# 2009 State of the Republican Party **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 3, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844 "2009-04-03T12:32:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/1 "2009-04-03T12:32:11Z")
I just got an email from the RNC asking that I fill out [an online survey about the state of the Republican Party](http://web.campaignsolutions.com/rnc/2009survey/default2.aspx?email=sawsuaa@yahoo.com&RedirectToDonationPage=true). Of course, it also asks that I contribute at the end of the survey. Initially I thought it was good that they were soliciting input to improve. But after reading the wording on a few of the questions, I’m not sure that the survey isn’t just a political tool instead of an honest effort to solicit feedback and improve. > [@](#): > > 1. Why did Republicans lose the White House and Congressional seats in the 2008 elections? Check all that apply. > > Iraq War > Poor Economy > Government’s Response to Katrina > Republican Scandals > Republicans acted like Democrats > President Bush’s policies > Liberal Media > Other: > > 1. What are the key strengths and beliefs of the Republican Party that we can build on? Check all that apply. > > Social Issues > Family Values > Ethics > Free Markets > National Security > Fiscal Discipline > Limited Government > Personal Responsibility > Pro-Life > Other: > > 1. What are the weaknesses of the Republican Party? Check all that apply. > > Bad Messaging > Poor Response to Democrats > Republicans who don’t vote like Republicans > Standing Up for Principles > Need to Lead in Congress > Other: > > 1. What is the best way to encourage and register new voters in your community? Check all that apply. > > Door-to-Door visits > Online Social Networking > E-mail > Personal Appearances by Republican Leaders in Your Area > Radio Ads > Interaction at Community Events > Online Advertising > Other: > > 1. What technology would you like to see the RNC make better use of to grow our Party? Check all that apply. > > More Aggressive E-mail Campaigns > More Aggressive Text Messages > More Aggressive use of Twitter > More Social Networking Sites like Facebook and MyGOP > No Opinion > Other: > > 1. What can the Republican Party do to earn and maintain your trust? > > Part II. Domestic and Social Issues > > 1. A recent national poll reported that nearly 25% of Americans want the government to pass more socialism. Do you agree or disagree? > > Agree > Disagree > Undecided > 2. Which do you believe creates more jobs for the American economy: Government Programs and Spending or The American Free Enterprise System? > > Government Programs and Spending > The American Free Enterprise System > Undecided > 3. The Obama Administration has proposed spending as much as $1.5 trillion to bail out the banking industry. Do you agree or disagree with this proposal? > > Agree > Disagree > Undecided > 4. Do you oppose so-called “card-check” legislation, which eliminates secret ballot elections during unionization drives and puts workers at risk of intimidation by labor bosses? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 5. Should Republicans unite to block new federal government bureaucracy and red tape that will crush future economic growth? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 6. Should Republicans in Congress oppose the new wasteful government spending programs passed in the recent “stimulus” bill by the Pelosi-Reid Democrats designed to “spread the wealth”? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 7. Do you agree that we must secure our borders to stop illegal immigration? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 8. Should we do everything we can to block Democrats who are trying to shut down conservative talk radio with the so-called “fairness doctrine”? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 9. Should we resist Barack Obama’s proposal to spend billions of federal taxpayer dollars to pay “volunteers” who perform his chosen tasks? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 10. Should Republicans unite in opposition to judicial nominees who bring a personal, left-wing agenda on social issues to their jobs as judges? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 11. Should bureaucrats in Washington, DC be in charge of making your health care choices instead of you and your doctor? > > Yes > No > Undecided > Part III. Homeland Security and Defense Issues > > 1. If Barack Obama tries to gut the USA PATRIOT Act and other important laws that promote the safety and security of all Americans, should Republicans in Congress fight back? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 2. Should we stop Democrat leaders from cutting funding from our intelligence agencies or bringing back Clinton-era restrictions on inter-agency communications? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 3. Do you support the use of air strikes against any country that offers safe harbor or aid to individuals or organizations committed to further attacks on America? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 4. Should Republicans unite in support of full funding for border and port security when Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid try to make cuts in these areas? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 5. Do you think U.S. troops should have to serve under United Nations’ commanders? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 6. Do you agree that our top military priority should be fighting terrorists? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 7. Should we fight military-cutting efforts in Congress, such as the proposal from liberal Barney Frank to slash the Pentagon budget by 25%? > > Yes > No > Undecided > 8. Even though Barack Obama pledged to meet personally with the likes of Raul Castro, Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, should Republicans continue to focus on supporting democratic movements in oppressive states like Cuba, Venezuela and Iran? > > Yes > No > Undecided Some of the questions aren’t too bad, but most just seem to be written poisonously. I’ll probably send in a response and use some of the write in box to question some of this. Not sure that there’s an actual debate here, but most political stuff ends up here or the Pit. If you want to Pit, please create a separate thread. ---
