What can the Republicans learn from the Tory experience?
James Forsyth 7:47pm
The conversations going on in Republican circles right now about what the party should do next sound very familiar to British ears, they are similar in tone and content to the Tory discussions post 1997. Now, there are obviously limits to what the Republicans can take from the Tories efforts to return to being a credible party of government. For all their similarities, there are still considerable differences between British and American politics; not least the way in which a presidential candidate can recast the image of their party. But I think it is a useful exercise to look at what worked and, just as importantly, what didn’t work for the Tories. I’ve taken a first stab at this in this week’s magazine.
A couple of other British voices have weighed into the debate. Over at the Daily Beast—a fantastic new site, Pete Oborne offers his thoughts on why the Tories aren’t really a model for the Republicans. While Jonathan Freedland presents his take in The New York Times. I think Jonathan is right about how long it might take the Republicans to recover but he presents a caricature of Iain Duncan Smith’s leadership, ignoring that it was IDS who put social justice at the heart of Tory policy.
Previous
wonderfulforhisage
November 13th, 2008 10:46pm Report this commentGoodness James, I sometimes wonder about you young people. What they need to do is to drop ideology and principles, and rebrand. "Follow the focus group" should be their cry to arms.
I've heard that the Hilton boy now lives in the United States. Maybe he'd be able to advise.
Do wake up boy!
Verity
November 14th, 2008 1:37am Report this commentOK, James. I always react negatively to your thinking. But I believe you're on the mark here.
John Stuart Mill's Horse
November 14th, 2008 2:51am Report this commentYes, just do what the Tories did. Veer left at libertarian drive, arrive at liberal close stop their for two years to annoy Peter Hitchens, and then steadily retreat back to fort 'one nation' - ending with a minor stroll round Thatcher drive.
George Washington's teeth
November 14th, 2008 2:52am Report this comment*there rather.
Disillusioned
November 14th, 2008 9:14am Report this commentJames - It's fairly clear to me that they won't try to learn anything from the Tories. I think you need to realise just how little the US thinks about British politics.
I like the way you say "British voices have weighed into the debate". It almost sounds like their views might be listened to. Unfortunately, it's wasted ink and wasted time. Nobody in America could give two hoots for the views of Pete Oborne or Jonathan Freedland.
William Norton
November 14th, 2008 10:12am Report this commentWhat can the Republicans learn from the Tory experience? Lots.
What WILL they learn from the Tory experience? Very little.
TGF UKIP
November 14th, 2008 7:42pm Report this commentI agree with Disillusioned and
William Norton.
Hopefully the GOP will be wise, cautious and conservative. Above all they must avoid doing anything so daft as the Tories did in 2005 and seek to become a different sort of party and people from what they truly were.
They have a large enough natural constituency, so what they must do is clean up the Congressional Republicans and get a decent gubernatorial leader from far away from the Beltway.
After four years of this triumvirate the nation will be even more pissed off with Washington
American-Empire/the world is ours
December 6th, 2008 2:35pm Report this commentHello I am an American and I am an independent leaning Republican. We have been ostrisized by our own party to the likes of Sarah Palin. The traditional republican stances are individual liberty, strong defense and fiscal conservatism. The United States is becoming increasing socially liberal. But we have rejected Keynesian demand management economics for balanced budgets and surpluses. I admire Cameron and hope our own party will throw the ex-dixiecrats and religious right over board and return to traditional principles. The democrats had a hard time expunging itself as the party of the Old Confederacy and so will the GOP. Thank you friends across the pond for your inquiries into American politics.
Back to top