(CNN) –- Rather than pointing fingers and assigning blame for Sen. John McCain’s recent defeat at the hands of Sen. Barack Obama, a group of young conservative activists have issued a manifesto of sorts that challenges the next head of the Republican National Committee to embrace the Internet as a method of political organizing in the same way that the Obama campaign effectively did for the last 20 months.
The coalition of eight conservatives, many of whom are known for their activity in the online space, launched the Web site www.rebuildtheparty.com on Thursday. The site lays out a set of principles the group believes the RNC must adopt in order to bring the GOP into the future and succeed in upcoming state and federal races.
“The time is now to set in motion the changes needed to rebuild our party from the grassroots up, modernize the way we run campaigns, and attract different, energetic, and younger candidates at all levels,” the site says. “We must be conservative in philosophy - but bold in our approach. We don't need a slight tweak here or there. We need transformation. We can't keep fighting a 21st century war with 20th century weapons.”
The group calls using and mastering the Internet the “#1 priority in the next four years.” The power of traditional connections is being replaced by the power of mass connectedness,” the site says. “Politics is taking place on a grander stage than ever before, with millions, and not just tens of thousands - participating directly in the process.”
To catch up with the Democrats online, the coalition urges the RNC to recruit 5 million new Republican online activists, hold campaigns and local parties accountable for developing their own e-mail lists and conducting their own fundraising in lieu of relying on the RNC, and adopt a more open technology ecosystem that encourages innovative approaches online and then supports the best of those.
The group is also urging the RNC to fundamentally rethink the way that the Republican Party organizes and connects with its base of grassroots supporters. “This isn't just about the Internet - it's about recognizing that in a people-powered era, with the power of technology-empowered grassroots movements on the rise– everything about the way we mobilize voters changes,” the group says.
To develop a more-“people-powered” party in the future, the group of activists is encouraging the RNC to reform how its organizes Republicans at the most local, volunteer-to-volunteer level, to move away from large-dollar donors that have historically financed the party and toward fundraising on the Internet from a base of small-dollar donors in the model of the Obama campaign, recruiting 25,000 new campaign workers, and making use of online technologies pervasive throughout the RNC’s operations.
Finally, in another approach strikingly reminiscent of the Obama campaign and the Democrat National Committee under Chairman Howard Dean, the group is encouraging the RNC to field candidates in all House races by 2012 rather than just concentrating on those districts that already appear to be leaning Republican, encouraging the GOP’s state parties to contest all statewide races, and setting a “40 under 40” goal of having 40 percent of congressional candidates in who are challengers or running for open seats be individuals under the age of 40.
The coalition’s ambitious platform is somewhat at odds with how the GOP has traditionally operated – a fact the group acknowledges:
“We must trust the online grassroots who want to take action on our behalf, and who need a decentralized, peer-to-peer volunteer community supported by our campaigns to really be successful. That will require giving up some control - more control than our traditional institutions are used to giving up - in exchange for an exponentially larger and more effective volunteer/donor/activist ecosystem.
Obama tapped the Internet successfully because he made it about "you" and "us" not "me" and "I." You were invited in. You were a key part of his campaign/movement. Your help was truly appreciated. Republican candidates need to grow more comfortable talking in these terms and focus less on being inaccessible objects of hero worship (the "me/I" strategy).”
The coalition is composed of: Erick Erickson, RedState.com’s managing editor; David Kralik; Mindy Finn, the former head of online strategy for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign; Patrick Ruffini, a former eCampaign director for the RNC; Mark Harris; Phil Musser, a former executive director of the Republican Governors Association; Michael Turk, another former RNC eCampaign director; and Justin Sayfie, former spokesman for Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
From CNN Politics
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Funny, and they laughed at community organizing!
Don't bother the GOP has become too old and stale...to get popular on the internet.
hopefully young Republicans will return to keeping religion and politics separate...that is it in a nutshell...their party has become so corrupted with the far right ideology, they can no longer be taken seriously...if it were up to me, there would be a clean cut..kick the radical fundamentalists out..recover your party for the good of America...
progressive change seems to be the significant request to conservatives in the republican party at this time. in other words, they need to be more liberal.
