Where does the GOP go from here?

Fat Cat · Post by **Fat Cat** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 10:59 pm

As soon as I hit "submit" I realized I had a third point which could garner the GOP huge popularity, and that is:

3. Working to remove the person-hood of corporations and the interference of corporate money in the political process.

The GOP, casting itself as the defender of the rights of the individual and the proponent of small business, could bolster their ranks literally over night with this approach.

Alfred_E._Neuman · Post by **Alfred_E._Neuman** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:16 pm

Fat Cat wrote:As soon as I hit "submit" I realized I had a third point which could garner the GOP huge popularity, and that is:

3. Working to remove the person-hood of corporations and the interference of corporate money in the political process.

The GOP, casting itself as the defender of the rights of the individual and the proponent of small business, could bolster their ranks literally over night with this approach.

I agree completely with your points, but the problem is that no career politician is willing to bite the hand the feeds them. Corporations pump waaaayyyy too much money into the political system for anyone in government to threaten them in the slightest. They're certainly not about to remove corporate money from their own pockets.

And no politician without corporate backing can win election to a National office.

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:24 pm

Turdacious wrote:As Bismark said, laws are like sausages...

They taste best with spicy mustard?

Alfred_E._Neuman · Post by **Alfred_E._Neuman** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:26 pm

protobuilder wrote:
Turdacious wrote:As Bismark said, laws are like sausages...
They taste best with spicy mustard?

And beer.

Fat Cat · Post by **Fat Cat** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:28 pm

Perhaps, and perhaps not. There will be fewer career Republican politicians today than yesterday, and fewer still if they don't chart a new course. There seems to me to be some possibility that a courageous and principled stand against the corrupting influence of corporate money might draw the attention and support which currently eludes the GOP.

Turdacious · Post by **Turdacious** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:28 pm

Alfred_E._Neuman wrote:
protobuilder wrote:
Turdacious wrote:As Bismark said, laws are like sausages...
They taste best with spicy mustard?
And beer.

Maybe it needs to be updated. Laws are like White Castle...

Turdacious · Post by **Turdacious** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:30 pm

Fat Cat wrote:As soon as I hit "submit" I realized I had a third point which could garner the GOP huge popularity, and that is:

3. Working to remove the person-hood of corporations and the interference of corporate money in the political process.

The GOP, casting itself as the defender of the rights of the individual and the proponent of small business, could bolster their ranks literally over night with this approach.

And turn corporations into what exactly?

Fat Cat · Post by **Fat Cat** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:37 pm

Corporations would go back to being groups of people with limited access to the political process, as they were from 1907 until 2012. But set aside the exact mechanics, I make no claim to expertise on the issue. I am thinking in terms of reorienting, reorganizing, and revitalizing the Republican base.

DikTracy6000 · Post by **DikTracy6000** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:33 am

Fat Cat wrote:I think that if I was a Republican strategist, I would focus my message on two things which still resonate with many (and perhaps most) Americans and still represent responsible governance.

1. Freedoms...freedom of religion, freedom to bear arms, freedom of expression, etc. which are threatened by an interventionist government.

2. Fiscal responsibility...no amount of feel good politicking can change the mathematics which currently threaten our union. Republicans could score big with a platform that focuses on reducing and ultimately eliminating our national debt through some combination of spending cuts and taxes.

I could make a whole long list of things I wouldn't do, but that's not the point here.

Crap, you shared more of your platform than Romney and Ryan. Of course I'm being FaCetious, but implying we're too stupid or Not now was a big mistake IMHO. Herman Cain's plan gave us more information, even though his numbers were slightly skewed.

buckethead · Post by **buckethead** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:37 am

It depends on how many more Todd Akins and Richard Mourdocks are left in the GOP.

Turdacious · Post by **Turdacious** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:39 am

Fat Cat wrote:Corporations would go back to being groups of people with limited access to the political process, as they were from 1907 until 2012. But set aside the exact mechanics, I make no claim to expertise on the issue. I am thinking in terms of reorienting, reorganizing, and revitalizing the Republican base.

I guess I'm a bit of a cynic-- corporate interest has neither increased nor declined, although you may be correct that it's an issue they can run on.

Fat Cat · Post by **Fat Cat** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:52 am

DikTracy6000 wrote:
Fat Cat wrote:I think that if I was a Republican strategist, I would focus my message on two things which still resonate with many (and perhaps most) Americans and still represent responsible governance.

