Call Me GOP

Americans believe that relationships between Republicans and Democrats have deteriorated since Obama was elected as this Gallup poll indicates. Do you agree? What’s caused the breakdown? How can we get back on the road toward political civility?

Democrats issued a harsh statement against the G.O.P. yesterday. They described the “mob rule” of far-right extremists who are more interested in “destroying” the presidency than discussing the issues. The G.O.P. responded that what Democrats call “mob rule,” most people call Democracy. But is it even either of these? Do these people get so much attention simply because they’re loud and radical or is there something to the group that says more about the Republican Party?

(via CNN)

Obama’s job approval rating is at its lowest yet. However, Gallup points out that this isn’t uncommon for presidents in their first term after they outlive their “honeymoon period” in office. Interestingly enough, while Republicans approval rating of him is still the lowest, the primary cause of the drop came from Independents. What actions could he take that would give him a boost again?

A Gallup poll says that women (of all ages) are more likely to identify as Democrats than men are. Why is this? Is it because there are fewer powerful female Republican leaders? Is it the G.O.P.’s pro-life stance? Or something else entirely?

Pedro Espada’s back on the Dem’s side giving them the majority again after the June 8 coup of the New York Senate. This isn’t the first time party swapping has been used as a political tool. If party affinity can be flip-flopped so easily, is there really a difference between Dems and Republicans or is it just red-team, blue-team? And if you believe as we do that there IS a difference, what are the core values at the unchangeable core of the Republican party?

I had a conversation yesterday with a friend who just happens to be a Democrat (he can’t help it) and he was having some fun at my expense over Sanford and his transgressions (not much you can say when one of “ours” goes Bill Clinton)…

He questioned; “What are you and the Republicans going to do now?”  I simply replied;  “TIME…”

Folks, time is on our side.  In just the past few weeks our liberal friends in the Democratic Party (and national media) have opened up a few opportunities that will make a new STORY welcome to many Americans; Pelosi (need I say more!), Obama’s first real press conference — when he actually was questioned FOR THE FIRST TIME about his decisions (he didn’t look too comfortable without his teleprompter) and the “health care for everyone” campaign promise – that now has become “health care for just a few more” with a TRILLION dollar price tag and many more questions than answers.  Just watch what the next few weeks and months bring!

The natives are getting restless with a government trend (that did start with our man Bush) that believes “there’s nothing your government can’t do – for a few more hundred billion” — that Obama and crew are taking to a new level.

It seems to me these are opportunities we can build a story around. What are some specific Republican strengths we can draw on and rally around, in response to the Democrats’ public display of weakness?

Hi, I’m Andrea. I work at an ad agency called Story Worldwide. As its name suggests, we help our clients discover and share their stories. And right now, a brand that seriously needs work is the Republican Party. So a bunch of us decided to take the tools and techniques that define our work and apply them to the G.O.P. And we decided to open it up to the world, to see what you guys could do to help this troubled brand recover. As Story’s Social Media Editor, I get to manage this project. I’m actually a registered Democrat, but this still sounds pretty cool.

Let me tell you a little about our process at Story. We start by gathering insights—what a brand means and should mean to people. These run across three pillars: the brand itself, the category of competitors, and you, the consumer. Progressing these insights through a clever (we think) process, we ultimately arrive at a statement that encompasses a brand’s core qualities: the things that make it unique. We call this the “Story Platform.”

Over the next few weeks this is exactly what we’re going to put the G.O.P. through. And we need your help! Let’s have an open, helpful and constructive discussion about the problems with the Republican Party, and where they should go from here. Whether you’re a Republican or Democrat. But don’t bodyslam the poor G.O.P….we’re doing this in the spirit of helping. We’ll turn these insights into a new story and reveal it all right here. Together, we can heal the elephant, if only to keep that donkey honest.

The helpful guys in our art department put together a bumper sticker to kick off this project:

Ha, ha, ha. Fun…strong…but maybe not exactly the direction the G.O.P. should go in. That’s for us to figure out, starting right now. What do YOU think the Republican Party really stands for? What SHOULD it stand for? Comments below…let’s get this Party started!