Lessons Learned from the 2008 Elections

First, and most importantly, Republicans need to toss out the current RNC officials. We must learn from the Democrat party about how they got to this point starting in 2006. They raised a bunch of money and were able to saturate the airwaves with Congressional ads, not including Obama's $500 million he spent on his campaigns. Did you notice all the ads with the tag line "Paid by the Democratic Congressional Committee?" Did you hear any "Paid by the Republican Congressional Committee?"

The Republican National Committee needs a top-to-bottom house cleaning. There needs to be a well-known Conservative at the head of the party - Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Karl Rove - who will be out there speaking and giving interviews everywhere. All are strong conservatives, and let's face it, moderate Republicans lost to liberal Democrats everywhere. Conservatives won. Those who proclaimed conservatism in the Republican party dead must be confused today. All those who proclaimed that the Party must become more moderate in order to win independent votes have been shown to be wrong. There must be changes made now in order to regroup for the next midterm election in 2010. Party officials must go back to Ronald Reagan conservatism and study the 1994 Republican takeover in Congress. There needs to be another "Contract With America." And we Republicans must start donating to the RNC as well as the Senate and Congressional Campaign Committees. Give until it hurts.

The second lesson I learned is that one can buy the Presidency. Obama reneged on his promise to take public funding like John McCain and raise something like $500 million for his primary and president campaigns. He was able to inundate the airways with ads. Public funding for presidential campaigns may be irrelevant. It will take nominees who are charismatic with organizations who can fundraise like crazy among those who are only able to donate small amounts.

Thirdly, the influence of the press can get a specific candidate elected. Those are the facts and we Republicans must find a way to counteract the left-wing press. Talk radio is one way, but there must be more outlets.

The fourth thing I gathered was to question whether the GOP has too many PACs. Might it not be better to consolidate some and have 2 or 3 huge PACs? I say this due to the success Move-On has had the past 2 elections. It took the awhile, but they are now considered successful even though their beliefs are off the charts on the left. Now it's well known that Move-On is as dirty as they come and Republicans should (and would) never duplicate their standard. My question is perhaps some PACs should join forces?

These are the immediate musings that have come to me in the day after the election. I hope all Republicans are thinking hard enough about the changes we need.