Here's the thing: these are people who, up to now, have only responded to the needs of power. Is that about to change?
RNC members call unprecedented special meeting
Most Republicans do not know who the RNC chairman is or anything about this process. The more exposure of the candidates, their values and how they intend to turn the party around is good for public input and debate,” Emineth told The Hill. “I think Republicans are ready for a new era without Karl Rove calling the shots.
What would a 'new era' of the Republican Party look like? Of course, that depends on a lot of factors. While it's easy to blame the venality they have run under for years on Karl Rove, he was just following in the muddy footsteps of folks like Lee Atwater (before he discovered the error of his ways), in the grand old GOP habit of expecting the worst of human nature - not being prudent yet also encouraging/hoping for the best, but actively assuming that the full measure of the nature of humanity is simply negative, and that those who think otherwise are fools, rubes to be taken for all they're worth (see the New York Times article: Veterans of '90's Bailout Hope for Profit in New One for more on the 'takings').
When I look at the Democratic Party, granted, some of our representatives seem more interested in maintaining the status quo than not (witness the idea that Impeachment, or at least serious investigations, were taken 'off the table' by Speaker Pelosi). But, certainly, the party itself made unthinkable strides following Howard Dean and implementing the 50-State Strategy: which PE Obama picked up on, ran with and made his own... (to the point of, apparently, ignoring what Gov. Dean began when it came time to appointments - but I digress).
Also granted, we're at a strange place, here in the blogosphere as in the rest of the country: desperation in many parts of the nation, people in fear for the future, even when they have full bank accounts, holding our breath as the horror in the Middle East continues and worsens, waiting for the era of Bush to be over... Of course it's natural that the Party is focusing on the Inauguration as the point when change manifests, and it seems that part of that change is exactly what America needs: closing Guantanamo Bay, refuting torture of any kind, national healthcare, even in steps, fully funding education, broadband everywhere, etc, etc...As a party, and as a nation, we'll have our work cut out for us, convincing those near to us that change can be a good thing, and forcing our more recalcitrant reps to make those changes - plus holding our President accountable: he does, after all, work for us.
But, ultimately, Blue Dogs aside, the Dems are moving in the direction that the country finally understands is just, fair, and compassionate. Of course there'll be bumps along the way. Still, as a Party, our basic approach is clear. Theirs? Not so much.
How will the new crop of 'New Conservatives' respond to being thrust to the American margins, as the country has so clearly repudiated the conservative way, mumblings about center-rightedness notwithstanding? Will they split into bits and pieces of a party? What kind of conservative thought could actually serve the country as it takes on these challenges, if one believes that the balance is needed? As traditional media's power and audience changes and the internet gains sway, what will be the equivalent of their 'blogosphere'?
And who, if anyone, is their Howard Dean?
