by flory
It's nice to see our center right punditocracy so fully engaged in providing advice and counsel to the soon-to-be loyal opposition on how to overcome their recent electoral setbacks.
Today it's Fred Barnes' turn:
Republicans can forget about Pelosi and Senate majority leader Harry Reid. They're hopelessly partisan. But there's Obama. His most popular promise, in speech after speech, has been to unify the country and begin a new era of bipartisanship in Washington. Every voter in America must be aware of this promise. Republicans ought to hold him to it. When Pelosi and Reid balk, Republicans should call on Obama to redeem his promise. They should do this relentlessly. They'll have public sentiment on their side.
Absolutely. I hope the wingnut hordes are paying close attention to Papa Fred. This is an electoral winner fer shur.
- When Nancy and Harry 'balk' at Republican attempts to torpedo healthcare reform and Obama sides with his own party -- all partisan like -- Republicans should absolutely call him on it. Relentlessly.
- When President Obama goes all partisan on their asses and tries to pass those ridiculous "middle class tax cuts" and that "stimulus package," Republicans will have public sentiment on their side in their bipartisan efforts to block the legislation.
- When Republicans filibuster legislation authorizing troop withdrawals in Iraq -- and Nancy, Harry and Obama turn all partisan and override them -- Republicans should be loud and proud in their denunciations.
What could possibly go wrong?
Truly sound counsel from one of the leading lights of the conservative movement. This is advice you can believe in.
And Freddie isn't done yet:
With their reduced numbers Republicans won't be able to force Obama to commit errors. But unforced errors will come soon enough. The most egregious parts of the liberal agenda are unforced errors all by themselves: card check, the Fairness Doctrine, the Freedom of Choice Act removing all limits on abortion on demand, tax hikes and spending excesses, reimposing the ban on offshore drilling for oil and gas, and much, much more.
Such a keen eye for what truly matters. Everyone knows that opposition to card check and the Fairness Doctrine were issues No. 1 and 2 on the electorate's mind last Tuesday. Just look at the polls if you don't believe me. And naturally, with gas prices at the outrageous level of $2/gal, offshore oil drilling is a priority on everyone's to-do list.
Fred has clearly zeroed in on the exact issues that will catapult Republicans right back into the majority. I'm in awe of such insight.
And then our Freddie ties it all up in a nice neat bow:
Republican Weakness. Where is it? In the Northeast, across the upper Midwest, and in cities and upscale suburbs. To gain a majority in Congress, Republicans will have to win House and Senate seats in those places. To win the presidency, they'll have to appeal to voters in those locations.
Republicans in Washington must keep these voters--they're more moderate than conservative--in mind and avoid alienating them.
And isn't it abundantly clear that following Fred's prescriptions is exactly the way to recapture those moderate voters?
Exactly.
UPDATE: I'm not sure how I feel about a leprechaun dancing atop my post. I must have a conversation with management.