arguments have lost their punch:

Politics is the art of persuasion. The problem with conservative arguments is that although we're quite good at telling the public what's wrong with what we oppose, we are not so adept at articulating what it is we support.

The Republicans have been on defense for so long on topics like this, I'm tired of hearing the defenses. It's Cassandra's point that speaks best to the heart and cause of the problem.

Not since Reagan have Republicans taken the time to effectively articulate that for which they supposedly stand. In this case, fairness for all through understanding and acceptance, not a government hand. Also, individual liberty, along with low taxes and small government are supposed to represent the Republican brand.

But the problem isn't simply one of articulation. The problem is that they have been busy betraying those very things through government interventionism time and time again over the years.

And it won't be until they regain some credibility as standing for those things that they can then get around to articulating them effectively in forceful, proactive arguments. As unfortunate as it might seem, as I don't have a positive feeling on Sotomayor for the Court, I'm not sure the GOP currently has the ability to fight much of anything until it resolves this unfortunate and unnecessary conflict within itself. It's unnecessary, as they have caused it themselves through their actions, not their words.

Comments

[bansharia]

There is one voice and it is WE the people.
Everything else is yammering class.

[lala]

Rachel Maddow turns on I Won

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBHnOiBJEjk

[lala]

And so does Ted Rall

http://www.sj-r.com/opinions/x124603932/Ted-Rall-It-s-increasingly-evident-that-Obama-should-resign

[miriam]

Republicans --and other honest people-- should stand up for their convictions. We should put an end to identity politics. Santomayor appears to be nothing more than a party hack. How about appointing a distinguished jurist?

[LOL]

whats so bad about sotomayor?

the dems won handily in 2006, 2008. The people have voted, and they get to govern. Sotomayor is replacing a justice reviled by the right. She has the qualifications.

You guys are like spoiled children, raging whenever u dont get ur way

[Cassandra]

Thanks for the link, Dan! I have a response up to both your post and Donalds.

I think it's a good thing to see conservatives debate tactics. The trick is not to get our panty hose all in a wad just because we don't always agree - it makes it all the more easy for the opposition to portray us as a party in disarray. We just lost a big election. A bit of navel gazing is to be expected, so long as we don't allow it to tear us to pieces or expend energy we could be using to win the next election.

*Focus* :)

[lala]

We haven't heard Sotomayor on abortion yet except that she agreed with the Mexico policy of Pres. Bush. What happens if she is pro-life?