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How to Rebuild the Right

by Jon Henke | November 18, 2008 at 12:10 PM
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At Pajamas Media, I write about the key to a revival of the Right and the Republican Party.  The key points....

The Left didn't change their ideals, they changed the story.

In the years since 1980, Democrats cast about for a motivating purpose — a story that would carry them back to a long-term governing majority. They tried liberalism, moderation, and triangulation.

Now, they’re back. But the Left did not retake the executive and legislative branches by being more liberal or more moderate, or by clever political jujitsu. Democrats became the majority because they changed the story.

The Left and Right each built their movements out of paranoia at the machine they believed the other side had built.

[T]he modern progressives have very explicitly modeled their new movement on the movement built by the Right in the ’60s and ’70s.  Paranoia is an excellent strategist.

On what the Right must do now.

For now, the goal should be to build ideological infrastructure — organically — outside the entrenched political establishment. We should build unifying grievances. We should organize ideas and then people. The Republican Party will not lead the Right out of the problems that plague the Republican Party; it will have to follow.

If a movement is to draw a party into its orbit, the movement must have the gravitational pull of messaging, mobilization, and fundraising capacity. For now, it is our role to uncover, organize, and deliver information.

In other words — to change the story.

You can read the entire article here.

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Comments

Actually the Democrats DID change their ideals

Submitted by Hastings2010 on Tue, 11/18/2008 - 12:55.

Back in the 1960s, by passing landmark Civil Rights legislation and championing the War on Poverty they became the first party to fully embrace the massive movement for tolerance.

Meanwhile the Republiacn party at the time embraced the "Southern Strategy" (google it if you don't know it) to gain the votes of racist southern whites.  Well, the Democrats spent the next 40 years flailing about and not being particularly effective (winning 3/10 Presidential elections and losing congress in 1994) until 2006/2008.  It seems the seeds they planted with that shift to tolerance have finally grown into something that is bearing fruit - 95% of the black vote and 67% of the hispanic vote.  And in a world where tolerance is emerging as a powerful motivation we see the youth (who did not grow up in segregated or defacto segregated communities) voting for Obama with 66% of the vote.

Meanwhile the Republcians have conditioned their base to respond to vague racism (be honest with yourselves about the connections they tried to draw on the campaign trail by saying the words "Hussein" and "terrorist" and the rumors he was a secret muslim and arab).  Well the result is that Republicans are marginalized as a regional party while Democrats make huge gains throughout the country.

If the Republicans don't get not jsut their leadership but their base on board the Tolerance train (stop refusing Mormon and minority candidates) real quick they'll be largely marginalized for 40 years, just like the Democrats were.  Of course, it may already be too late for that now anyways.

Interesting

Submitted by NoMoreBlatherDotCom on Tue, 11/18/2008 - 23:37.

I hate to feed someone who's just spouting talking points, but why did Mr. Hastings misspell "Republican" twice, and in different ways? Going for the typos or something?

However, Hastings does reveal one of the problems that many non-left leaders have: they wouldn't know how to properly respond to people like him. They'd do a McCain and release ten web videos about "tolerance" and then sacrifice a tofu goat on the PC altar before doing something like pointing out the absolute corruption of the Dems when it comes to racial or ethnic matters.

Who Are the Left, Center, & Right? RE: How to Rebuild the Right

Submitted by Pearson Stone on Tue, 11/18/2008 - 13:32.

The Left is Socialist and Liberals, while The Right is and will always be Conservative.  The Center is what the Conservatives will Tolerate.  EXAMPLE: There are Socialist and Liberals who are not willing to be part of the Center.  The passage of Proposition 8 in California banning marriage between people who are happy or gay because they choose to live the sexual perversion lifestyle the way the people of Sodom and Gomorrah lived has made them angry.  Their sexual perversion lifestyle  has caused them to show their True Colors by lashing out at anyone who they believe did not support their sexual perversion lifestyle.  There is nothing wrong with Tolerating Civil Unions, they belong in the middle.  Marriage belongs on the right.  Socialist and Liberals belong on the left and should be seen and not heard.

