This Tuesday offers a good chance for Republicans to take the Senate. Expecting a late surge for Democrats, I predict a modest 51-52 seat majority, but anything from 49 to 55 is possible. And yet, should Harry Reid lose his scepter of power, just what should Republicans do?
I know two schools of thought:
One school says to play nice, reaching endlessly across the aisle as if we never won. The other says ram through all levels of the Conservative agenda as if we have some great mandate. So either we inspire no one with a whimper, or we drive away masses with a roar.
Might I offer a third option?
First, let’s keep in mind why Democrats are falling, ‘kay? It’s not because voters are madly in love with us Righties—though we are, without question, adorable. It’s because of “control.” Americans are sick of being told how to live, especially by leaders showing little interest in protecting the cattle they herd. Witness an open border with millions of illegals gobbling up jobs. Or how about a welcome mat for Ebola? There’s a pathetic slappy fight approach to ISIS, abandoned Americans in Benghazi, and insane limitations on the oil and coal development which could free us from needing OPEC. No, voters aren’t giving Republicans a mandate; they just hate Democrats enough for us to create one.
The Democrat message is “We want our preferences to be your laws. And since we’re in control, we don’t even respect you enough to protect you.” This arrogance provides great opportunity for us to do the opposite. Blessed with a majority, I propose we counter the Democrats “Control” agenda by pushing a “Choice” agenda, in three waves:
1. First, bring a simple message: “We want your choices unleashed, and protected.”
a. Tired of losing choices and fulltime work with Obamacare? Try medical savings accounts (regardless of your deductible), buying across state lines, Tort Reform—unlike Obamacare’s assault upon our healthcare system, these choices will increase your power to access it.
b. Tired of government limiting your right to arm yourself? Forget that! Criminals don’t count their bullets, so why should you? The 2nd Amendment is back, baby.
c. Like public schools? Great! Like private schools? Great! Take a voucher and choose. Unlike Democrats, we don’t want schools forcing our values on your kids.
d. Need a job? Let’s replace welfare with “Back in Business” (click here to read it).
e. Want to work in a union? Great! Don’t want to? Great! Choose for yourself with private ballots. And let's make sure no politicians receive your union dues unless you approve.
f. Want to run a business without government micromanaging you? Great! We’ll streamline every piece of business legislation possible. Government should serve business, not the other way around, because business pays for government.
g. Drink whatever size soda you want. Criticize whoever you want—we won’t censor you with political correctness. Eat meat, drive fast cars, live…your…life! As an added bonus, we won’t even monitor you.
h. Finally, about those threats to your choices—open borders, Ebola, terrorism, energy dependence upon unstable regions--we will protect you from them. Not someday, not in decades, but now, because you—the American people—come first with us.
As the party of “Choice,” we Republicans want to control our own lives, not yours.
2. In the second wave, reframe the morality debate. As a born-again Christian, I want to live like Jesus. That’s my choice. But as a Christian citizen, I don’t want laws forcing non-Christians to live like Jesus (nor did Jesus, btw—there is no Christian Jihad). So what kind of morality laws can gain a lasting mandate? Try this: “We support every choice that doesn’t take away someone else’s choice.” Some examples:
a. Want to steal? Forget it—that choice removes someone else’s choice of how to use her money. Want to kill? No—that removes someone else’s choice of whether to live. Want to rape? Unlike the Left, we’ll punish you severely. Want to commit terrorist acts? We won’t try to understand you or exchange you for deserters, got it? We’ll hunt and destroy you as a threat to American liberty.
b. Want contraception? Pay for it yourself. Your personal choices shouldn’t be funded by people who either don’t use those things or don’t support them.
c. Want an abortion? I’m pro-life, so we might disagree over when another person is in play—when abortion removes a choice to live. But can we at least look at late-term abortions? My question: If you contend there is still no human life after 20 weeks, is this because you’ve looked at the evidence, or because you looked away for convenience?
Remember, Democrats are losing because they cram leftwing views down people’s throats with laws and Hollywood preaching. So don’t imitate them. Offering morality in the form of choices that don’t rob other people of their choices, we gain listeners—and our mandate grows. After all, grace can’t be sold with control; only with choice.
3. In the third wave, educate voters on economics—this can be done after earning trust with a “Choice” agenda. Show the damage caused by redistributing wealth and forcing minimum wages higher than market value. Explain how entitlements, skyrocketing debt and overprinting by the Fed devastate our future. Quit dodging the truth, but first earn the right to say it.
Without new teaching, these issues are currently unwinnable—but people will listen after we unleash and protect their choices. Win their hearts, and they’ll hear our ideas.
So there’s my plan for a new majority. By rejecting the Democrats, voters allow us to create a new mandate, so let’s create one! Have you ever seen a nice guy drive a girl home from a party where she dumped her crummy boyfriend? If the nice guy is smart, he won’t act like he has a “mandate”—he’ll see she just tossed a bum. But opportunity still knocks, my friends! Treat her well, honor her choices, and protect her from threats. Don’t be what she just left...be better.
