The key word here is “simply”. If he didn’t include that word, then yeah, I’d be suspect of his commitment to fiscal conservatism.

From my observation, he was pretty much articulating what the MSM and Team Obama had successfully characterized the GOP as. And that we need to do a better job of presenting the Republicans as a party of economic integrity and individual liberty coupled with responsibility.

And, get rid of Karl Rove, the Bush clan and every other old hack in the Senate and Congress. Talk about politicians who are past their due dates and out of touch.

2. Social issues – While I’m not ready to publicly admit the culture war is lost, the current state of the campaign is not good. The left has mounted a dramatic insurgency over the last few years, and we have not been able to offer an effective counter to it. The Supreme Court will ultimately decide on the same sex marriage issue, but the life issue is something on which we simply cannot yield. A pundit on MSNBC over the weekend claimed that Republican opposition to abortion was racist or something. That is so profoundly ignorant as to be frightening, especially when you consider that unborn blacks are being aborted at a much higher rate than other racial groups. But we must field candidates that can clearly explain that being against the systematic murder of unborn human life isn’t anti-woman. It’s pro-humanity. There will be calls to destroy this cornerstone, too, over the next few weeks and months. Conservatives should resist that, and resist it forcefully.

Unreal. Again, I ask, to what end ? What legitimate legislative goal is achievable in my lifetime on abortion ?

Seriously. Because from where I sit, the answer is clearly NONE. And if that is the case, then what is the point in arguing something to the electorate that is so effectively used against us AND for which there is no strategy or tactic by which the argument can be won ? Standing on principle is neat. But when it 1) loses you elections, and 2) cannot possibly lead to any kind of legislative initiative, it makes no sense whatsoever.

“We cannot be, we must not be, the party that simply protects the rich so they get to keep their toys.”

So Jindal is as clueless as the rest.
I don’t give a damn about rich people and their toys. I want capital to stay in the hands of people who create wealth, not in the hands of wealth destroyers.

Jindal is also correct in urging the GOP to appeal directly to each voting citizen regardless of ‘bloc’, something other commentators (such as Vic Davis Hanson) are urging. This is sharp stuff.

Case in point: the “war on women.” Why weren’t our candidates hammering the heck out of that phrase every chance they had? There was no war on women! But there is a real war on religious liberty. The birth control and abortion talk came up in the context of whether religious organizations should be forced to pay for those two things. So why didn’t we hear this again and again–a logical, strong refutation of the most moronic meme the Left had going? And if you cannot mock people dressed up as lady parts–especially as the welfare roll numbers are climbing drastically and people are wondering if they’ll need to take out loans to pay for gas–what can you mock?! But politeness (I guess?) won the day.

Another example: Obamacare. Why weren’t our candidates explaining over and over and over again the many ways that legislation will harm the economy and the effective deliverance of medical treatment (with doctor shortages, a tax on certain medical devices, etc.)? But it’s almost as if we gave up on the very issue that delivered us huge victories in 2010. Yes, jobs, jobs, jobs were important to talk about. But we needed to drive home the point of what Obamacare means for the country.

We have the right principles on our side. We have logic on our side. We even have truth on our side. But it’s almost as if the people taking the up-front roles are too timid to push back on even the most ridiculous and outrageous lies of the Left. We need to get over thinking the way to win elections is by making people like us. By all means, treat people with dignity and respect. Play fair. But for goodness’ sake, shout the truth from the rooftops!

We need backbones. We need soundbites. We need to play offense for once instead of defense.

And as a side note…if we start changing our stands now, the Left will (rightly) accuse us of pandering for votes. That’s worse than not changing at all–because that calls into question our integrity. Right now, we can counter the lies of the Left with truth and reality–if we are only bold enough to do so. Once we start selling out, make no mistake–the Left will attack us with the same vigor and hatred–but we will no longer have any way to counter their message except with lies of our own (which, besides being wrong would be incredibly foolish–they are much better liars than we will ever be, after all these years of practice).

We don’t need to stop being pro-life in order to win the women’s vote. We need to stop nominating for high office candidates who are too stupid to speak intelligently about the issue.

writeblock on November 13, 2012 at 6:42 PM

You know who tend to speak well about pro-life women’s issues?

Pro-life women.

I know, right?

