Republican Party in a world of hurt

There is no such thing as "pristine" politics or "pure" political parties. Those parties which have limited appeal or do not care to build on their core messages in order to encourage a difference of opinion on key issues, who do not openly welcome those with some diverse opinions, will curl up and die.

There are signs that the National Republican Party is accepting that central party politics is partially to blame for the resurgence of the Democratic Party. Now, the question remains: Will the party welcome those fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats and Independents who feel they are foundering outside the political arena or their respective parties or non-parties, as the case may be?

For too long the Republican Party has been complacent to let a few voices speak for the entire contingent of party faithful.

Who is leading the Republican Party today? If Rush Limbaugh or Karl Rove or Dick Cheney are considered the top echelon in party leadership ... the party is in trouble. They instill a feeling of power only in those who feel powerless to make change on any level. John McCain? He is certainly a leader. But his quiet demeanor did not, and does not, create an environment for positive change for the party. Sarah Palin. Oh, please!

These politicians are the past spokespersons of the party, not the future.

There is a dearth of national leadership at the top of the Republican Party, of that there is little doubt. That's all the more reason to start working on the local level to elevate the presence -- and the quality of candidates -- in order to build the party from the bottom up.

Here’s a handful of truisms for politics of the future:

1) The candidate and his/her campaign have to appeal to a broad base of voters who have more common sense than just voting a straight-ticket;
2) Voters have to believe that positive change is possible if enough good people get behind an idea or candidate; and,
3) Voters elect to band together to regain their faith in the legislative process by negating the status quo and embracing positive change in form of a candidate who promised to fight for real change.

In other words, the dynamics of today's politics have to change.

Why not start now, by supporting any candidate, regardless of party, who vows to fight the status quo and demand term limits for national office holders?

An unpaid political announcement:

George S. Smith
Arkansas District 28 - State Senate
The common sense candidate