Radical Center USA

By Al Stephenson

Most Republican conservatives are big Clint Eastwood fans and are familiar with his hit films from the past. Eastwood appeared at the 2012 Republican convention. The older generation may remember Ronald Reagan quoting Clint as “Dirty Harry” with his “make my day” response in the 1980s. They’re forgetting some of the other famous Eastwood quotes and movie taglines. There was “a man’s got to know his limitations” also. (Yes, it’s the one with Hal Holbrook as the leader of a group of killer motorcycle cops.)

The problem currently for Republicans is the limit/lid/ limitation is about 46 percent of the vote on a national basis. They may be able to move the number up to 50 percent even based on economic distress or people upset with illegal immigration but that’s pretty much the upper limit or ceiling. Republicans need to take a long hard look as to why they’re so unpopular with half the nation.

First and foremost, people simply disagree with them on a wide range of issues or object to the conservative extremism. Yes, it’s very sad, but the majority of Americans simply don’t care about abortion or the 2nd Amendment. They don’t want to see the minimum wage eliminated or Social Security privatized. They have zero interest in learning about Ayn Rand, Milton Friedman or the “Austrian School of Economics.” The quickest way to clear the room or airwaves is to start in on the boring conservative economic theory lecture.Best to skip the “base stuff” in the general election.

Further complicating matters there’s the problem with “nuts and conspiracy theorists” turning off millions. In addition to this there’s the cornball “isolationist wing” kissing up to Vladimir Putin, one of the most vile and disgusting individuals currently populating the planet , leading to more net voter subtractions.

What do people in the center who “lean right “actually want? Usually two things. First , get the economy going strong based on all indicators. Second, contain, stop or blockade the “looney left” wing of the Democrats. Fortunately, this is the “gift that keeps on giving ” for Republicans as Democrats lurch further to the left in each election cycle. A point often missed is that the Republicans are the “only game in town” when it comes to countervailing power against the” PC Police” or “woke state” or whatever you want call it. With corporations, labor and even religious institutions “going woke” people have no other option but vote Republican as an alternative. The ultraleftism of Democrats will keep the conservative politicians and media in business, but again, probably short of the national majority they need.

The internecine warfare and general incompetence of Republicans have to be looked at also. The Republicans are probably the only major political party in the world that treat people who vote with them only ninety percent of the time as apostate sinners in need of excommunication. This obviously has to end as they need conservatives of all stripes united as well as “lean right” moderates pulled in to their coalition to be successful.

As far as their campaigning, in general it’s deficient , not up to par compared to earlier Reagan or even Nixon era politicians, They were better at “the ground game” as well as “pivoting to the middle ” routine in the old days. They can’t even outmaneuver Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer or incredibly, Kamala Harris or anticipate their actions. They just don’t seem to have the skill or competence any longer.

What else can they do? Republicans used to be associated with new industries and technologies in America. They can propose an “automation of government services ” program. The concept is pretty simple. People can still get their government benefit, license or permit but would have to deal with the automated system to get it unless they were handicapped. The elimination of many bureaucrats would save the government a lot of money over time. Displaced workers would be retrained for jobs in the private sector or necessary governmental functions. The Democrats would balk at such an initiative because of their connections with public employee unions. Not that this is likely to fly with many conservatives who are “dumbing down” and focusing on the dangers of UFOs and artificial intelligence as major issues.

Overall, it seems like today’s Republicans just haven’t got what it takes to beat these liberal Democrats. It shouldn’t be that tough but they can very well blow it once again. Kamala Harris is now being presented as a political moderate despite being liberal on most issues previously. She will have to pander to the usual leftist special interest groups at the upcoming convention which will contradict this but it may not matter.

Towards the end of the “Magnum Force” flick Clint Eastwood is dispatching one of the killer motorcycle cops he was being chased by. Looking over the body and referring back to the Holbrook character he says: “Briggs was right you guys really DON’T have enough experience.” Maybe it’s the same problem with today’s Republicans?