Let me second Patrick Ruffini's admonition that Erick Erickson's post on how technology has to play a role in the future of the GOP is indeed a must read, particularly for serious activists and leaders in the Republican party and/or the conservative movement.
The core point of both gentlemen is that the infusion of technology itself into party and campaign apparatuses needs to be done by people with technology backgrounds, not the usual political hacks (and no, bloggers by no means qualify was technology gurus, as Erickson & Ruffini point out).
Moreover, this point by Erickson requires special mention:
Duplicating Obama's technology effort is not the solution for the right and those who say it is are the first people not to hire.
The post goes on at some length explaining why Obama's core online activists don't align with the equivalent, potential GOP match.
I would also argue that even many Democrats would not be able to duplicate Obama's technological machine. It was in some respects a totally unique phenomenon, coupled with exceptionally atypical exterior events (economic meltdown, fumbling McCain candidacy, etc.). Thus, GOP reformers should not presume that technological organizing was the linchpin of the Obama victory.
What it did do was dramatically run-up the score when the economy become THE issue of the campaign at the same time John McCain demonstrated his total inability to display Presidential steadiness and articulate a clear message on the most pressing issue on voters minds. Had the election itself been closer, Obama's technology-based advantage (the rough equivalent of the GOP's voter turnout edge in 2004) would clearly have been put him over the top.
Local twist: the work of RNC tech guru Cyrus Krohn helped shape the web-based ads of Dave Reichert's successful re-election campaign.
Posted by Eric Earling at December 29, 2008 08:15 PM | Email ThisThe candidate also was the most conservative of all GOP candidates when looking at it from a borders perspective, tax perspective, spending perspective, monetary policy perspective, and pro life perspective.
Posted by: Lysander on December 29, 2008 09:22 PMThis should be good....
Posted by: All Facts Support My Positions on December 29, 2008 09:47 PMYou're definitely right that GOP reformers should not presume that technology was central to an Obama victory.
It's amazing how intentionally blind some folks are.
Posted by: Andrew Brown on December 29, 2008 10:43 PMRight. A largely gullible electorate that believed in pixie dust and empty rhetoric/platitudes were.
Ooh, good point. Keep telling the electorate that they're idiots. That'll be sure to win bigtime votes in any election. The swing voters just love that kind of talk.
While you're at it, stand on a street corner, crapping your pants, yelling out "Hey Stoopid Libs! This iz you!"
Or, just complain that the nanny state didn't shovel your snow or pick up your garbage in a timely manner during an act of God. Be sure to provide no solutions other than cutting taxes.
So, by all means, please continue to "rebuild" the Republican party in this way. Good luck with that.
Posted by: Joe on December 30, 2008 06:00 AMYou can have all the technology you want. If your "message" is proven to be fraudulent day after day it wears you down in the end, as we have seen. Even if the press takes 8 years off, and refuse to investigate anything....
If your "ideas" only help the super rich, and are responsible for destroying our economy, you better get some new ideas fast! Is today the day? I really doubt it since the "haves" and the "have mores" are the base, according to Fuhrer Bush.
The question is "What do Republicans stand for" folks?
Don't call me a troll. I'm here to help my country. I used to be a Republicon. They didn't leave me. They left my universe. All the databases and targeted messages won't change this fact Eric.
On the other hand, you can sing "Barack the magic...." all the way to your party's graveyard if you want to! I wouldn't miss y'all.
Posted by: All Facts Support My Positions on December 30, 2008 07:43 AM" .... Erick Erickson's post on how technology has to play a role in the future of the GOP is indeed a must read, particularly for serious activists and leaders in the Republican party and/or the conservative movement." Erick Erickson
Lysander:
I remind you that comment was written by Eric Earling.
Ask yourself what would Eric Earling know about Republicans (the Republican 'Party' of Mainstream Republicans yes, Republicans no) in general and Conservatives in particular and you can understand Eric Earling's ( and Stefen Sharkansky's ) view of the 'future' of the 'Republican Party' and with Michael Young, Lori Sotelo, Luke Esser and Rob McKenna in control of the King County and Washington State Republican Party understand that 'future' does not include Conservatives which is why " .... his supporters were much more technologically adept than typically GOP supporters, and the GOP leadership including local leadership did everything in their power to keep them OUT of the party. "
Posted by: Brian Thomas on December 30, 2008 07:49 AMBullcrap.
Posted by: Yeah sure on December 30, 2008 10:21 AMI said gullible. There's a difference.
"...just complain that the nanny state didn't shovel your snow or pick up your garbage in a timely manner during an act of God."
Was the Mayor's 2 weeks of inaction also an act of God or just sheer incompetence? I pay taxes in order that things happen in government. If the local government isn't going to provide the services they've promised they'd provide, simply refund my money and that will absolve them of their accountabity. Simple really.
"Be sure to provide no solutions other than cutting taxes"
Certainly more acceptable than the alternative of "provid[ing] no solutions other than raising taxes"...which you'd prefer,"Joe".
Posted by: Rick D. on December 30, 2008 10:38 AMYes there is a difference between the words idiot and gullible, but pertaining to the point being made (insulting voters) the difference is meaningless.
Posted by: Lysander on December 30, 2008 11:42 AMWhen I go to PCO meetings, the invite is by email and the response by Web Form.
