Although I respect the intellect of New York Times columnist David Brooks, particularly his application of humanistic psychological and sociological research to the formation of public policy views, there are many times when I throw my hands up in frustration. While professing a moderate approach to the role of government in American society, he often ends up sounding much like a Republican mouthpiece. I am thinking of his implausible regard for Paul Ryan’s endless circumstantial flip-flopping on budget and deficit responsibility (pro-spending under George W. Bush, austerity principles during the Obama regime) as just one example.
At the risk of welcoming angry comments and hate mail, I do believe that a sound and rational two-party system is essential to the health of our cherished democracy. No one is served by a insulated majority free of checks and balances, closed to new ideas, no matter which end of the political spectrum that party should occupy.
I would assert that underlying much liberal anger is a genuine wish that those of the right wing persuasion would embrace modern reality and take part in a honest conversation about the direction in which the country needs to move if it is to face current challenges, including but not limited to: immigration and health care reform, globalization, fiscal balance, entitlement spending, the tax code and a whole host of other issues. Unfortunately, an increasingly radicalized GOP has brought little to the table in recent years beside anger, corporate kowtowing, backward social thinking and obstructionism.
With this in mind, there are elements to admire vis a vis Brooks’ column for the Times this week, entitled “A Second G.O.P.” In it, Brooks writes “On the surface, Republicans are already doing a good job of beginning to change their party. Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana gave a speech to the Republican National Committee calling on Republicans to stop being the stupid party, to stop insulting the intelligence of the American people….But, so far, there have been more calls for change than actual evidence of change.”
Well said. If the results of the 2012 Presidential election taught us anything, it’s that the Republican Party platform increasingly falls outside of mainstream views. Continuous disregard and disrespect for the middle and working classes, the social safety net, female reproductive rights and immigrants cost Mitt Romney the popular vote in a big way. Almost every GOP leader woke up the need for more inclusive messaging, but to Brooks’s point, how does that translate into real policy reform? Thus far, it hasn’t. In order for the right to begin taking steps toward relevancy, it must do more than talk to itself about change. It must actually make that change palpable.
Brooks goes on to observe, “In this reinvention process, Republicans seem to have spent no time talking to people who didn’t already vote for them.”
In other words, as the GOP seeks to rejoin productive policy dialogue, it must move away from navel gazing and the equivalent of empty locker room pep talks to doing the actual work required to attract new members. President Obama has made it clear over the last four years that he would love to count upon constructive Republican input when it comes to solving the nation’s problems – with disappointingly few results. As the title of Brooks’ column implies, the GOP needs to reverse course in the form of a total break with a failed platform.
It has been an interesting feature of 2013 that the direction of the Republican Party has been the subject of much internal criticism. Will that criticism be co-opted into sincere course correction? Stay tuned…
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djchefron(Moderator)
Jan. 31st, 2013 at 7:57 pm
Like I said earlier when I read his piece David Brooks is either stupid or crazy.He sang high praises for the policies of conservatism,when warn about the marriage of the American Taliban and moderate republicans he said nothing.
Now he wants to rebuild the party without the crazies.Forget about the culture wars let people have their personal lives, lets just focus on how we can grift with a smile on our face.
It dont work that way.But for the sake of argument lets say that he can pull it off.
His new party wins about 100 seats in the house who will they caucus with?The tea party?If they do that then nothing has changed.So they will have no power because the Democrats will always have 200 seats.
So Davey I hate to be the one to tell you but when you married the devil you will die with the devil.
And thats change I can believe in.
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sevenish
Jan. 31st, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Brooks has never taken a position, in the 14 yrs that I’ve been reading him or hearing him on Newshour or NPR, that was not already becoming mainstream amongst the GOP.
Also, in modern usage, “regime” is not a synonym for “administration”; I think you meant the latter.
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Just A Dumb Fireman
Jan. 31st, 2013 at 8:11 pm
“Although I respect the intellect of New York Times columnist David Brooks…”
HOW???? That man doesn’t have any intellect to support.
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Deanne
Jan. 31st, 2013 at 8:46 pm
‘A Second GOP’ – would technically be no different than when Perot was in the race. Whichever that third party leans to then only splits that parties votes. Therefore should you be a moderate republican and vote for the moderate republican candidate, you would be within a minority as the extremes would vote for their candidate and the moderates vote for their’s. Not that it’s happening right now but it could be the Dem party it happened to.
In Canada there is basically two liberal parties, one more left of the other. There are a few other parties but they get minimal votes. But, with regard to the two liberal like parties, after the election for Prime Minister, the Conservatives won as the left vote split.
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Maple
Jan. 31st, 2013 at 10:50 pm
Deanne – Your point is well taken and I agree with you. Just want to correct you about the Canadian parliamentary system. Each federal party (Conservative, Liberal, New Democratic Party, Green Party) chooses its leader. The Federal election, held every 4 years, allows citizens to vote for their Member of Parliament (House of Commons, similar to House of Reps in the US). The candidates for MP represent the various parties.
The party that elects the most Members (MPs) becomes the governing party and its leader becomes Prime Minister. Senators are appointed and the Senate was originally dubbed “the house of sober, second thought”……
By the way, all federal election rules are established by a special federal election commission. Provinces and territories have no say in these rules. This is something I believe the U.S. should adopt. JMHO, of course!
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Norbrook
Jan. 31st, 2013 at 9:55 pm
One of the biggest problems for the Republican Party is not “talking to voters,” but who controls the party apparatus below the national level. For the most part, “the crazies” do. Until or unless that changes, any attempt by the Republican Party to change, to “modernize” itself, will be met with failure.
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majii
Jan. 31st, 2013 at 10:52 pm
I do not trust Brooks.
