Call Me GOP

Well, the process took a little longer than expected, but we’ve come to the end of our Call Me, G.O.P. experiment. What have we learned?

It seems the core of the Republican Party is no longer in charge, and it’s driven by the far-right fringe, who are often pushing a personal agenda (Rush Limbaugh is reportedly looking into buying an NFL franchise…can’t make this stuff up, folks) at the expense of more inclusive party principles.

The G.O.P. needs to regain control to be a whole party again. And soon—before history passes the Republicans up. The squabbling about social issues must stop, and the party needs to focus on what they agree on, mainly limited government and fiscal responsibility. As the economy continues to fall apart, the G.O.P. can be a credible voice of experience, leveraging its conservative heritage to bring good sense to complex financial issues. But it can only happen if party members are encouraged to put the party ahead of themselves to make it stronger as a whole, before their differences destroy the platform.

And the process? Well, it’s been interesting, to say the least, but we learned a lot. One insight: some brands are just not easy to create a platform for. But every brand has a story to tell, as we’re fond of saying, and inviting you guys to join the fun of helping the G.O.P. find its soul really delivered some powerful insights. We hope it was as fun for you as it was for us.

Overall, we enjoyed the entire process. In fact, we decided to turn the “Call Me…” rebranding exercise into a series, where we take different brands through our process and help them find their voice…whether they’re ready for us or not. And we’d love for you to continue to play along. Next up? Financial services. Who’s more troubled—and in need of finding their soul—than the banking industry? They’d better look out…we’re on their case.  Watch this space for details!

There have been cries from South Carolina for the resignation of the state’s “disgraced” governor, Mark Sanford. House Republicans would consider an impeachment — which seems to them inevitable — an utter embarrassment. Some, as The New York Times reports, are “disappointed in him, angry with him, and in some ways disgusted by the whole thing.” What are your thoughts on the Sanford scandal? Should he step down?

It feels a little slow today as the front pages are overwhelmed with news of Ted Kennedy’s passing, but here’s something interesting from yesterday: Senator John McCain was booed by a highly partisan, home-state crowd in Arizona. McCain defended President Obama, saying he deserved the nation’s respect even if they disagreed with his policies.

“I just believe, my friends, that there is a fundamental difference in philosophy and about the role of government. That is why we have competition for public office and competition amongst parties, and competition about different ideas and vision for the future of America. I’m convinced the president is absolutely sincere in his beliefs,” he continued.

How can we achieve a country where everyone can engage in healthy debates about their beliefs without just trying to shut the other side down?

The Dems may have hit a rough patch, but that doesn’t mean the Republican Party is in the clear yet. At least, that’s Gerald F. Seib argument in today’s Wall Street Journal. He points out that Obama’s falling approval rating alone won’t fix the party. To get ahead, what challenges does the G.O.P. face and what issues do its members need to address?

The Daily Beast analyses the “Democratic destruction” in the wake of Obama’s “clumsy” chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel. In light of the downward trend of the Democrat’s approval rating, is the G.O.P. claiming to have done something, as one Republican partisan says, or is it solely on this man’s shoulders? How can the G.O.P. capitalize on the Democratic Party’s mistakes and misfortune?

We — well, most of America — thought Obama would unite the left and right. However, in The Daily Beast, Lee Siegel argues the president has polarized the country more quickly than the Bush-Cheney regime. Is this something Obama brought upon himself or are Americans to blame for the hype? Plus, don’t we always set almost unrealistic expectations for our leaders? How can he get back on track?

Kelly Ayotte, former New Hampshire attorney general, has really gotten Democrats spooked. They fear the G.O.P.’s charismatic “rising star” could be the next Sarah Palin. Rumor has it she’s eyeing a possible seat in the U.S. Senate — one Republicans are desperate to gain. Political analyst Dean Spiliotes says, “She’s young, she’s got a nice family, two little kids, married, photogenic, articulate…All the things you want in a candidate. And she’s fresh.”

But with all this talk about her personal life, there’s little mention about her political history and positions. Does this describe a sad, sad state of American politics? Do the Dems really have nothing to worry about?

As we near the end of our process, one of our final steps is to find the archetype for the G.O.P. Why do we do this? Well, finding a brand’s archetype helps us understand its impact on consumer psychology. It helps us understand what attracts consumers to the brand.

We’ve got to decide which — if any — is appropriate for the G.O.P. Does the Republican Party fall under more than one archetype? Is it the ruler? Or maybe the hero with a splash of the outlaw? Or do we need to create a new category entirely?

Tell us what you think in the comments and why you feel this way.

Meet the twelve after the jump.

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Every political party will inevitably try to put a favorable spin on things. Currently, Democrats are concentrating on a so-called “nonsense feedback loop” — highlighting the theories of Birthers and fears over “death panels.” It seems to be a common political strategy: focus on the lunacy of extremists more than a moderate, rational voice.

The Daily Beast argues that having a Democrat in the White House could have possibly created a more passive party. The energy has dissipated. Momentum has been lost. Well, have they lost the edge? Are the Democrats feeling too secure in their position? What can the G.O.P. do to take advantage of the situation?

In an interview with POLITICO, Newt Gingrich advised Sarah Palin on what she needed to do to make a political comeback in 2012: write a book detailing her political ideologies and experiences; become a regular TV commentator; establish a base in NY or DC; master the art of three kinds of speeches (to fundraise, “project her brand,” and campaign); and be prepared for the work ahead.

This seems like sound advice for any presidential hopeful, but the work doesn’t end there. What else would you tell Palin — or anyone getting ready for a 2012 presidential run?

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