It's going to take more than the internet to rebuild the GOP. Maybe they should oust the religious fanatics that have taken over the party, that would be a start.
that's the GOP for you, reacting rather than proacting...
by the time the GOP use this model, Obama will have a new model to win with in 2012.
They could use the internet while riding the Jesus Horses. Do they beleive in the internet?
They'd be a lot better of if the adopted his message!
Inclusion not legislated religious ideals.
They need to join their efforts with Barack Obama's to rebuilt this country, period. The issue is not Internet...
Too many old people in the RNC to appreciate the "interwebs" or those "series of tubes"
Obama Ran Such A Successful Campaign It Will Be The Standard Model For Every Election For A Generation. The Republican Party Wont Win Until They Become More Diverse! They Wont Become More Diverse Until They Get Rid Of The Far Right Neo Cons!
This is hilarious! I agree, the online community organizing approach was a joke to them during the election, now they want to adopt those practices.
One advise, Guys. DO NOT be COPYCATS ... do something original.
It's a good move, and it might pay some dividends. But unless the party moves back towards the center and stops pandering to the religious right, all the technology in the world won't change the outcome.
Yeah well!!!
I really figures that republicans/conservatives would call it a "war", this shows the mentality here...the main thing being Americans have no real NEED for each other as in other cultures, where susbsistence and survival depends on cooperation...but I guess republicans/conservatives are too busy fighting...fighting social progressives and...each other!
NO - DON'T CHANGE A THING!!!
WE JUST NEED MORE AMERICAN HEROS LIKE -– HANNITY, RUSH, -– AND OREILLY -– TO TELL US WHAT TO DO!!!
NEXT TIME -– WE WILL BEAT -– THOSE, DIVERSITY -RIDDEN, OVER EDUCATED, -– PEACE LOVING, -– ANTI WAR, LIBERALS!!!
They forgot that Republicans are not interested in progressive ideas.
They like to take the USA backward...it's the Grand Old Party. Old ideas, old concepts, old slogans (e.g. Dems are the "tax and spend" party). Regarding the latter...even though Clinton created a surplus, they still use that old tired slogan, hoping that no one will notice that they have become the "borrow, spend and let the next generations pay it off" Republican party.
What irony! After the reactionary Republican wing made fun of Obama as "community organizer;" they embrace his methods. What idiots!
Instant information is the future. In the Bible, Revelation states that the WHOLE world will watch... with Ipod and all that gadgets... you dont have to be home to watch an event...
Welcome to the age of the Anti-Christ.
ummm Conservative you know if you start doing this
you will no longer be conservatives but now progressives
welcome to the party
I don't see the reason for concern...
It wasn't a landslide... even after 8 years of bush...
It wasn't the largest turnout in history... so many didn't care
Just wait 48 months and we get it all back... See Carter 76... the Dems will implode... they always do!
fellow GOP's, I guess it easier to just join the DNC then you get the complete package.
The entrenched Repub conservatives are talking about getting back to basics, calling up Reagan, when what they need to do is look ahead if they expect to be a force in the 21st Century. Reaganomics is over and so are most of the ideas from 20+ years ago, including the way to energize the base and get more people invovled. They laugh at community organizing but that's precisely what got Obama into the WH.
-Guess Sarah Palin, the RNC and others are eating their words about community organizers. Funny, I guess they are not mocking community organizing now.
Obama's campaign was so well run with technologically savvy ideas and all that they basically left the GOP numb and agape. They had no recourse but to take the low road and when that backfired their candidates resorted to copying ideas and slogans from Obama. It was so pathetic that even I, a staunch Obama supporter, started to feel sorry for them despite their disgusting campaign.
Most rednecks and willfully ignorant evangelicals don't have computers. GOP is obsolete. Move on.
Here's a plan: Palin 2012.
you can put lipstick on a pig its still a pig. Until the GOP stop taking pride in stupidity and ignorance they will forever continue to only appeal to rednecks and inbreeds.
I just signed up.
As long as the GOP continues to use wedge issues and motivation through fear as their key tactics, I'll never vote for another Republican for as long as I live. If they really want to change and get away from the Rovian methods, then we could talk.