**Author:** ![hobscrk777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a6a055/32.png) [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/2 "2009-04-03T13:22:44Z")
I agree with you. The questions in that survey make use of buzz words that I expect most hard-line Republicans would latch onto, thus answering the question in a very predictable way. I’ll give some examples. “If Barack Obama tries to gut the USA PATRIOT Act and other important laws that promote the safety and security of all Americans, should Republicans in Congress fight back?” -Has the Patriot Act _really_ made us safer? (I think this is called begging the question, right?) “Which do you believe creates more jobs for the American economy: Government Programs and Spending or The American Free Enterprise System?” -This is a perfect example of the “buzz words” I mentioned. There is absolutely **no** substance to this question. Government programs can certainly create jobs, but the phrase “government programs” is so vague as to be meaningless. Free-market capitalism can _also_ create jobs, but “The American Free Enterprise System” is such a loose statement that no one can definitively say that it creates more jobs than government programs because none of these terms have been defined. I can’t help but think that the reader is supposed to read this question and then think “Government programs?! What is this, Socialist Russia? We don’t need no stinking government programs! American Free Enterprise System all the way! USA! USA! USA!” “Do you agree that our top military priority should be fighting terrorists?” -To the ignorant, the answer is probably an unqualified “yes.” However, this question says nothing about the way in which our military should be fighting terrorists. I think most people would agree that conventional warfare tactics are right out. That has become painfully obvious over the last several years. My personal opinion is that our military _should_ be fighting terrorism, but not in the way it currently is. This question doesn’t pick up on any of these nuances the reader might have. Ultimately, I think these questions, which are almost all Yes/No/Undecided have the following form. “Do you support [evil lefty idea] or [free market USA all the way] idea? Yes or No?” ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/3 "2009-04-03T13:24:21Z")
Most of the questions presented (don’t know about the rest of the survey), especially in parts II and III, are pathetic, and of course they were written that way to ensure that the response percentages can be used in pro-Republican advertising. “Do you support the Republicans in opposing the Democrats’ plans to hold public kitten barbeques every weekend, or do you support _Satan_? And don’t tell me you’re actually undecided. Hey, look, 89% of respondents said they oppose the Satanic Democrats!” I would refuse to respond to it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/4 "2009-04-03T13:30:06Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Some of the questions aren’t too bad, but most just seem to be written poisonously. The first six are legit questions, although three is kind of stupid. The rest are leading and not going to get them any helpful responses, if that’s the intent. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/5 "2009-04-03T13:54:00Z")
Republican Party: Grand Old Party, or the Grandest Old Party? ---
**Author:** ![Peanut\_Gallery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@Peanut\_Gallery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanut_Gallery)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/6 "2009-04-03T15:01:31Z")
A coworker of mine showed me a similar survey he received from the RNC by mail this week, along with a “letter” from Michael Steele. The questions were different, posed as Agree/Disagree/No Opinion, but the tone was about the same. It struck me as barely serious. I almost felt bad for the R party for a minute. The I realized that half of America still gobbles that shit up, and I just felt bad in general. The first two questions were about the economy, then it went straight for the kill with some immigration-scare questions, and downhill from there with completely poisoned leads like those in the OP. I recall: “Do you feel that congress should appoint all of Obama’s judicial nominees without question or deliberation?” wtf kind of question is that? Even Obama would disagree with that qualifier. It asked questions in such a ridiculous way that they can’t possibly get any meaningful info from the answers. It was obviously meant as one-way communication. This is the state of the R party. Making motions as if to ask its people where to go, but really just telling them how it’s gonna be. And it’s gonna be the same. They might have saved ink and just sent one that said: “Do we hate the Democrat Party?! A) Yes B) Obama is the AntiChrist C) America! Fuck Yeah!” Then Steele’s “letter”. It was like 25 campaign mailer cards thrown in a blender. It had all the formatting and flow of TimeCube. It wasn’t a prose letter that an adult would expect to receive from another adult, laying out an argument with logic and wit. It was gibberish. All the key points were there, but after seeing them presented intelligently on the SDMB so many times, I couldn’t believe this was the best the RNC could do. I was embarrassed for Steele for putting his name on it. But I figure, it isn’t the best the RNC could do … it’s the best they thought their audience could handle. Pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/7 "2009-04-03T15:05:58Z")
It’s not a real survey – it’s a fundraising request. It’s intended to get Republicans mad, so they’ll donate money. I get the same kind of thing, but with very different questions and responses, from the Democrats, since I’m a registered Democrat. Ed ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/8 "2009-04-03T16:18:11Z")
Since it’s a fundraising request, they’re pretty much asking the converted how to improve their party which isn’t really the group they should be asking. So the survey is meaningless aside from a tool to rile up the converted and make them think “American Free Enterprise System! Hellz yeah!” and chip in a few bucks. If they asked everyone else what they should do, the answers would probably largely be “Be (to varying extents) more like the Democrats” which isn’t the answer the GOP wants to hear. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/9 "2009-04-03T16:25:46Z")
