Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 2, 2008 7:21:05 PM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

To See GOP's Future, Look to the House

Posted Sep 1, 08 12:36 PM CDT in Politics 

(Newser) – The Republican Party brand is tainted, its leaders recognize, and regardless of John McCain's fate, the institution is in soul-searching mode as the scaled-down convention kicks off today. Many House Republicans have come to believe an Obama victory might be better for the GOP in the long term, reports Politico, because it would force regrouping and present younger, fresher faces to the electorate.

A rejuvenated Republican party would step back from the conservative cultural issues that defined the Clinton reaction, focusing instead on good everyday issues—terrain the party has ceded to Democrats. That can't happen, many admit, without some tough time in opposition. "We came in as the reform party," said Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. "We lost our way. And now we have to get it back."

Source Politico

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Old Guard Will Win Battle for GOP

    Nov 11, 08 9:30 AM CST
    Old Guard Will Win Battle for GOP A battle between reformers and traditionalists for the soul of the GOP lies in the party's immediate future, David Brooks writes in the New York Times—and the reformers don't stand a chance. The conservative old guard, with Rush Limbaugh as its loudest mouthpiece and Sarah Palin as its heroine, has a lock on Republican institutions that it will take more losses to loosen, Brooks writes.
    More »

  • GOP Sees Smoother Ride on Palin's Coattails

    Sep 12, 08 3:42 PM CDT
    GOP Sees Smoother Ride on Palin's Coattails Congressional Republicans nervous about their own election chances are encouraged by the thought of a Sarah Palin-fueled boost to the GOP’s overall image, Real Clear Politics reports. Polls conducted since she was picked as John McCain’s running mate show a generic Republican congressional candidate trailing a generic Democrat by only 3.6%, narrowing a lead that has held at 12% or more since July. More »

  • Where Conservatives Have it Wrong

    Sep 12, 08 6:51 AM CDT
    Where Conservatives Have it Wrong Barry Goldwater wrote that the key to conservatism is “maximizing freedom,” and since his time, individual liberty has been the party’s central tenet. But people are a “deeply interconnected,” social species, as study after study has found —and today’s conservatives need to recognize that, writes David Brooks in the New York Times. The failure to do so “is the main impediment to Republican modernization.”
    More »

  • GOP Energy-Bill Protest Could Overlap With Dem Convention

    Aug 7, 08 3:29 PM CDT
    GOP Energy-Bill Protest Could Overlap With Dem Convention Republicans say their measures to suspend the House’s August recess and force a vote on a national energy bill could continue until just before the Democratic National Convention—or beyond, the Hill reports. “Republicans will not rest until we have an honest, up-or-down vote on the American Energy Act,” one GOP leader wrote in a letter to his party—and to rank-and file Democrats, the Chicago Tribune adds. More »

  • GOP Finds Hope in Last-Ditch Fla. Candidate

    Aug 4, 08 7:27 PM CDT
    GOP Finds Hope in Last-Ditch Fla. Candidate South Florida Republicans are thrilled with Congressional candidate Allen West. They see the black Army veteran as a potential GOP standard bearer. There’s just one problem: In 2003, West was accused of abusing an Iraqi detainee and violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice. But some Republicans actually see that as a positive, the New Republic reports. More »

John McCain and his vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov., Sarah Palin, acknowledge the cheers of supporters during a campaign rally in O'Fallon, Mo., Sunday Aug. 31, 2008.   (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
First lady Laura Bush is interviewed on the floor of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Monday, Sept. 1, 2008.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
A stagehand vacuums the stage as preparations are underway for the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov., Sarah Palin, acknowledge the cheers of supporters during a campaign rally in O'Fallon,...   (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks during a rally at C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek, Mich. Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 2)

Tags

Congress • Republican • GOP • Republican Party • reform • House Republicans


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Politics Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »