Postmortem II

Gov. Jeb Bush offers the blunt truth in his recent thoughts about the future of the GOP.

I would suggest the conservatives need to do the math of the new demographics of the United States. We can't be anti-Hispanic, anti-young person, anti-many things and be surprised when we didn't win.

Republicans, it is time to wake up! Bush has the gravitas within the party to make such a bold statement. I have voiced a similar opinion many times before but some fellow Republicans chastised me for making such statements. One Republican even suggested that I had wondered off the reservation.

The only ones that have wondered off the reservation are those in Republican leadership...especially here in New Mexico. Their poor organization, leadership, and internal politics contributed to the worst election for Republicans since the Watergate era. They refuse to recognize their failures, evaluate their mistakes, and offer new pragmatic ideas. The party will remain insignificant if they continue their business as usual mentality.

The GOP is suffering from a deadly identity crisis. The Republican image is tainted and the well of ideas have turned stagnant. Republicans must continue to evolve certain policy initiatives in order to effectively compete with Democrats. They should seriously address issues pertaining to the environment, health care, and education. Pragmatic solutions, rooted in conservative principles, must be proposed to the American people.

Leaders must engage the issues of our time and convince Americans that their solutions are attainable, efficient, and best for the country. The resolution of problems must take precedent over rhetorical opposition to all things Democrat. Leaders and operatives must adopt zero tolerance for corruption, practice to limit government and spending, put working families and small business first, and spearhead reform. This will improve the image of the party and renew a partnership of trust with the American people.

The party has the opportunity to be the true agents of change if they choose to be. Republicans must harness the winds of change to navigate this once great ship of practical idealism back to significance in American politics.

The New Mexico Politico will continue to expand on certain themes addressed in the Postmortem series. It is critical for new ideas to enter the continuing discussion on the future of the Republican party.

Postmortem

The election of Barack Obama two weeks ago ushered in a new political and social age for our country. He ran an efficient, smart campaign that captivated voters from all walks of life. John McCain was right on the issues but failed to win the trust and support of the majority of the American people. I've waited to write my post election thoughts to see who the Republicans blamed for their failures nation wide. As I suspected they blamed everything and everyone besides themselves.

The nation wide election loss should signify to the party that significant change in leadership and approach to 21st century issues are needed in order for the GOP to survive and be successful once again. The party needs to find its identity in this emerging brave new world. Republicans speak of being a 'big tent' party but two weeks ago at a Republican 'big tent' BBQ I only saw a handful of Hispanics and youth. The majority of people under that tent were old, white, and their politics outdated...much like the party as a whole.

In response to the nation wide slaughter, party leadership is advocating for Republicans to return to their core conservative principles. This is such an easy and inferior excuse for them to offer because they used this same excuse two years ago when congress was lost. Returning to core principles is a small component to polishing the GOP brand, not the whole. They continue to use old excuses to solve old problems; for this very reason leadership needs to change.

Republicans have allowed different spheres of the party to redefine what a conservative is. This has alienated a significant amount of voters and contributed to the Democratic victory. Republicans need to define who they are and offer pragmatic solutions to modern day problems. While the base of the party is white, old, and evangelical the face of the nation is not.

John McCain lost this election because he played to this base just to solidify their wary support. His time and strategy spent on energizing these supporters (the so called base) allowed other groups of voters to fall through the cracks. President Bush won his base but what won him the presidency was independent and Hispanic voters. McCain lost these two groups overwhelmingly.

If the so called base of the party will only support candidates that pander solely to their ideological beliefs, the party is in store for a long exile into the desert of American politics.

This is the first entry in the New Mexico Politico's Postmortem thoughts. Check back tomorrow for Postmortem II.

New Mexico: Center of the Money Hole?

In The Know: Should The Government Stop Dumping Money Into A Giant Hole?

Did ya'll catch the shout out for New Mexico? Exactly where is this money hole? Two words: rail runner.

AHD

Obama Supporters In Perile

Thanks Garrett from Texas for sending this news clip my way. New Mexico Politicos have been wondering what will happen to all the Obama supporters after the election. Is rehab an option?

AHD