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Republicans Disclose Future Strategy

By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Wed Jan 19, 2005 at 01:58:17 PM EST
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Ken Mehlman assumed his position today as head of the Republican National Committee. I don't think the differences between the parties have ever been clearer.

We can deepen the GOP by identifying and turning out Americans who vote for president but who often miss off-year elections and agree with our work on behalf of a culture of life, our promoting marriage, and a belief in our Second Amendment heritage," Mehlman said, referring to the party's opposition to abortion, gay marriage and gun control.

Mehlman outlined a four-part plan.

- Enact the president's agenda, including fighting terrorism, revamping Social Security, changing the tax code and appointing "strict constructionists to the courts."

- Institutionalize the GOP's 2004 grass-roots operation, which most experts believe was far better than the Democrats'.

- Recruit quality candidates for the 2005 and 2006 elections. He also urged RNC members to start focusing on the 2008 presidential campaign and, further down the road, the 2011 redistricting process.

- Use the GOP agenda to court new voters: Blacks through school voucher initiatives, young voters through Social Security changes and Hispanics through efforts to limit legal liability.

He also pitched the religious vote:

As for conservatives, he said, "When we debate who should sit on the judiciary, we have an opportunity to deepen the GOP by registering to vote men and women who attend church every week but aren't yet registered voters."

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    Republicans Disclose Future Strategy | 22 comments (22 topical)
    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#1)
    by jondee on Wed Jan 19, 2005 at 03:03:16 PM EST
    Hmm No mention of a "mandate" on obscenely wasteful,expensive,and ruthless wars of conquest.Much better,when giving it to them up the wazoo,to keep Ma and Pa worried about moral decline,buggery(outside of Abu Ghraib),and gun-control.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 19, 2005 at 03:26:46 PM EST
    - Institutionalize the GOP's 2004 grass-roots operation, which most experts believe was far better than the Democrats' Melman.
    I guess this means they are planning on institutionalzing voter suppression.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#3)
    by desertswine on Wed Jan 19, 2005 at 03:29:03 PM EST
    Huh... nothing about legalizing torture.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#4)
    by glanton on Wed Jan 19, 2005 at 03:39:40 PM EST
    The GOP operatives needn't waste their energy like this. The Dems have imploded for good. It's all but sewn up now; look for at least 60 GOP Senators in '06.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 19, 2005 at 03:56:42 PM EST
    Yeah, I like Kos's platform, or Boxer's, better. Now, where was that little red pill again? -C

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 19, 2005 at 06:49:34 PM EST
    Well, the strategy worked quite well in 2004 (won the presidency, increase lead in the house *and* the senate). Does anyone seriously think they should/will change strategy for 2008?

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Jan 19, 2005 at 07:04:13 PM EST
    I give the Reps credit. Unlike the fascists and communists of old, you at least have to appreciate the Reps utter failure to appreciate subtlety. And this is because they are full of the hubris of triumphalism. Here's a clue folks: we see them coming; they are so power-mad that they have removed their masks. All we have to do is hold them to their rhetoric and defeat them by standing up for American ideals. It's time to expose them for the bigots that they are.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 01:26:49 AM EST
    Kill all American that don't get in-line?

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#9)
    by pigwiggle on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 07:10:44 AM EST
    I’m a bit surprised to see just how conservative Americans have become. The social conservatism plank worked well for the Republicans these past six years; no reason to believe it will fail now. If the left doesn’t get their act together, i.e. ditch the stolen election rhetoric, and form a tractable opposition, the Republicans will operate with impunity.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 07:37:17 AM EST
    If the Democrats can't get their act together and adopt a simple marketing strategy like the Republicans, all is lost. Frankly, Democrats need to start using propaganda-based slogans, and repeat them uniformly and constantly.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 09:07:38 AM EST
    using propaganda-based slogans, and repeat them uniformly and constantly.
    The Democrats tried that already and over 4 million Americans not only saw right through it, these Americans are nauseated by the fact that Democrats don’t care about American, Democrats only care about themselves and forcing their will on the rest. The Democrats claim they care for the American service men. Yet we find not one action that the liberal has done to show his love and support for the American soldier. The Democrat’s also seems to forget, or maybe they didn’t know that in America we have 3 branches of government, not one! It is absurd to believe that because a Republican occupies the White House, America became an overnight dictatorship. That shows how unhinged, immature, ridiculous and how sorry the Democratic party has become. America also is a Federal Republic, we are governed by laws, not feelings! The laws don’t change just because a Democrat or Republican is in the House. So far, the Democrats don’t look like they get it! It is not what you say, its what you do! Who will help with their “cranial rectal inversion”?

