Everything you have mentioned can be traced one step further by asking the question “Why?” – a focus on tactics instead of solutions is the root cause of everything you have mentioned.

When the prevailing strategy dictates that the goal for each position you take is to maximize the enthusiasm of your base those are the results.

Then there’s the aspect of some on the religious right. Not conservative Christians per se, but right wing ministers that tell us that God deliberately sent Hurricane Katrina to New Orleans because of a parade that gays had a few days earlier. Or that Catholicism (my religion) is “the great whore”. Ministers like this are being sought out for major endorsements. No thanks. I was very happy that McCain then repudiated Hagee, but it’s telling that he felt he had to get Hagee’s endorsement in the first place.

And you’ve got to mention the Happy Warrior. Ronald Reagan. Then compare him to Tom Delay, who told us that opposition to the war in Iraq amounted to treason.

Until the Republicans realize that it isn’t just the marketing (my field) but its also to a great extent the message, then they will continue to suffer.

1) the need for effective “marketing” of messages and candidates in politics does not negate what I am saying – without a message that resonates, all the marketing in the world will not help you.

2) Reagan and Republicans have always made it clear that defense was the one government expenditure where they supported growth

2) you actually contradict your own argument and support mine with your thoughts on where President Bush went wrong. You have to differentiate core values from the application of those values to the problems of the day.

You say “people used to BUY that Republicans were for small government” – I ask: what changed? The answer? We stopped proposing solutions that fell in line with our core values and started proposing solutions that were politically (i.e. strategically) expedient instead.

The problem with the republican party is simple. Marketing. Every time I hear a pundit speak of the “Republican Brand,” I chuckle. Can we really say with a straight face that America’s values have changed so much in the last 4 years that the democrats’ values are more in line with American values? Has anything really changed? Abortion? Health Care? Social Security? NO! Take this “big government” shtick for a moment. Aurelius is wrong when he says that the republicans defied their values and became big government conservatives. They have always been for big government. Reagan purposely exploded the budget deficit to outspend the Russians and “win” the cold war. Huge government expenditures happen under BOTH parties. Both are for massive government infrastructures, they only “spread the wealth around” a bit differently, at least historically. The point being, the only thing that has changed for republicans is their marketing strategy. People used to buy that we were for small government, just like they now buy that President Obama can bring Nirvana within reach.

Bush killed us. He believes what he believes and the devil may care. It’s why I voted for him, twice. But we are now paying the price for his arrogant view of the world. History will judge, but his inability to sell his policies allowed the democrats to stop licking their wounds from the last decade and find a character that knew how to market. The democrats put on an amazing piece of political theater this cycle by finding a villain and destroying him. Always makes for good entertainment. I just hope that the republicans do not perform the script of the poor child waiting for scraps as the democrats grow, forget about the skit that got them there, and act surprised with something more interesting and palatable comes along. Republicans have great values. They need to sell them instead of trusting that most American’s share them. Most Americans have no values, but they sure love their remote controls.

roger (at) techwinter (something) com

Cheers

I enjoy your blog and friendfeed. Keep up the good work.

My Tumblr post excerpting a quote of your piece, http://tinyurl.com/6dzskp