I cannot go anywhere in Republican circles without hearing how the party is "rebuilding" and "returning to principles," including campaigns that became a parody on that meme, and others that ended up alienating Republicans.
The only changes I see are cosmetic in nature, and the proof in the pudding will be the elections coming up in 2009 and 2010, when county, district and state parties will be tested. The latest test, in NY-20, appears to indicate that the party has room for improvement, and the grass roots campaign has also failed.
Here is a regional example that Republican parties across the nation should not be repeating:
In Buncombe County, a first test will be the City Council elections. I know that these elections are supposed to be "non-partisan", but will conservatives mount a slate of candidates like the progressives have? Will there be a counter to the Moveon candidates?
A strong Republican party can provide a foundation of training and experience for conservative activists in the precincts inside the city limits of Asheville just as the Democratic party of Buncombe County has in the past.
I think that it is sad that the City of Asheville is ceded to the Democratic Party. It is wrong for the Republican party to cede areas, as it allows the democratic party to build on it's lead in those areas that will come back to bite Republicans running for offices in larger districts that include those precincts.
**update 11.26am** Jack Betts has more on the importance of lefty areas in securing wins in the larger scheme of things...like my example of Asheville.
It is my contention that the retreat from the Asheville precincts (and other precincts like them state and nationwide) helped cost Nathan Ramsey his seat on the Buncombe County Commission, and prevented anyone else from joining him on that body. It also allowed Democratic candidates to pick up votes that allowed them cruise to victory in a number of other races.
I would like to see the Republican party take the offensive in gaining new voters in these areas instead of just talking about it.
As of March 28, 2009, here are the voter registration numbers for North Carolina:
DEM 2,789,062
GOP 1,946,322
LIB 4,682
UNA 1,363,048
TOT 6,103,116
And here are some current figures of voter registration for the western part of North Carolina by county:
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I will try to provide periodic updates to these figures, and engage local party leaders on their efforts to increase these figures, and give them opportunities to share their philosophy on increasing the number of registered Republicans.
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5 comments :
I used to be a Republican in Buncombe County. That outfit is so hopelessly narcissistic it deserves to fail.
Janet, please give them another try. I know many in the GOP in Buncombe County, and there are good people you could ally yourself with and help the party.
You could be a positive example if you worked to get people involved and registered to vote at the precinct level.
I look at those people registered as UNA's as a "none of the above" vote. I'll wager that more than half of those registered as such consider themselves conservative and would enjoy taking the Republican party back to it's roots.
People don't care to become involved because they see it as a hopeless cause to reform the Republican Party.
I am betting on the Constitution Party.
Don't you fret, pig.
The Republican Liberty Caucus will succeed where you neocons failed.
Lover of Liberty, I like your name, but your sentiment is way off base as you couldn't even get Ron paul elected for diddly squat. Brag when you actully get some wins. The reason the GOP lost was because the Dems have a full fledged Con man at the helm and he definantly knows what the people want to hear and he knows exactly how to weasle his way out of giving it to them and they still love him. The GOP will win if they open the platform, read it and GO BY IT! Bottom LINE!
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