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A Little Help Here?

Can someone tell me what it is that Republicans believe?  Because I'm confused.

Please, someone explain the ideological unity that binds the Republican president, the Republican candidate for president, the House Republican leadership and the Republican House members.

What is the principle there?  What is a Republican?

Anyone?  And please frame your answer in such a way that it makes sense of Bush, Paulson, McCain, Palin, Boehner and the GOP backbenchers.  

And if you can't do that, Republicans, just why do you think it is so vitally important for your party to win?

“A Little Help Here?”

  1. Blogger Burt Likko Says:

    I can't do it. Which is why I've been hoping that this election cycle, win or lose, would be used by the party to do some self-examination and refocusing on principles so it can figure out what it stands for. As it stands, your summation of the GOP as a coalition of "Jesus!" and "Guns!" and "Money!" is about right, omitting only "Moatdiggers" from the mix. Increasingly, I think the "Jesus" wing has an agenda largely at odds with the "Guns!" and "Money!" wings.

    But if it's an organizing ideology you're looking for, Democrats have as little to offer. "Change" and "Hope" are not unifying ideologies. Once upon a time, I'd have bought in to the idea that modern Democrats had an ideology of using government to help out disadvantaged people. But now that sort of thing coming from most Democrats in office amounts to nothing but lip service and spin. About the only thing that it seems Democrats can agree on in ideological terms is that abortions should not be criminalized.

  2. Blogger Michael Reynolds Says:

    My snarky answer would be that the Democratic ideology is crystal clear: more. More tax collection, more regulation, more money for pretty much anything that isn't defense. It's the philosophy of, "I'll see yours and raise it!"

    I think in terms of issues we're pretty much down to, 1) universal health care, 2) abortion and 3) the Democrat's version of exceptionalism which holds that all peoples are essentially good and well-motivated and can be forgiven their trespasses -- except for Americans.

  3. Anonymous Anonymous Says:

    Continuous production of oil and gas products flowing to both North America and Asia.

  4. Blogger Dyre42 Says:

    It'd be easier to list what the GOP is against rather than what it is for.

  5. Blogger kreiz1 Says:

    Michael, your description was in the disjunctive- Money! OR Bombs! OR Jesus! It's still pretty accurate. I liked David Brooks description of the current House GOP yahoos: "they've confused talk radio with reality."

    As for Dems, they believe in Dynamic Change via 1936 New Dealism. Which is slightly more recent than Coolidge/Hoover Republicanism. We keep rehashing those two eras, don't we?

  6. Anonymous Anonymous Says:

    That question is even more difficult than "what newspapers do you read". I used to think it had something to do with fiscal conservatism and a small but efficient government. Then the social conservatives jumped in back in the late 70's (specifically starting with the Southern Baptist Convention). Gradually the GOP became the party of moral responsibility, determined to legislate and control our society based on the fundamentals of the Bible. Now we see members of the clergy using the pulpit to endorse McCain, in a direct challenge to the IRS.

    My fiscal conservative side still sees some hope in the GOP. My social libertarian side tells me that first, I must defend my unalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

  7. Blogger amba Says:

    We keep rehashing those two eras, don't we?

    Or, as I said recently in another context (the trading of "Fascist!" "Communist!" imprecations), it's like Groundhog Day, but with the whole 20th century.