As long as getting the party back on track is considered a 'war,' there's little hope for us all. Haven't we learned anything from this campaign?
RNC= Republicans Never Change.
Andy – Oh yes, please. Give Democrats the gift that keeps on giving: Sarah Palin. She was a disaster for the Republicans this time, and I'm sure she will be a disaster the next time and the next and.... Please keep her coming.
Eight years in the wilderness await the party of ingnorance, racism and hubris.
HA HA...sounds like COMMUNITY ORGANIZING to me...the very thing they laughed at...KARMA...what a wonderful thing!!!!!!!!!!
If it works copy it. It is done in fashion all of the time.
How about some actually new ideas? Maybe a progressive republican party based on the old economic ideals of the party and not on the religious ignorant and hateful base.
Great job picking the car before figuring out where you're going or who is driving.
Monica- You said it all....community organizing taught Obama that no place in the US is off limits... and that turned VA, NC, OH, and IN into blue states. Guess what! all the so-called "real America" and "pro-America" in VA and NC voted for Obama.
This is too funny. A while ago there was nothing but contempt from the Republicans for the Dems effort to leverage techonolgy and get people involved. Good luck....last I checked the target they are looking to capture got on the Obama train and it has left the station. All the teens I know who will be eligible to vote in 4 yrs can't wait to cast another vote Obama's way should he not screw up. Tough luck trying to convince them.....
Ron Paul was raising the most money and getting the most internet support . Even more than Obama, don't take my word for it, look it up.
Finally. Some republicans doing something constructive for their party. The name-calling, Obama-bashing, fearmongering members of the party should take a cue from these people.
The GOP is alway behind but they have a way of coming back. I am not A Republican but they do need to go back to the center and stop pandering to the religion fear mongerers that have destroyed the party. If John McCain would of stayed the John McCain of 200o he probably would of had a better chance. It is sad that a party that claims to never have a litmus test actually is more stingent on the person they accept as their nominee.
Young Conservatives..........do some community service before you start thinking about Presidential politics........and then maybe run for office after your college loans have been paid off!!
Young conservatives will have to "teach" the old conservatives how to use a computer, internet, etc. Curious, can you get internet in a trailer park?
It wasn't just the use of modern technology that helped President-elect Obama win the election, it was his message and style. Republicans have no message that resonates with the majority of Americans and fear doesn't work anymore.
First thing you need is a competent community organizer. Perhaps they should hire Obama? Oh, that's right . . . perhaps they should hire a former Alaskan mayor.
Boob Palin in 2012 will destroy the GOP once and for all.... GOOD, NOMINATE THE AIRHEAD.... The majority of the country doesn't give a squat about your prohibitionist concerns....
PALIN IS A BOOB
The internet is a useful medium. However, it is not life support. It will not be enough to keep the RNC viable or restore it to its former glory.
I have an idea – get rid of the following: Your Wang machine, (we now have Vista); the old fashioned Friden calculator, bigotry, advocating rifle usage while fighting for the right to life and last but not least try your darndest to find some young, intelligent and well educated college grads. Grandmas and Grandpas we respect you but you are stuck in the 20s!
hmmmm, and community organizing was not considered a respectable background according to the republican national convention. Those outlooks are coming to bite them in the rear. It's time to realize that America has moved FORWARD. Please understand that.... I don't consider myself a democrat but I am and always was a strong supporter of Obama. However I strongly feel that people should be entitled to their own outlooks even if they are conservative. But the republican party needs to wake up and get out of the dark ages. It's no longer working to divide people and having that 'you aren't like us' attitude. The republican party needs to find ways to reach out to all races, backgrounds, and social statuses. That is honeslty the only way they will have a strong future.....
the republicans came across as being racist, until they show that we are all created equal they will never win another election, they will never have my vote ever again.
To develop a more-“people-powered” party in the future, the group of activists is encouraging the RNC to reform how its organizes Republicans at the most local, volunteer-to-volunteer level, to move away from large-dollar donors that have historically financed the party and toward fundraising on the Internet from a base of small-dollar donors in the model of the Obama campaign, recruiting 25,000 new campaign workers, and making use of online technologies pervasive throughout the RNC’s operations.
