GOP Civil War Begins

The morning after the election has brought an opening salvo in what could become a contentious battle of recriminations for the GOP, as various factions lay blame and beg for immunity in what has been, since 2004, a slow disintegration of their power in Washington. Just after noon, House Republicans feathers began to ruffle, as it was reported that Minority Leader John Boehner released a letter to his colleagues, officially asking to retain his job:

I'm deeply disappointed by the outcome of Tuesday's election. But I'm equally committed to building a lasting majority on the reform principles that define us and inspire our citizens. For this reason, I'm writing today to announce my candidacy for Republican Leader in the 111th Congress, and to request the honor of your vote.

As your Leader, I've worked tirelessly for our team, and tried to lead by example. I'll always be straight with you, and I'll always be open to your ideas. You deserve nothing less. I can't ask for the best from you unless I'm willing to give it myself.

Winning the majority and rebuilding our party will require the best from all of us. But this is not unfamiliar territory. We've faced and overcome these challenges before, and working together as a bold, unified, and energetic team, we'll do it again.

I'm ready to get started today. I'm confident you are too. I look forward to speaking with you in person and outlining our plans for the future. It's time for the losing to stop. And my commitment to you is that it will.

I humbly ask for your support and the privilege of serving as House Republican Leader in the next Congress.

It's probably no coincidence that around the same time, word got out that Virginia Representative Eric Cantor was gunning to replace Roy Blunt as House Whip. Honestly, it's hard to see how any of the GOP leadership in the House survives -- these were the people who went schizo on the bailout bill, pinning their lack of support to the 5,437th instance of Nancy Pelosi criticizing George Bush, after all. And, who can forget their brilliant plan to center their re-election hopes around a slogan stolen from an anti-depressant?

But if there's a real crisis in the House right now for the Republican Party, it's the gradually diminishing voice of moderation. Virginia's Tom Davis famously criticized his cohorts earlier this year, saying that "the Republican brand is in the trash can...if we were dog food, they would take us off the shelf." This morning, Davis can take comfort in the fact that he read the political landscape correctly. Unfortunately for the GOP, he'll also be retiring -- one more non-shrill voice who won't be participating in the process. This morning, Davis took a shot at the Club For Growth, an anti-tax zealotry outfit who've taken great pains to increase the fringe faction in the GOP side: "We call it the Club for Democratic Growth," Davis told WAMU Public Radio today.

And the fact is, the GOP appears set to double down on a rightward tilt, putting the moderates that Davis leaves behind in increasing isolation. Boehner, in his letter, makes this pretty clear:

America remains a center-right country. Democrats should not make the mistake of viewing Tuesday's results as a repudiation of conservatism or a validation of big government. Neither should we. Instead of throwing in the towel, as our opponents demand, we must redouble our efforts to develop forward-looking solutions to the challenges Americans face - solutions rooted in the enduring principles of reform that define us as a party. We need to focus on winning the issues, one by one, and presenting principled, superior alternatives that reflect the center-right priorities of the American people, rather than the self-serving priorities of Washington.

Center-right cheerleading? GOP versions of "forward-looking" solutions? A paean to somebody's idea of "reform"? And one last shot at "Washington?" It seems to me that these are the ingredients of the casserole of bad thinking that America just summarily rejected at the polls. Rather than naively asserting a center-rightness that doesn't exist -- after all, it can now be definitively said that widely-supported ideas such as Iraq withdrawal and universal health care are mainstream positions -- the GOP needs to find the new center, and blaze the sort of path suggested by authors Reihan Salaam and Ross Douthat in Grand New Party, which imagines a less zombie-like Republican party that seeks to win with a working-class coalition.

But John Boehner says, "It ain't gonna happen. It must not happen." And indeed, this is the party that's leaning toward running Mitt Romney or Sarah Palin in 2012. If Boehner gets things his way, maybe he'll be joining Davis on the golf course sooner than he'd like.

