Ben Smith once took exception with me over a misunderstanding - an accusation of bias I didn't make at the time. I won't make it now, either. Maybe he just needs to look up the word Beta? Could be.
The GOP Future Leaders page on their new site. Check it out. Todd Herman, who built the site, went to great lengths to include a number of different voices, including several bloggers via an email group, to contribute their thoughts and ideas. I know Todd and Michael Steele are both committed to a new GOP beyond just a website. And from what I've seen so far, I'm both optimistic and impressed.
But new things and bringing change take time, unless you're the idiot in the current WH seeking to just ram it down everyone's throat. Intelligent, prudent change demands more and Herman's previous work experience taught him that.
What's important here is what the site can start to do to set us up for 2010. It's imperative that the GOP have a very good year at the polls. But it's going to take everyone to accomplish that. I'm committed to it because I don't want to see America go in the direction Obama wants to take it. I hope you guys are, too. And here's a place to start. There's plenty to see, so click around. You can actually have fun on the site. That doesn't sound like the old GOP to me.
GOP.com is going to profile future leaders, sometimes elected leaders, often people who simply lead by doing, by partnering, mentoring or getting involved in their communities.
But … on this page, the first step is actually up to you.
In your community, whom do you see as the stand-out, Republican leaders who don’t get the acclaim they deserve? Who are the people who simply apply the values of personal responsibility, charity, independence and entrepreneurism to make life better?
America cannot afford "beta" GOP leadership that insists only upon itself to the exclusion of others. Weren't 8 years enough?
Posted by: James | Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 01:44 PM
I can't get www.gop.com to load dangit. Dadgummed hackers! LOL
Posted by: Mad Monica | Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 01:51 PM
Those goons at Sadly, No told their "monkeys" (sadly, yes, they call their own readers monkeys. I'm sure that's raaaaacist somehow) to go mess with the new site.
Posted by: w3bgrrl | Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 03:38 PM
Ha! And now Sadly, Monkeys is down as well.
Posted by: w3bgrrl | Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 03:42 PM
I can’t remember the last time I agreed with Dan, but I do here:
“It's imperative that the GOP have a very good year at the polls”
Unfortunately for the GOP, and for so many reasons, you will not.
A very quick scan of the data, in the reference below, shows the GOP trending down. In some polls, this spans many years.
The GOP will have to change so much to reverse this trend, that you run the serious risk of becoming moderates.
http://www.pollingreport.com/cong_rep.htm
Posted by: Southen Values | Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 05:50 PM
Southern Values:
I think the GOP will do pretty well. Disgust with Democrats will help them out a lot. BTW, when Reagan won the White House, only 24% of the people called themselves Republicans, however, they voted for one.
Posted by: Terrye | Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 06:14 PM
when you launch a website you should have (supposedly) set your design, WRITTEN YOUR CONTENT, and tested the pages. sure, bugs are to be expected, but to leave the "future leaders" page blank is unacceptable. it is representative of everything GOP: not thought through and highly reactionary.
Posted by: Poster Nutbag | Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 07:15 PM
Southern Values,
Sadly, I disagree. I don't know what formal education you have, but I can tell it was not in the field of political science. Broad stroke polling is good for grasping moods or certain trends of a brand. The GOP brand is hurting nationally, IN GENERAL. Same goes for the Democrat brand. Typically, they will change the message. GOP'ers will run on a conservative message and avoid using GOP, and this has been effective. Now I will point out that there are some GOP members who toss around conservative, yet are no less liberal than Harry Reid.
You would have to look at the individual races--state-wide and federal--to really get a grasp on how well a party will do. I will give you the brand is tarnished, but in many states, they are running very well in local, state, and fed races.
As for the website, it is imperative to get this out there and get it done properly. Social networking and internet based recruiting is a big deal.
Posted by: Logic | Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 11:17 AM