What do you think of the reported new "rebranding effort"?

[Kim]

CNN had this story posted today about the GOP's plans to hold townhall-like meetings where they listen to Americans. Seems like all the top players are involved: Cantor, McConnell, Boehner, Romney, Pence, Jindal, more. Here's the link:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/29/gop-set-to-launch-r...

I have hope for this plan (and also hope they come to the Chicago area!).

What do you think?

[Michael Brennan]

Not the best forum but it is a forum we need to be part of. Conservatives in both major parties and in third parties do not hold enough membership to win in 2012 on our own, we need the moderates on our side. This will not sit well with alot of people but we will have to be partners with names like Romney and McCain and a few others long past 2012 to keep the edge. Right now, the electorate do not care about conservative ideals, they view us as the problem, not the solution. So while I am not in agreement with the leaders of this, I am joining to get my voice heard and the conservative message placed out front.

[Zbigniew Mazurak]

Gibberish. The electorate DOES care about conservative ideals, and most Americans CHERISH those ideals. Check any issue poll rasmussenreports.com - on a very broad range of issues, most Americans declare conservative opinions. Read this:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_pol...
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/...
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/taxes/janua...

[gabe]

Agreed. The conservative message is already out there. But it is also good to get the moderate voices of the party out as well even if they disagree with other conservatives. It shows that the GOP is not just one group of people but a party of many differet ideas.

[Michael Brennan]

Cantor, Romney, McConnell, Boehner and Jindal do represent the conservative wing in that group. You also have 2 possible Presidential nominees in that group too. Now if Sanford and Palin could join it would be awesome and the entire party is heard.

[Kim]

Palin finally responded to the call as of today's news cycle. I haven't heard anything about Sanford.

[Suzanne]

Yeah...they want to move the party to the left...they will lose. again.

[Kim]

(sigh) Enough, Suzanne. Please at least make an attempt to be constructive in your criticism.

[Michael Brennan]

If you havenothing constructive or factual to add, do not post. The democrats are correct, as long as the fringe try to dictate who is and who is not conservative, the conservative movement will never get off the ground. In that regard, the democrats are 100% correct and that statement suzanne proves them correct. As long as the fringe try and dominate, Obama and company have NOTHING to fear from anyone conservative.
So again, if you have nothing to add that is decent, respectful and factual, do not respond.

[gabe]

I think you guys overreacted here a little. In one aspect Suzanne is correct, some in the party want to pull it farther to the left like Jeb Bush and Meghan McCain. However with that said I also think to a degree the party has to in certain regions to win such as in the NE.

But keep in mind that does not mean the whole party has to, just certain candidates for certain areas. However the GOP should not and ever be represented by the likes of RP and company. Suzanne does bring up a decent point here about the media saying the GOP is moving to far to the right though. The media day and night is attacking the GOP on this and won't stop. The GOP at least needs to fight this and say we are not radical or to conservative. Part of the problem of the Bush and McCain campaign was that they never fought back and let the media paint them as something they were not.

This tour does good for the GOP though no matter who is there. It shows the country and people the GOP is willing to chnage to suit the peoples needs and wants to hear their voices and opinions. That can only be good.

[Michael Brennan]

Gabe, I have no problem with people in disagreement, but do so without the kindergarten tantrums that lead to nothing but bitterness and give Obama an easy victory. For that I have to remind a certain few that their actions impede conservative victories and it is their words Obama is using in his speeches, not ours.

[gabe]

RPaulers will always do that. It does no good to even try. They will always be around. The best way to marganalize them is ignore them. However her comment was snidely put and I agree it should be noted.

[Kim]

Perhaps I did. Perhaps I needed a little more coffee?? :)
At any rate, however, I do not think the party needs to move further right in order to win. I totally disagree with the statement that moving the party to the left will make us lose.

I think we're in a tough spot where the "base" will FREAK out if they perceive the party is giving in on something yet in reality the majority of the party, I think, in reality are moderates. They just aren't as vocal and visible (and excitingly newsworthy - which is why the rest of the world thinks the GOPers are a bunch of far right wing people).

At any rate, I do think the tour will do us some good. The question is, will it begin a real dialogue or is it a PR stunt? And do these folks have good ideas? I think they probably do and they have to get some buy in from the masses before they can really put forth those ideas. Perhaps.