In Lincoln’s second message to Congress in 1862 he observed that “the dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.”
In thinking anew, we must begin thinking about the word “Republican” less as a noun and more about what verbs and adjectives we want most associated with the Republican Party; what it is we actually want to accomplish as a Party; and just as importantly, how we want voters to view us.
Yes, we lost the White House and have found ourselves further in the minority in Congress. But prior to losing the presidency, the Republican brand has been rejected in Governor’s races for the last four years, not just along the coasts, but through contiguous states from Montana to Arizona to North Carolina. In the 15 states of Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming, where George W. Bush won 139 of his 286 electoral votes, Republican gubernatorial candidates lost elections in 2005 through 2008 – by an average of 24%! We didn’t just lose these races…we were flat uncompetitive.
Now is the time to re-energize our party by looking to our state capitals for the next wave of reformers and leaders. The Reagan Revolution was precipitated by the California tax revolt of the 1970’s and Prop 13 that prompted similar initiatives throughout the country. And it was only after we won a majority of Governorships did we seize the majority in Congress in 1994.
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As the health care reform debate in Washington progresses, we wanted to bring an issue of concern to your attention relating to proposals to dramatically expand Medicaid which will impact the State of Florida’s budget and place our state’s ability to create jobs in jeopardy. Floridians are justifiably concerned with our state and nation’s troubled economy and its effects on them, their families and their communities. As members of the Florida House of Representatives, our top priority is to help get Florida’s economy restarted and create jobs for Floridians. We know that you share these goals as well.
For all the analysis of individual candidate strengths and weaknesses, local issues and campaign tactics, what really changed from November 2008 to November 2009? The economy is still struggling, high unemployment remains in the headlines and there is still real concern for the economic future of our country. What’s changed? Voters have now seen the policies that President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Congress are planning to enact.