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#12)
    by pigwiggle on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 09:18:18 AM EST
    “America also is a Federal Republic” A fact that the Republicans embrace only when convenient. You want to talk about forcing of will on the unwilling. Explain why a republican justice department and DEA refuse to acknowledge the rights and independence of states choosing to allow their citizens to poses and use marijuana. The Republican party is a party of hypocrisy; talk of cranial rectal inversion. I'll be polite and assume yours is just in the sand.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 12:29:47 PM EST
    "independence of states choosing to allow their citizens to poses and use marijuana" Posted by pigwiggle at January 20, 2005 10:18 AM sense you know this is a federal republic. Did you know that we have federal laws? Did you know federal law takes precedence over state law? States have limited rights. Believe it or not, these laws where in place long before this President took office. And now you advocate that the President circumvent these laws, when you should know, the office of the President hasn’t the power to make laws. And it would appear the President is doing what the Constitution requires him to do. The President is indirectly elected by the popular vote, so it is inconceivable to be able to steal an “Election”. The President is elected by the Electoral College, every State has different laws regarding their Electoral votes! So did President Bush steal the election in 2000? Or the 2004? How did the 2000 Florida recount go? Will some ever garner even a elementary understanding of America and how it works? How do Democrats lose the election when liberals control the mainstream news media? But the good news is, there is lots of room for improvement! Maybe you should start here

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#14)
    by pigwiggle on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 12:44:04 PM EST
    “States have limited rights.” Your ignorant; read your constitution. The federal government was given very few and very selective powers. All else were reserved for the state. “So did President Bush steal the election in 2000?” I’m not going to give you a pass on your repugnant partisan garbage because you point to the same thing on the left. Search through those partisan soundbites ratteling around in your empty skull and see if you can come up with a real argument; you can start with this often neglected document.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 12:53:17 PM EST
    Hey, at least they have a plan. I may not agree with all of it, but it sure beats the lack of one presented by the Democrats right now. Filibustering for the next two years in the hopes that lightening will strike and they will win a majority should be a nonstarter. That it is considered a viable option by so many in the Democratic party is simply proof that this party needs a major overhaul.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#16)
    by glanton on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 01:09:19 PM EST
    Here's the cturl irony of justpaul's post: While the Dems of course will NOT fillibuster "for the next two years in the hopes that lightning will strike," they will be accused of having done so by the GOP through the MSM, and it will sell big. Because there will be a handful of nutbag nominees that the Dems will have to fillibuster on principal, they will be accused of fillibustering everyone. Etc. Pathetic, but true.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#17)
    by glanton on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 01:10:10 PM EST
    After several bourbons, "cruel" sometimes get s spelled "cturl." Guess I'll slow down a bit.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 01:21:23 PM EST
    pigwiggle I haven’t found anywhere in the THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION where state law takes precedence over federal law? Am I missing it?

