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What would you do to improve the Republican Party?

brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,038
edited February 2016 in A Moving Train
I'm not saying there is nothing wrong with the Democratic Party. In fact, many of the same problems plague both parties, particularly corporate influence. But even some of our most staunch Republican Party members here have admitted their party is a disaster. The most telling symptom is the fact that after 8 years of being out of the White House, the best they can offer up is the likes of Trump, Rubio, Cruz, Carson, et al?

Fixing or replacing the American Republican Party would be a wise move. A single party country is not. What are some things some of you would recommend to make the Republican Party strong and viable again?
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













Post edited by brianlux on
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Comments

  • FreeFree Posts: 3,562
    Get rid of everybody?
  • rr165892rr165892 Posts: 5,697
    start with embracing the time in which we live and embrace some of what Then gen pop wants.The Repubs tend to be slightly out of touch(MJ legalization,gun control,gay marriage,Planned parenthood,etc)

    But the most important thing to me would be to quit pandering to the Religious right.Im a fiscal conservative but don't like that at all.Example pretty much anything Cruz says annoys me.We need moderates that can seperate church and state.

    Much like the far left and there issues,the far right is to far from center.I think most of us want basically the same things,but everything is so polarized and partisan now that those of us stuck in the middle are under represented.And each side is afraid to reach across the isle to work with the other.
  • EnkiduEnkidu Posts: 2,996
    I written about this before - my husband's mother was a member of the National Republican Committee for years and then the Religious Right took over and drove out all the non-Religious Right people. That really alienated a lot of regular Republican folks. Moderate, fiscally conservative Republicans.

    Is it possible to remove the crazy religious people from the party? My husband's family, very very Republican, is very very unhappy with the current bunch. They don't like any of them. (Not that they would ever vote for Bernie or Hillary. But they sure as hell would never vote for Trump. Or Cruz. Or Rubio. Or Carson.)
  • JimmyVJimmyV Posts: 19,171
    It should be at least two parties. Small government, fiscal conservatives in one party. Social and religious conservatives in another.
    ___________________________________________

    "...I changed by not changing at all..."
  • PJ_SoulPJ_Soul Posts: 49,953
    Stop with the stupid fight against legalizing weed.
    Stop trying to control women and their bodies.
    Stop allowing the NRA to participate in government.
    Stop bringing religion into politics and the SCOTUS.
    Stop working against financial regulation.
    Stop working against universal health care.
    Stop pretending the trickle down effect works.
    Speak up for legal and social equality for the LGTB community and end tolerance of homophobia.
    Fight for affordable post-secondary education.
    End tolerance for racism within the party.

    .... i really don't have time for any more.....

    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,038
    I'm seeing a theme here already with the religious aspects. I'm not particularly religious myself but I know people who belong to ecumenical churches (such as Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian) who would not be interested in a Christian based political party. They would favor separation of church and state.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • EnkiduEnkidu Posts: 2,996
    PJ_Soul said:

    Stop with the stupid fight against legalizing weed.
    Stop trying to control women and their bodies.
    Stop allowing the NRA to participate in government.
    Stop bringing religion into politics and the SCOTUS.
    Stop working against financial regulation.
    Stop working against universal health care.
    Stop pretending the trickle down effect works.
    Speak up for legal and social equality for the LGTB community and end tolerance of homophobia.
    Fight for affordable post-secondary education.
    End tolerance for racism within the party.

    .... i really don't have time for any more.....

    Yep. It's funny because I think that was the Republican party my husband's family was involved with. Less government spending. But yes to living in the future with rights for all and no racism and no bullshit NRA, all of that. And my husband's family went to church, but they didn't think their church should have anything to do with government.
  • ehbaconehbacon Posts: 1,971
    Dismantle parties all together and make government like Washington wanted it, completely bipartisan. He warned us about the creation of factions in his farewell address, it's like he knew exactly how the next two hundred years would go
    Listen to some of my music here (if you want to): [url="My soundcloud"]
  • SmellymanSmellyman Posts: 4,524
    Science > praying

    Reason > Religion

    Education > Ignorance

    Humanity > Bigotry
  • hedonisthedonist Posts: 24,524
    I wouldn't deem those who may pray, or be religious, to be "lesser" than others. Or ignorant.

    Fucking divisiveness. What a shame.
  • PJfanwillneverleave1PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    This is a loaded thread question.
    Who wants to improve Republicans?
  • InHiding80InHiding80 Posts: 7,623
    ehbacon said:

    Dismantle parties all together and make government like Washington wanted it, completely bipartisan. He warned us about the creation of factions in his farewell address, it's like he knew exactly how the next two hundred years would go

    "The democrats are dumb and the republicans are stupid." - Lewis Black
  • PJfanwillneverleave1PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    InHiding80 said:

    ehbacon said:

    Dismantle parties all together and make government like Washington wanted it, completely bipartisan. He warned us about the creation of factions in his farewell address, it's like he knew exactly how the next two hundred years would go

    "The democrats are dumb and the republicans are stupid." - Lewis Black
    ^^^
    That's a great quote from someone else.
    What is yours?
    Not making it personal, I repeat, I am not making it personal. :smiley:
  • SmellymanSmellyman Posts: 4,524
    edited February 2016
    hedonist said:

    I wouldn't deem those who may pray, or be religious, to be "lesser" than others. Or ignorant.

