Republicans Ready To Stop Mixing Paint

"Four years ago we raised a banner of bold colors—no pale pastels. We proclaimed a dream of an America that would be "a shining city on a hill." - Ronald Reagan

One of the reasons the Republican party enjoyed such a short ride at the controls of power in the U.S. is clearly obvious; they forgot the vision of Ronald Reagan. It was a vision he believed in and embraced convincingly, enough so that he caused a wave of hope and optimism nearly as powerful as the feelings Obama supporters felt. As one man's opinion though, I don't think President Obama believes his own vision quite as strongly as did Reagan, and I highly doubt that he will be able to deliver in the same fashion.

While Reagan set a course and steered the shortest path toward it, Obama seems to demonstrate - in his first week of the Presidency - a propensity to serpentine. The passengers aboard his bus will no doubt need dramamine in large doses if the trend continues. Of course, there is always the high possibility that he learned the tactic from watching his Republican colleagues during his truncated stay in the U.S. Senate.

As for President George W. Bush, we'll never know if he intended to govern from a conservative stance since his administration was handed a whole new direction by al Qaeda on September 11, 2001. But at least some members of congress on the right side of the aisle are learning slowly the error of their ways. Barack Obama may well have lost his bid for the White House had he faced a true conservative.

Senator Mitch McConnell, R-KY, is sending out the word that the party must change. He's also pointing out that not all conservatives are republicans; we already know that not all republicans are conservatives. He spoke to republicans at a meeting to choose the next chairman of the RNC and he said, in part, this:

"It's clear our message isn't getting out to nearly as many people as it should ... Too often we've let others define us. And the image they've painted isn't very pretty."

He is absolutely correct. Republicans have spent entirely too much time and effort trying to get democrats to just like them and all they have received as reward is a boot heel across the throat. (Side note: this should be a clear indicator to President Obama that appeasement never works). One good way to repair the damage done over the last six years would be to name former Lt. Governor of Maryland, Michael Steele, as head of the Republican National Committee.

I have heard Michael Steele on talk shows and filling in for nationally syndicated radio hosts quite frequently of late, and he seems to have all the ingredients necessary to combat this infuriating march to the left seen in politics. I firmly believe that Mr. Steele is more than capable of taking a can of paint straight off the shelf and applying it to the walls without mixing it with another hue.

Take Reagan's lead, ye politicians on the right. Paint the party with bold colors and broad strokes. Rebuild the party, and they will come.

Author's note: Accompanying cartoon used with kind permission from Brett Noel. See his work at Patriot Art.

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