Project Logic Ga

Well the CPAC convention confirms that the GOP leaders stand firmly against most things Obama and Democrat.  I can respect them for that; the president is constantly saying he would push his agenda and if he is wrong, the voters will speak at the polls.

Of course, if he is right, the voters will speak at the polls also. How is the time when the conservative Democrats (not an oxymoron) need to step up and inject a certain level of conservative principles and budget restraint into the plans and proposals.  Hey, they helped Bush; now help Obama.

I think the Blue Dogs concept might spreads into state legislatures, governors’ mansions and local governments as a brand for moderates.  The Democratic Leadership Council has traditionally provided a similar option.  Could moderate Republicans find a more comfortable home with the Blue Dogs?  Would the ultra-conservatives say good riddance to them?  What a shame that would be because the core principles of conservatism would be helpful in reforming government but some people get so hyped on fighting for fighting’s sake that they forget we are all for a better America.

It is sadly ironic that the GOP efforts for more congressional seats next year will require targeting the Blue Dogs Democrats who generally work with them well—those are the Democrat House seats with large numbers of conservative voters.  When the Democrats picked off Republicans Members of Congress, GOP moderates caught the target for the same reasons.

When your party is down and the people are not feeling you, self-reflection leads to a few obvious options:

a)      You actually stink;

b)      You are great but the voters are wrong;

c)      Your concept is great but the marketing is wrong;

The southern GOP seems to be in a state of denial; like the formerly grand family whose mansion is unkempt because something happen to their wealth and prosperity.  Steven Tyler with Aerosmith is famous for saying that the band found their sound unfortunately in the middle of the Disco era.  He said every morning he would sit on the edge of his bed and say, “Lord almighty, bless my soul, I have the right key but the wrong keyhole.”  

To their credit, the conservatives have some “right keys” and their input is vital to the recovery.  I say thank you to the reasonable Republicans who acknowledge that their new status is a result (in part) of their past actions.  Those Republicans could offer sound proposals and constructively criticize Democrat miscues like big spending.  The other Republicans can sit on their weather-beaten verandas waxing nostalgic about the glory days. But don’t sleep on Newt and company because a little sprucing and paint can do wonders if the foundation is strong.