Lessons the Republicans Must Learn

You might believe Obama is a sorry choice for America.  But, you've got to respect his political acumen.  While you're at it, 'fess up that the Republican's made an astounding number of rookie errors.

Obama as a neighborhood organizer and, metaphysically speaking, learned politics at the foot of his late, great mentor, Saul Alinsky.  Of course Obama wasn't the only one.  Without probably ever having heard of Alinsky, Huey Long used pretty much the same techniques.  The people loved him too.

What is America's biggest problem?  It's our woeful financial state of affairs.  So, what were the Republicans doing getting into the women's rights squabble.  Why did they get involved with people who speak to God and who insist that every fetus is holy.  Leave that to the states.  Ditto millionaires and billionaires.  Far fewer people are "haves" than "have nots."  That's just the way it is even in socialist states.  So why argue.  Republicans should have stressed that they were fighting for the middle class instead of giving this argument to the Democrats.  The millionaires and billionaires have lawyers who will find loop holes for them.  The middle class by and large doesn't.  Then too there was the stupidity in the Republican position on Latinos.

But, that's all history.  Today, it's gun control, an issue brought forth more strongly than perhaps ever before in our history by the tragic killing of those little kids in Connecticut.  Do Republicans really want to be associated with the NRA?  We know many Americans love guns.  The Republicans should say, "let them have them."  But to support Americans rights to guns doesn't mean being irresponsible.  Weapons for hunting -- great.  Assault weapons -- no.  Registration -- yes.  Loop holes when sales are made by private individuals -- no.  Is this really so hard?

Paul Ryan made a truly heroic effort to get the U.S. back on its fiscal tracks when he offered a budget proposal in the House.  Then there was the Simpson-Bowles recommendations (one of the two a Republican, the other a Democrat).  This is the issue the Republicans should have pursued single-mindedly.  This is what America needs so desperately.  If Obama had the interest of America as his first priority, he'd be trying to get this done.  But, he doesn't, so it's up to the Republicans to pull up their socks and start acting smarter.  America depends on you