toldailytopic: What adjustments will the Republican party need to make if they are to

[The Barbarian]

Barbarian oberves:
I notice our "leaders" tend to have worse morals than the rest of us. Instead of looking to our politicians for moral guidance, we should hold them accountable to it.

That's not an answer to my question.

I'll be more explicit; you are making an error when you assume our "leaders" can lead us into a more moral state. It's not the function of government, and for a good reason; it doesn't work.

Barbarian observes:
That is precisely why the republicans are in the shape they are, right now.

A little idealism and some "our nation's best interests first" thinking would go a long way to curing what ails them.

I doubt it.

Worth a try. Cynicism and "what's best for my friends only" didn't do so well, did it?

Pandering to the lowest instincts has been successful for the Democrats.

I watched that happen in the 60s. It was a disaster.

What makes you think the opposite would aid the Republicans?

Worked for the democrats.

[resurrected]

I'll be more explicit; you are making an error when you assume our "leaders" can lead us into a more moral state. It's not the function of government, and for a good reason; it doesn't work.

Of course they can.

We can elect leaders who will make moral choices or we can elect leaders who are untrained inexperienced novelty acts. Or worse, self-serving opportunistic liars.

Worked for the democrats.

Only if you believe the democrats put our nation's best interests first.


I struggle to believe you're retarded enough to fall for that.

[The Barbarian]

Barbarian observes:
I'll be more explicit; you are making an error when you assume our "leaders" can lead us into a more moral state. It's not the function of government, and for a good reason; it doesn't work.

Of course they can.

If you think so, you're a lot more gullible than you appear to be.

We can elect leaders who will make moral choices

We should elect leaders who will make good decisions that affect the country positively. Asking them to be moral paragons as well, is asking too much.

All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority.
Lord Acton

or we can elect leaders who are untrained inexperienced novelty acts.

Turns out Herman Cain wasn't exactly the moral leader you want. So he never got a chance.

Or worse, self-serving opportunistic liars.

Romney let too much of that show before the election. Voters are tolerant of lying by candidates, but not that tolerant.

Perhaps you were unaware that political office attracts self-serving opportunistic liars. And we punish any politician who isn't.

Worked for the democrats.

Only if you believe the democrats put our nation's best interests first.

When a democrat president cuts the federal civilian payroll to 1960s levels, and says "the era of big government is over", one thinks something other than self-interest is driving him, given the nature of most democrat voters.

Just saying.

I struggle to believe you're retarded enough to fall for that.

You know, conclusions from evidence... the usual. BTW, it's nice that you've changed enough that we can have a conversation again.

Well done.

[resurrected]

No, I haven't changed

I still find you the same odious buffoon as before.


I just got tired of smacking Town around and thought I'd take a turn at you.

[99lamb]

First rule - never let the opposition define you.
then don't take advise from a Leftist Liberal on ways you need to be more electable.

[The Barbarian]

No, I haven't changed

Noticably. Less manic. Often quite rational, even irenic on occasions.

I still find you the same odious buffoon as before.

So you followed my advice and got yourself a thesaurus. Good move.

I just got tired of smacking Town around and thought I'd take a turn at you.

I have to say, it's a lot more enjoyable now, than it used to be. And you've developed a sense of humor.

[The Barbarian]

First rule - never let the opposition define you.

Always good advice. And truth is, the republicans, by their behavior, made it easy for democrats to paint them as the party of corruption and obstruction. Which is an exaggeration, but not so much of an exaggeration that it's not believable to many people.

then don't take advise from a Leftist Liberal on ways you need to be more electable.

I'd take an example from Bill Clinton, who solved a similar problem for the democrats. And yes, there were some who argued the key was to become more extreme. Lucky for the democrats, those people lost.

[eameece]

The Republican Party is bankrupt; it needs to go away. So does the 2-party system.

[chrysostom]

learn to love jeb

[resurrected]

he could start the Jeb party

[chrysostom]

he could start the Jeb party

can you find me a good jeb avatar?

[resurrected]

this one oughtta drive the Bush haters crazy

[chrysostom]

this one oughtta drive the Bush haters crazy

that is almost better than the one I have now

[Jabin]

The GOP needs to groom conservative hispanics for leadership.

The GOP needs to stop being the party of war.

The GOP needs to show more interest in working people and less in the rich.

The GOP needs to be more libertarian, starting with school choice.

[chrysostom]

the democrats need to stop killing babies