# Things A Smart Republican Would Do Now **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 7, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247 "2012-11-07T17:20:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/21 "2012-11-07T20:59:26Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I think the ultimate problem - if this is true - may be liberal dominance of the MSM. This drove conservatives to create their own alternatives, but the overtly conservative media is more conservative than the MSM is liberal.) I disagree. I would say that the MSM is not necessarily “liberal” (whatever that means now - Limbaugh and Coulter have simply reduced the word to a meaningless swear word). I’d say that the MSM is, for the most part, fact based. (See Nate Silver). The right wing did not agree with the facts, because they did not always agree with their ideology. So Fox News and talk radio was promoted to air their views. Especially their views that can only be supported by faith in bullshit, fact free argument. > [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > But I’m not sure if the premise if true. (I.e. it’s definitely true that there are a lot of kool-aid drinking conservatives, but ISTM that there are as many on the other side as well.) There may well be the same number of loons on each side. The difference is the loons on the left are laughed at and marginialized. The loons on the right are respected and have their own talk shows or run for senate. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/22 "2012-11-07T21:01:50Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > People have a tendency to believe what they want to believe. This is human nature, and not unique to Republicans. In this particular election this came to the fore in a much more blatant way for Republicans, simply because they had the polls against them. But you see it in every election, for every underdog party (& in sporting events as well). > > This very board is witness, for elections in which Democrats have been underdogs. > > What compounds the problem is the cocoon that people surround themselves with, in that other people sharing a common belief has a reinforcing effect, and this is where the conservative media has a share in the problem. And here I’m suggesting a possible rationale for the phenomenon to be more acute for conservatives, because their cocoon is more tightly wound. So it’s possible. But ISTM that everyone shares the same issue. No doubt true. But the D and R party structures approach that issue quite differently. In today’s GOP, you either cocoon yourself or you don’t make it past the primaries. A candidate who engages head-on with the realities of governing is liable to be unelectable. This is a fact of political life and will ultimately prove their undoing. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/23 "2012-11-07T21:02:08Z")
These are all subjective judgments that don’t lend themselves to objective proof, or useful debate IMO. I’ve given one perspective. YMMV, obviously. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/24 "2012-11-07T21:06:15Z")
1. Nominate a Non-Mormon Non-Dweeb Seriously guys, us Dems ought not be patting ourselves on the back. They ran the whitest man they could find, without any real convictions and no real plan, and came very close to beating us. Makes me wonder how well Jeb Bush would have done. Or Governor Christie. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/25 "2012-11-07T21:06:41Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > These are all subjective judgments that don’t lend themselves to objective proof, or useful debate IMO. I’ve given one perspective. YMMV, obviously. All I meant is that the problem is structural, and Republicans who want change had better deal with it as such. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/26 "2012-11-07T21:09:36Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Pretty much half of the country still voted for the GOP, you know. The stuff in the OP that the Republican do that we find so stupid is what half the country actually believes. This really needs to be said again. And again. Only 51% of the country voted for Obama. Not a landlside at all. That said, I still think that the Republicans need to stop opposing immigration reform if they’re going to have any hope of broadening their base. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/27 "2012-11-07T21:09:39Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > If you think things look bad for the GOP now, consider how it looked for them in 1964, or 1996. Or for that matter 1976. Or, you know, 2008. > [@](#): > > Works both ways, too. In early 1991, less than two years before Bill Clinton was elected, the Democratic Party was hopelessly lost at sea and the idea of Bush losing the next election was treated as a hilarious joke. The Republicans’ current position does remind me of the Democrats in the 80s; still a significant amount of political power, but they don’t seem to have a coherent way forward. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/28 "2012-11-07T21:10:47Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > 1. Nominate a Non-Mormon Non-Dweeb > > Seriously guys, us Dems ought not be patting ourselves on the back. They ran the whitest man they could find, without any real convictions and no real plan, and came very close to beating us. Makes me wonder how well Jeb Bush would have done. Or Governor Christie. I would add “not-stupidly rich” to that candidate description. True or not, the current opinion is that the GOP is the party of rich white guys. It might be a good idea not to nominate the richest, whitest guy you have available. And if you must nominate the richest, whitest guy you have you should probably tell him not to come up with a tax plan that, at least on first glance, seems to benefit himself more than any other person in the country (save, perhaps, Warren Buffet). ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/29 "2012-11-07T21:17:40Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > All I meant is that the problem is structural, not just ideological. There’s no way Republicans can wish it away. OK, but my perspective is that the exact same dynamic that exists on the Republican side exists on the Democratic side. The center of gravity for the Republican/Democratic side is to the right/left of the public at large. So all candidates, whether R or D, need to run right/left in the primaries and then veer back to the center for the general election. Obama didn’t have to run in any primaries this year, so he could skip that stage. But it’s true whenever there are primaries. Of course, the counterargument is that Democrats don’t go completely off the deep end in their primaries, while Republicans do. I disagree. And that’s where it gets hopelessly subjective. > [@Jas09](#): > > I would add “not-stupidly rich” to that candidate description. > > True or not, the current opinion is that the GOP is the party of rich white guys. It might be a good idea not to nominate the richest, whitest guy you have available. I disagree with this. Romney was the best candidate available. Nobody is perfect, and it’s natural to focus on the flaws of the guy who just lost (or of the guy who won the nomination, if you happen to support the other guy). But it was going to be an uphill battle in any event. Had another candidate been nominated, there would have a been a huge focus on that guy’s flaws, and you’d be saying the lesson for the Republicans is to not nominate someone with those particular flaws. Romney fought a good fight and made it closer than one might have expected a year ago. Fell short in the end, but he was the right guy. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/30 "2012-11-07T21:21:03Z")
As a Republican who voted for Obama a second time and a straight-Democrat ticket (not counting propositions) for the first time ever (because the party has collectively jumped that deep into the batshit), here are my comments. 1. Remember that our priorities are advancing our policies, not stopping their policies. 2. Reform the U.S. Senate filibuster rules. Put a time limit on blocking a vote, or allow a simple majority to end it, etc. Something that makes the majority party in the Senate responsible. Make Harry Reid be the problem, not Mitch McConnell. 3. Stimulate the economy now by reducing taxes on those who spend nearly all their money (that is, the poor and lower middle classes). There’s a surplus of capital right now (note the record low costs for borrowing) so reducing taxes on the investment classes does little good. Our economy depends on consumer spending–let them spend. 4. Stimulate the economy later by starting infrastructure projects we’ve been putting off for decades. Capital costs are at an all time low–let’s invest in our own networks. Labor costs are also very low. Our economy depends on the efficient movement of people and goods. Let’s make it easier. Don’t forget the power grids. 5. Plan budgets that start reducing the debt within five years and pay off the debt in fifteen. We’re the party of fiscal responsibility, not anti-taxes. This will be painful for everyone, so take the lead by matching budget cuts with tax increases (dollar for dollar). This lets us choose the taxes to increase, instead of them choose. Quickly move the argument to what to cut instead of who to tax. 6. Get the federal government out of the social issues–gay marriage, abortion, drug enforcement, immigration, gun control. We’re the small government party; let’s prove it. Move those politics to the state level and open up the national party to more diverse positions. 7. Stop griping about Obamacare. It’s a market solution to the problem. Healthcare has always been regulated and always will be. 8. We’re going to permanently lose a large part of the electorate. The Democratic Party dumped them when they approved civil rights. It’s our turn. We couldn’t win with them this time and we won’t be able to win with them in the future (they’re going to be less in the future). We need to dump them now; the sooner we do, the sooner we can reclaim the center. When the social issues are no longer national issues, our fiscal responsibility position will appeal to a large swath of the center. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/31 "2012-11-07T21:23:41Z")
**Pleonast** , if you run in 2016, I am on your side. ---
**Author:** ![Engineer\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9fc29f/32.png) [@Engineer\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engineer_Dude)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/32 "2012-11-07T21:27:48Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > 1. Get the federal government out of the social issues–gay marriage, abortion, drug enforcement, immigration, gun control. We’re the small government party; let’s prove it. Move those politics to the state level and open up the national party to more diverse positions. This. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/33 "2012-11-07T21:31:52Z")
1. Come up with a honest to goodness plan for growing the economy and improving the wages and quality of life for everyone, not just the rich. Then share this plan with world class economists and financial leaders keeping in mind the goal of growing the economy and improving the wages and quality of life for everyone, not just the rich. Take the next 4 years to tweak this plan until the best minds you can find say “this really could work!” Share it with the public so we know you have something, not just tell us you do, show us - convince us. 2. Fight for social justice for everyone. We don’t all believe in the same God, some of us don’t believe at all. We’re not all the same color, relax they’re not murderous aliens from outer space. We don’t all have sex the same way, seriously, why the fuck you you care? If two people are lucky enough to find someone to love stay the fuck out of it. There’s room in America for all of us, stop discounting people different from you. 3. If you really value life as much as you say you do provide contraception to those willing to use it. The government is not an arm of the church you belong to. Instead of shaming abortion, stop shaming pregnancy. Recognize it as a fact of life. You know that unmarried pregnant woman you’re calling a harlot? She didn’t get that way on her own bub. What say we stop making decisions for her, give her viable options to abortion\*\* and let her know if she chooses adoption we will support her (YES that includes financially of necessary), let her decide, and then shut the fuck up. I hate abortion too but I recognize it’s not my womb and I have no right to tell someone else what to do with theirs. 