I especially like this one: > [@](#): > > 1. Should bureaucrats in Washington, DC be in charge of making your health care choices instead of you and your doctor? > > Yes > No > Undecided I guess they’re hoping we’ll think in terms of Universal Healthcare, rather than abortion rights? LOL! ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/10 "2009-04-03T16:46:10Z")
Note of course the pro lifers keep voting Repub. The repubs were under complete power from, House,Prez,Senate and Supreme Court and did not deliver. Why not? Because they do not want to lose that voting bloc. If they outlawed abortion the pro life nuts would find new issues that might not have them voting repub. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/11 "2009-04-03T16:55:00Z")
You missed a bit off: Part IV. Important Stuff 1. If a President were black and uppity, would he have your full support? Yes No Undecided 1. Do you think a Kenyan Muslim should be President? Yes No Undecided 1. Do you agree with Republican policy that Americans must be allowed to worship God? Yes No Undecided 1. Would you support a Democrat President taking all your guns and giving them to criminals and terrorists? Yes No Undecided 1. Should we unite to stop the Democrats destroying America? Yes No Undecided ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/12 "2009-04-04T03:55:06Z")
1. Do you agree with President Obama’s secret plan to institute Sharia law in the US? 2. Do you think Michelle Obama should have attacked the Queen of England? 3. Are you as bothered by the gifts President Obama gives foreign leaders as we are? 4. Does it bother you that President Obama cannot form a thought without a Teleprompter telling him what to say? 5. Rush Limbaugh: living legend or miracle worker? Man, writing these questions is easy! ---
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2009, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/13 "2009-04-04T12:01:23Z")
> [@](#): > > If Barack Obama tries to gut the USA PATRIOT Act and other important laws that promote the safety and security of all Americans, should Republicans in Congress fight back? Back in 1989 I have conducted a telephone survey for a conservative political party in the lead-up to an election. We were instructed to not load our questions and genuinely try to find out what the constituency were thinking. A survey likes this demonstrates that the GOP doesn’t want to know what electors are thinking. Divisive politics are a hard habit to kick. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/14 "2009-04-04T13:30:53Z")
What exactly is “The American Free Enterprise System” ? Is it written down somewhere in detail? How does it vary from free enterprise in other countries? The survey deserves to be returned unanswered with a note attached saying “These questions might make you feel better but they’re not going to help your Party.” ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/15 "2009-04-04T13:48:52Z")
> [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](#): > > A survey likes this demonstrates that the GOP doesn’t want to know what electors are thinking. It thinks it already knows, and that it’s simply having problems communicating its message. News flash: people got your message just fine from 1993 to 2005. You got it out just fine in those twelve years. What happened after that was not a change in your message’s penetration, but people realizing that you delivered only on the parts of your message that sucked, and no others. For example, if you want to claim to be fiscally conservative, you need to oppose spending on wasteful causes regardless of origin, not support every earmark under a Republican President and oppose all of them under a Democratic one (even though you insert millions of dollars in your own), unless of course they’re about the military, in which case you must always spend more money. And if you’re going to claim to be the party of family values, it would help if you had fewer anti-gay people being caught in gay relationships with prostitutes or boys. Actually, that last part is just generally true. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/16 "2009-04-06T18:06:50Z")
It’s not a real survey (at least, I hope it isn’t), it’s just a [push-poll](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Push_poll) designed with fundraising in mind. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/17 "2009-04-06T18:32:29Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. A recent national poll reported that nearly 25% of Americans want the government to pass more socialism. Do you agree or disagree? > > Agree > Disagree > Undecided What does this question even mean? That you agree that the government should pass more socialism? Or that you agree that a recent national poll recently reported that nearly 25% of Americans want the government to pass more socialism? This is clearly a poisonous fund raising attempt, but it is like they’re not even trying! ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/18 "2009-04-06T20:13:07Z")
Can you even pass “socialism”? Don’t you pass “socialist policies”? ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/19 "2009-04-06T20:34:47Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. Should Republicans unite to block new federal government bureaucracy and red tape that will crush future economic growth? Sheesh, I am a democrat and I might even agree with this given the way it is written. Yes, I agree we should oppose policies that will _ **crush** _ future economic growth. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844/20 "2009-04-06T21:02:10Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. What are the weaknesses of the Republican Party? Check all that apply. > > Bad Messaging > Poor Response to Democrats > Republicans who don’t vote like Republicans > Standing Up for Principles > Need to Lead in Congress Really? Those are our only options? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2009-state-of-the-republican-party/491844.md?page=2)