Getting In Front of the Coming Revolution

We are all aware of the Tea Parties, the 9/12 Movement, and the awakening of the silent majority. All this in response to the far left policies and goals of the Obama administration. However, I have heard reports that Independents are leaving the Obama camp at a high rate, but not necessarily coming into the Republican camp at the same rate. There is even talk on the internet of a third party of Patriots. I believe this would be a disaster for America. The challenge to the Republican Party is to offer these Patriots somewhere to go, and a good reason to bring a lot of their friends.

I will start the discussion with three topics that I believe must be part of the enticement to those of the Patriot mindset and the newly awaken not so silent majority: 1) Honesty, 2) A Contract, and 3) An Action Plan that everyone can participate in.


A Little Honesty:
We must be honest with America and admit that the Republicans in Washington have not been the most fiscally prudent during the Bush years or even earlier. We must take pride in the fact G.W. kept us safe after 9/11, but not much got done on reducing the size and scope of the budget. The chart below from the Heritage Foundation makes my point.

We must be honest with the American People and let them know, by strong statements by all party leaders, members, and operatives that we have heard their call for responsible government. A little humble pie goes a long way.

A Contract:
Similar to the effort in the '94 election cycle, a simple 10 - 12 item contract would give the Patriots something to grab onto and say "I stand for this ..." But the plan to implement must also be there. Each element would turn into a Solutions Group and details updated monthly as we challenge our new (and old) members to contribute specific actionable items.

After the election victory, timetables are set, U.S. code to be retired is identified and regular status updates provided. Each element leader would also prepare an educational package for use by each member of the caucus as talking points. Since not every member can be an expert in everything, teamwork is essential.

Linking the web sites to each members Congressional home page is key to having ready access. Blogs to gain input and ideas could also be created to provide Grassroots connectivity.

Action Steps for Everyone:
Not everyone can be a policy wonk or party official, but we must engage all whom desire to participate with meaningful activities. Around the election, tasks are easy to find, but even before the season, engaging the Patriots in activities is key to spreading the message. Demonstrations, marches, e-mail blitzes, and the like can be a starting point. The list could be endless.

Summary:
We who care deeply about this country do not want it torn down by the Socialist Democrats. We must unite and utilize this new found energy and forge it into a single team to educate those that remain on the sidelines. Whether you have been active in the Republican party for 25 years or 5 months, we need to do something to get in front of this energy and guide it.

We need to do it NOW. I suggest we challenge every county organization in the country to compile ideas and action items for a December '09 launch.