Current Political Climate of 2010

It seems that the 2010 elections are going to be a big opportunity for the Republican party to make big gains or possibly take control of the House or Senate. In order to gain a majority, the Republicans would need to pick up 10 Senate seats or about 70 House seats. That's a daunting task; however, there does seem to be a growing grassroots movement to "kick the bums out of office". The strategy for the Republicans needs to be to make sure they are not identified as the bums.

To put the 2010 elections in proper context, it is traditional for the opposing party to gain ground in year two of a newly elected president's first term. The infamous Republican revolution in 1994 led by Newt Gingrich ushered in 54 new Representatives and 8 Senators. That gave Republicans control of the House for the first time in 40 years. Of course, the implications of this revolution greatly affected Clinton's last 6 years in office, because he had to work with Republicans to get anything accomplished since all revenue legislation originates in the House.

There are two things that I remember about 1994. The first is that the public grew tired of the mishandling of Washington's finances. Does that sound familiar? Does anyone remember the House banking scandal in which Congressmen just cashed personal checks that never needed to be repaid? The average American citizen noticed the gross neglect for common sense coming from their leaders in Washington. This same neglect has been going in Washington for some time again now. We're spending money we don't have, borrowing from the Chinese, and have recently raised our self-imposed debt ceiling. Obama has even "doubled-down" on his stimulus package, which was no more than a slush fund for Democrats, with more reckless spending in his proposed 2011 budget. He continues to blame Bush and believe that we can spend our way out of a recession. This is only protecting and growing the public sector while simultaneously shrinking the private sector. Most people know this is a recipe for financial disaster. They want their children and grandchildren to have the same great opportunities American has granted them. An America on shaky financial footing with burdensome tax rates and run-away inflation will only dampen the great American dream.

The second part of the '94 Revolution was the "Contract with America". It's not enough for the Republicans just to rightly block Obama's agenda. They should describe how it is harming our country and why the agenda has extended the recession. More importantly, Republicans need to clearly articulate how conservative principles are good for everyone. This is exactly what the "Contract with America" did by laying out 8 bullet points that were goals that eventually manifest themselves in 10 House bills. A contract or measure in which the American voter can compare the bills that are ultimately passed to what the contract or campaign previously promised is greatly needed. That's something the America people can get behind and support. The goals should be grounded in conservatism and be spelled out specifically.

To accomplish this the Republicans need leadership. America needs someone with some guts to stand up and articulate conservatism and translate those principle into ideas that improve Americans lives. Voters as well as other politicians can either get behind and support this or oppose it at their own peril. Without this clear direction, this political wave of emotion throughout the country will turn into nothing more than an anti-incumbent election in which the Republicans gain ground by merely losing less seats than the Democrats due to more Democrats being up for re-election. Other leaders like Scott Brown from Massachusetts can gain momentum and literally ride the wave of change sweeping the country and steamrolling toward November 2010.

Our forefathers brilliance in establishing the democratic process in America is again illustrated by this extraordinary opportunity to positively change the direction of our great country. I believe this can only be accomplished through strong leadership and the application of conservative principles.