So, Who Are the Left, Center, and Right People?

The Left: Socialist and Liberal Democrats and Republicans.  Center of Tolerating: Conservative Democrats, Conservative Republicans.  The Right: Conservative Democrats, Conservative Republicans.

Justice Is Blind and So Should Be the Color of Our Skin.  Red, Yellow, Black and White We Are Precious in His Sight, Jesus Loves Americans, and the Children of the World.
 

I could say the same thing about catholics couldn't i?

Submitted by RisingTide on Tue, 11/18/2008 - 14:25.

(no, I'm sorry, that was completely uncalled for. as immoral as I believe not using birth control is, I really shouldn't say that. consider this a pointed analogy, and not anti-catholic hatred).

There is no left, center and right. Sorry, we aren't 1700's france. Ideology has more than one axis.

Ah we see your love of America

Submitted by LnGrrrR on Tue, 11/18/2008 - 16:24.

"Socialist and liberals belong on the left and should be seen and not heard."

You don't have to listen, but we will certainly speak.

And civil unions only belong on the right now because the left pushed them there. A few years ago, civil unions seemed as horrible as gay marriage.

And in a couple of generations

Submitted by johnson springs on Thu, 11/20/2008 - 23:28.

And in a couple of generations, banning gay marriage will seem like laws against interracial marriage do now. So, goeth the world. Can we hurry up and get there?

Confusion ...

Submitted by Freedoms Truth on Tue, 11/18/2008 - 19:08.

Between the 'Right" and the "Republican' party.

The conservative movement and the ideas it embodies should be considered distinct from the Republican party.

The conservative movement today is mainly about maintaining the "American exceptionalism" that reflects the values and Government organizing principles that are traditional in American history. This shows up in traditional values and small-Government pro-freedom philosophy and policies.

http://travismonitor.blogspot.com/2008/11/republican-core-values.html

Here's my take on the Republicans core principles: The GOP is the party of liberty, limited government, judges who rule on law and not make them, law and order, traditional values and family values, free enterprise, equality of opportunity, strong national defense, Federalism and Government as close to the people as possible, support for the truly needy, Constitutional rights and individual responsibility.

 

so you're in favor of quaker marriage too?

Submitted by RisingTide on Wed, 11/19/2008 - 10:25.

excellent...

 

In all seriousness, studies have shown that conservative judges are more likely to be activist.

And you're doing a better job of articulating what the right's ideas are. I do not believe that the Religious Right has any place in American Exceptionalism. They are merely the return to the age old pattern of priests and strongmen.

So, where's the money coming from?

Submitted by NoMoreBlatherDotCom on Tue, 11/18/2008 - 23:42.

The laundry list at the link is interesting, but who's going to pay for all that?

For instance, if the GOP could shed itself of relying on corrupt businesses and their trade organizations, they could gain a lot of votes by opposing illegal/massive immigration at the same time as - being smart about it - they wouldn't lose that many votes and - once again being smart about it - they completely blew the Dems out of the water over the issue. However, what's going to happen is that the GOP is going to keep getting money from the same corrupt businesses and trade groups and is going to just become less and less of a viable party.

this is what the grassroots insurrection is all about.

Submitted by RisingTide on Wed, 11/19/2008 - 10:21.

Cross of Gold populism, back in force.

I want better border guards, but i want free legal immigration. I despise sweatshops.

Secure the borders!

Submitted by NoMoreBlatherDotCom on Wed, 11/19/2008 - 13:31.

Many times when a politician highlights their support for "securing the border" it's because they're scammers who support illegal activity. For instance, both BHO and McCain supported "securing", but they both also wanted "legalization". And, that would give even more power to those who would then fight against such securing (LaRaza, the MexicanGovernment, etc.) The "securing" is just political cover for the legalization, and the legalization would make things even worse. No one should buy it, but obviously some did.

Having "free legal immigration" is not in the national interest because it will give more power to people who put their financial or racial interests ahead of the national interest.

This statement is so true:

Submitted by Darvin Dowdy on Wed, 11/19/2008 - 08:58.