4. Recognize that there are other countries in the world. They have the right to exist peacefully. They don’t agree with the USA all the time, get over it. Seek to build relationships based upon mutual respect. Maintain a competent defense force and make sure it’s used to protect the people not advance ideology. PS - Democrats, I’d love it if you guys would do this stuff too. I’ll vote for whoever follows this more closely. \*\* Do this through public awareness, don’t pressure anyone into a decision as they’re waling into a clinic for pete’s sake. That’s all I got - easy peasy, right? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/34 "2012-11-07T21:33:26Z")
**Pleonast** ’s point 5 would require a come-to-Jesus moment between the party’s libertarians (many of whom aren’t particularly libertarian outside of economic issues) and its authoritarians (most of whom are loathe to even admit they _are_ authoritarians). It would be an ideological bloodbath with no short-term payoff for anyone concerned. I don’t see it happening until the GOP has lost a _lot_ more power. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/35 "2012-11-07T21:34:11Z")
Pleonast, can you print that up on T-Shirts? Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/36 "2012-11-07T21:35:39Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > **Pleonast** , if you run in 2016, I am on your side. You know what, forget what I said - _ **Pleonast 2016!!** _ ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/37 "2012-11-07T21:40:22Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > You know what, forget what I said - _ **Pleonast 2016!!** _ I believe we have just formed a committee… ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/38 "2012-11-07T21:40:52Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > As a Republican who voted for Obama a second time and a straight-Democrat ticket (not counting propositions) for the first time ever (because the party has collectively jumped that deep into the batshit), here are my comments. > > 1. Remember that our priorities are advancing our policies, not stopping their policies. > > 2. Reform the U.S. Senate filibuster rules. Put a time limit on blocking a vote, or allow a simple majority to end it, etc. Something that makes the majority party in the Senate responsible. Make Harry Reid be the problem, not Mitch McConnell. > > 3. Stimulate the economy now by reducing taxes on those who spend nearly all their money (that is, the poor and lower middle classes). There’s a surplus of capital right now (note the record low costs for borrowing) so reducing taxes on the investment classes does little good. Our economy depends on consumer spending–let them spend. > > 4. Stimulate the economy later by starting infrastructure projects we’ve been putting off for decades. Capital costs are at an all time low–let’s invest in our own networks. Labor costs are also very low. Our economy depends on the efficient movement of people and goods. Let’s make it easier. Don’t forget the power grids. > > 5. Plan budgets that start reducing the debt within five years and pay off the debt in fifteen. We’re the party of fiscal responsibility, not anti-taxes. This will be painful for everyone, so take the lead by matching budget cuts with tax increases (dollar for dollar). This lets us choose the taxes to increase, instead of them choose. Quickly move the argument to what to cut instead of who to tax. > > 6. Get the federal government out of the social issues–gay marriage, abortion, drug enforcement, immigration, gun control. We’re the small government party; let’s prove it. Move those politics to the state level and open up the national party to more diverse positions. > > 7. Stop griping about Obamacare. It’s a market solution to the problem. Healthcare has always been regulated and always will be. > > 8. We’re going to permanently lose a large part of the electorate. The Democratic Party dumped them when they approved civil rights. It’s our turn. We couldn’t win with them this time and we won’t be able to win with them in the future (they’re going to be less in the future). We need to dump them now; the sooner we do, the sooner we can reclaim the center. When the social issues are no longer national issues, our fiscal responsibility position will appeal to a large swath of the center. Put forth a Republican who lays out a sensible, non-racist, non-homophobic, non-misogynist plan that’s thoughtful and logical and fair… and I will cross party lines and vote Republican for the first time in my life. Add in something about education and the environment (we’re gonna need educated children, clean water and land, and renewable energy) and you’re unbeatable. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/39 "2012-11-07T21:43:48Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > I believe we have just formed a committee… I’ve got…$1.43 to toss into the pot. Count me in. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247/40 "2012-11-07T21:45:30Z")
The people of moderate Republican beliefs are basically in control of the country. After the Reagan and Bush I presidencies the Democrats decided to adapt rather than die and turned very hard towards the middle to take a large chunk of the non moonbat vote. Don’t be hung up on names the moderate Republicans have basically taken over the Democratic party. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-a-smart-republican-would-do-now/640247.md?page=3)