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The Spectacle Blog

'Dead Wood' and New Republicans

By Robert Stacy McCain on 12.2.08 @ 11:26AM

Red State's Erick Erickson has some provocative thoughts today on "dead wood" in the conservative movement:

Inside the conservative movement, there is a lot of deadwood -- institutions and personalities who continue sucking up resources long after the usefulness of the organization is over. . . .
There are few truly indispensable people in the movement and far too many dispensable people who think they are indispensable. Likewise, there are too many conservative organizations that operate as employment vehicles for out of work politicians still needing their egos stroked.
Conservatism must be about the advancement of freedom and opportunity, not the advancement of any one person. Thus we need to rebuild the movement and burn up the dead wood.

A more constructive approach might be to invigorate the movement by the formation of new institutions, an approach that University of Georgia law student Steven Lee is taking with his Internet-based group, The New Republican.

View all comments (3) | Leave a comment

Duke927| 12.2.08 @ 11:24PM

I read Erick's remarks. It is not just deadwood. It is lack of vision and strategy, infighting among the factions, lack of appeal, some very arrogant moments which were public relations disasters, dems unfortunately very successful job of marginalising and demonising the right. Sometimes I feel we are better on the defense (out of office) with just enough power to block most of the insanity from the other side than the offense where we bumble around with no message and no fire. Oh and please stop throwing stumbling block litmus tests in folks way, we need young and fresh blood and not just white christian blood either. We are seen as the party of old white farts who lack any relevance. We need to go after minorities in an intelligent and meaningful way not just writing them off because we feel it is a wasted effort. We may just go the way of the Whigs or split into teeny tiny factions of no power or import.

Bob| 12.3.08 @ 7:55AM

I agree with Duke 100% especially concerning the litmus tests of the so-cons. One of the major problems is the anti-intellectual bent of the party -- and publications like AmSpec. You can't be "intelligent and meaningful" without intelligent leaders.

The lack of knowledge of economic theory in political blogs like this is dramatic. The dumbing down of the Republican party must stop. We must become a smart, pragmatic, well-educated party. That's how you can attract the youth and minorities.