Tussle over GOP leadership, party's future path

[babylonsister]

:nopity:

Tussle over GOP leadership, party's future path

By BETH FOUHY
Associated Press Writer


NEW YORK (AP) -- Rush Limbaugh has been Topic A in the political world, with Republicans debating his influence on their party and Democrats trying to elevate the conservative radio host to the GOP's de facto spokesman.

The skirmish has cast a bright light on the GOP and its search for leadership in the Obama era. But the personality-driven diversion has deflected attention from the deeper problems the party faces.

Simply put, the public isn't buying what Republicans are selling right now.

An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll this past week put Republican popularity at near historic lows. Just 26 percent in the survey viewed the party positively, compared with 68 percent for President Barack Obama, despite the economic crisis and sharp GOP criticism of his $3.8 trillion budget plan.

Republicans trailed by more than a 30-point margin on the question of which party is best positioned to end the recession.

Congressional Republicans did show remarkable near-unanimity in opposing Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan. Yet party leaders have proved less successful in articulating a competing message on the economy. Their call for smaller government and further tax cuts has rung hollow with the public, a majority of whom believe sizable federal intervention is necessary to improve the country's bleak financial condition.

Electorally, the GOP faces an environment that is uncertain at best and challenging at worst.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/R/REPUBLICANS_FUTURE?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[saltpoint]

1. All true, and I love it.

Recommended.

And of their available "leaders," I'm not really seeing anyone who can call a press conference and say,

"Look, we took a serious hit in November, as voters in large percentages moved solidly toward the principles advanced by the Democrats. The last thing we need now is for Republican leadership to genuflect to some media clown who expouses the very same crap voters rejected in convincing numbers. From this point forward we will seek to be far more a national party of re-evaluation and cooperation with the Founders' vision and far less one of intemperance, stupidity, and division."

[babylonsister]

4. They don't have anything left except criticism and weakness.

Has one Congress person come up with any "viable" alternatives to the Dems' plans? I can't think of anyone. Their solution is a spending freeze? That's whacked, and more sober rethugs are calling them out on that.

[saltpoint]

5. Yes. They have no more cards to play and yet there they are at

the poker table, barking instructions for others.

The GOP is headed into a big brick wall at the moment.

[DainBramaged]

2. The MSM is quick to criticize PRESIDENT Obama, duly elected to his office

but the Repukes have yet to offer any kind of cohesive plan of their own, they simply mouth one word, no.

[babylonsister]

3. Exactly. They got nuthin' but to them, that doesn't matter. nt