GOP Must Strike Back in the 'Burbs

The GOP coalition—seemingly indomitable 4 years ago—is in shambles, losing ground “on nearly every demographic and geographic front,” write Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam in the National Review. Republicans must expand their base, and the writers have a plan: Seduce “the affluent, well-educated, increasingly liberal upper middle class.”

The short version: emphasize suburban school choice (charter schools and local management), push green conservatism (alternative technology investments instead of regulation), bring politics to commuting (be pro-car and pro-road as opposed to mass transit) and head off a coming crime wave (more cops). The ideas "might just help the GOP break out of its current regional and demographic box and become a national party again." (More John McCain stories.)