Ahira's Hangar

Earlier today I heard some radio commentators talk about the GOP looking for a new 'brand identification'? What happened to their old brand, fear? Be afraid of immigrants, they're here to take your job, invade your schools, mooch off your local services. Be afraid of foreigners, they're all terrorists and want to kill you wherever you stand. Be afraid of H1N1, it will kill you. Did that brand run out?

One can only hope that the fear thing has run its course. I, for one, did not think it was healthy for society as a whole. Sure -prudence and disaster preparedness are fine - but not when it gets to the point of widespread paranoia and xenophobia.

I would think that the Republican party is looking for an image that plays better with the general public than what they had did during the last general election.

I don't think the fear thing has gone away, but I think they alienated their supporters with all the spending or something.

--A

Yeah, the spending got way out of control under Bush, and is even worse now as Obama tries to repair the damage. A lot of people (I for one) were also infuriated by the slow government response to Katrina - and that also damaged the Republican brand in at least some eyes. Also the open racism in campaign rallies with the loathsome Palin (McCain to his credit did publicly speak out against it) left a really rancid taste in the mouths of many people.

It will be very interesting to see how the Republicans run for the next national elections now that health care reform has been passed.

Are they really going to run on a platform taking health insurance away from sick children and 32 million people? How will the greater American public react to that? (I am talking about the great unwashed and uncourted middle like myself, who belong to no party - not their base who will vote for them no matter what).

How will they deal with the more loathsome elements of the Tea Baggers? (the people who sincerely believe in smaller government and less taxes are not a problem - the problem is that the Tea Bagging movement has seemingly been taken over by hysterically angry people who are really loud and obvious and in your face in their racism and homophobia as exemplified by their monstrously rude acts towards congressmen in the hours leading up to the health care reform votes).

I did not think that the Democrats - who usually act like a herd of cats - could show so much political savvy - but they have made the best parts of the health care law - such as not allowing the insurance companies to deny coverage to sick children - kick in just before the next elections, while leaving the less popular aspects (such as forcing people to choose between insurance and a fine) for four years in the future, which will put in well into Obama's lame duck Presidency (if he is re-elected). So when the next elections come around, people might like what they have seen thus far in the bill (discounting people who will hate it no matter what, of course) and how will the Republicans deal with that?

Yeah, interesting question. I was reading a very similar analysis of the timing. And now he's apparently going to try and reform student loans, and regulate the financial sector, because everybody hates wall street right now.

--A