Can the Republicans come up with an actual plan instead of always bashing Democrats?

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In political talk, a little is plenty
By Mike Goens, July 21, 2013

My experience has been that it’s usually a good idea to take the Brylcreem approach to any discussion involving politics. Indeed, “a little dab’ll do ya” in most cases.

How often have you had conversations about politics that didn’t involve someone getting a little too excited? It’s difficult to have a civil debate about two sides of a political issue. People, especially in Alabama, are passionate about their politics and don’t have the time or patience for people who don’t think as they do or even have the nerve to ask “what about the other side?”

With that in mind, I proceeded cautiously with a friend the other day when the issue of the next presidential race was mentioned.

My friend, a somewhat-close-to-the-middle Republican, wanted my opinion about whether his party would take back the White House after eight years of Barack Obama.

The simple answer is it depends on the two nominees. We tossed out some names and ended up with a Republican Marco Rubio versus Democrat Hillary Clinton scenario. I said Clinton would win that one, and my friend reluctantly agreed.

“What’s wrong with the national Republican Party?” he asked.

Against my better judgment, I waded into the deep end and gave him some thoughts. Surprisingly, he listened without his face turning red.

First, I told him, you can’t view national politics as we see and hear things in Alabama. The rest of the country doesn’t think the way Alabamians and most Southerners think. If the nation thought like our state, Obama nor any other Democrat would be president.

I said the Republican Party has become more like a social club — more exclusive and less inclusive. The face of the GOP is essentially white and older than 55. My friend’s head moved up and down in agreement, and he pointed out his party learned nothing from 2012 when Obama’s re-election was fueled by his stance on immigration. House Republicans keep making their party’s perception on that issue worse with the immigration law they are pushing.

Finally, I told him what I consider to be the real problem. The GOP bashed Bill Clinton from the moment he announced he was running. They have blamed him for everything wrong in this country. It was an approach that helped Clinton get re-elected. By the way, Republicans, for some reason, kept blaming Clinton long after he left office.

Now, Obama is blamed for all bad things regardless of whether facts support the position. It got him re-elected, too. Republicans still bash him, but he won’t be on the ballot in 2016.

I asked: Has it occurred the anyone that the bashing strategy should be replaced with an actual plan about how they will make life better for all Americans, not just Republicans?

My friend got a little tense, but paused before talking. “Let me think about that for a minute,” he said.
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