“RAGE” AGAINST THE MACHINE

A few weeks ago in this column I suggested that “Democrats should lay the groundwork now for convincing moderate Republicans to reject conservative Republican candidates” in 2014. Apparently, when Brent Scott speaks, Karl Rove listens. Specifically, I was drawing on findings by the author Thomas Frank in his best seller, “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” In Chapter 5: “Con Men v. Mod Squads” Frank showed how Kansas’ ultra conservative and moderate Republicans battled each other throughout the late 1980s, 90s and 2000s, resulting in congressional and gubernatorial victories for Democrats. Now, GOP strategist Karl Rove (aka Bush’s Brain, aka Turd Blossom) has announced the formation of “The Conservative Victory Project” to support what Rove refers to as more electable (read moderate) Senate candidates. The Rove initiative was the first shot in the now off and running GOP Civil War.

Last Word on NBCNews.com - The GOP Civil War

 

Within hours of launching the Conservative Victory Project the ultra conservative Tea Party faction of the Republican Party began a counter, rage against the machine, offensive. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) declared that  Rove was out to get conservatives like himself and asked his supporters to pony up and help stop them. King, a Tea Party crowd favorite, is considering a run for senate in 2014 to replace retiring Democratic U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. To Rove and his moneyed backers, King represents just the kind of far right candidate (ala Todd Akin in MO) who sank GOP chances of winning the senate last year. However, it must be pointing out that Rove and his American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS PACs backed losing GOP House and Senate candidates in OH, WI, FL, MT, ID, VA, NM and ND in 2012. According to OpenSecrets.org, “American Crossroads spent money for or against 20 federal candidates in 14 races, while Crossroads GPS focused on 27 in 24 contests.” It is estimated that in total American Crossroads and GPS spent in excess of $200 million dollars on losing GOP House and Senate candidates and presidential candidate Willard Romney in 2012. With a record as dismal as that it comes as no great surprise that ultra conservative Republican Tea Party types are flat out rejecting Rove as the GOP’s savant and savior.

In two presidential elections now (2008 and 2012) Americans have firmly rejected Republican stalwart positions on everything from reproductive rights to marriage equality and their failed economic approach of help the rich through generous tax policy so that their breadcrumbs can fall down on the rest of us. The Rove initiative amounts to little more than a wardrobe change. Republicans seem unwilling to learn that it is their ideas, no matter how nicely they try to dress them up, that Americans have found abhorrent. Putting a new suit on that corpse wont revive it. The GOP civil war presents liberals and the Democratic Party with an opportunity to advance progressive ideas on everything from  economic policy to environmental protection to voting rights. Though the old adage might advise “when your opponent is in process of committing suicide, don’t interrupt him” consider this, suicide attempts often fail. Since the devolution of Newt Gingrinch in 1994 and his brinksmanship brand of politics, the GOP has rendered the U.S. government incapable of carrying out its basic constitutional duties and brought our economy to the edge of collapse. Without getting directly involved in Republican internal scuffles, Democrats need not sit it out entirely. Through a sustained (post and pre election) outreach and media campaign Democrats need to promote a progressive brand of policies and positions clearly and unflinchingly. They should do it now while the field is theirs and opposition is otherwise distracted. As important as President Obama’s election and reelection was, two presidential victories does not a trend make. A new era of progressivism is at hand but it has to be nurtured. Carpe Diem.  

RIG, FIX, JIGGER

Update: Following a backlash of public outrage and media criticism, the Republican Party is backing away from their Grand Old Scheme to RFJ (rig/fix/jigger) the Electoral College just in time for the 2016 presidential election. The plan was to change the rules in states that have been trending for the Democratic candidate in presidential elections (MI, WI, FL, OH, PA and VA) so that even if the Republican presidential candidate were to lose the popular vote statewide he/she could still be awarded a majority of state’s Electoral College delegates. The scheme could be accomplished at the state level because in each of the above states Republicans currently hold the governor’s office and a majority in the state legislature. While Republicans in WI, FL, MI, OH and VA have back away from the scheme, hyper partisan GOPs in the Keystone State are forging ahead with the plan. Stay tuned.

By Brent Scott
Executive Director of Vote By Mail America