It's interesting that there has been no response on this blog to the most commented upon post in the history of this blog...Tom Cole's post about a month ago. Instead of addressing the issues your base rose, the only posts I see are limp wristed attacks on the Democrats. They are limp wristed because there is very little distinguishing the current inhabitants of GOP chairs in the legislature and their Democrat counterparts. The Republican party is a disgrace for deserting its conservative values and 2008 will go down as one of the worst election defeats in history.

Posted: mjhlaw on June 27, 2008 at 3:43 PM

To: mjhlaw

GOP reps. advised to avoid party brand
By MIKE ALLEN | 6/27/08 1:41 PM EST

A new playbook for House Republicans urges them to run essentially as independents, showing empathy for voters, emphasizing local issues and ignoring many traditional party campaign practices.

The advice for House candidates is part of an effort to minimize Republican losses in a year when voters are exasperated by the economy, the Iraq war and President Bush:

Encourage Republican candidates to establish themselves in a personal manner, emphasizing local issues whenever possible.

Candidates have to have a positive alternative vis-ï¿ -vis their Democratic opponents.

Work to develop an issues matrix that is different than in years past and also shows a deep empathy towards the voters.

The advice, from consultants to the National Republican Congressional Committee, was presented this week to House leaders, including NRCC Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.).

The assessment is contained in a 15-point PowerPoint presentation provided to Politico and first reported by David Espo of The Associated Press.

The review was an effort to distill lessons learned from unexpectedly deep Republican losses in special elections in Illinois, Louisiana and Mississippi.

The assessment was provided by the NRCC Audit Committee, formed at the behest of House Republican leader John A. Boehner of Ohio.

The review found that the losing Republicans failed to successfully establish themselves and their local brand in contrast to the negative perception of the national GOP.

Traditional Republican messages essentially did not work in these campaigns, the analysis says. Nationalizing these elections as a choice between a traditional Republican and a traditional Democrat did not work in this political environment.

Democrats ran candidates that were a reflection of their districts.

Posted: Vernon Snodgrass on June 27, 2008 at 5:06 PM

Republicans have allways been fake.

Posted: T-Balls on June 27, 2008 at 8:36 PM

Sorry folks, life just isn't fair. The right to speak your mind don't imply that anyone may want to listen to what you have to say. Legislation, well intentioned or not, and the Fairness Doctrine is on the not side, won't change that.

A true right is: the right to be free from government interference while doing a certain activity. (thanks Marko) Not to be given something at someone else's expense.

Conservative outlets are successful because, people listen/watch. People contribute to them and/or patronize their advertisers.

Liberals have the same freedom of speech as anyone else, it's just that fewer people are interested in what they have to say. Their outlets don't receive the same support via contributions, et al, and too few patronize their advertisers.

Forcing people to pay for something else (this is already a long list, but trying to stay focused here) they don't want, either directly or through taxes, while taking another chunk out of the 1st Amendment isn't the answer.

Posted: Bob Shields on June 28, 2008 at 11:29 PM

Of course the most successful attack on the First Amendment in the last twenty years was McCain Feingold.

Posted: Vernon Snodgrass on June 29, 2008 at 1:00 PM

Things are given everyday at the expence of others ie: Jobs, Education government grants and loans,etc they call if afirmitive action.

Posted: Richard Appleton on June 29, 2008 at 4:28 PM

Things are given everyday at the expence of others ie: Jobs, Education government grants and loans,etc they call if afirmitive action.

Posted: Richard Appleton on June 29, 2008 at 4:31 PM

Here's a woman for you. Sarah Palin for VP. McCain has to shake it up to win, and she is the tough, smart, attractive person to do it. She'd litter Pelosi like her political enemies in Alaska where she enjoys 84% approval ratings.

Posted: DW on July 2, 2008 at 1:22 AM

Regardless of the price of crude oil.
Why does the price of gas change everyday, when the gas at the pump has
already been refined had been refined several weeks BEFORE? This should not
be reflected before it is delivered to the gas station.

Posted: Fred Silfen on July 3, 2008 at 2:23 AM

Fairness Doctrine- Don't just get mad about the fairness doctrine and go sit in your chair all mad.
Do something :
Call Nancy Pelosi
Email Nancy Pelosi
Fax Nancy Pelosi
AND TELL HER WHAT YOU THINK..

Voice from Texas

Posted: Voice from Texas on July 3, 2008 at 9:43 PM

Why wasn't the Broadcaster Freedom Act brought before Congress before 2006 where Republicans held a majority in Congress and they owned the president.

Posted: Constitution Party on July 5, 2008 at 1:38 PM

If Nancy and Harry won't do anything about this energy crisis,then I think that impeachment charged be brought before them,for not doing their job,in which they were voted in to do.

Posted: John Eld on August 4, 2008 at 7:57 PM