No doubt that Obama will do his part–I agree with Phil, we have to do our part to be ready with the right person to run in 2012. 

 We need another Regan.  It doesn't matter gender or age.  That person has to be a communicator.  The method of communicating might change, but the content can be the same.

With regard to your experience, I think that this election cycle saw a lot more use of the internet as a campaign tool/resource by the Democrats and Republicans.  Your point is valid though, the Republicans have to get over the "old guard" feeling and include the younger generations in the decision making.

Regardless of your feelings for him, Ron Paul was able to attract quite a following and was able to raise a lot of money despite being viewed as an outsider from his own party.

I am all for re-branding the Republican Party but only if it is truly done. I left the Republican Party years ago because I felt the rhetoric didn’t line up with their actions. With the Palin smears that are currently occurring after McCain’s loss, I am more convinced than ever I made the right decision.

I personally believe that we need to get rid of the “old-timers” and those who are no longer towing the “conservative line.” Perhaps time limits needs to be a point of discussion again so that we assure ourselves that the best of the best are constantly being infused into the party,thus, always challenging the status quo.

I recently heard someone say that the conservative movement and the Republican Party are no longer the same thing. I totally agree with that assessment.

Chad – I will be checking out your website link. I have a conservative-political blog and I will be happy to get the word out if we are on the same page. I have to be honest, I am hearing many people (even Michelle Malkin) saying they are tired of “re-building” and would rather see a complete overhaul. The thing is I don’t know what word encapsulates the complete overhaul of the party. Additionally, I am finding many conservatives feel as I do – they no longer trust the party on any level.

For me personally, McCain’s campaign’s treatment of Palin after he lost is despicable and really highlights what is so very wrong with the party. If you are not one of them – a careerist and party defender – then you can’t join. I saw this first hand with Mike Huckabee and have now witnessed it with Sarah Palin. The only way the party can be “rebuilt” it to rid ourselves of those who are self-centered or party-centered and replace them with the likes of Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, Sarah Palin, and individuals like them, etc. I believe they are the new face of the conservative party. Can they be the new face of the Republican Party? I don’t know.

I think something that many conservatives/republicans are not understanding is that the machinery behind the scenes is quite different than what is being espoused. A great book to read to get a better grasp on how the party works behind the scene is Tom Coburn’s book, Breach of Trust. Even someone like Newt Gingrich whom most American’s think is trust worthy is a danger to the Republican Party because of his past seduction by power and careerism.

Now Tom Coburn would most definitely get my vote for any job within the RNC because he walks the talk and he did it in the face of betrayal by his own party members.

That is what we need to change in the party. People of principle who will not go to Washington and be seduced by it. We need people who can withstand the storms that will come against them even from within their own party. I believe that is why Sarah Palin connected so powerfully with the public. We understand that she will change Washington – not the other way around.

Oh…sorry…I guess I got a little long winded…:-)

Remaining Steadfast,
Dominique
http://anunlikelyperspective2.squarespace.com
http://aphotoperspective2.squarespace.com

The GOP lost this race as much as Obama won it. 

This election year was as much about marketing as it was politics, maybe even more so. (and I think the church can learn a lot from that as I wrote here http://holycowablog.com/growth/obama-and-mccains-church-lessons/ )

It starts with the candidate. They have to believe in their own message before I'm going to believe it. We just learned that politics as usual no longer works. It's time they step outside of Washington and once again become "by the people, for the people." Of course I also believe that we created a mess once we created career politicians.

They need a facelift…and I'm not talking just a new slick logo…I'm talking their brand, the core of who they are and how they communicate that. Ironically much of the church, who stands close to the GOP, needs the same.