This is why I hate the Republican party they talk about the way Obama raised money on the internet from small donors but now they act like there coming up with a new concept. I hate them, I really really do. They won't give Obama any credit but they will come out and take all his ideas but the bottom line is there dirty, prejudice and I still will never ever vote for a Republican.
Adopting Obama online model will not help the RNC to rule unless the RNC has good messages for all not just for some.
The RNC will never be the same.
How will the internet help them? Half of the Republicans who post responses here can't write; the other half can't read.
Uh...when did the internet come out??? Way to be ahead of the curve, G.O.P.
I agree with Colleen.
Make the Republican party the party of state and individual rights, small government, and low taxes. Give the religious zealots their own party. Eliminate the term "Conservative" entirely and attract people who are more interested in individualism and freedom than upholding theology and morality. A lot of republicans in the true sense (state and individual rights), voted for Obama simply because of the religious, morally overbearing attitude of the current republican party.
To the GOP,take your idiotic blind folds off,this is 2008,21st century technology age,and now you're looking into the internet to reach your party. WOW!!!!! TALK ABOUT BEING OUT OF TOUCH.
This is the smartest thing that I've heard from the GOP this entire year. They really need to spend time finding out what the hell they represent. 20th century conservative social and economic wars are sooooo obsolete. Ask John McCain...everytime he mentioned Tip O'Neil and the great Ronald Reagan during the debates, you could hear the groans and moans from sea to shining sea.
The youth of these conservatives exposes their naivete. The internet is just a tool, and becoming more competent at using it is not going to change the fortunes of the party.
They've got to come to grips with this: Barack Obama was by far the superior competitor in the presidential contest. He is the best politician on the scene now. If the Republicans come up with a stronger candidate than Obama, mastering the internet will be side issue.
Am I hearing right....are they actually admitting to the genious of President elect Obama??? Can't wait to hear how Rush Limbaugh will spin this! All the computer knowledge in the world won't help the GOP unless they distance themselves from the hate mongers in their party.
He has a lot for most of us to emulate.
This can be so good folks if we all commit to it as our president elect has. Very exciting when you think of the possibilities !
IF WE LIVE THAT LONG I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE 2012 ELECTION!!!
It won't work if you maintain your conservative views. So long as you preach about how everyone is your enemy, then we will remain your enemy. The time for unity is at hand. The time for childish "he's a terrorist' fear tactics is over. Speculation, conspiracy theories and deception are the tools of a weak and incompetent mind.
I suggest you start with adopting Obama's integrity before you adopt his online savvy. Your party has acted like a cult these past 8 years, and it's very frightening! I left the GOP for that very reason.
Truth is, the GOP needs to drop the conservatives all together, they are the cancer that is in that party. They are an anti patriotic hate filled base of truely dispicable people.
I am an independent, who proudly cast his vote for Barack Obama. However, I acknowledge the need for two parties, and right now there is only one and a half. If the Republicans want to become legitimate again, they need to cut out the fear-mongering, the negativity, the deceit, and yes, get with the times. The internet hurt the Republicans in more ways than one. The other less often discussed factor is how much harder it is now to deceive the voters who are able to check the facts for themselves. They overplayed the Ayers card, and it didn't work, because we can go right to our computers and find out the truth. Then they just look silly. It will be interesting to see just how the Republicans go about remodeling the party, but whatever they do, they had better start offering real solutions instead of just rhetoric, or else some other party will replace them.
As long as this "rebuilding" of the RNC involves kicking out Sarah Palin forever....then I'm all for it.
All I can do is laugh at the uber right wing comments. I think all the reasonable folks out here should just cease with the comments on this one and let the radical right have at it with each other...it's almost as entertaining as SnL was.
Monica, loved your comment! I couldn't agree more with it!! I would hope in rebuilding the party you try and include the "face of America" because watching McCain concession speech it look like a Klan rally without the sheets and watching Obama's rally showed what Ameria is White, Black, Hispanic, Puerto Rican, Asian, Old, young, Gay, Straight, Disabled, etc. THAT'S AMERICA!!
And until the republican party realize this your party will never be what it was, actually you shouldn't want it like it was.
As long as the party considers the task of rebuilding as a 'war,' there's no hope for our country. Haven't we learned anything from this campaign?
How about not being such a bunch of fcking dcks?
The goal of the corporate heads of the republican party is to keep their base ignorant and ill-educated so that they can take advantage of them at election time in order to pursue their goal of facism disquised as democracy. They will use religion, guns and abortion in their continued efforts.
If they keep this up they will be a completely dead party within 10 years. The conservative heads of party met today and it sounds like they are going to double down on the right-wing stuff they have been stuffing down our throats. They do not get it.
In order to get even half way back they are going to have to get rid of religous right and move back to the center. They have it in their heads that we are more to the right of center; we are not. Most of the country is either to slightly to left and right of center but most of us are there. Why they keep pandering to the far right is beyond me but as long as do I will never vote for a republican again.
If you can't beat 'em, JOIN 'EM!
The Young Conservatives fail to realize that copying one of the Obama Campaign's tools is not going to turn the Republicans around.
Strong and positive leadership is what the Repubs need...like Obama!
Dear Andy:
If (a) the Republicans pick Palin to be a party leader and/or (b) nominate her as the party's presidential candidate in 2012, then Obama could mail us all his new puppy's poops and he'd still be elected in 2012. Give it up with her. She may be beautiful, but a pretty moron is still a moron. The Reps need an entirely new face. One that didn't spew the dumb answers and virulent filth she spewed during her campaign.
Thank you,
The American Public
GOP needs to re-inspect their value system. They were misled by Bush and Oil-CEO group to focus on special interests of a small group. They need to look after the majority of Americans. Hope that they learn their lesson.
See.. good to see that Obama is inspiring and leading by example for all Americans.. Democrat and Republican alike.
Republicans like to say that he hasn't accomplished anything.. which is an outright lie. But even if it were true... his innovation and leadership was well demonstrated just in this election alone.
These guys are the only Republicans that understand the reality of their situation. If they aren't listened to, the GOP will wither and die.
The old men want to 'return to their roots' of taxes and social issues.
You don't need a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
didn't john mccain also start using the word CHANGE sometime during his awful campaign? now this? please.............................
and i really agree with jeremy.
change= OBAMA
To The Dutchman,
Yep, old ideas. The Federalist Papers contain many old ideas, like limited government, individual liberty, a free market ethos, and similar ancient thoughts. Perhaps we should let our hesitation to abandon the ideas enunciated by Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Adams, and to look on with horror at western Europe, old ideas, be our guide.
There is nothing in the world will help the GOP if they don't loose their outdated and divisive ideology.
I live in Appalachia, which is the ONLY region where the Republicans did noticeably better during this election. Appalachia does not have great internet connectivity because of the mountains and the good majority of people aren't the kind of folks who hang out with their laptops checking blogs every minute. The GOP would be wise to understand that.
By the time the GOP learn all of this, things will have changed by 2012
copycats...
This really won't work for a good 5-10 years at least. The generation that is using all these new media grew up hating Bush (for the most part) for dragging out a long, unnecessary war. I'm now out of college, and I was a high school junior when we went to Iraq. This guy has burned down the conservative image to a Carter-esque degree. Obama is going to be the Democrats' Reagan: As long as he doesn't screw it up any further (I think he'll do the right thing), most of the country will love him forever. Republicans are going to need to grow out of their racist affiliations and become more INCLUSIVE. The white evangelical voting block used to be enough, but the GOP tends to ignore the minority vote. Young people don't like that.
I highly agree with this. For the last two weeks, the only Internet ads were for Barack Obama. There were no other Internet ads for anything other than Barack Obama. The GOP needs to get with the online program. Obama's online campaigning definitely helped him, and the GOP needs to follow suit.
The only REAL thing they need to do is.....drumroll please.....BE HONEST!
