Rebuild the Party Featured in the Washington Post

[Patrick Ruffini]

Yesterday, the Washington Post did a long feature story on your efforts to rebuild the party. Here's what they had to say:

At 6:50 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6-- less than 44 hours after the GOP lost the White House and more seats in Congress -- RebuildTheParty.com went live.

Founded by two young party activists, Patrick Ruffini and Mindy Finn, the site proposes to start by rebuilding the often marginalized conservative blogosphere. Its mission statement, a 3,200-word, 10-point manifesto, is aimed at Republicans in general -- and more specifically at whoever takes the helm of the Republican National Committee in the next few weeks. It's signed by a Who's Who of the online conservative grass roots -- the "rightroots" -- most of them in their 20s and 30s, many frustrated by the current state of the Grand Old Party that seems just that: old and out of touch.

"2008 made one thing clear: If allowed to go unchecked, the Democrats' structural advantages, including their use of the Internet, their more than 2-to-1 advantage with young voters, their discovery of a better grassroots model -- will be as big a threat to the future of the GOP as the toxic political environment we have faced the last few years," the site proclaims.

We also answered questions about Rebuild the Party in a live chat on WashingtonPost.com.

[Jason Taylor]

Yesterday, the Washington Post did a long feature story on your efforts to rebuild the party. (emphasis added)

Do you hear the applause? You should, because I'm clapping so hard my hands hurt. Man, you've got it right! You've apparently put a considerable amount of time into constructing and launching this forum, and yet you give all the credit to the poor schmucks (myself included) who have just showed up to play. I say, "Class Act!"

I would add you as a friend for this, but I already did a couple of days ago. See, I'm a pretty good judge of character. :)

[Diana B]

I read the live-chat transcript. GREAT ideas and clarity of thought! I'm with you on all of it. One thing to keep in mind, above and beyond all you said, is the fact that Obama had (and still has, apparently) limitless funds because he played a dirty trick and decided at the last minute to accept any and all donations. This made a difference because he was able to run the best marketing campaign we've ever seen. He was one big, long commercial for himself, creating a brilliant "legend in his own time" cult following for himself.

The libs also have a huge celebrity base that contributed millions and held benefits for O's campaign. Elsewhere online there is a list being compiled of conservative people in the arts and the news who we NEED to connect with now for their support and funding. These people will also energize the young consumers that see their movies or buy their music. They can also be urged to SPEAK OUT like the Susan Sarandons and George Clooneys did, who unfortunately never missed an opportunity to either Bush-bash or Obama-worship. It was ugly and hateful, and we conservatives became "the bad guy".

My most fervent hope (which is why I love what I'm seeing with all these new sites searching for new blood) is that our party STOP apologizing for our principles and walking around like a kicked dog. We bought into the "embarassed" mentality the libs pushed on us (remember the bully only has the power you give them?) and I think it GREATLY contributed to our loss in all levels of the election, not only the Presidency. We have to walk proudly again, but first we have to know what we stand for and why.

P.S. Urgent SHORT-TERM: We keep hearing Obama's "hitting the ground running" -- we'd all better be ready to stop that great big pen he's got poised over Amnesty, the Fairness Doctrine, Senate Bill 2433, The Second Amendment, and the insane "no-God" movement.