Some Lessons Learned For The Next Battle

It is now officially the last day of George W Bush's term as President. In mere hours, all of Washington will be run by the Democrat Party, as we on our side begin to rebuild and recalculate how we will someday return to power. As many others have stated, while I disagreed vigorously with many aspects of the Bush Presidency, I will miss him, and I really do feel a bit sad. However, as a (sometimes foolish) optimist, I try not to look back, but forward. I try not to refight the last battle, but look forward to the next one, and how we can win again, using the lessons learned from the past eight years. Here are a few rambling ideas of mine.

1. Never forget your base. Unlike the Democrats, who will vote for a fire hydrant if it has a "D" by its name, many on the Republican/Conservative side are a little more fickle and demanding. Take heed, and makign them at your peril, as they are more likely to sit out or vote third party in protest (witness the 1992, 1996, 1998 and 2006 elections). Yes, some issues can be glossed over in the name of expediency, but others are the equivalent of the Rubicon, where crossing them is tantamount to betrayal. Learn and listen.
2. Learn how to handle the New Media. The Nightly broadcasts are still powerful, and can still shape opinions, but they are losing viewers. The print media is falling apart faster than a criminal facing David Caruso's Sunglasses of Justice. But the real new media lies in the showbiz aspect. More people than really should get all of their news from Stewart, Colbert, Letterman, Leno, and SNL. Hell, Tina Fey's "I can see Russia from my house" line became such a part of pop-political culture that people believed Gov. Palin said that. Learn how to deal with it, if not at least lessen the blows the yukmeisters will level upon you.
3. Nurture the young talent we do have, and disassociate from the tired old Beltway Intelligentsia. Do not look to curry favor with them, since they are not, and will not work with you and help you. And that goes for those nominally on our side, for they have delineated themselves from us and openly sided with Obama based solely on his Ivy League credentials. Instead, court and work with bloggers, for they have ideas and passion, and can help create a groundswell.
4. Change the primary system. Make it only so that Republicans can vote.
   
5. Get people elected to the various Secretaries of State offices. We have seen too many times recently how they can influence an election.
6. Do a better recruiting job, and do what is possible to help convince top tier candidates they will receive all of our support. Along that line, get some people who know what the hell they are doing in the RNSCC and the respective Congressional arm (I forget the name).
7. Find candidates who are suited to the district while still being conservative enough to convince the base to come out. A Bible thumper may not work in all suburban districts, just as a pro-choice guy wouldn't float in a Southern districts. And never, ever let perfect be the enemy of the good.
   

Okay. I'm through. I'm sure I missed a few, and it probably rambled a bit. But these are just some of the ideas I have had, after being a blogging commenter in the midst of one victorious campaign (2004), and two losers (the last two).

Posted by: eddiebear at 01:31 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 593 words, total size 3 kb.