1. Freedoms...freedom of religion, freedom to bear arms, freedom of expression, etc. which are threatened by an interventionist government.

2. Fiscal responsibility...no amount of feel good politicking can change the mathematics which currently threaten our union. Republicans could score big with a platform that focuses on reducing and ultimately eliminating our national debt through some combination of spending cuts and taxes.

I could make a whole long list of things I wouldn't do, but that's not the point here.
Crap, you shared more of your platform than Romney and Ryan. Of course I'm being FaCetious, but implying we're too stupid or Not now was a big mistake IMHO. Herman Cain's plan gave us more information, even though his numbers were slightly skewed.

Well, I'm not a Republican and actually despise the GOP, but if I was going to try to resuscitate it that's where I would start to look.

Fat Cat · Post by **Fat Cat** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:58 am

Turdacious wrote:
Fat Cat wrote:Corporations would go back to being groups of people with limited access to the political process, as they were from 1907 until 2012. But set aside the exact mechanics, I make no claim to expertise on the issue. I am thinking in terms of reorienting, reorganizing, and revitalizing the Republican base.
I guess I'm a bit of a cynic-- corporate interest has neither increased nor declined, although you may be correct that it's an issue they can run on.

I'm not sure what you mean, corporate spending has skyrocketed in the past year after campaign spending limits were struck down by the Supreme Court. Since their decision on Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission opened the floodgates to allow unlimited, undisclosed campaign spending by foreign and corporate entities as 501c(4) and 501c(6) trade associations and social welfare organizations. This is a threat to our country on many levels and totally at odds with individual freedoms and small business which the GOP has traditionally championed.

http://www.thenation.com/article/169639 ... g-election#

Turdacious · Post by **Turdacious** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:03 am

Fat Cat wrote:
Turdacious wrote:
Fat Cat wrote:Corporations would go back to being groups of people with limited access to the political process, as they were from 1907 until 2012. But set aside the exact mechanics, I make no claim to expertise on the issue. I am thinking in terms of reorienting, reorganizing, and revitalizing the Republican base.
I guess I'm a bit of a cynic-- corporate interest has neither increased nor declined, although you may be correct that it's an issue they can run on.
I'm not sure what you mean, corporate spending has skyrocketed in the past year after campaign spending limits were struck down by the Supreme Court. Since their decision on Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission opened the floodgates to allow unlimited, undisclosed campaign spending by foreign and corporate entities as 501c(4) and 501c(6) trade associations and social welfare organizations. This is a threat to our country on many levels and totally at odds with individual freedoms and small business which the GOP has traditionally championed.

http://www.thenation.com/article/169639 ... g-election#

Influence over members of Congress and on lobbying (both elected officials and bureaucratic agencies) is what matters.

Blaidd Drwg · Post by **Blaidd Drwg** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:05 am

Corporate Personhood as a legal concept is a huge sticky wicket that might be too big to take on but there are certainly instances of limiting corporate advantage over the political process ..the concept that money=protected speech that McCain for one made hay with over the course of his career and with a fair amount of perceived if not actual credibility.

Fat Cat · Post by **Fat Cat** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:17 am

Turdacious wrote:
Fat Cat wrote:
Turdacious wrote:
Fat Cat wrote:Corporations would go back to being groups of people with limited access to the political process, as they were from 1907 until 2012. But set aside the exact mechanics, I make no claim to expertise on the issue. I am thinking in terms of reorienting, reorganizing, and revitalizing the Republican base.
I guess I'm a bit of a cynic-- corporate interest has neither increased nor declined, although you may be correct that it's an issue they can run on.
I'm not sure what you mean, corporate spending has skyrocketed in the past year after campaign spending limits were struck down by the Supreme Court. Since their decision on Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission opened the floodgates to allow unlimited, undisclosed campaign spending by foreign and corporate entities as 501c(4) and 501c(6) trade associations and social welfare organizations. This is a threat to our country on many levels and totally at odds with individual freedoms and small business which the GOP has traditionally championed.

http://www.thenation.com/article/169639 ... g-election#
Influence over members of Congress and on lobbying (both elected officials and bureaucratic agencies) is what matters.

It all matters.

The Cunning Stunt · Post by **The Cunning Stunt** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:57 am

This wouldn't be happening if we were all ROBOTS.

Or lived in OUTER SPACE...

