Ken Gardner:
William F. Buckley once said “Conservatism, except when it is expressed in pure idealism, takes into account reality.” A simple, direct statement and the essence of practical politics, then and today.
So what is practical politics? Perhaps the best way to start answering this question is by asking an even more fundamental question: what does it mean to be practical? For me, “practical” means reality-based in both thought and action. Practical people are often people of principles, values, and ideas. But they are also doers who want to implement their ideas. They are people of action as well as thought. They want to see actual good results in the real world. They plan how to achieve these results and then execute that plan.
What does this mean for politics? Politics, too, should be practical. Political objectives, agendas, and policy goals should be realistic and achievable, and they should appeal to the rational self-interest of voters.
To quote Aristotle (one of the most practical men who ever lived), we should strive for a form of government “in which every man, whoever he is, can act best and live happily.” (Politics, 1324a)
If, as Republicans, we want to govern and set policy, we must first win elections and become the majority party. If we want to win elections, we must expand our political base. If we want to expand our base, we must ditch the ideological purity tests that drive many otherwise persuadable voters away. At the same time, we must find the areas of broad agreement that will attract more right-of-center voters. As conservatives, we are better off winning with someone who agrees with us 80% of the time than losing with an ideologically pure but unelectable candidate.
On the presidential level, this means finding candidates who can win in purple and even light blue states, not just red states. As a practical matter, there simply aren’t enough reliably red states to get the Republican candidate to 270 electoral votes. Likewise, in statewide races (e.g. gubernatorial and senate races), Republicans need candidates who can win over suburban voters and even some urban voters, especially in the more largely populated states. Again, there aren’t enough votes in red rural counties to win statewide elections in many states.
How do Republicans expand their base and win more elections? In my opinion, we broaden the base by focusing on economic and fiscal issues while de-emphasizing the more divisive social issues. I accept that reasonable people can disagree on this point. But however we do it, people must first listen to us. And for them to listen to us, they must trust us and like us. Accordingly, we must recruit conservative candidates who are personally credible, trustworthy, competent, experienced, and likable. As William F. Buckley summed it up in his famous rule, we must find the most conservative candidates who can actually win elections.
BS. This is exactly what has gotten us where we are today, elections where the only choice is between a liberal and a socialist.
When people with “R” by their names steal from veterans, not only allow, but subsidize illegal invasion of our country, promote every bigger, more intrusive government, and undercut the second amendment, they are WORSE than the ones with “D” by their names who make no serious pretense to honor these things.
Expecting a different result by continuously repeating the same action is insanity. Keep rewarding the GOP elites by voting for whatever they and the media portray as the “lessor evil” and the US will keep getting hosed.
I don”t tink we will win an election , with this talkking point,
which could have been sent to the Republicans, instead of helping the DEMOCRATS TO WIN,
here again anothe election time is getting prepared,
we have the right party to fix things for all the AMERICANS, BECAUSE THAT,WHERE THE REPUBLICAN WANT TO FIX FIRST, and GOD KNOW IT’S OF THE MOST IMPORTANCE,
KEN GARDNER
thank you for this post,
I think the Republicans and the GOPS, AND THE TEAPARTY, and Libertarians,
ALL GROUP IN THE SAME LABEL, BUT WITH THEIR OWN BELIEFS, SHOULD BE MAKING A VERY GOOD CHOICE OF CANDIDATES,
AS OPOSE TO WHAT IS OFFER BY THE DEMOCRATS’ same old policy to take not give, what the people expect from them, and their rush to bring other illegals from the GLOBE,
without asking the people first,
it is a well known fact that if one group or family want to incorporate illegal to live with them, they always ask the other if they aggree,
not the DEMOCRATS, THEY LOVE THE UNKNOWN OF WHO THOSE ARE, WHERE THEY COME FROM, DEMOCRATS GIVE THEM AN OKAY AND EVEN CHANGE THEIR NAME ON SOME,
OPEN HOUSE FOR THE DEMOCRATS, THEY TAKE THE HARD WORKING PEOPLE’S MONEY TO GIVE THE ILLEGAL THE BEST,
If the people think seriously, and are for AMERICA’S BEST TO BE IN CHARGE, THIS REPUBLICAN GROUP OFFER ALL WHAT AMERICA GIVE SO GENEROUSLY TO THE ONE WHO SEARCH, IS THE PLACE WHO OFFER MORE CANDIDATES, THE BEST CHOSEN BY THE PEOPLE, FOR ALL STASTES, AND ARE MORE INCLINED TO FOLLOW THE LAWS OF THE LAND, WHICH THEY KNOW AND ACCEPT TO OBEY,
AND APPLY IF ELECTED,
AS OPOSE TO DEMOCRATS WHO ARE FOR,
REDISTRIBUTION OF THE PEOPLE’S MONEY, LIKE IT OR NOT, THEY TAKE IT,
AND HAVE ELECT AND COVER UP, A DICTATOR IMPOSING HIS SOCIALIST AGENDA , WHICH IS ALREADY SO DESTRUCTIVE, AND DEPRESSING TO A PEOPLE USE TO BE FREE TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS OF SUCCESS FOR THEIR FAMILY, TO ONE DAY CONTINUE THEIR DREAMS THIS IS UNAVAILABLE NOW, BUT IT WAS BEFORE MANY FORGOT IT AND NOW HAVE STOP SEARCHING FOR JOBS GONE TO OTHER COUNTRIES BY THE PLANE LOADED WITH THE JOB’S CREATORS,AND THEIR DREAMS TO BE SUCCESSFUL OVER THERE, WHERE THEY ARE WELCOME NOT ROB OF WHAT THEY HAVE,
BYE