GOP Needs 'a Little Chaos:' Kristol

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 24, 2009 3:11 PM CST

(Newser) – Republicans clamoring for unified front should "calm down" and be careful what they wish for, William Kristol writes in the Weekly Standard. Firstly, Barack Obama is hugely popular; he'll be unassailable for months. What's more, spirited debate may serve the GOP better than blind adherence to conservative philosophy. Consider 1977-80, "a period of vigorous, even hectic, political policy" among conservatives, Kristol writes.

Party backbenchers boldly embraced supply-side policies as neoconservatives sparked "Reaganite freedom-fighting" and evangelicals swung heavily GOP—"all of this in four years," Kristol writes. Likewise, today's Republicans “need to resist calls to shackle themselves to prematurely announced agendas and already anointed leaders. This is the time for a thousand Republicans to bloom.”

Members of the House of Representatives of the 111th Congress. (AP Photo)

President Bush, standing with members of his Cabinet, makes remarks on the transition. (AP Photo)

House Minority Leader John Boehner speaks to reporters outside the White House. (AP Photo)

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Showing 3 of 4 comments

AdaptAndOvercome

Feb 26, 2009 8:29 PM CST

It's hard to change peoples perception of you when you continue doing the same thing. Complaining about spending: The party that spent like mad for 8 years and whose President didn't Veto a spending bill. Now they want to be good stewarts of your money. They are shouting from the roof tops about earmarks: Sen. Judd Gregg and his brother benefited from those earmarks. $66 Million in aid for a former air base that they were turning into office projects and then made some where in the sum of $651,000.00 in profits. The truth is finally out. He like Cantor and Boehner are all about deception.

Guest

Jan 25, 2009 3:49 AM CST

I doubt it.

Mad

Jan 24, 2009 9:57 PM CST

"This is the time for a thousand Republicans to bloom" - Bloom, as in, GROW UP REPUBLICANS. America is tired of your constant childish name calling and belligerent attitude. Seriously, if the GOP ever hopes to win again, STOP THE HATE

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GOP Needs 'a Little Chaos:' Kristol

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GOP Needs 'a Little Chaos:' Kristol

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Congress • Senate • GOP • House of Representatives • Reagan Revolution • debate • William Kristol • Republicans • heterodoxy

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

GOP in Good Shape to Take Senate Majority

Republicans need a net gain of 3 seats, and 5 Dem-held seats are toss-ups

Congress Buys GOP's Foam Cups From Ex-Koch Exec

But the cafeteria managers, not GOP, chose his company

Going Green? Bah! GOP Brings Back Foam Cups

Republicans reverse Democrats' green initiatives in Congress cafeterias

2010 a Toss-Up as Indies Flee the Dems

But trend and dismal 21% approval of Congress could spell Dem's demise

Republicans Can Retake House in a 2010 'Landslide'

If trends continue, Republicans could gain 40 seats

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Newser By Users

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What is Newser?