Beware of false GOP rebranding efforts

[babylonsister]

http://www.salon.com/2012/11/14/beware_of_false_gop_rebranding_efforts/

Beware of false GOP rebranding efforts
When Bobby Jindal says Republicans must change their ways, he doesn't mean change their policies or anything
By Alex Pareene


Conservatives with an eye on the future are rolling out their post-election loss “we must remake the party to save it” pitches. In Politico, Louisiana governor and perennial fantasy presidential candidate Bobby Jindal weighs in, getting some positive press for saying, “We’ve got to make sure that we are not the party of big business, big banks, big Wall Street bailouts, big corporate loopholes, big anything.” One would think some major policy changes would be required to make the Republican Party cease being the party of big business. One would be wrong.

There are two separate conservative narratives emerging since Obama’s shocking-to-them reelection. Everyone in one camp is basically saying, don’t overreact to this loss, because a couple thousand extra white votes in Ohio would’ve won it. The other camp is basically competing to win Andrew Sullivan “Yglesias Awards.” (Congrats, Erick and Gov. Jindal! And Bill Kristol, too!) They are sounding, suddenly, very reasonable. They are recognizing the flaws of their side and demanding changes. Just not actually any significant changes.

When you hear Republicans and conservatives soberly intone that Big Changes Will Have to Be Made if they want to Remain Competitive, listen closely for any actual suggested Big Changes. Go through the Politico story on its Jindal interview and you’ll see that he is actually not saying anything at all. Jindal is clearly pursuing the same agenda as he was before the election. His point is that this agenda should be branded slightly differently.

This is his prescription: The Republican Party should stop saying stupid things.


snip//

This isn’t really shocking: The Republican Party is stuck with the leadership it has. The movement conservatives long ago took over, and it would be very odd if they all stopped being movement conservatives. In 1996, after the Republicans failed to unseat a president they hated, they blamed their too-moderate candidate and then slapped the label “compassionate” on their existing beliefs. They will likely do something very similar this time.

It would just be nice if the press pointed out that almost none of their longtime policy proposals are likely to change, because they haven’t really changed any of the big ones in a quarter-century.

[BeyondGeography]

1. They'll try to put a sombrero on the elephant and give it boobs

People will be smarter than that.

[bluedigger]

7. LOL

I hope a good cartoonist reads your post.

[AndyTiedye]

2. This Seems Like the Appropriate Brand for Flip Flop Mitt and His Ilk

[LongTomH]

3. New and Improved! All new!

Just don't read the list of ingredients on the side of the package!

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. What amazes me is ...

the gop is BROADCASTING that it intends to lie to the electorate ... "We don't need to change our policies or core principles, we just need to be smart about how we discuss them."

Why do I get a head-picture of the old creepy guy trolling the college bar at last call, weeping about the terrible divorce he is going through ... with his wedding ring in his pocket and his phone on vibrate?

[AnnaLee]

5. I'm sure this is not original since it is so obvious.

I am having a vision of a political cartoon that has a Republican holding open a door labeled prosperity while another Republican adds weights to a ball and chain on a worker's leg. Behind the door Trump is selling casino bets and rich people are laughing at the struggles of the guy with the ball and chain and weights.

What does your imagination see?

[rustydog]

6. All Jindal is doing, plus positioning for the 2016 nomination, is telling

everyone the GOP needs to change manner in which they deliver a message, not their belief-system.
You can still be deeply anti-gay marriage, Pro-life/pro death penalty, believe life begins with the first masturbation stroke...JUST STOP SAYING IT PUBLICLY!

This guy firmly believed volcano monitoring is a waste of government spending. He firmly stands behind his strongly-held states-rights/responsibility belief...until he needs federal funds for gulf storm damages and Deep water Horizon debacle...Then taxpayer money is just fine and dandy.