If Republicans put forth a positive, “Choice” agenda these next two years, would Democrats have any chance in 2016? Would Americans rush back to the arms of their oppressors?
I think not.
I know two schools of thought:
One school says to play nice, reaching endlessly across the aisle as if we never won. The other says ram through all levels of the Conservative agenda as if we have some great mandate. So either we inspire no one with a whimper, or we drive away masses with a roar.
Might I offer a third option?
First, let’s keep in mind why Democrats are falling, ‘kay? It’s not because voters are madly in love with us Righties—though we are, without question, adorable. It’s because of “control.” Americans are sick of being told how to live, especially by leaders showing little interest in protecting the cattle they herd. Witness an open border with millions of illegals gobbling up jobs. Or how about a welcome mat for Ebola? There’s a pathetic slappy fight approach to ISIS, abandoned Americans in Benghazi, and insane limitations on the oil and coal development which could free us from needing OPEC. No, voters aren’t giving Republicans a mandate; they just hate Democrats enough for us to create one.
The Democrat message is “We want our preferences to be your laws. And since we’re in control, we don’t even respect you enough to protect you.” This arrogance provides great opportunity for us to do the opposite. Blessed with a majority, I propose we counter the Democrats “Control” agenda by pushing a “Choice” agenda, in three waves:
1. First, bring a simple message: “We want your choices unleashed, and protected.”
a. Tired of losing choices and fulltime work with Obamacare? Try medical savings accounts (regardless of your deductible), buying across state lines, Tort Reform—unlike Obamacare’s assault upon our healthcare system, these choices will increase your power to access it.
b. Tired of government limiting your right to arm yourself? Forget that! Criminals don’t count their bullets, so why should you? The 2nd Amendment is back, baby.
c. Like public schools? Great! Like private schools? Great! Take a voucher and choose. Unlike Democrats, we don’t want schools forcing our values on your kids.
d. Need a job? Let’s replace welfare with “Back in Business” (click here to read it).
e. Want to work in a union? Great! Don’t want to? Great! Choose for yourself with private ballots. And let's make sure no politicians receive your union dues unless you approve.
f. Want to run a business without government micromanaging you? Great! We’ll streamline every piece of business legislation possible. Government should serve business, not the other way around, because business pays for government.
g. Drink whatever size soda you want. Criticize whoever you want—we won’t censor you with political correctness. Eat meat, drive fast cars, live…your…life! As an added bonus, we won’t even monitor you.
h. Finally, about those threats to your choices—open borders, Ebola, terrorism, energy dependence upon unstable regions--we will protect you from them. Not someday, not in decades, but now, because you—the American people—come first with us.
As the party of “Choice,” we Republicans want to control our own lives, not yours.
2. In the second wave, reframe the morality debate. As a born-again Christian, I want to live like Jesus. That’s my choice. But as a Christian citizen, I don’t want laws forcing non-Christians to live like Jesus (nor did Jesus, btw—there is no Christian Jihad). So what kind of morality laws can gain a lasting mandate? Try this: “We support every choice that doesn’t take away someone else’s choice.” Some examples:
a. Want to steal? Forget it—that choice removes someone else’s choice of how to use her money. Want to kill? No—that removes someone else’s choice of whether to live. Want to rape? Unlike the Left, we’ll punish you severely. Want to commit terrorist acts? We won’t try to understand you or exchange you for deserters, got it? We’ll hunt and destroy you as a threat to American liberty.
b. Want contraception? Pay for it yourself. Your personal choices shouldn’t be funded by people who either don’t use those things or don’t support them.
c. Want an abortion? I’m pro-life, so we might disagree over when another person is in play—when abortion removes a choice to live. But can we at least look at late-term abortions? My question: If you contend there is still no human life after 20 weeks, is this because you’ve looked at the evidence, or because you looked away for convenience?
Remember, Democrats are losing because they cram leftwing views down people’s throats with laws and Hollywood preaching. So don’t imitate them. Offering morality in the form of choices that don’t rob other people of their choices, we gain listeners—and our mandate grows. After all, grace can’t be sold with control; only with choice.
3. In the third wave, educate voters on economics—this can be done after earning trust with a “Choice” agenda. Show the damage caused by redistributing wealth and forcing minimum wages higher than market value. Explain how entitlements, skyrocketing debt and overprinting by the Fed devastate our future. Quit dodging the truth, but first earn the right to say it.
Without new teaching, these issues are currently unwinnable—but people will listen after we unleash and protect their choices. Win their hearts, and they’ll hear our ideas.
So there’s my plan for a new majority. By rejecting the Democrats, voters allow us to create a new mandate, so let’s create one! Have you ever seen a nice guy drive a girl home from a party where she dumped her crummy boyfriend? If the nice guy is smart, he won’t act like he has a “mandate”—he’ll see she just tossed a bum. But opportunity still knocks, my friends! Treat her well, honor her choices, and protect her from threats. Don’t be what she just left...be better.
If Republicans put forth a positive, “Choice” agenda these next two years, would Democrats have any chance in 2016? Would Americans rush back to the arms of their oppressors?
I think not.
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