"The Republican Party will not lead the Right out of the problems that plague the Republican Party; it will have to follow."

Couldn't agree more. The GOP had best get its fingers on the pulse of Middle America and fast.  Once there they'll see that the average Middle American wants the nation to move far  rightward and in a more Nationalistic direction.  Moving away from internationalism.  Its because the GOP resisted the desires of Middle America [and moved back toward the globalist center]  that millions of voters simply stayed at home on election day both on 11/7/06 and 11/4/08.

The GOP must move and comply with what its Base wants or they'll continue to lose.  DD

I agree, DD -- great post, again.

Submitted by davidfarrar on Wed, 11/19/2008 - 10:05.

I think if the party leadership actually gave its own members a voice, allowed them to speak and actually heard what they have been saying -- have said during this past election, it would fall pretty much along the lines as you have mentioned.  It is the same political expectation many of us are waiting on Sarah Palin to personify -- and they know it.

With the election of Pres. Obama, the trap has been set. All that remains now is for the players to play out their parts and the great Middle American voice will once again be heard.

 

ex animo

davidfarrar

 

Farrar I think the jury is still out...

Submitted by Darvin Dowdy on Wed, 11/19/2008 - 19:55.

...on Palin.  Or is it just her?  You know I put myself in her place and try to think "would I want all of the media attack dogs continuously after me and my family?"  What a crap life that'd be.  But on the other hand, she's already been through the fire.  And the msm and all their PI's and attorneys found nothing.  She's squeaky clean.  That fact is highly significant. 

Its all hers for the taking but she'd best be da_ned  smart in how she takes "it" if thats her plan to do so.  I just don't know if she will.  If she goes for the next available Alaska Senate seat then forget it.  She's taken the path of least resistance.  And don't get me wrong, I couldn't blame her for taking that course.  She has her family to think about.  Who'd want to put their family through a meat grinder?  But if not Sarah, who? 

Another thing about Palin.  I wish she'd let us know more of how she feels about the issues that I mentioned in my above comments.  Don't know enough.  I want to hear her put some serious distance between herself and McCain.  And the globalist GOP Hierarchy. DD

She's associated with miltias and separatists

Submitted by RisingTide on Thu, 11/20/2008 - 10:50.

there's considerable evidence that she was associated with witchhunts.

she was publically criticized by a judge for her conduct toward her sister's exhusband.

librarian scandal.

sending her husband out to go spy on her sister's exhusband.

socialistically sending all of her states tax dollars to the public, while spending MY MONEY with earmarks to get any actual work done in the state. (not to bitch about earmarks specifically. I've seen WV. some places need it. but is it hard to spend your tax dollars first and earmarks second???)

 

I cannot abide by living in a country with another Nixon in charge.

Yes, I agree.

Submitted by davidfarrar on Wed, 11/19/2008 - 21:36.

I must admit, I am completely confused over the way she left the stage. I mean, how hard is it to create a web site so your supporters can send in their thanks instead of getting their email addresses ripped off by spammers? As far as I know, she still hasn't got one up and her supporters are still being ripped off.

But in the end, it really doesn't matter. When middle America does find its voice -- and it will, Obama's immigration politices will see to that -- a leader will be found. The two go hand and hand, like lightening seeking a negative pole before it strikes -- the right one will be chosen by the wisdom of the crowd.

ex animo

davidfarrar

 

Distance from McCain

Submitted by Keith_Indy on Wed, 11/19/2008 - 22:13.

I would think Alaskan state politics would be as far away from McCain as one could get.

If a poll were taken of all actual RNC members, with more then just a binary choice on issues, I think the results would be much more moderate (center/right) then some would think.

The RNC isn't going to stray too far...

Submitted by davidfarrar on Thu, 11/20/2008 - 23:04.

...from the corporate elite now funding the party, until they start seeing Ruffini's five million activists throwing $100 apiece into the party coffers. But without a party structure that would give these five-million strong a voice, allows them to speak and be heard, the party's corporate elite will simply take their money and steal the party's political agenda anyway.

ex animo

davidfarrar