Comments

[mikemiami]

Illinois (R) congessman Aaron Schock won his seat on tuesday and is the youngest representative in congress at 27 years of age. In about ten to fifteen years he will be a force to be reckoned with for the GOP. From what I saw of him on tv he seems a smart, good looking kid who fills every requirement the republicans seem to be drawn to. He's a male Palin but smarter. He has been in politics since he was 19 and has never lost an election. He's hawkish and doesn't seem to favor any progressive ideas. He also digs parayer in school. People in Illinois say that he's being groomed to be governor of Illinois. I don't know if he's a member of GOPAC but he seems to favor the path that other GOPAC alumni, Palin and GW Bush, have taken in order to challenge for the presidency. The only difference is that he's going to washington instead of just challenging after being a goernor. He beat the crap out of his democratic opponent in this election despite his district being prominently democratic.

[triplbee]

John Boehner for GOP House leader? Haven't these buffoons learned their lesson? How many more old, right wing white guys will it take to lead the GOP into a permanent minority?

[wendynyc]

Center right policies that work for the rich!

[WhiteDelyte]

this is awesome. the GOP and their faithful still dont get it.
forward thinking....
here's a hint
tell Mike Huckabee the earth is not 5000 years old and dinosaurs did exist
and that Noah really didnt gather 2 of each animals and then strategicaly place them on each continent and small pacific island.
as of Nov. 4 its the 21st century GOPers.
its 2008 not 1008.
YES, WE CAN!!!

[sarahdoodle]

Mr. Boehner, I believe that governments should always be working with the best interests of their people in mind. Our government should be of the people, by the people and FOR the people. Why is it bad for government to do all that it can to make healthcare affordable for ALL of the people? Why is it bad for government to do all that it can to make sure ALL of the people are employed? Isn't the purpose of government to constantly be serving the people? I put it to you, sir, that we have entered a new time. The American people are educating themselves and beginning to keep an eye on Washington in a way they have never done before (at least not in my lifetime of 45 years). We are finally beginning to hold you all accountable and I, for one, think it's about time.

[DocWylie]

See John limp.
limp John limp.
bye bye John.

[Aesthete]

Wiser and more enlightened heads in the GOP are going to have to take back their party from the backward-looking neocons. Even some prominent conservatives and other Republicans supported Obama. This is the 21st century and there is no exit door that leads back to the past. Now that the nation has elected its first black president, the party will have to abandon its seeming antipathy toward the non-white voter and no longer demonize and/or ignore them. Piling on the smear and fear tactics simply won't fly any more.

[triplbee]

Wiser and more enlightened heads in the GOP? Can you provide a few examples please.

[MarkInEugene]

Boehner was a merciless neocon...and if he is appointed minority whip, it will only demonstrate the obstinance of the Republican party and a total rejection of the direction the country is going in.

We shall see...

[cadawa]

The GOP aren't about ideas, they are about overweaning power at any cost. Their policies aren't about making things work but about concentrating the wealth in the hands of a few so they can preserve their position and privilege. They enlisted the religious right but paying lip service to a few radical ideas and cheated their way into the halls of power.
I don't expect them to change anytime soon. Zealots, either religious or economic just keep repeating themselves. The memo confirms this. The fact that they were successful at all will only deepen their resolve.
We need to marginalize them permently and build new vibrant political organizations.

[zest]

Hey republicans good luck with that. You've got no mojo left to even be obstructionists. I'm no fan so for me keep on keeping on.

[ThePhotogsBlog]

Schwarzegger has just proposed a tax hike in California. He must be a Marxist. I know, let's ask Governor Mooselini what she thinks.

[rw97]

Enjoy your time in the wilderness Repubs. The first 8 years are the hardest.

[JimBozo]

Hey, I'm easily satisfied. I could happily live with a "center-right government"; but that's not what we've had for the past eight years, is it? The GOP needs to tweak its definition of the term, to better reflect reality.

So, thanks but no thanks, guys; I think I'll stick with the "center-left agenda" we just voted into power.

Don't let us bum you out. Show us that "center-right" scheme in four years, and we'll consider it. Better make it for real, though, or you'll just have wasted four years of your own time. I won't be holding my breath waiting for it, though.

[TheIndependenceParty]

Boehner and the RNC came out already with caustic and ill-considered criticism of Obama's appointment of Rahm Emanuel to WH Chief. They just don't understand that Americans are looking for accomodation and cooperation among the officeholders in Washington.

Or do they need forty years in the wilderness to contemplate what they have done to America?

[ensure]

McCain Campaign Failures: Missteps, Lack Of Message: http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/11/mccain-campaign-failures-missteps-lack-of-message.html