Grandpa's Spells · Post by **Grandpa's Spells** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:22 am

Fat Cat wrote:I think that if I was a Republican strategist, I would focus my message on two things which still resonate with many (and perhaps most) Americans and still represent responsible governance.

1. Freedoms...freedom of religion, freedom to bear arms, freedom of expression, etc. which are threatened by an interventionist government.

2. Fiscal responsibility...no amount of feel good politicking can change the mathematics which currently threaten our union. Republicans could score big with a platform that focuses on reducing and ultimately eliminating our national debt through some combination of spending cuts and taxes.

I could make a whole long list of things I wouldn't do, but that's not the point here.

Fat Cat wrote:As soon as I hit "submit" I realized I had a third point which could garner the GOP huge popularity, and that is:

3. Working to remove the person-hood of corporations and the interference of corporate money in the political process.

The GOP, casting itself as the defender of the rights of the individual and the proponent of small business, could bolster their ranks literally over night with this approach.

The key to this is they don't have to put these things in the platform. They just need to not ostracize people who believe in them. Calling moderates RINOs and Paulites crazies is not helpful.

Gene · Post by **Gene** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:58 am

Grandpa's Spells wrote:
Abandoned by Wolves wrote:They need to jettison their right wing lunatic fringe and move back towards a more moderate position. Obama's current policies would have been considered appropriate for a moderate Republican candidate
This is where the triumph of the data-driven people is most hopeful. Calling the election is one thing, but the media pundits who were lying about the outcome have also been lying about policy. If you can get to a point where the left/right hysteria is constantly tempered with "Here's where this person's policies stand relative to others of the last 30 years," voters will be much better served.

The hacks on the right just got a big black eye, which is almost an advantage long term, since the hacks on the left haven't gotten hit yet, and may not for another 4 or 8 years. My very liberal friends who are thrilled with Obama baffle me. His actual policies on civil liberties, taxes, foreign policy, etc. are mostly not liberal. Much like the right-wing folks who think Obama's a socialist, they're believing things they're told by people who lie for money.

I agree with Spells post. Holy shit.

Fat Cat wrote:Corporations would go back to being groups of people with limited access to the political process, as they were from 1907 until 2012. But set aside the exact mechanics, I make no claim to expertise on the issue. I am thinking in terms of reorienting, reorganizing, and revitalizing the Republican base.

Include Organized Labor Unions under the definition of "Corporation" and I'd agree with it. Fair is fair.

cleaner464 · Post by **cleaner464** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:32 am

A Michele Bachmann, Louie Gohmert ticket.

Turdacious · Post by **Turdacious** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:33 am

cleaner464 wrote:A Michele Bachmann, Louie Gohmert ticket.

Nah. Larry Craig/Sarah Palin FTMFW.

DARTH · Post by **DARTH** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 6:32 am

Batboy2/75 wrote:LOL at these clowns thinking we need to just rearrange the deck chairs, i.e. dumping the fundies and the voting for amnesty. Or even worse, let's just tax the rich and continue on dumbasses.

We are headed over the cliff. To use a Dylan phrase "Get ready for Ragnarok"

When the hipster douchebags and ghetto scum scream for someone to save them, it will be a bullet in the back of the head or the feel of the boot on the back of their neck that will be the answer.

If you live like a slave, you deserve to be one.

And be ready to die like one.

Can't wait to see how much brown love libs have when it all goes Thunderdome and they are getting beat down for their food and their woman is being raped by the kind of people who's rights they were so concerned about.

cleaner464 · Post by **cleaner464** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 11:46 am

The tea-baggers have announced that they are intending to make the next two years as miserable for Obama as they can.

House in Dem hands in 2014.

Freki · Post by **Freki** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:38 pm

cleaner464 wrote:The tea-baggers have announced that they are intending to make the next two years as miserable for Obama as they can.

House in Dem hands in 2014.

Maybe, but then they'd f' it up and it'd go back w/in 2-4 years as has happened once each way in the last decade.

Grandpa's Spells · Post by **Grandpa's Spells** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 3:24 pm

DARTH wrote: And be ready to die like one.

Can't wait to see how much brown love libs have when it all goes Thunderdome and they are getting beat down for their food and their woman is being raped by the kind of people who's rights they were so concerned about.

25 consecutive months of job growth. By the time it happens, Bartertown may be able to build a proper stadium.

IGX

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