Call Me GOP

As we noted yesterday, Rick Santorum is looking to step up in the Republican Party by moving in on Iowa. Mark McKinnon, former Bush and McCain strategist, says a Santorum presidency would be very (very) dangerous for the country. Not only does McKinnon disagree with his neoconservative views, but he also says he’s more concerned with Santorum’s “lack of character.”

Are there enough Republicans to back such a far-right candidate or will the voice of a more moderate G.O.P. win out in the end?

Rick Santorum is looking to move up in the Republican Party. The former senator from Pennsylvania plans to visit Iowa this October for a series of discussions, fundraisers, and workshops with other key conservatives.

Iowa is often a state where presidential hopefuls “test the water,” so we can probably add Santorum to the ever-growing list of potential candidates. But is an outspoken social conservative like he what Republicans are looking for? What would Mitt Romney (your choice) have to say about him as a candidate in the 2012 race?

(via Politico)

Mere months ago — shortly after Obama stepped into office — “rebranding” was quite the buzzword in Republican circles. They were determined to redefine the G.O.P., reach out to young voters, and become a better party. They were excited. It sounded so promising.

Since then: crickets.

Has the effort simply “flamed out” as Patrick O’Conner reports it has? What will it take for the G.O.P. to step up and get its act together, or is it just not ready yet?

(via Washington Monthly)

Have southern Republicans alienated party members in other parts of the country? Joe Scarborough calls it a regional party, “culturally disconnected from New England, from the Midwest, and from the Pacific Northwest.” Senator George Voinovich makes a similar argument, suggesting that this perception that it’s a party of the South exists because it’s what most people see when Republicans get on TV.

How can the G.O.P. unify across regional divides, or will it be an impossible task?

(via The Daily Beast)

Those in the far right have called for more moderate members to leave the party. When asked last Friday on Politico which conservative figure needed to shut up, Michelle Malkin pointed to Meghan McCain. McCain responded, “The Republican Party should be a place for all kinds of people…if the party continues to demand that people leave, I guarantee you that they will. If you tell people there is no place for them, they aren’t going to fight for their right to stay.”

She went on to say that there is a place in her party for the far right too, but that they need to reach out and listen to the moderate perspective. So how can the G.O.P., with its many, varied voices, still come together and compromise?

The next step is the metaphor exercise. Metaphors are powerful tools in storytelling because of the impact they can have on the audience. In our process, we use them to understand how people feel about a brand. For example, comparing a brand to a mouse or a Porsche almost immediately captures the audience’s perception of it.

It looks like this: I’ll set up a few examples and you fill in the blanks. And don’t be afraid to come up with your own comparisons. It’s time for you to get creative with the G.O.P.

• As an animal, the G.O.P. is ________________ because _______________.
• As a car, it is ________________ because _______________.
• As a movie genre, it is ________________ because _______________.
• As a food, it is ________________ because _______________.

I’ll start by giving an example: As a tree, the G.O.P. is an oak because it’s strong and old, with long roots.

Get the picture? This should be an enjoyable exercise — so have some fun with it!

Could California start off a Republican renaissance of sorts? For 30 of the last 43 years, California, a blue state, has had Republican governors. Its 2010 election will bring a lot of new faces to the table — like Meg Whitman, Steve Poizner, and Tom Campbell. These candidates tend to be fiscally conservative but more moderate on social issues. Can these three “change the tide” for the G.O.P., barring the “Southern brand of conservatism” that doesn’t resonate with Californians? What else will it take for Republicans to win back California — or is it even possible?

(via)

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?

In Washington and all around the country there’s a political battle for America’s future. And while Americans are beginning to find faults in the Democrats’ proposals, an article in The Examiner claims that they’re not being presented with any alternatives. For the G.O.P. to be successful, it needs to “get their act together” and engage in a debate that does more than just criticize liberals and their plans. What’s your advice to the G.O.P. for moving forward and taking on the Democratic Party?

Earlier today, Rand Paul ended months of speculation by confirming that he intends to run for the US Senate. Also from the G.O.P.’s angle, Secretary of State Trey Grayson and Kentucky businessman Bill Johnson have announced they’ll also be running for the seat vacated by Jim Bunning. Of these three Republicans, who has the best shot of winning and why?