Huckabee's Plan to Revive GOP Doesn't Add Up

GOP as useless as 7 vowels in Scrabble, needs new letters

(NEWSER) - Just like you get to throw in your tiles when Scrabble gives you seven useless vowels, so too do Republican voters keep picking again—and coming up with the same useless tiles, says Thomas Friedman in the New York Times . That's because the GOP is an out-of-date "captive of conflicting ideological bases," including anti-abortion forces, anti-taxes, anti-immigration, libertarians, and more. What America really needs is a second party in its two-party system—ie, "a coherent Republican opposition" that is able to respond realistically to the true problems facing the United States. "We need a 'Different Kind of Republican' the way Bill Clinton gave us a 'Different Kind of Democrat,'" writes Friedman. And maybe that means a crushing defeat in this election to force a hard reboot. More»

Supreme Court allowed groups to spend freely

(NEWSER) - Conservative groups operating outside the public eye are carrying much of the water for Republican campaigns, the New York Times reports. Thanks to a Supreme Court decision that uncaps contribution limits, right-wing organizations like Americans for Prosperity and Karl Rove's American Crossroads are spending hundreds of millions of dollars—on television ads, social media, and grass-roots outreach for next year's federal elections. More»

Despite its divisive nature, Republicans still fighting for Ryan's plan

(NEWSER) - Despite the five Senate Republicans who voted against Paul Ryan’s Medicare overhaul yesterday, the GOP remains wedded to the divisive, and increasingly unpopular , plan. Rather than back off, Republicans are responding by increasing attacks on the Democrats’ position, the Wall Street Journal reports. "We need to make it a choice between a do-nothing approach that will ultimately destroy Medicare, and life-saving reforms," says Rep. Tom Cole. Though the Democrats’ upset win in New York implies that the issue could have a big impact on future elections, Rep. Cliff Stearns insists it’s simply "a wake-up call on how you frame it. It obviously wasn't framed right.” More»

Conservatives ready to rumble, test presidential waters

(NEWSER) - The Conservative Political Action Conference kicks off today, and it promises to be an interesting one, given the crossroads the movement finds itself at. Politico breaks down what to watch thusly:

• The 2012 Presidential Race: Candidates will be test-driving their messages in what’s seen as the first big event of the primary season.
• The Straw Poll: It’s tough to read this early primary barometer, because it’s largely dependent on who bought the most tickets for their supporters. But a surprisingly strong showing from a minor candidate could have big ramifications.

Ballot measure may not have enough support for 2012

(NEWSER) - In California, where Latinos comprise the fastest-growing portion of the electorate, some Republicans want their own version of Arizona’s controversial immigration law —but others disagree, and the party rift is threatening the measure’s chances of getting on the 2012 ballot. "It's completely counterproductive to the future of the party as well as counterproductive to the immigration debate and coming to a real solution," one GOP strategist tells the Los Angeles Times . More»