GOP should be ‘Closed for repairs,’ says Dole
(CNN) – National Republicans have shifted so drastically in the past decade that the party’s most vaunted figure - former President Ronald Reagan - would no longer find a home in the GOP, former Sen. Bob Dole claimed Sunday.
“Reagan couldn’t have made it,” Dole said, adding he too would also have faced challenges in today’s Republican Party.
Instead of operating day-to-day in a nonelection year, the national party should focus on broader plans to rehabilitate itself after the losses of 2012, the former Kansas lawmaker said.
“I think they ought to put a sign on the national committee doors that says ‘Closed for repairs’ until New Year’s Day next year. Spend that time going over ideas and positive agendas,” Dole, who was the Republican nominee for president in 1996, said on “Fox News Sunday.”
MORE: Republicans want to end perception as 'stuffy old men'
He also assigned blame for Washington’s current state of gridlock to President Barack Obama, who he argued was failing to bridge divides between the capital’s ideological camps.
“I think that the president, he lacks communication skills with his own party, let alone the Republican Party. And he’s on the road too much,” Dole said, quipping Obama was a “good golfer.”
“I think one mistake he’s made was not getting together more with Congress early on in his first administration. There's nothing like knowing the person you are talking to on the telephone, if you had an opportunity to sit down with that person and visit - not about anything, but just visit."
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I beg to differ–Congress should be closed.
If anything Congress should be closed and told to stop catering to business and tax loopholes.
TheGOP is the party of hate. They hate this, they hate that! I think people are geting fed up with all the nonsense!
Bob Dole forgets that he is one of the reasons the GOP have become He and the GOP from his era are the ones that caused this inept Political party to become a shame and a sham. You helped cause it so live with it!!!!
It would take more than 6 months to fix the problem with the GOP. A thousand years won't be enough. Best to tear this house to the ground and build a new one.
It would take more than 6 months to fix the problem with the GOP. A thousand years won't be enough.
Unfortunately I think that Dole is correct. I doubt I will see another Republican President in my life time and I am only 66 years old.
Well Bob, I always knew you had a brain, a sharp one too. Thank you. Should I have the sign made?
"moderate (progressives)" when referring to the GOP is a MAJOR, MAJOR oxymoron. They have already been purged from the party. You now have to live with McConnell, Cruz, Rubio, Rand, Bachman, Palin, Limbaugh, Hannity, Issa, West, etc. (scary gaggle of people isn't it)There are too many to list. None of those listed will ever measure up to the class and professionalism a Sen.Dole.
Ross
former Republican
Intertesting how he says that both he and Reagan would have a hard time dealing with the current Republican party and then he blames all the problems on Obama's inability to deal with them. That doesn't add up.
Major elements of the GOP claimed or supported claims Obama wasn't a citizen. They said he was a communist, a socialist, an Islamist, a foreigner. They said he was part of an international plot to destroy the country. They said he was plotting to arrest, kill, brainwash, his opponents. This all came from major elements of the GOP and was supported and repeated by GOP leadership.
Now, tell me again how the bad relationship between Obama and the GOP is his fault?
We find ourselves in disbelieve, wondering when in the world the Republican Party became against things like clean water and clean air – Americans of ALL parties used to pride themselves on showing the world how to keep our country clean.
Now we know what happens to wrinkled up politicians, they get senile
Ya I'll bet the Democrats would love a single party system. That's why they loved the time period from ~1930-1980, it was basically 60 years of single party system. China is the model. I personally vote for both Democrats and Republicans because I think the worst thing that can happen to a country is to have a single party system.
It's funny that Democrats tell the GOP to listen to famous losers. They love McCain and Dole, no doubt in 10 years they'll be pointing to the Massachusetts moderate Mitt Romney as a model for the GOP. So transparent.
Right on, Mr. Dole. The GOP needs more members like you. Or like me: a libertarian who proudly voted for Congressman Ron Paul in the last 2 presidential primaries. I hate George Walker Bush for misleading us into the war in Iraq; it just wasn't worth all our sacrifices, especially when we have many problems here at home like the growing gap between the haves and the have-nots, and increasingly pricey higher education. (Hello, Mr. Compassionate Conservative?)
I hope and pray that many white fascists are blaming G.W. Bush and company for helping put Pres. Obama in the White House. I proudly voted for Obama in the last 2 presidential elections as protest against the national Republican platform, and am inclined to support Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky in 2016.
Reminds me of the civil war divisions. Republican is south and Democratic is north.
Bob Dole's presidential campaign ranks right up there with John McCain's as the worst in modern times.
Thanks Bob...
its the effects of reagan ,defunding mental illness ,he new he would have no party left, if treated
What is Obama supposed to do? He invited some that told him no. He asked them to meet and come up with something in the middle and they said no. It's impossible to work with someone that says no all the time.
From the very beginning of President Obama's presidency, Republicans have avoided any contact with him. Republicans do not want to be seen next to him, look at the flack Governor Christy faced right after Sandy. It is over for any Republican who even hints at agreeing with the President's stance on any idea.
Democrats and all progressives will vote in 2014. Donor repeat 2010..Get out and vote.
Hey paddylol,
I wish you luck with your list. See you in 2014.
No one can communicate with today's Republican Party. It has gone completely insane.