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PDFThe Washington Post is saying, "Close Race in Virginia Governor's Race Hardens GOP's Division."
Neither of these news organizations are likely hoping the GOP gets things figured out any time soon, but both are defining the problem with some clarity.
The Times says the Party is grappling with "vexing divisions over its identity and image, and mainstream leaders complain that more ideologically-driven conservatives are damaging the Party with tactics like the government shutdown."
The Post says if any lessons were learned from the Virginia election, they were lost in the almost instant finger pointing, even before the polls closed.
But perhaps there is a lesson to be learned.
What is the Party planning? What about the Party platform that the Party simultaneously embraces and dismisses?
The Party leaders are moving to change state caucuses and conventions like the one that nominated Mr. Cuccinelli in Virginia.
Why?
Well, they say, in favor of a "more open primary system" that will "produce more moderate candidates."
Party leaders are saying that conservatives are highly motivated and therefore get their candidates elected in primaries---and that is the problem within the Party.
Mitt Romney says he agrees.
Is Party leadership suggesting that conservatives and people of faith continue to work as they do to elect candidates who embrace their conservative and biblical values, but direct their effort and passion toward candidates who do not share those values?
Is the GOP trying to create a culture of schizophrenia in their attempt to find themselves?
Web M.D. says the symptoms of schizophrenia are:
- Hallucinations--seeing or hearing imaginary things.
- Delusions--wildly false beliefs.
- Paranoia--the fear others are plotting against you.
Phil Cox, a Virginia based Republican strategist tells the NYT, the GOP needs to change how they choose candidates in primaries, because the Republican base is choosing candidates who are too conservative---and therefore unelectable. And unacceptable to the GOP leadership.
This is, of course, the very same line that was put forth in Washington State in 2012, producing a slate of so-called "moderate" candidates for statewide offices.
Even Jay Inslee was able to beat that game plan and the candidate. It wasn't even close.
The Times says there is a fierce struggle for power between the activist, often Tea Party-dominated wing of the Republican Party---"whose members tend to be devoted to showing up and organizing events like a Party convention---and the more mainstream wing, which is frustrated by its inability to rein in the extremist elements and by the fact that the message is not resonating with more voters."
Is the GOP suggesting they want to create a culture of schizophrenia? Or do they simply want the base that appears to be doing all the work to compromise their values, but continue with the same passion and effort on behalf of candidates that do not share their values?
Or are they suggesting conservatives become less active---less involved?
If this is the emerging strategy, the future doesn't look terribly promising for the Party.
It appears the Party believes Bob Dole, John McCain and Mitt Romney could have won if only the conservatives and people of faith would have pretended to believe these candidates represented their conservative and biblical values.
This is a "wildly false belief."
The NYT highlights the appearance of Senator Mike Lee from Texas as an example of what is wrong in the Party. They point out he "toppled one of the veteran Republican centrists in the Senate, Bob Bennett."
Lee is also credited with changing the face of the Party in his state. And assisting Senator Ted Cruz.
But Lee was elected to the Senate by the people of the state, not a small group of unacceptable activists. Are all these folks misguided activists who are voting wrong?
Apparently.
I sincerely hope my Party, and that of millions of conservatives and people of faith, is not preparing to ask me and millions of others to "see and hear imaginary things" in regard to our deeply held beliefs.
I hope the GOP is not struck with paranoia, thinking that conservatives and people of faith are somehow "plotting against them."
Millions of conservatives and people of faith are merely working to support candidates who actually embrace the planks in the Party platform.
I do believe, however, that the Party leadership is "hearing or seeing imaginary things."
When true, qualified, conservatives run for national office, such as the office of president, they do fairly well. None have been nominated in recent years.
Karl Rove, defending himself on Fox News recently, promised that his super PAC does not oppose conservative candidates. He said, "We will support the most conservative candidates whom we believe can win."
And that may well be the heart of the matter. "Whom we believe can win."
Perhaps the Party should spend less time formulating their plans on the directives of highly paid strategists and more time evaluating their true base and their platform.
Web M.D. says, "There is no cure for schizophrenia, but treatment can control the symptoms."
I just wish the Party would give us a chance and put all their resources behind a true conservative. Could that be worse than this?
Ronald Reagan thinks that's a great idea.
I also hear biblical Joshua speaking to us. I'll talk more about that on the radio today, live at 9 AM PST. Here's how to listen in from anywhere in the world
Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Informed. Be Bold. Be Pro-Active. Be Blessed.