Last week the Rochester 912 held their latest debate – the Republican Gubernatorial candidates. Question 14 was the following:
We often hear the term bipartisan, big tent, and walking across the aisle to identify governmental cooperation between different parties or different factions within the same party. What will be your leadership approach to those that would oppose your legislative initiatives?
The Big Tent – a constant question within the Republican Party. Last few years, it has been THE question as the Republicans have tried to find their political way – what to concentrate on, how to appeal to a larger number of voters? The eternal battle between the Conservatives and Country Clubbers, the arguments between the fiscal conservatives only vs the social & fiscal conservatives – what to do, what to do?
Frankly, I pretty much thought that most of the Republicans were plain daft – they said one thing but governed as another. The Platform espoused a given set of values but was essentially ignored. I knew that part of the solution was rather simple: stop being hypocrites: don’t say one thing but act in another. Just common sense:
know what you believe, say what you believe, govern by your beliefs
In other words, when you tell people something, do it. Don’t dither around, don’t tell one set of folks one thing and something else to another set – you will be found out quite easily. And with the Internet and the rise of the social media, tongues wag at the speed of light and to large crowds. And even if this is still the beginning of the Digital Political Age, it is still that age old phrase that will always ring true: lose the trust of the electorate, you’re screwed. For a good long time. And the Republicans lost it and got screwed – and deservedly so and with expected results.
Fortunately, the only saving grace thus far is that Obama, Reid, Pelosi, and others are in the process of losing their trust fund of his in a big hurry.
However, the battles are still here within the Republican Party, but with an unexpected wild card: The TEA Party. While nominally a non-partisan movement in general (but with an overall outlook of returning to a political environment outlook favored by the Founders) it has been "the disruptive force" of this cycle. Dismissed at first as a fringe, then widening eyes with a series of polls showing that the non-Political Class was more in tune with the TEA Party than with either the Democrats or Republicans, it has turned out to be a major force within the Republican races thus far.
And I believe that it is have a very large part in answering that question – and during the debate, one person gave the perfect answer:
Quickie Transcription:
Where has reaching across the aisle gotten us? I’ll open the door, I’ll look out. Hey, Democrats (and some Republicans), here’s the agenda: if you want to participate with smaller government, reduced spending, tax cuts – Big Tent! C’mon over! Happy, no problem.
You don’t, you want to continue with your agenda? Stay there.
It is time to define ourselves…we have to make a cavernous difference between our positions, our Conservative values and their Progressive values. Moderation, moderation causes us to lose. So let’s get back to solid ground."
Some have advocated for stretching the tent Leftward to gather in the independents here in NH (notably, Fergus "The Fringe" Cullen, who now actively is trying to move the Party to the Left even as the polls are indicating that the Independents are indeed moving Rightward – such GREAT timing, dude!). Some continue to advocate a message of "be nice, don’t make waves" so as to not upset the electorate as the Democrats run headlong into the brick wall that is now Progressivism (think dead men walking?).
Me? I’ve never been one to hide my beliefs under a bushel – and I do believe that Jack is right. Govern from Principles – not just talk about them. The TEA Party is nothing BUT going back to basic American Principles – limited government protecting Individual Freedoms but depending on self-responsibility to make it happen. And Jack has come right out of that movement – he gets it and lives it.
After all, look at NJ Gov. Chris Christie! In a heavily Democrat state, he took out an incumbent gazillionaire Progressive simply by stating his beliefs – Conservative stances. He gave the voters a clear choice: this is me, and that is him. Look what he (and others like him) have done to NJ.
Look at what the Democrats are doing to NH – spending us into the ground and as radical a social agenda as California.
It that the NH Advantage?