    Fucking divisiveness. What a shame.

    I do. Especially when politicians pander to that to get elected. Now that is divisive.
    Post edited by Smellyman on
  • SmellymanSmellyman Posts: 4,524
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuanrYGnIOI
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,038
    PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

    This is a loaded thread question.
    Who wants to improve Republicans?

    Fair enough! But first tell me who doesn't.

    hedonist said:

    I wouldn't deem those who may pray, or be religious, to be "lesser" than others. Or ignorant.

    Fucking divisiveness. What a shame.

    I agree that divisiveness is not helpful (I just saw the biography-film "Marley". Look how Bob brought people together!) but I also see Smellyman's point.

    I took "Science > praying" to mean "science should should be place first in importance in government". And that is hard to argue. In a world where there are so many different religions, it just complicates things to have different religious beliefs involved in governing. Science is impartial. It's impact on government is far more likely to be beneficial than that of several that religions disagree with each other. Prayer is better left to one's personal time or shared with those with similar beliefs.


    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • rgambsrgambs Posts: 13,576
    hedonist said:

    I wouldn't deem those who may pray, or be religious, to be "lesser" than others. Or ignorant.

    Fucking divisiveness. What a shame.

    The action of praying is surely lesser than any other action that exists, since it is not an action at all, it is a wishful thought that does nothing. If fewer people prayed and more people acted, the world would be a far better place.
    Monkey Driven, Call this Living?
  • bootlegger10bootlegger10 Posts: 15,944
    I like the Mitch Daniels approach. Focus on fiscal conservatism, affordable education, infrastructure and not who someone wants to marry.
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,445
    Let's be real. This is not the forum for this discussion as has already been proven in this thread.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • rr165892rr165892 Posts: 5,697
    Free said:

    Get rid of everybody?

    cincybearcat said:

    Let's be real. This is not the forum for this discussion as has already been proven in this thread.

    I'd say a few of us could hold it together.But then again there is only a few of us leaning right here.so see where it goes.
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,445
    Been here before. Doesn't work.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Posts: 20,275
    The republican philosophy is dead. Trickle down doesn't work. As soon as they lost that their party was done.
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)
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  • JimmyVJimmyV Posts: 19,171
    Gern Blansten said:

    The republican philosophy is dead. Trickle down doesn't work. As soon as they lost that their party was done.

    I understand wanting this to be true but I see very little evidence that it is true. They hold solid majorities in both houses of Congress and may add the White House in November. "Done" is not how I would describe their current position.
    ___________________________________________

    "...I changed by not changing at all..."
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,038
    cincybearcat said:

    Let's be real. This is not the forum for this discussion as has already been proven in this thread.

    Obviously not everyone here is as pessimistic about this thread as you seem to be, Cincy:
    bootlegger10 said:

    I like the Mitch Daniels approach. Focus on fiscal conservatism, affordable education, infrastructure and not who someone wants to marry.

    Considering "fiscal conservatism" being defined as, "Prudence in government spending and debt; advocating the avoidance of deficit spending, the reduction of overall government spending and national debt, and ensuring balanced budgets", this sound like a good start. It would also be helpful if Republicans went back to being conservationists (a word which has it's roots in "conservative").

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,445
    Free said:

    Get rid of everybody?

    First response Brian.
    hippiemom = goodness
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,038
    cincybearcat said:

    Free said:

    Get rid of everybody?

    First response Brian.
    But the others, Cincy, the others!

    Do you see the Republican Party in need of changes/adjustments and if so, what would you like to see changed?
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • FreeFree Posts: 3,562
    Seriously. Get rid of everyone in there. Start anew. Take it negatively if you want but the Republican Party could really get a boost and fresh start from starting all over. Starting with term limits for everyone and abolishing lobbyists would do wonders for our government. And enough with extremism.
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,038
    By the way, I get it that some would feel offended by me suggesting that the party they long have stood by needs fixing. But I would say the same about many things including the democratic party. I would say the same about most of us because we are all junkies hooked on oil. It's not easy to look at who and what we are and be told we would do well to change. What's good for us is not always easy.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • FreeFree Posts: 3,562
    cincybearcat said:

    Free said:

    Get rid of everybody?

    First response Brian.
    And how do you feel about the Trump thread?
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,038
    Free said:

    Seriously. Get rid of everyone in there. Start anew. Take it negatively if you want but the Republican Party could really get a boost and fresh start from starting all over. Starting with term limits for everyone and abolishing lobbyists would do wonders for our government. And enough with extremism.

    I can see why Cincy might believe you were being sarcastic. "Everybody" might be a stretch. But a major overhaul would not be a bad idea. The Republican candidates put up this year are a prime example. After 8 years out of the White House, this is what they have to offer? That speaks volumes.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













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