This is a class blog for the students of POLSCI 426: Congressional Politics at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
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2009
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January
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- Partisan Now, Bipartisan LaterThe logic behind Rep...
- Sensenbrenner snubbed by democrat officials' parti...
- Michael Steele is the new GOP Chairman
- Food Stamps Over Jobs??
- Ethics or Money?
- Where Did All the Republicans Go?
- 60?
- Bring on the windfarms
- Blagojevich is out.
- "The Grand White Party"
- Senate Likely to Pass Bill on Kids' Health Insurance
- Feingold: Give appointment powers to the people
- Impeach McCain
- House passes $819 billion stimulus bill
- House likely to pass $825 billion stimulus package...
- Just a CNN Politics article about Obama's talks wi...
- An Update on the Minnesota Recount
- Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) Calls on Government to st...
- An editorial about partisanship in Obama's America
- Wisconsin's Feingold Wants to Stop Governors From ...
- Senate Seat Is Latest Stop On Bennet's Unlikely Ride
- Don’t Name That Senator
- Welcome to Spring
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January
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3 comments:
No matter who chairs the GOP, it will not result in a stronger party, more votes, or a broader coalition. The only thing the GOP can do to win back Congress is simple: wait for the policies of the Democrats to lead to their failure.
In 2006, the Democrats rode the wave of the anger of the electorate into Congress after the scandal and abuses of power by the Republicans. They were angered at the Iraq war, Jack Abramoff, Tom DeLay, and in 2008, they were angry at George W. Bush, Ted Stevens, and the economy. The Democratic Party did not deliver a stronger message in 2006, they simply waited for the GOP to implode.
Political climate is the most influential factor of all, and the GOP can hammer which ever message they choose, but the people will be unwilling to listen so long as the Democrats' policies lead to growth and security. If there is job creation and economic development from President Obama's stimulus plan, the GOP may suffer even further losses in 2010.
Further, moving the party to the center with Michael Steele is also a gamble. Did the divisive ultra-conservative rhetoric of Sarah Palin hurt John McCain in the election? It did not help. At the same time, did John McCain's moderacy hurt him as well? Perhaps. It is tough to gauge where to take the party, but the base demands it drives back to its conservative roots and take a stand for the same message that won them the election in 1980.
If there is one thing Michael Steele got right, it is that having an "R" after your name is a scarlet letter. And until the country feels that the Democrats have failed, there is not much the GOP can do to regain lost ground.
Michael Steele lost his campaign and now he's the GOP Chairman. How funny! What, they feel they must keep up with the White House.
First on First.
Steele as the face of the GOP will not bring in new members and I don't feel that the the black community will join the Republican Party because of the newness.
Let's see what major changes the GOP will have to gain a positive outlook.
Bsavage is pretty much right on the money. At this point, I don't think any move the GOP makes will really impact party membership or general support of its policies. All they can do is wait for the Dems. to slip-up, and pray that Obama's stimulus package, should it pass, falls short of its ambitious goals.
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