Submitted by: Anonymous
Many of the GOP’s problems can be traced back to one cause – excessive fracturing within the party. Directly after Mitt Romney’s resignation, caused by the failure to unseat President Obama in his 2012 reelection campaign, a power vacuum in the GOP opened up. With no clear voice to follow, rank and file members of the party turned their backs on the establishment, believing that the establishment failed to secure the White House for Republicans. Emboldened by this movement, radical figures in the party stepped up and encouraged members to actively disobey the establishment, leading to the issue we have today.
Although different perspectives can be beneficial, the numerous factions within the GOP have reached a point where it is unsustainable. The rise of extreme elements and self-appointed leaders are a direct product of these fractures. In order to combat the lack of control and structure in the Republican Party, the establishment must choose a strong leader to rally the party. It is up to the establishment to choose a leader as they are the most rational and pragmatic branch of Republicans left in the government. Currently, most of our leaders are either too radical or too mellow. The previous Speaker of the House, John Boehner, almost fit the profile of a successful leader. In the end, however, he failed to inspire and hold the rank and file members, which ultimately caused his undoing. In order to further conservative values and ideals, we must craft policies that Democrats will agree with. This does not mean that we have to adapt liberal ideas – we just have to compromise and wait. After all, isn’t slow change one of the hallmarks of the Republican Party? Furthermore, slow change is just what it sounds like – slow. Therefore, we need a strong leader to guide the party through the numerous trials we will surely face before we reach our goals. Once a strong leader is appointed, the party must rally around him or her. This step is essential to healing the fractures within the party. The GOP should spare no expense in helping the leader gain the trust of the rest of the party, be it through whips, grants, and fundraising events. If the party is successful in doing this, they will have solved a multitude of their problems, including the rise of extreme elements, self-appointed leaders, and fracturing within the party.
Currently, the best person to lead the party is the Speaker of the House – Rep. Paul Ryan. As the ex-chairman of the Ways and Means committee and a policy wonk, he has an exemplary track record of promoting conservative values while compromising with the Democrats. Furthermore, as Romney’s running mate, Ryan has national prestige and the approval of most of the electorate. In contrast to Boehner, he simultaneously appeals to both the establishment and the rank and file members. By helping Speaker Ryan gain more influence in the party and the electorate, the GOP – and as a result, the United States - will benefit immensely.
Many of the GOP’s problems can be traced back to one cause – excessive fracturing within the party. Directly after Mitt Romney’s resignation, caused by the failure to unseat President Obama in his 2012 reelection campaign, a power vacuum in the GOP opened up. With no clear voice to follow, rank and file members of the party turned their backs on the establishment, believing that the establishment failed to secure the White House for Republicans. Emboldened by this movement, radical figures in the party stepped up and encouraged members to actively disobey the establishment, leading to the issue we have today.
Although different perspectives can be beneficial, the numerous factions within the GOP have reached a point where it is unsustainable. The rise of extreme elements and self-appointed leaders are a direct product of these fractures. In order to combat the lack of control and structure in the Republican Party, the establishment must choose a strong leader to rally the party. It is up to the establishment to choose a leader as they are the most rational and pragmatic branch of Republicans left in the government. Currently, most of our leaders are either too radical or too mellow. The previous Speaker of the House, John Boehner, almost fit the profile of a successful leader. In the end, however, he failed to inspire and hold the rank and file members, which ultimately caused his undoing. In order to further conservative values and ideals, we must craft policies that Democrats will agree with. This does not mean that we have to adapt liberal ideas – we just have to compromise and wait. After all, isn’t slow change one of the hallmarks of the Republican Party? Furthermore, slow change is just what it sounds like – slow. Therefore, we need a strong leader to guide the party through the numerous trials we will surely face before we reach our goals. Once a strong leader is appointed, the party must rally around him or her. This step is essential to healing the fractures within the party. The GOP should spare no expense in helping the leader gain the trust of the rest of the party, be it through whips, grants, and fundraising events. If the party is successful in doing this, they will have solved a multitude of their problems, including the rise of extreme elements, self-appointed leaders, and fracturing within the party.
Currently, the best person to lead the party is the Speaker of the House – Rep. Paul Ryan. As the ex-chairman of the Ways and Means committee and a policy wonk, he has an exemplary track record of promoting conservative values while compromising with the Democrats. Furthermore, as Romney’s running mate, Ryan has national prestige and the approval of most of the electorate. In contrast to Boehner, he simultaneously appeals to both the establishment and the rank and file members. By helping Speaker Ryan gain more influence in the party and the electorate, the GOP – and as a result, the United States - will benefit immensely.