Earlier this year, Morning in America noted* the polling data that showed Americans were disillusioned with their government. The Republicans had not lived up to their platform (reputation), and the Democrats were the beneficiaries of that disillusionment . The Democrats then lived down to their true priorities instead of up to their new found rhetoric. They quickly lost the confidence of the American people, and the Republican Party received a (cautious) second look. However, with that look came a new message “you’d better tow the line, or we’re not going to support you”. Americans were, and are definitive in what they want from their government.
The perspectives are very similar all over the country. “We the People” have concluded that we lean more to the right , than to the left. Obviously a New England Conservative will look different than a Texas conservative, who will look different from a California conservative. But again, more Americans describe themselves as “conservative” than they do “Liberal” or “progressive” in every state of the union. Every state including Massachusetts, California, and even Hawaii (hence Charles Djou). But there’s something different about this new assertion of conservatism. This brand proclaims “we’re mad as hell, and we aren’t taking anymore”.
Todays’ Conservatives range from the strict Constitutionalists (Libertarians, who would shut down all the social programs in America and let the unfortunate sink or swim on their own abilities) to the compassionate Conservatives who think there is a place for government to help the under-class to become more successful in their lives and experience the bounties of America. With a vast representation within those parameters, these conservatives have one issue that binds them together: the perspective that this nation is to have a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people”.
Conservatives want representation in their government. They want those whom they elect to understand who they are: and represent their values, their perspectives in whatever body that politician has been elected to. The American people resent with vehemency a politician telling them what they want to hear, only to neglect their values as they govern. While they are eager to be respectful to the politician in honor of the office he holds, they resent that politician thinking more of himself than he should. It’s the office that gets the respect, the politician had better not consider himself to be some sort of quasi-aristocracy.
It’s the combination of all these principles that led to the results of the Florida primaries this week. The results show a repudiation of the “old guard” and a willingness to take a risk on new blood. Take for example, the Governors race. Here we have one on the most honorable men in Florida politics in Bill McCollum. He’s been honest, effective as the Attorney General, and a solid conservative. Unfortunately for him in his Gubernatorial run, he represented the “status quo” . That is not a hot commodity this year. Indeed Americans (including Floridians) – consider that quotient to be the problem. Floridians chose instead Rick Scott who, in spite of some questions about his business history; is perceived to understand voters’ concerns, their economic challenges, and more readily identifies with them. This is the principle that is key to winning conservatives- and the mid-term elections.
Because of the radical agenda of the Democrat Party (who, by the way voted for a strong supporter of the direction his party is taking the country) the Republican Party has this chance to win back the hearts and minds of the citizenry: but not by continuing with the same old assumption that people will vote for them just because they aren’t Democrats. The GOP should understand this: the people are mad as hell, and they really aren’t (no, they REALY AREN’T!) going to take whatever the political class offers them.
The difference between this conservative revival and those of the Reagan Revolution, or the Contract with America is those revivals were founded on one or several men leading the movement. This conservative revival is predicated on the uprising of the American people screaming to the political class “you’ve lost your way: find it or we’ll replace you”. Morning in America has been explaining this conservative perspective for nearly two years: while some in the political class will look on this revival with contempt and disdain, they’d better get on board. That is, if they want to keep their positions of leadership- and their jobs.
* http://www.jaxobserver.com/morninginamerica/2010/06/14/successful-republican-politicans/
http://www.jaxobserver.com/morninginamerica/2010/01/12/explaining-the-polling-data-part-two/
http://www.jaxobserver.com/morninginamerica/2010/01/10/explaining-the-polling-data/ )
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
What are our choices? The Rep. has to get its act together or it will disappear. The Dems. have died. I am looking for an honest, tell it like it is person that realizes that we cannot live off our credit cards.
Which act? The act where Republicans have to stop acting like Democrats? That’s easy since the Democrats have revealed themselves to be full-fledged Marxist; including violence against citizens who disagree with them.
There is a conservative revival happening in America today; you’re welcome to get on board. Republicans are scrutinizing their candidates, many faced tough primaries for the first time in a long time. Why? Because the Republican Party isn’t just the politicians, it’s the voters as well.
What do you do? What are your choices? This Novemeber the choice is very clear. If you vote for a Republican, you may not get everything you want, but you’ll get more of what you want than if you vote for a Democrat, or if you abstain from voting, (what was the song that said “to not make a choice means you’ve already made a choice”?).
Like life, like business, youvote intelligently. That means you vote assertively and defensively. It’s better to get some of what I want than none. This business of “I’ll show them, I just wont vote”. Can I share a secret with you? No one goes back to check if Joe voted. All you did was hurt yourself.
If you supported Bill McCollum in the primary and feel bad about losing, are you going to feel better in the long run if Alex Sink wins the Governorship? Do you really trust her to work with the re-districting of Florida to make sure things are “fair” between conservatives and liberals? Do you think she’ll stand up against the Marxism of the National Democrat Party? You know she wont.
No one likes having to vote against someone as an only option. But sometimes thats the option you have.
If your candidate did win the primary, you celebrate, then treat those who lost as fellow soldiers. Before all is said and done, you’re going to need them.
If you’re just irritated because things aren’t perfect: get used to the idea: it’s never going to be perfect. That’s just the way it is.