GOP's Leadership Challenge

Unfortunately, the the leadership of the GOP in Washington has become part of the problem. They have long since merely become "Dem Lite" and that is the root of the problem. This is the reason for profligrat spending of the first half of this decade, they thought that if they spent like Democrats, the country would continue to let them remain in power. That they could buy their way to a permanent majority, forgetting that while one party may remain in control of Congress for decade, NO party has ever had a "permanent" majority. This is the major reason why the GOP lost their "permanent" majority in Congress. They became arrogant and forgot why they were originally elected back in 1994.

Now, we have an administration that seems bend upon passing every Democratic initiative and getting them firmly in place BEFORE they lose the next election. The rationale seems to be that if they can get huge new entitlements and taxes in place...they will become permanent. Unfortunately, most politicians like what they do and the perc's that come with their office. So the don't really want to "lose the next" election at all...hence, the shock this past summer during the August recess. And this is why the government's overt attempt at seizing health care in this country is beginning to fail. Because Congressmen and Senators are beginning to hear from constituents that they have literally never heard from before.

Every Congressman and Senator has a "core" of supporters, and opponents within their constituencies. These are the people who contineually call and either praise or complain. Starting this summer, those offices began to hear form constiuents that they have never heard from before...and those voices are becoming more insisent and louder as the debate goes on. But I digress.

The GOP leadership, especially in Congress, but those in the RNC as well as the associated think tanks have become somewhat divorced from what their constituent base really want. This is reflected in the NY-23 race where a "RINO", Ms. Scozzafava was selected despite what many precinct leaders wanted. It was an ugly, back-room deal, because she had a supporter who worked in the RNC offices, who guaranteed that she would get immediate financial help from the RNC...this blew up...because of the internet. We The People now have a way to circumvent the national news media's (now extinct) ability to "channel" news and information. (Just look at Climategate...no major new source, other than Fox has really covered this story in the US). Because of this, Scozzafava was exposed for her left wing positions on pretty much everything.

Now, in order for the GOP to continue as a national party...the RNC needs to but out of local party matters. It's, frankly, not within their perview. Eventually, I suspect that the national leadership will begin to bend to that of the state and local parties that make up the 50 state constiuencies of the GOP...either that, or it will go the way of the Federalist and Whig parties.

The Democratic party has a much more difficult problem...it's constiuent special interests are eventually going to tear that party apart. Because many have agendas that are not compatible with the aims of the party at large...each one wants specific things...and some (gay marriage, union aims, etc) in the party's best interests...we live in interesting times, and I sit back on enjoy watching the specticle presented by both sides.