After this election just proves to me that they can never EVER get on Bracks level. FOr one the young conservatives are VERY racist Period
also Obama appealed to everyone and the republicans only apeal to rich people.
they can try and try and they need to stop coping obamas style because they will look stupid like they already do
what really makes me mad is that blacks join this party and they are racist
Just look at the mcain/palin klan oops i mean campaign rallies
Until the republicans shed the neo con's and the far out religious fanatics and learn that every person is an individual. they will get nowhere. they will be the divisive party. that is their problem. they think that every one should be like them. when they can understand that each person has a right, it may be that they could understand. but i doubt it will ever happen.
They should just turn the party over to Ron Paul and his supporters... we already know how to use the internet to our advantage and have remained true to the core conservative beliefs of the party. Ron Paul is the answer to their problem.
Amazing. Did they forget what year were in? Welcome to the 21st Century. Let's just hope they manage to get a candidate that knows how to use the internet come 2012.
Is it me or are Liberals more "free" than Conservatives? What are Conservatives fighting for in the "Land of the Free"???
(maybe I'm just tired of them telling me how to live my life... and reduce regulation everywhere to send jobs overseas and fill their pockets with $$... WWJD??)
Sorry to see that the Dems are even sore winners in these comments! They continue to spew their hate and intolerance. FYI, Republicans may include some rednecks and some evangelicals, but that is not all the Republican party includes. If you truly believe that, you are naive. It would be like someone saying the Democrats are all militant homosexuals and yuppie communists. Each party is made up of far more than two narrow stereotypes on the extreme ends. It is about time people realize that there is far more to the center that most people agree on, but the vocal minority opinions get more notice and make things seem more divided. It is too bad that the Dems put forth a candidate that is to the extreme left on many issues. It will be interesting to see if he can satisfy the extreme groups, while at the same time posturing for a second term. Perhaps that is why he said he might not be able to fulfill his promises in the first year or first term. He is pretty arrogant to believe he will get a second term, but it seems that his plan is to be moderate for the first term and let the boot drop in the second term to fulfill his promises to the more radical left groups. We'll see...
The thing is, a Republican candidate already did it.
Ron Paul provided a model not only for the GOP, but aspects of his campaign made their way into Obama's strategy. And the fact of the matter was that it was not Paul's online presence that affected the election, but his unpopular views.
Like many candidates said, the Internet isn't going to save the GOP. Realizing that one can be small government and relevant to the American people will.
GET REAL YOU YOUNG LOOSERS FULL OF HATE.
What the hell is the internet?
Yea, I guess there's something to that community organizing after all, huh – DUH. Will someone please tell me, what do the Republicans stand for (besides being against abortion and gay marriage)?
Republicans have only few answers for all the problems facing the country.
Cut capital gain tax for all domestic issues.
Flex the military muscle for all foreign policy issues
Tired of hearing over and over.
I am a republican.
If the Reps want to get our people elected, we need to talk issues and stop the outright lies and mudslinging that characterized the last election. That just hurts the reputation and honor of the party. It would also help to get qualified candidates.
I left the Republican Party strictly because of the Extremist, EXclusionary attitude. The old philosophy of "You MUST believe as a fundamentalist Christian" drove me out. That is not the Reagan-era party stance. That is the Newt Gingrich/Pat Robertson era republican party. They are the ones that pushed the Religious Right onto the political stage and demanded obedience.
That simply is not going to work with a new generation of acceptance. If they don't put a solid wedge between church and state there will be no resurgence in their future.
GAY IS THE NEW BLACK
Can you imagine a Gay person being elected President? Inconceivable?
That's excactly what people said about Blacks 40 years ago.
Looks like conservatives have a new minority to whip.
Do you think the Republicans understand what the internet is?
I wholeheartedly believe that one of the key missteps of McCain's failed presidential bid was ignoring at worst and marginalizing at best the web and its intricate embrace of life on a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute basis. McCain felt it was not something that required he have a working knowledge of, unfortunately the web is here and ain't going away my friends....
Enough said.
This is an exercise in futility. It's not a model the GOP needs to adopt, because any model will already be outdated by the next campaign. If they really want to remain competitive, they need to look to the Obama campain's ability to read the culture and adapt. Creativity, which is what the Obama campaign truly had, cannot be squeezed out of a model.
