Technique is a problem with the GOP because their governmental policies are valid but the nastiness of “win at all cost” is off-putting. When candidate John McCain took the microphone from that lady who said Obama is an Arab, the senator had a look on his face that reaffirm his status as an American hero. If you know Obama is not an Arab or Muslim but you push the thought to win an election, reasonable voters will turn on you.
At the same time, many Blacks grew up on the Machiavellian concept that the ends justifies the means or “by any means necessary.”
Senator McCain’s daughter Meghan McCain has some interesting comments about technique recently.
Project Logic Ga 
You have the nerve to associate Republicans with the phrase “..Win at all costs?”
How about Acorn: how about Al Franken (Stein)?
How about not calling Black people
racists” although they voted over 98% for The Kenyan?
Khrushchev had it right when he made hisa remarks about “..Useful Idiots.”
I really do not think it wise to associate either party with the “win-at-all costs” strategy exclusively. I’ve seen it done by both sides. It’s not a Republican concept; perhaps more recently with managers like Rove it has been – but I remember the Clinton Dream Team, and Bob Dole being “old.”
That’s forgiving liberal commentators.
To me, the average person who identifies with both major political parties has no idea of the techniques and some times dirty tricks that strategists cook up in HQ. Then the plans are executed by the unbeknownst grassroots.
You must admit that some of the Rovian stuff seems rather Willie Horton-like.
To be fair, the members of the Dem Team who decided to pick a fight with Rush Limbaugh to label him the leader of the conservative movement should spend their time helping the president keep his campaign promises and stop with the naughtiness.
In summary, some Republican and Democrat strategists use “win at all cost” methods to keep the opposition from taking power and (they feel) messing up the nation.
Ron, you know I gave candidate McCain credit where credit was due for stopping the “kitchen sink” effort last fall. I am trying to remember any major Team Obama dirty tricks.
llabesab: take the Acorn stuff up with Acorn and some liberal from the cities. I am a moderate who voted for Obama because I wanted him to be president; not because he is half Black.
The Rush/Who’s Your Leader debate has pointed out that activists and T.V./ Radio pundits are different from elected public officials.
Wow, debate on the blog.
Thanks guys
The Obama team had the full support of the wondrous MSNBC, who at nearly every turn tried to trash the RNC, their candidates, and conservatives in general. Even Tucker and Buchanan quieted down.
With support like that, it’s a lot easier to not go kitchen sink. Even with that, Plouff and Obama ran an amazing campaign, which staid mostly positive. I give them full credit for that.
What I would like to see, and I have stated this before, is the head of the party go to the one man I think we can trust – who can stand toe to toe with Obama, on an intellectual level, and who has worked to create common sense solutions for Americans for over two decades – Newt.
Ron: After seeing Clinton’s challenge for the nomination, I am convinced that healthy competition is good for all. Newt is a problem-solver and a scholar of history so he is thinking about future generations remembering his contributions.
For your party to flirt with certain characters as leader while Romney, Newt and Pawlenty stand in wait…come on. I mean Jindal is so smart; one lackluster speech doesn’t a career end. His mother has a PHD from LSU in nuclear physics. The guy is Obama smart J But, anyone who thinks Newt is going to let the GOP halfstep in 2012 is flat wrong.
I caught a long interview with Meghan McCain on MSNBC last night and she could really help the GOP moderates.