“Insanity is doing
the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” Albert Einstein
“When you change the way you look at a thing, the
thing you look at changes.” Raymond
Farrar
Our Nation faces serious challenges.
For this post I have added a third quote,
which is from my friend Raymond Farrar.
In order to enjoy credible change we must be able to “see” our Nation’s
politics differently. Only then will we
see it for what it truly is: the mechanism by which those who profit the most
from the political process work to maintain the political status quo.
As you read, please consider how the
reported actions of our political leaders is in any way getting at finding
solutions to our Nation’s problems.
Lately the news cycle has been dominated
by stories about the Obama administration’s involvement/knowledge of the
Benghazi attack, the IRS’s monitoring of conservative groups, and the Department
of Justice’s probe into the Associated Press.
The issues have provided excellent political fodder for
Republicans. Individual politicians with
an “R” beside their names are attempting to capitalize by using what POLITICO characterized
as “incendiary” language to support their individual political ambitions: “It helps Republicans raise money, get on FOX
and excite conservatives.”*
However, the “incendiary” language is
problematic for the party’s leadership:
Republicans are worried one thing could screw up the
political gift of three Obama administration controversies at once: fellow
Republicans. Top GOP leaders are
privately warning members to put a sock in it when it comes to silly calls for
impeachment or over-the-top comparisons to Watergate. They want members to focus on months of
fact-finding investigations – not rhetorical fury.
Why do GOP leaders want members “to put
a sock in it” and tamp down the “rhetorical fury?” They want to frame a strategy, with its
associated themes and messages, which will maximize the party’s political
gain. Reince Preibus, Chairman of the
Republican National Committee (RNC) provides a clue about the strategy:
We
have to be patient, but persistent. I
think where there is smoke there is fire.
If we present ourselves to the American people as intelligent, we’re
going to be in a great place as far as showing that this administration is not
transparent, is obsessed with power and hates dissent. But you don’t call for impeachment until you
have evidence.
Please note that Priebus is not an elected representative. His sole function as Chairman of the RNC is to ensure Republicans beat Democrats, period. However, here he is shaping political strategy that elected Republican representatives are expect to follow in the interest of the Republican Party.
Priebus said the strategy would help
Republicans present themselves as being “intelligent.” What does the Republican leadership want to
avoid?
Republican
leaders privately say the best way and only way to avoid a public backlash is
by using their congressional powers to aggressively investigate each matter –
and let the facts carry the news, rather than stunts or rhetoric. ‘We have stuff here that is real, so you
don’t need the distraction of politics to give people an excuse to say we’re
being silly,’ said a House Republican leadership aide involved in the
investigations. ‘Everyone is keenly
aware of the overreach risk.’
They want to ensure people aren’t given
an excuse to say Republicans are “being silly.”
They also don’t want to accusations of overreaching, which ultimately
equates to political risk. The
leadership is “aware of their long history of taking scandal crusades too far,
and turning damaged political figures like Bill Clinton into popular victims.”
Who else is aware? “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi are banking on the GOP going overboard.” Consequently, the Republican leadership must
ensure the Democratic leadership is frustrated.
Allen, Mike and Jim VandeHei. “Why the GOP thinks it could blow it.” May 16, 2013.
POLICTO.com
Retrieved from:
No comments:
Post a Comment