Right Wing Behavior--Perhaps its time to try something different?

It is truly a challenging time to be a Republican. For the party faithful, it has been painful to watch as John McCain got beaten handily by Barack Obama. The fiscal dogma of lower taxes, less regulation and economic prosperity may still hold value, but has been difficult to defend in light of recent economic events. Party leadership has been unable to present a clear vision of what a return to the majority could even look like. More importantly, there really IS no party leadership at this point. There is no message.

And things are starting to unhinge. As Republicans, and more generally, Conservatives, watch Barack Obama take over the role of President, with a largely supportive Congress, and a hopeful populance, The Right has been flailing around, looking for a winning position on ANY issue. Take specific note of the following:

• Hard Line Opposition--Rush Limbaugh has been playing the role of hard line opposition, saying "I hope he fails" to Barack Obama's fiscal and social agenda. While this may rally the Conservative die-hards, it is seen as rooting against America by most, left right and center.
• Righteous Indignation--John Boehner tried to use righteous indigence in his objection to the proposed Economic stimulus package. But he has no credibility, as no one believes a guy who had significant influence in driving America into a $10 Trillion debt position over the past 8 years, can NOW be counted on to hold the line on spending.
• Constructive Feedback--Paul Ryan (who is quickly becoming a party leader, and bright spot in the party) has expressed his concerns about the stimulus package, but has taken a position of pitching his ideas to Obama, in hopes of getting a sympathetic audience. He has made some noise about being able to do better than what the Dems have proposed. But in all, he has tried to work with Obama on ideas that he and his party care about.
• Tactical Obstruction--John Cornyn has been trying to act as chief obstructionist on Cabinet Hearings. Does anyone understand why he acted so forcefully to delay, for one day, a confirmation vote on Hillary Clinton? In the end, it passed 94-2. Good job, John! Way to accomplish nothing, and slow down the process in the meantime. Holding up the Eric Holder vote will prove to be equally dubious (considering the fact that Holder will probably get upwards of 75 votes). And yet Cornyn is doing his best to delay the process. Why?
• Name Calling--Ken Blackwell has made it a point to try to use the tried and true Republican strategy of poking a stick in the eye of the Democratic Party, and Obama in particular, in hopes of taking over party leadership responsibilities. Like Presidential Primaries, candidates must go RIGHT in the primaries to win. Unfortunately, in an RNC election, that leads to the most strident of Conservatives leading the party. At this moment in time, such a move could prove to be harmful to a party lacking in direction, credible leadership, and power.
• Trying to Stay Relevant--Sarah Palin has continued to show up in news cycles on occasion, but more and more as a sideshow than anything. Her interviews with the Today Show, or the efforts to put out documentaries on her struggles with the Media, or even recent complaints that the media is going after her family, have all had two things in common: a lack of real substance to the policy debate, and an attack on someone or some entity for how they portray HER or her family.

What I think we may be seeing here is the passing of the torch of some of the establishment Conservative and GOP voices, as the long time leaders are suddenly in a position they haven't been in for years--out of power. This is a desperate attempt by some to stay relevant in the absence of any real influence over the public governance debate. And desperate people react in desperate ways.

In the end, though, the GOP will remain relevant to the discussion in America, simply because 58 million Americans voted for their party in one of the worst political environments in the history of the party. The country may not be as center-right as Newt Gingrich would like you to believe, but it has not become hard left overnight either. Political cycles ebb and flow, and Conservative principles will come into vogue if Obama's policies don't generate the kind of change in America that people in the middle of the spectrum had hoped for.

It may take the kind of leadership someone like Congressman Paul Ryan can provide--with new enthusiasm for Conservative principles, and few ties to the old Republican Leadership. It certainly seems that the other acts of Republican and Conservative Leadership have been desperate, flailing, and transparently craven. Perhaps its time to try something different.