Alex Massie Alex Massie

Why waiting for Obama to fail is not enough

Rich Lowry, editor of National Review, says everyone should calm down and have a cup of tea:

Barack Obama and the Democrats have the initiative. Until such time as their policies are perceived to have failed, it doesn’t matter too much what Republicans do. Yes, they obviously should endeavor to be sober and creative—replenishing their policy arsenal for the day when the public is seriously paying attention to them again—but the big question in American politics right now is how Obama handles the financial crisis and the economy. In the grand scheme of things, everything else is commentary.

Aside from the fact that the Republican party is neither sober nor creative right now, there’s something to this. But the elevation of Rush Limbaugh from Movement Entertainer to, apparently, Party Standard Bearer is part of the problem. The public would quite appreciate a period of reflective silence on the part of the GOP right now, but it isn’t getting that, is it? Instead Republicans are, if anything, turning up the volume. Far from judiciously reconsidering their options, the party seems determined to mount a mad cavalry charge at the enemy guns, regardless of the wisdom or consequences of this move. It is almost as if the party feels liberated by the freedom of opposition and is determined to prolong the experience for as long as possible.

Clearly much depends upon the success or failure of the new administration’s policies. Equally clearly, the GOP needs to be patient and wait for the shine to come off the Obama administration. Events will take their toll in due course. When that happens, however, the Republican party needs to be in a position to present realistic, viable, sensible alternatives. The development of those alternatives is hindered, not helped, by the party’s current behaviour which seems to place a much greater emphasis on throwing red-meat to the base than on wondering what sort of Republicanism will be needed – and can be successful – in the future.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in