I don't usually recommend columns by George W. Bush's former speechwriter, but today's colunn by Michael Gerson, "Colin Powell's Truths," is a good one. The core argument is that Colin Powell's inclusive, tolerant, even "progressive" approach towards Republicanism is superior to Dick Cheney's narrow, intolerant, reactionary attitude. Gerson's key points are:1. "[I]t is a myth that a single, conservative message can win everywhere in America."
2. "A political party that appeals across a diverse, continental nation will be a diverse, ideological coalition."
3. "[T]he next successful Republican leader must include an element of nontraditional appeal"
4. And finally:
Obama's party has assembled its current majority among groups of growing demographic (and thus democratic) influence -- particularly nonwhites, the young and college-educated voters. It is difficult to imagine Republicans regaining momentum in these groups without an aggressive, unexpected message of social justice, inclusion, environmental stewardship and social mobility -- in addition to the economic and moral conservatism that will motivate much of the Republican coalition for the foreseeable future.I completely agree with Michael Gerson in this case, but I seriously doubt whether anyone in today's Republican Party is listening.
To the contrary, what we have in today's Republican Party appears to be either: 1) hard-line and divisive figures (Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, "Joe the Plumber," assorted right-wing talk-show hosts getting themselves "waterboarded" or otherwise acting like idiots) who will appeal to the ever-shrinking Republican "base" but to nobody else; 2) a few "moderates" like Colin Powell who are 100% correct but appear to be crying in the GOP wilderness; and 3) a hodgepodge of eclectic-but-not-particularly-effectual voices ranging from Eric Cantor (and his laughable "listening tour," which so far hasn't proceeded much beyond a pretty good family pizza restaurant in Arlington) to Newt Gingrich and his all-over-the-place musings. The question is whether anybody can effectively move the Republican Party beyond the intellectual, ideological and electoral cul-de-sac it currently finds itself in towards a plausible future in American politics?
If not, what will happen to the Republican Party? Will it become a marginalized party, in the minority for decades to come? Will it split into factions (religious fundamentalists, anti-tax zealots, libertarians, etc.)? Or, will it simply go the way of the Whigs and other failed parties of the past, to be replaced by...something. My hope is that the current Republican Party will die, to be replaced by a Teddy Roosevelt Progressive party along the lines of what Michael Gerson talks about: "an aggressive, unexpected message of social justice, inclusion, environmental stewardship and social mobility..."
We'll see, but I'm not holding my breath. In the meantime, let the Democratic Party oversee a successful, progressive renaissance in America, and let the Republican Party snipe and bicker from the sidelines (while saying "no" to everything, apparently).