I think the Republicans are pretty much up to speed on the basics of the Web.
I don't blame technology -- but I do blame ideology -- the software of the mind -- for losing us the election.
The problem is perception. People like Obama get elected because of their ability to manipulate crowds. As long as a candidate insists on telling people the truth instead of what they want to hear they will loose.
Republicans are also perceived as being condescending and out of touch with poor folks. Democrats work the class envy angle and appeal to poor people. Mostly because they are so adept at creating them.
The only way Republicans are going to gain any ground is to change the way they operate. They will have to lie, cheat and litigate their way into office. In other words become Democrats.
It's not insulting to say voters were duped by Obama's empty rhetoric, platitudes and meaningless slogans during the campaign, its a stark reality. All of this "Hope and Change" jargon and then he brings on board all of the Clintonistas from the previous Democratic administration into his cabinet? Apparently, in Obama's world the more things "change", the more they stay the same.
Now, about that Hope...
Posted by: Rick D. on December 30, 2008 03:42 PMIt is insulting to tell people they are gullible and have been duped is insulting. You might not believe this, but frankly it does not matter whether you think you are insulting people, it matters whether others think you are insulting people.
Posted by: Lysander on December 30, 2008 05:01 PMYes, well, sometimes the truth hurts.
"...it does not matter whether you think you are insulting people, it matters whether others think you are insulting people."
People can find something to be insulted by every waking moment from the time they roll out of bed till the time they roll back into bed, so what's your point? Pointing out the fact that Obama is not the person many in the electorate thought/think he is, is merely stating a reality. If you're offended by reality, then you'll fit right in with the rest of the Democrat party.
Posted by: Rick D. on December 30, 2008 05:54 PMI am not offended by anything you say about obama. I agree he is not what he put himself off to be. And yes some people will be offended by just about anything you say. You however are still missing the point. calling people ignorant or easily duped while possibly accurate is not productive towards your means.
Posted by: Lysander on December 30, 2008 06:24 PMSorry, but those words were never used by me, so I couldn't tell you the value.
So far I've used the words gullible and duped to describe the electorate that voted Obama into office and I stand by those words. So far, Joe erroneously has said I called them "idiots" and you, Lysander, erroneously claimed I called them "ignorant". I simply stated an opinion @ 5, so I could really care less who I've offended by using words that some either don't understand the meaning of, or more likely, that they confuse as synonyms for.
Take it up with your educator.
Posted by: Rick D. on December 30, 2008 07:05 PMSorry for substituting 'ignorant' for 'gullible'. Again, it has little to do with the point I and Joe are making regarding not insulting people if you are trying to persuade them to see your way.
But it appears you do not care to persuade anyone. That is fine. Just keep in mind ifall you care about is expressing your opinion, do not complain when in the future more and more people do not share nor care about your opinion.
Posted by: lysander on December 30, 2008 07:19 PMEmpty rhetoric like suggesting that the infrastructure of the nation needs upgrading (looks like that's going to happen too)
Empty rhetoric like "The economy is broken"?
Don't let the GOP become the Dems of 2000-2005 always insisting on fighting the last election. Think FORWARD. Look to the future, and find a way to convince us that the future will be better than the past, and not just its sequel.
Posted by: bedir on December 30, 2008 07:29 PMCorrect. That's why it's called an opinion.
Posted by: Rick D. on December 30, 2008 07:51 PMNeither facts nor technology could trump the eagerness of willingly stupid victims.
I call it the 'Katrina' of elections: stupid populace led by crooks and villains about to reap exactly what they sowed.
Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on December 30, 2008 09:16 PMSuggest Republicans develop a more meaningful method of selecting presidential candidates. The methods in Washington State are nothing more or less then a selection process. Its time to let the party members pick the presidential candidates.
Posted by: Snuffy on January 2, 2009 09:32 AM" The methods in Washington State are nothing more or less then a selection process. Its time to let the party members pick the presidential candidates. "
Snuffy:
It is 'less then a selection process'.
It is an appointment process, an appointment process made by people for whom you probably didn't vote and you probably don't know.
And when Republicans do elect one of their own over the objections of the 'Party' leadership, the 'Party' leadership of Pat Herbold / Michael Young / Lori Sotelo / Chris Vance / Luke Esser and the fascist wing of the King County and Washington State Republican Party does whatever they can to destroy the Republican nominee, to the point of supporting the Democrat candidate, so that someone outside of the very small, very secretive and very corrupt 'Party' leadership will not gain access to the 'Party' and the 'Party' leadership will not lose the power that comes with their control of the King County and Washington State Republican Party.
" Its time to let the party members pick the presidential candidates. "
It is past time for Republicans to pick their candidate for any office, any office. But with the 'Party' leadership of Pat Herbold / Michael Young / Lori Sotelo / Chris Vance / Luke Esser and the fascist wing of the King County and Washington State Republican Party in control of the King County and Washington State Republican Party, don't think it will happen. As long as Michael Young / Lori Sotelo / Luke Esser control the King County and Washington State Republican Party you will continue to have a secretive and corrupt candidate recruitment and endorsement process that insures Candidates represent the liberal agenda of the King County and Washington State Republican Party 'leadership' and are beholden to the 'Party'.
Posted by: Brian Thomas on January 3, 2009 08:43 AM