The Bain attacks worked. Romney needed to counter them and didn’t.

writeblock on November 13, 2012 at 6:42 PM

If you are right it was about the campaign then we need to relax until there is another camapign and quit trying to win 2016 RIGHT NOW IMHO.

The public modd is going to change dramatically in the next 2 to 4 years unless everything we undertsand about taxes, spending and the economy are wrong and I don’t think history shows it is.

People need to relax on these long term plans that are out of focus right now.

I made a post elsewhere. In 1972 the Republicans did win by Obama levels they won 49 states. They lost in 1976 because ALL the scandals and short-cuts caught up to Nixon before the midterms evn took place and he was gone. I don’t see Obama, Benghazi and F&F as being to far off this. That is not to mention the REALITIES of Obamacare instead of the campaign lies about in 2012.

All these Republicans could be changing their tune about how to win as a President is embattled in scandal and bad policy by 2014 is facing them. We haven’t chnaged THAT much since 2010 and 2013-14 looks like a repeat of discontent by the Tea Party and others.

Pulling stunts like HotAir’s own Erika Johnsen did by defending price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Sandy will be the death of the party.

Stoic Patriot on November 13, 2012 at 5:59 PM

Have you read the Erika Johnsen posts? They are an embarrassment to logic most of the times. A Romney Cheerleader at best.

I think you’re completely wrong on this count. When it comes to being for small business, one of the things that Obama surrogates would attack on is that when Romney talked about how he wanted to help small business, Fortune 500 companies were qualifying under Romney’s definition — something which Romney never countered, either because he was incompetent, or because it was true. Either way, this was remarkably hurtful.

Second, Romney himself invited that caricature with the 47% remarks. And the GOP brings it upon themselves every time they try to present a makers-vs-takers argument. The GOP needs to shift to a populist stance. Pulling stunts like HotAir’s own Erika Johnsen did by defending price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Sandy will be the death of the party.

Stoic Patriot on November 13, 2012 at 5:59 PM

Yup.

The Democrats have become the party of the very poor on government assistance and the very rich also on government assistance. We need to be the middle class party that advocates upward social mobility, an end to crony capitalism, an end to lemon socialism, and and end to the revolving doors between Washington, New York, and Hollywood.

Codevilla had it right when he designated them a “ruling class” and us conservatives working everyday in the Red States to pay for it all and fighting to keep it free the “country party”.

Senator Rubio.. Hey, thanks for knocking yourself out of contention. That voodoo curse that I got from the Haitian healer lady in Miami is really doing such a good job. First, Christie embraces Obama and tanks Romney’s election and then Jindal decides that the Rs should abandon principles. Perhaps, I can actually just fist bump and smile my way to the Presidency.

And if we do alienate business owners by sacrificing our fiscal principles, of whom then is our future voting bloc going to consist?

Their workers.

why in the world would we listen to those same voices when they tell us what we need to do to win?

THIS right here…

excellent duane

1. Fiscal policy – Governor Jindal, certainly an accomplished leader with a proven track record who is very much a player on the bench for future national office, has just whacked away at part of the core of fiscal conservatism.

I think you’re completely wrong on this count. When it comes to being for small business, one of the things that Obama surrogates would attack on is that when Romney talked about how he wanted to help small business, Fortune 500 companies were qualifying under Romney’s definition — something which Romney never countered, either because he was incompetent, or because it was true. Either way, this was remarkably hurtful.

Second, Romney himself invited that caricature with the 47% remarks. And the GOP brings it upon themselves every time they try to present a makers-vs-takers argument. The GOP needs to shift to a populist stance. Pulling stunts like HotAir’s own Erika Johnsen did by defending price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Sandy will be the death of the party.

The media topics are the tail that wag the dog. First it was Rush going on and on about illegal immigration, when that was never discussed during the election, and we are TOLD those illegals were not allowed to vote. And now, a perfectly respectable republican governor repeating MSM maxims about rich and their…TOYS???

Snap off the TV, and proceed with Extreme Caution, nothing is as it seems, and we are all being baited to follow the MSM narrative. I will be turning off Fox News when they follow stories that are not my priorities.

How much time spent on The Housewives of…? that should be covering the essential issues affecting our country? Someone said, (coulter?) and I have to agree…follow the shiny object idiots.

For goodness sake, if you really must get your panties all twisted, please dont make a public spectacle out of it.