I'm just scribbling notes here on the loss of the election. It sucks because I'm finding it very difficult to concentrate through the fog. So I've collected a lot of other people's opinions HERE, and posted my initial thoughts HERE.
But just to highlight the magnitude of the problem ahead of conservatives, I wanted to throw some things I've been thinking about on the blog here and see where things went. I don't know about you, but until I've tried to list the factors, I can't think effectively about the problem. And from the lists below, it's clear we have a lot of thinking to do.
Remind me of anything I've overlooked in comments, and I'll add it in.
WHERE BLAME IS FALLING
GOP Establishment
The Mainstream Media
Voter Fraud
Mitt Romney
Demographics
GOP Branding
Libertarians
Hurricane Sandy
Social Conservatives
Donation Fraud
Messaging
GOTV Efforts
Mitt Romney's Consultants
THEORIES ON WHAT TO DO
Go hard right
Perfect microtargeting
Go libertarian
Improve social media
Fracture the Democrat coalition
Go local
Infiltrate the Mainstream Media
Go after Minorities
Build alternate institutions - Bill Whittle plan
Go after Youth
Go Galt
Opt Out/ Walk Away
Take over the GOP
Try to pass stricter Voter ID bills
Infiltrate Hollywood
ANSWERS TO MY NON-SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE THE COUNTRY FACES RIGHT NOW
Economy
Lack of Values
Tyranny
Debt/Deficits
National Security
Attack on Founding Principles
Jobs
Lame-Duck Session Legislation
Family Values
Military Disenfranchisement
Losing Freedoms
Animosity towards Christians
Educational Indoctrination
Ignorance of the Electorate
Entitlement Mentality in the Culture
The Coming Fiscal Cliff
Lack of Wisdom
Immigration
Border Security
EPA Regulations
Loss of Religious Liberty
The Mainstream Media
Lack of Morality
Abortion
Credit Rating Downgrade
Supreme Court Justices
Entitlement Programs
we go after the youth vote 16 million new voters will be eligible in 2016
ReplyDeletestephen
On "Theories of What to Do", I'm surprised no one has suggested toning down our messaging. (I almost said "moderating" which everyone knows is the secret callsign for all RINO's. Haha!)
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of perfecting micro-targeting and making use of 21st century technology in ID and GOTV efforts. Simply buying tons of TV airtime doesn't get the message across in this fractured modern media. Besides, unless we're advertising on stations other than FOX or Christian channels we're only preaching to the choir. No pun intended.
One more thing, which is difficult for us to understand. We need to make the Republican Party and/or conservative policies RELEVANT to others outside of our party.
ReplyDeleteMany of those who do not support us, don't understand WHY they should. For the voters we are trying to persuade, too many of our positions are scrambled. We're for individual freedom, except when it comes to social issues. We're all about limited government, except when it comes to defense, commerce, or transportation. We're absolutely opposed to entitlements, except for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. We're opposed to all foreign aid, except for Israel.
We need to be logical and intellectually honest with ourselves and lay out a plan that is clear and RELEVANT to our targeted voters. Most Americans want good schools, a strong economy, and a fair justice system. Those are universal values that we can win on. I'm appalled by what happened in Benghazi, but I guarantee you that most people on the street can't even spell the place, much less expain why we were ever there in the first place. They don't care about Benghazi. They care about making their mortgage payments, getting medicine for their sick kid, and holding onto their job(s). Our message simply isn't relevant to them, therefore they aren't persuaded.
We've got to get out of the echo chamber of our own beliefs (Thanks, Nate Silver!), and really identify with the audience we wish to persuade. That means a lot of work, really uncomfortable work talking to folks who don't like us and trying to understand how we can turn them into our friends and compatriots.