I wrote this a few weeks ago, but I believe so strongly in many of the things it cites and I feel it is a good read – so I’m re-posting it here. You can check out the original post at Project Logic Ga.

Towery only has it half right. We do need new blood in my party, but we need new ideas. I missed it, but apparently the GOP use to be a party of “new ideas.”

I’m not calling for a purge, nor a witchhunt – but frankly it is time for some of the old guard to lay down. Then there are others who have yet to rise. And then there are those who can adapt, and despite their seniority they are capable of innovating and guiding.

For example, we have some people who are absolutely on fire like Paul Ryan and Eric Cantor in the House. We have people who have been around for awhile, but have yet to reach maximum potential – such as Gov Mark Sanford and Gov Mitch Daniels. There’s the old guard who can adapt, such as Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, and Jeff Sessions. Then you have those who’s time is simply up; John McCain, Saxby Chambliss,

The 2012 field is a lot better than many are willing to admit. I think Senator John Thune could be the next Robert Taft, except pulling out the win. Senator Taft was a Republican when they were in a very small minority, but through careful maneuvering he paved a way in the Senate. Thune is a young guy, much like President Obama and just as well spoken. The two would be a great match up. Gov. Sanford is another prime candidate, representing the more Ron Paul inclined members of the party – he’s a perfect avatar of the fiscal Republican movement. Gov. Daniels won re-election last year in the anti-Republican environment, in a state that went blue and voted for mostly Democrat Congressmen. He’s doing something right in Indiana. Finally, Newt could come in and be a golden wrecking ball. Slyram, you’ve met him and I have not – but everything I have ever heard about him is that he is a genuinely brilliant. Obama is a smart guy too, can you imagine those debates? Perhaps the first time we would ever hear an analysis of nanotechnology in a Presidential debate.

The old guard has to stand down and become elder statesmen. I developed a respect for Senator John Edwards in 2004 when he resigned from the Senate to run for VP. It’s a thing about honor, and I think McCain should take heed of that. The GOP Bench is all aging at a rate that is unhealthy for the party, it is time to infuse new blood.

With new blood comes new ideas. New ideas is how we get this party and this country back on track.

It’s very easy to define a national agenda.

1. Environment – I’ve never understood why this is not a Conservative issue. As much as the GOP is called a pro-business party, it is completely false in relation to the environment. Chevrolet designed the Volt, but it’s being canceled despite the environmental benefits it would bring and the profits it could bring General Motors. Think about this; if the GOP is so for businesses why not channel that to eco-friendly solutions? It’s time to stop giving subsidies to oil companies without results. I understand that research is best when it is serendipitous, but after years of research there is no benefit – that means it is time for new minds. The GOP could become the party of environmental concern if they direct tax cuts to the right companies. it fits in perfectly with the mindset of Conservatives. This is our country, it is our duty to protect from invaders from the inside and out – including our own reckless abandon.

2. RESPONSIBLE Spending – I have said many times that I have yet to meet a person who is not a fiscal conservative at heart. I’m starting to tread into what my Pastor calls “corn bread language”, but bear with me – we all know what it is like to live on a budget. Who hasn’t been faced with the dilemma of having to be a smart shopper? Most of us have faced hard times when that pay check window wasn’t open. America is in hard times. Let’s not worry about blame, we can blame later – it’s time to fix it. America has to learn to live on a budget. If something doesn’t work, then cut it. If I have a headache and I buy a bottle of Asprin and they don’t work, I don’t keep taking them. I don’t go back to the store and buy another bottle and a bottle of Tylenol and take both. I cut out the Asprin and go buy the Tylenol. i see our government leave outdated, inefficient, and malfunctioning programs intact all the time. If it doesn’t work, then replace it. Cut the waste out. We have to be responsible with our money.

3. Common Sense Solutions – This is the point where I diverge with Libertarians. I’d love to live in a country where everyone is responsible for themselves, but it is not practical for America right now. When you start talking about eliminating SS and welfare you upset a lot of people, and allow everyone else to exploit those groups. It’s time for some common sense solutions. How about requiring those on Welfare to have to adopt a portion of a local highway to cleanup? or requiring them to work at a local food bank? Why not put the power to watch over citizens in the hands of the state and local governments, you know the people who understand what their citizens are like. A man in New York City can’t tell you what a little boy living in Rhine Georgia needs, and a law student in Sumter County can’t tell you what an elderly African American woman in Harlem needs. Some government subsidy is needed – I wish it weren’t, but it is needed. Here’s another common sense solution – why not send all the peanuts we pay farmers to destroy in Georgia to a country that needs food supplies? We could make some money off of it and they would get enough protein for a year off a single crop.

4. Security and Prosperity – These two words go hand in hand. Our country is faced by challenges inside and out; prosperity is dependent upon our country being secure. What do I mean by security? Economic security, that means handling our debt. Environmental Security, finding alternative power sources while trying to protect our natural surroundings. Traditional Security, we need to revamp our military to a modern force – smaller units that are better trained. Cultural Security, this one will upset a few – and boy do I have some gall saying this here – but our educational system is a huge mess. Vouchers would be nice, but let’s cut deeper than that. Have you seen what kids get taught these days? Let’s cut out the National Board of Education, let the States control things unless they prove they can’t. Give teachers a voice in the direction of the schools. Let’s cut out Black History Month; I know this won’t be so popular here but hear me out. We shouldn’t limit ourselves to studying black history in one month. Our children should be taught history – white, black, Hispanic, Asian – all of it all year long. Certainly it is ok to have a month to focus on black history, but too often schools limit themselves to this. Perhaps the alternative is to simply rename it African Culture Appreciation Month, to encourage the inclusion of African American leaders year round. And it shouldn’t be a history of despair. We have had dark spots in our history and bright shining spots, our teachers shouldn’t run down our country simply because we made mistakes. Who hasn’t made a mistake? We can really trransform our educational system, but it is going to take a lot of work and innovation.

5. Healthcare – The 500 pound elephant sitting in the corner. We know it is a problem, but how do we fix it? Back in the 1970s you could go to the Doctor cheap. Why not now? We need to make it so that Insurance companies can’t gouge prices, and that Doctors can earn a profit without charging outrageous prices. Malpractice suits have to be controlled. What about drugs? Walmart sells generics for 4 dollars a month – looks like the private sector can come up with some ideas huh? We need to make more programs like this available, which will likely require FDA changes.

6. Social Issues – The GOP must divorce itself from the mentality that we are simply a party of social morals. We have them, but so do Democrats. So do Libertarians. We shouldn’t exclude people for their social beliefs, but rather we should encourage their support for returning decisions over these matters to the rightful executors – the State governments.

7. Balancing Free Trade and Union Control – I’m going to refrain from throwing out ideas, but you get the gist of what I’m aiming at here.

We need innovations like the ones I have listed above. We need to think smart. We need to convince the American public that politicians aren’t just here to “lie to me and kiss my butt” as Bill Murray says in Ghostbusters 2.

These new Republicans are out there, I know it. And hopefully soon they will be a force to be reckoned with.

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2. Georgia, First
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