With the GOP enjoying the “largest margin they’ve ever enjoyed in the generic-ballot question“, it would seem to be glory days for the Republican Party.
But, let me, ever the optimist, to add a dose of necessary caution. We may be pulling ahead of the Democrats and enjoying support (at least on the generic ballot) that exceeds leads we enjoyed in 1994, but people aren’t so much warming to the GOP as they are choosing the only real alternative to an increasingly unpopular party in power (it’s why despite her flaws and gaffes, Angle will likely pull it out in Nevada).
Just like 2006, people aren’t looking to vote for the party out of power, but against the party in power.
In fact, in many polls, the Republican Party’s favorables are still lower than the Democrats’. And even so: Biggest generic ballot lead … in history. That’s how popular Hopenchange is.
The flip side of that calculus, of course: Imagine what the lead would be like if people liked the GOP.
That’s why the GOP needs to come up with a plan akin to 1994’s Contract with America. Sure, it’ll give the Democrats a target. But, it will also give Republicans a chance to run on something. They need to show they’re not the big-spending party of the Bush years — and that they’ve learned the lessons of ’06 and ’08.
I totally agree that the GOP needs a plan, but where’s it going to come from? McConnell? Boehner? McCain? I think that one of Obama’s better qualities is that he is young and not part of the Old Guard. One of his biggest problems is that Congress is controlled by the senior DEMs who have decades old agendas not that relevant right now. If the GOP wins back the Congress but then puts the tired old war horses back in the committee chairs all we’ve done is rearranged the deck chairs until the next election. What the GOP needs is a plan that enacts Obama’s promise to truly transform how government works and make it useful again. So far I don’t see that happening at all. I hope I’m wrong.
I think that the plan, such as it will be, is being driven from outside the traditional power base of Washington. And that is a good thing. THe problem has been that Republicans bought all the claptrap after the 2008 election about their impending doom. I have much more faith in the American people. And come November 2, I do not believe that I will be proven wrong. BTW, the Republicans were also in the dumper about the same time in 1994.
Isn’t that what Paul Ryan submitted?