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#19)
    by pigwiggle on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 01:30:34 PM EST
    "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." The feds use the interstate commerce clause to justify federal prohibition. It is clear to me that this interpretation is adversative of states rights. At one time the republican party was the party promoting states rights and a small central government.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 04:18:39 PM EST
    "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." “Your ignorant; read your constitution” “through those partisan soundbites ratteling around in your empty skull and see if you can come up with a real argument” Posted by pigwiggle Dear pigwiggle With my empty skull, I don't see where that gives state law authority over federal law! Key words “ powers not delegated” Matter of fact it supports the argument I proposed earlier. Can you refute any agreement I have proposed here today? Did you know that we have federal laws? Did you know federal law takes precedence over state law? States have limited rights. Believe it or not, these laws where in place long before this President took office. Posted by BurgerBoy at January 20, 2005 01:29 PM TL limits me to four post a day, so this will be my fourth and last post. How long has the federal government been doing this? Only since President Bush took office. Did not the Justice dept. under the Clinton administration act the same way? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I notice that talk left shows pictures of protesters getting pepper sprayed. What makes it great, is all the folks making comments to a one sided very tilted story. Those protesters were throwing rocks at police and they broke through a fence set up to keep them back. I believe that in America if a police officer hits you for no reason that officer goes to jail, not the President. Maybe that is news to people here? Sorry for taking all the fun out of blaming President Bush for things he doesn’t do!

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#21)
    by pigwiggle on Thu Jan 20, 2005 at 06:22:15 PM EST
    BB- First, I apologize for my previous rudeness and aggressive tone. I try not to be, but am frequently a jerk. I was just a little burned to see you, in one breath, denigrate Democrats for “forcing their will on the rest.” and in the next telling me that the Republicans can do just that through federal legislation. Congress cannot, at will, legislate anything and everything. They must provide a constitutional basis, or otherwise show that they have been charged with legislating with respect to the issue at hand. The intent of the framers of the constitution, apparent in the federalist papers, was to restrict the powers of the federal government by giving congress a handful of powers. The ninth and tenth amendments give the people and the state EVERYTHING else. So, I most certainly have the right to get high on whatever I choose; the constitution is absolutely silent about congress’s ability to regulate what I smoke, shoot, snort, or eat. Congress, however, disagrees. They have sited the interstate commerce clause as charging them with regulating commerce within the states, further extending this to regulation and control of anything that can be bought or sold, or even anything that effects buying and selling. Take a look at Ashcroft v. Raich. The department of justice is currently trying to argue that the interstate commerce clause still applies to medical marijuana that, according to California state law, can be grown and used but not sold or taken out of state. Congress has used the commerce clause and the general welfare clause to usurp almost all power. The framers wouldn’t go to the trouble of enumerating federal powers, explicitly noting that the people’s powers are too great to be enumerated (9th), if they meant the feds to have boundless power through regulation of interstate commerce and promotion of the general welfare. “How long has the federal government been doing this? Only since President Bush took office. Did not the Justice dept. under the Clinton administration act the same way?” It took off after Roosevelt shrewdly expanded and packed the federal judiciary with his liberal ilk. Of course Clinton took advantage, but as a liberal one would expect him to. Republicans pay lip service to fiscal and federal conservatism while spending and legislating with impunity. Republicans are scared of true freedom.

    Re: Republicans Disclose Future Strategy (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Jan 21, 2005 at 04:30:53 AM EST
    Glanton, You need to take your head out of that bourbon bottle and start listening to the leaders of the party. Nancy Pelosi is talking obstructionism. Harry Reid is talking obstructionism. Barbara Boxer is talking obstructionism. Ted Kennedy is talking obstructionism. This is the message that is going out, and that is the message that will be received by the people. And because of that, every time an actual filibuster is launched, the people will see it as just the same old stuff from the Democrats who just can't stand that they lost power. The Democrats are in a wonderful position right now in that they are free to let W. and Co. screw up as much as they are wont to do while they, the Democrats, set about rebuilding the party into something that actually resembles America, not a group photo for the latest IMF protest, and forging a plan of action instead of a plan of reaction. Sadly, they seem to prefer to cry and scream and stand in the way, which I would have thought they would have learned in November is not working.

    Republicans Disclose Future Strategy | 22 comments (22 topical)