Should change your minds also.. know hat I mean...
Just be careful of what you wish for. If more Republicans kept up with the developments in the country around around the world, they may unbecome Republicans. Young conservatives may want to reexamine what conservatism stands for: clinging onto the past.
The RNC needs to stop catering to the religious freaks. Think about it. McCain didn't choose Lieberman as his running mate because of Lieberman's pro-choice stance, so he chose Caribou Barbie to appeal to the religious conservatives. The RNC does not need to do that because the Democratic party will always be pro-choice, so the religious freaks will still vote for the RNC, and maybe they'll get more independent voters too. Why couldn't they figure this out before?
First the took jazz, then rock and roll, then R & B, then rap, now this too. Wow, always the imitator, never the originator.
Anyone freaked out by the definition of 'youth'? Under 29! Dang – just a couple of years ago I would been the 'youth'. OK, maybe 3 years ago. We are just not that important anymore.
Sure they were out-managed, out-financed, out-worked and out-thought, and adapting to today's technology and media is essential. But that's not enough. McCain won the nomination because he WASN'T a tool of the far right. But instead of sticking with what got him there, he believed Rush, Hannity and the other blowhards who said he needed to be a "real conservative" to get their crucial support. He gave in to a completely negative campaign that lacked substance and topped it off by neutralizing the best weapon he had – Obama's relative inexperience – by picking a VP candidate that was a joke...all to placate the far right. America has moved on...goodbye Rush, goodbye Sean...see you in 2012 if the party doesn't wise up first.
More lipstick on a pig. Adopting Barack's on line method is not going to change the fact that the GOP is a hateful, divisive party that hates America.
You don't get it – it was more than technology – it was the ground game, the solid team work/leadership, consistent strategy and a message that kept the American people as the priority of the campaign.
Neocon copycats. But, hey, whatever floats your ideological boat.
Consider that even without highly efficient Web media tactics and even against a fully biased mainstream media, that "old man" McCain came within 5% points or so. I suggest all of you haughty hipsters realize that the things that make this country great are our ideal, which have been around since the Constitution. So maybe you should think twice about being addicted to "change" like some kind of political crack. Our Constituion, based on the "evangelical" notion that we are all equal because we were CREATED equal by a Divine Person, has allowed more change within the USA than any other nation, on every level. So lets not confuse shallow tactics with great statesmanship. How about piping down on the offensive names like Caribou Barbie? The hate from the left is getting out of hand. Tone it down. Your guy is in deep poop and we'll see if his performance equals his promises and whether his statesmanship equals his salesmanship. BS time is over. And all the clever net tricks and media savvy in the world can't cover up whether he can truly lead or not. I hope that he can. For the sake of our country and the world. Lets just stop the bitter crap and get down to business.
Time, and past time, for the Republicans to get the message that this election sent: steer away from the fringe politics. The majority of Americans are right around the political center: some a bit left, some a bit right, and all of them are sick to death of the shrillness and anger of the far-right factions that hijacked the Republican Party.
The last thing the Republican Party needs is "loyalists" who show up at rallies shouting "Kill him", or candidates who, by their silence, encourage that kind of thinking. Can the gimmicks, forget the clever and easily-regurgitated soundbites and slogans. Show some reason and some recognition that whoever governs this country owes respect to ALL of its citizens – not just some "base".
The younger republicans needs to take over. The old politics is not going to work any more. It is time to turn the page like obama said, and I believe the younger generation will do a better job. Not the old worn out Rush's kind of politics
They can begin by making a pledge to stop negative lies and vulgar attacks against their opponent...
Hey old elephant!!! Try to be positive that should be your top priority, never mind the Internet...
What dyu think 200.000 germans came out to see ?
The GOP needs to change it's Grand ol Name to something that is more non-partisan and a party that will work with whatever party in unison to move the "UNITED STATES of AMERICA" forward for all AMERICANS regardless of political stripe.
The GOP is experiencing a changing of the guard and what better time to bring it's politics into the present that are according to the constitution "By the People, for the People".
