Can Republicans Heal Themselves?

Michelle Malkin has a message for the GOP in the wake of a number of scandals that, combined, make the Foley scandal that very much helped to derail Republicans in 2006 look like small change. Just remember when Foley played out if anyone thinks these don't really matter all that much. They do. And worse, they are indicative of bigger underlying problems with the current GOP.

Grass-roots conservatives are livid and lashing out.

We’ve got major battles on the Hill and fundamental principles to defend.

Show the corrupted, Beltway-infected, power-drunk Republicans the door.

There is no current senior party leadership with the gravitas to pay a visit to Mark Sanford and tell him to step down. Because he's in the club, Ensign will continue to be hailed as "the distinguished Gentleman", though his behavior suggests that not to be the case. Then there's David Keene of the ACU, who the American Conservative Student Union has already asked to step down, who has yet to utter a serious word in his defense - and can't, really.

It is not over-reactive to view all this as indicative of a systemic problem with the GOP. Something's wrong.

They came to power under Reagan and what was then a movement by non-elitist outsiders to wrestle back control of the GOP for the people and successfully lead it back to power has become the very thing it campaigned against back in 1980 and 84. It went to Washington and stayed too long.

Today the NRSC is more likely to recruit from the existing political class somewhere, than it is to look outside, or at least outside the box, for new faces, new blood, or new ideas determined to make a difference in America, again. That is not likely to change given the GOP's current composition. It is time for almost wholesale renewal and, thus far, the GOP has failed to get the message. I am not optimistic that they will get it anytime, soon.

Whatever real change takes place is going to have to come from outside, from us - meaning genuine activists from the grassroots, including blogs. If we don't demand something better and be prepared to walk away if we don't get it, we have only ourselves to blame at this point.

I don't know about you, but I am growing tired of banging on the table with little, or no result. Third parties are dumb. I've no real interest in forming one. However, if we do not find a way to rally together to begin having a genuine impact on the GOP - the truth is, we will remain as we already are, without any worthwhile political party at all.

Comments

[HumboldtBlue]

If we don't demand something better and be prepared to walk away if we don't get it, we have only ourselves to blame at this point.

Hmm, sounds similar to more and better
Democrats. Drop a line to Jane Hamsher or Markos Moulitsas, two very bright very engaged people who started online communities to do just what you are looking to do. One of the things Republicans and Democrats share is a disgust of the backdoor dealings that go on inside the beltway while our elected leaders stand on the floors of the House and Senate and tell us something completely different. Toss in the odd sexual scandal, violations of our the basic tenets of our Constitution and we're almost allies.

I said almost. Sheesh.

[Dennis D]

I couldn't agree more. The left bashes us with each and every scandal claiming conservatives are moral hypocrites, however I want Sanford to resign while the left defended Clinton to the very end. And thats what separates us.

[SJ Reidhead]

Why are you blaming the GOP for something the ACU did?

SJR
The Pink Flamingo

[Plumpplumber(balding)]

I was a republican most of my life. The republican party today, with rare exception, has been feminized. The result has been a desire to get along with the democrats, at the cost of our country. So, here we are, and I'm a Tea Partier now. Cowardice and moral decay have destroyed the republicans, and so we can't trust them with our futures anymore. They don't have any fire in their bellies, and won't fight for us. I agree that they stayed in DC too long. However, the rot has set in, and it can't be fixed.

The Tea Party is really the only hope. The only way we can win is if we are willing to fight harder than the marxists. Can we win? I don't know. Civil insurrection is headed our way. Our way of life is directly threatened by the marxist Ooover.

[peter jackson]

I'm sorry Dan, the Republicans are damaged goods. After 20 some-odd years, I've stopped banging my head. What you're describing here is Hayek's Curse; it affects the Democrats the same way it does the Republicans: In The Road to Serfdom Hayek postulates that excessive government power eventually attracts to it's levers the worst amongst us. As the US government has gotten more powerful, the quality of politicians of both major parties has gone downhill. It's gone on for so long that the same phenomena has occurred in the parties themselves. Neither the GOP or the Democratic Party is salvageable.

A third party is far from dumb. It may be our only hope.

yours/
peter.

[Slide]

More treasonous talk from a wingnut, "Can we win? I don't know. Civil insurrection is headed our way. Our way of life is directly threatened by the marxist Ooover."

I am going to highlight, collect, collate all the threats of "civil insurrection" that I find out here to show you what a bunch of un-American treasonous fucking lunatics you all are. You don't get your way on policy issues so you are ready to overthrow the government? What little punks you all are. What little low life punks that always have to have it your way. Well my little assholes, have your teabagging parties, start up your little militas, put on your funny uniforms, march to you are blue in your face, but when you start suggesting armed insurrection you are going over a line that is pretty reprehensible.

There was a time when people thought Republicans were patriots. I guess that time has come and gone. This talk about armed insurrection is about as un-patriotic as it gets. What slime.

[Barbara]

Michelle is very verse on some issues to expand her to spokesbabe for all conservatives is not something I am prepared to do or abide by. She does not speak for me, as a woman or a conservative.

[Barbara]

Plumb,
Don't even try to blame women for whatever you are displeased about, grow a pair
shoog!
As far as feminization why don't you put down your lil tea cup and sign on to a whiskey ree-bell-yon?
clever signs won't change a damn thing.

[Plumpplumber(balding)]

The way the constitution was set up was to be able to resist and overthrow governments who are acting the way that Ooover is. Kinda hard to enslave armed folks. We don't want marxism. Simple as r
that.

[tahDeetz]

I guess dillweed Slide has never read the Declaration of Independence. These aren't policy differences, moron. Figures for a LibTurd, Marxist wannabe. Douche.