Soul-searching in focus as GOP gathers in NC

[sailingaway]

It's an AP piece...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Republican soul-searching begins in earnest this week as GOP officials from every state in the nation come together for the first time since their party's November shellacking.

There is broad agreement that the Republican Party needs to undergo fundamental changes to remain competitive as surging minority populations re-shape the American electorate. But there is no clear path forward. And even as they gather in a Charlotte, N.C., hotel this week — just days after President Barack Obama began his second term — Republicans are in some ways as divided as ever.

Facing his first re-election test later in the week, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus is under intense pressure to improve the Republican brand to attract more women and Hispanics, while not upsetting the hard-line conservatives who represent his party's most passionate voters.

"They're really going to have to do full throttle self-examination. They have alienated so many people who are Republicans," said Olympia Snowe, a three-term Republican senator who retired last year, in part because of her party's shift to the right. "It's going to be a mighty challenge. The party's gone astray."

Indeed, the formal theme of the Republican National Committee's winter meeting — "Renew, Grow, Win" — reflects an understanding from party officials that the GOP must grow to survive. In particular, this week's meeting will focus on the need to abandon harsh rhetoric on illegal immigration, women's issues and the social safety net, rhetoric that helped drive moderate voters and minorities toward Democrats last fall.

"We need to renew our values, renew our party, renew what we stand for," RNC spokesman Sean Spicer said.

The push to broaden the party's message is the focus, but not the only business on the agenda for the three-day meeting in North Carolina, a presidential swing state where Democrats hosted their national convention last summer.

Republicans from across the nation will decide Friday whether Priebus deserves a second term after his party lost an opportunity to win the White House and add Senate seats under what appeared to be favorable political conditions. The 40-year-old Wisconsin native is widely expected to win re-election, despite a challenge from Maine National Committeeman Mark Willis, a former Ron Paul supporter who led a brief revolt at the party's national convention last year in Tampa, Fla.

Willis said Wednesday that he did not have the backing of three states needed to ensure a spot on the ballot with Priebus. He acknowledged that he would not likely defeat the sitting chairman even if he qualifies for the ballot. But he and others lashed out at party leaders, saying they were marginalizing grassroots supporters who favored presidential candidates like Paul, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann or Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who is thought to have interest in a 2016 presidential bid.

more: http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/...-gathers-in-nc

per a post here, the Gop chair for MO was going to meet with Willis today and perhaps bring the third state he would need to be nominated to oppose Priebus.

[satchelmcqueen]

lol $#@! em!

[eleganz]

Oh Ron Paul was right all along?

Lmao

[sailingaway]

Yeah, so they should vote in Willis. They don't say that though, for some reason.

[Agorism]

Yeah, so they should vote in Willis. They don't say that though, for some reason.

Well even if this were to be a giant failure (which I still think it was a great idea even if it turns out so), at least we will get a better feel for the new Missouri chairman as to whether he is really on our side, etc.

[sailingaway]

Well even if this were to be a giant failure (which I still think it was a great idea even if it turns out so), at least we will get a better feel for the new Missouri chairman as to whether he is really on our side, etc.

I agree.

I think knowing we fight through the finish line increases our credibility, not only with the establishment, but with the other grass roots. They know who they can trust to carry it to the end.

[asurfaholic]

North Carolina will be a little slower moving to accept a liberty candidate than others will be. However, I do some some general attitude changes in people who were once very against Ron Paul, and now they are coming around a little. Hopefully Rand Paul can make a solid case for liberty, while appealing to these mainstream "anyone but the democrat" types.

[devil21]

So much fail here.

"They're really going to have to do full throttle self-examination. They have alienated so many people who are Republicans," said Olympia Snowe, a three-term Republican senator who retired last year, in part because of her party's shift to the right. "It's going to be a mighty challenge. The party's gone astray."

So they ask Supreme RINO Snowe what's wrong with the party? No surprise her answer is that it's too "far right", seeing how she voted with Democrats on most legislation. She would prefer there be only one party, the big government statist party.

Indeed, the formal theme of the Republican National Committee's winter meeting — "Renew, Grow, Win" — reflects an understanding from party officials that the GOP must grow to survive. In particular, this week's meeting will focus on the need to abandon harsh rhetoric on illegal immigration, women's issues and the social safety net, rhetoric that helped drive moderate voters and minorities toward Democrats last fall.

Ah ok so we need to be Democrats then. Let's stop trying to protect our borders, completely abandon social conservatism, and start accepting huge spending on entitlements and welfare as part of the GOP platform. Considering both parties already stand for big spending, big warfare, and lack of respect for the Constitution, let's just abandon the last shreds of any appearance of difference between the parties instead of returning to conservative roots and standing in direct opposition to the left. If this playbook is followed, the GOP is DEAD. What would the party even stand for??? Elections will become 100% contests of identity politics. I know it's already damn close to that now but just go ahead and drive the last nail into the coffin of the party and the country.

Carroll Quigley would be proud.

The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to the doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can "throw the rascals out" at any election without leading to any profound or extreme shifts in policy.

- Carroll Quigley, Tragedy and Hope

[Ivash]

The Republicans are overreacting- just as the Democrats did after the 2004 election. Back then people were talking about how the Democrats would become a 'regional party'- now its the same for the Republicans.

Honestly, Republicans have every chance in the world to take the Senate in 2014 given the make up of the contests then, and are favored to win in 2016.

[FSP-Rebel]

If we can get the rule changes reversed I'll consider this gathering a success.