Get rid of the policies that have allowed the GOP to lose contact with the American populace.
Don't forget 2 heads are better than one.......and technology really helps.
They need to come up with a new message. Obama would not have emerged from the Democratic primary if he did not have the right message, no matter how much technological savvy his supporters had. Conservatives do not need a better way of broadcasting the same message. We all know what their message is: government is the problem, cutting taxes is the solution. It has not changed since Reagan. It is just not working anymore.
Hey i know how repubs can win an election...
have a canidate that can lift his arms above his head!
O'REILY/PALIN 2012!
haha you lost sucks to be republican ahahhahahahahah
LOSERS
you lost
just to remind you.
you lost.
Creative Staunch Conservative minds is an oxymoron. Creative thinking is the hallmark of us do-gooder liberals, and "Obama's on-line model" is an example of creative thinking and adopting new ideas, something 'Coservatives' hate to do.
The more rigidly religious the conservative, the less creative. We'd still think the earth was flat and was at the center of the universe if the right wing Republicans had their way.
I'm more concerned with the hate and divisiveness these evil people spread.
Creative Staunch Conservative minds is an oxymoron. Creative thinking is the hallmark of us do-gooder liberals, and "Obama's on-line model" is an example of creative thinking and adopting new ideas, something 'Coservatives' hate to do.
The more rigidly religious the conservative, the less creative. We'd still think the earth was flat and was at the center of the universe if the right wing Republicans had their way.
I'm more concerned with the hate and divisiveness these evil people spread.
Jack,
In your recent question (November 7) about Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, I noted that you quoted people from Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas, all red states. Nothing wrong with that, as long as you also get comments from blue states. Afterall, more Americans live in blue states than in red states.
ar
What? Recruiting from church isn't good enough anymore?
I'm a registered independent and the way the GOP can fix itself is rather obvious. They need to do five things:
1. Tell the "base" to go to hell! They need to distance themselves from Rush, Hannity, Savage, Coulter, etc...basically all of the hateful segments of that party.
2. Become more inclusive! The GOP rallies have nothing but old white guys there (no one that looks like me). They need more diversity if they are going to be a serious contender.
3. Find more common issues! We could spend time at each other's throats arguing about petty issues or we could come together to solve problems that could benefit everyone (we might not agree about abortion or anything like that, however neither of us wants our children to go to bad schools).
4. It's not the issues but the tactics! There's nothing wrong with having disagreements about policies (a healthy debate is normal) but when it resorts to name-calling (i.e...godlessness, anti-american), those tactics turn people off. Independent voters like me do not like this stuff at all!!!!!!
5. Put the "good book" down! Now I know this sounds crazy but not everyone lives by the principles of the bible. It's time for this party to stop talking down on those different from a religious point of view. This is outdated and the reason why there is a separation of church and state.
This from the group that made fun of community organizing. Who's laughing now folks?
Come on.... election is over and time to get things done.
Obama's plans sound good. Money must come from somewhere; if not from taxes from richer people, it may be from borrowing from other countries.
Whichever means used, is needed to stimulate economy first. Those experts surround Obama must have thought of details. If you have better suggestions, put it forward. Condemning will not help much.
the problem is this new strategy is at odds with the main demographic: rural whites with limited education. Look at the county by county maps
It's so funny and interesting to now see that the Gop want to now adopt the ideas and strategies that Barack and the Dnc used to so brilliantly win this election. The fact that they think that they need toUt's use different broadcasting techniques to win a '21st century war!' is just typical and cowardly shows that they are still stuck on hateful ideals! Not everything is a war or about war and regarding the election as war is trully ridiculous. What everyone wants is peace and harmony and that is one of the main attributes that has drawn America and the rest of the world to admire, respect and so highly regard President Elect Obama. If the Repubs had any sense and really care about and want to help America, then they would listen to what Obama said throughout his campaign and in his recent speeches and work together with with Dnc to help America get out of the mess that Bush and their party have put America in. I believe change is here and will become manifested if President Obama is given the chance and everyone's support and hard work that he has said that he needs. And when that happens America will never be the same again. Love and respect to Obama and the cause.