He has been cheer leading the republicans to move further to the right all the while, but now that the party is in trouble, he’s trying to pretend that he had nothing to do with it’s far rightward lurch. One’s credibility is very important to me, and imo, Brooks has none. I read the lies he wrote and saw the lies he repeated on several Sunday morning “news” programs. He’s like the guy who sets fire to a building who runs and hides and after the firemen arrive, he emerges to condemn the person who set the fire.
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Jo Hargis
Feb. 1st, 2013 at 12:06 am
I kind of hate to even write this, as I’d much prefer the GOP continue on the path of self-destruction, but…one thing the GOP has to realize at some point is that it’s not necessary to be the opposite of, or disagree with, every single thing the Dems stand for. There’s nothing WRONG with actually liking some of the same ideas. If Obama says eating yellow snow is bad, you do not have to immediately start marketing and producing ads touting the awesomeness of eating yellow snow, kk?
The other fatal flaw in the current GOP is one I don’t see them making any effort to curtail, and that is their obsession with religious and social issues such as abortion, women’s rights, LGBT rights, etc. These issues ring a death knell for the GOP, and despite their sound thwacking in November due in part to their backward, antiquated policies, they still seem completely clueless about this. In fact, they’ve doubled down and kept on keeping on the same old destructive path. Oh, well.
Can’t say we didn’t warn them.
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azportsider
Feb. 1st, 2013 at 6:02 am
I’ve often fantasized about PBO making a national speech about the evils of yellow snow. The mental image of Hannity, O’Reilly and the moronic Doocy sharing a nice big bowl of yellow snow on national tv makes me smile.
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SinghX
Feb. 1st, 2013 at 7:02 am
…The other fatal flaw in the current GOP is one I don’t see them making any effort to curtail, and that is their obsession with religious and social issues, such as..”
I think it is THE fatal flaw; the hypocrisy is astounding! Example: Early on, Republican women were torch-bearers for Planned Parenthood–one of Goldwater’s wives was a founding “mother” of the organization (and she rallied support from all Americans) and now…yuk! They’ve saddled-up with the lowest of the lowest (ignorant fundamentalist) as if they were doing social justice or charity work on their behalf. Who’s idea was that? They threw away all avenues of civil rights when they made their decision to mix religion with politics. Who sold them on that idea? They threw away democracy for a few bucks and allowing “us” to be hijacked, hacked by religious cults as well as carpetbagger lobbyist
So…where was David Brooks when the Bible Barbarians invaded Washington? He wasn’t out there shouting the equivalent, “The British are coming!” as an alarm, a voice/member of the 4th Estate…there was no heed to the warning by many who saw this coming within the republican party, so…
As someone else said, the republicans jumped in bed with the devil himself and now their stuck with the old saying “you made your bed…”
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j
Feb. 1st, 2013 at 7:06 am
Looking at McCain and what he has been reduced to – a TV whore who never misses a chance to go on the TV and spout his hatred, and the Hagel hearings show him up as a really nasty loser, he should get out of the party, he gets worse ever since he lost the election.And this is them man who chose Palin!!!!!!
Let’s not forget that when he ran for president he put out the name of Chuck Hagel for a possible secretary of defense in his administration. I think right now for him it is like losing the election once again!
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Dr. Mark Bear
Feb. 1st, 2013 at 11:11 am
While Brooks may premise his policy views on humanistic psychology the reality is this: He sucks!
As a social psychologist myself, I decided a long time ago to call things as they are:First, the sole reason the GOP finds itself in its current situation is due to the principle of reciprocity. They had every opportunity to allow the radical Tea Party element to die out, but instead, decided to ride the wave of bitterness, and hatred this radical group held against the President, assisting them in gaining control of the House. Now they have no choice but to return the favor! This is precisely how this principle works, and it is applied in nearly every aspect of persuasion.
Second, the very people who embrace so much hatred towards the President, and I refer to those supportive of the Tea Party movement, have fallen victim to confirmation bias. That is, these people seek out only that information which confirms their beliefs, views, and ideology, while ignoring ALL other relevant information which has the potential to change their minds. The reason? Should they get remotely close to the truth, they end up creating a painful state termed “cognitive dissonance.” This occurs when humans find themselves conflicted over two alternative courses of action, belief, or worldviews. (i.e truth or lies).
GOP supporters prefer to be blind conformists, allowing the lies, distortions, and false information shared by Fox News and the conservative radio entertainment media complex, soothe their hearts, minds, and souls. The repetition of these lies reinforce their muddled belief, that “they” are right, with the rest of the world going to Hell. No surprise then, that current statistics reflect nearly 90% agreement with the Tea Party agenda by evangelicals. Anyone not sharing their worldview is wrong in their minds. Their minds wonder: How can anyone argue with “their” God?
Until THAT changes, the GOP will remain the same! Change comes when religious zealotry…
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Doris ~
Feb. 1st, 2013 at 1:57 pm
The majority rules and they are SOS,Stuck on Stupid until extinction…We must OUST the TGOP! in order to have a more sane America and she cannot afford this abuse of power.
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Dan
Feb. 1st, 2013 at 3:22 pm
“While professing a moderate approach to the role of government in American society, he often ends up sounding much like a Republican mouthpiece.”
Uh, that’s because he is one.
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inez
Feb. 1st, 2013 at 10:20 pm
Jindahl is certainly a radical, He wants to stop Hospice care for the dying………………….As a possible candidate forPOTUS he scares the hell OUT of me with his radical INHUMANE TRAITS
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Shiva(Moderator)
Feb. 1st, 2013 at 10:35 pm
Dont worry, it will be used against him if even one dem grows a pair
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gsb
Feb. 3rd, 2013 at 10:26 am
Jindal tells the party to stop being stupid,Is he talking to himself?
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Anne
Feb. 2nd, 2013 at 10:13 am
While Bobby Jindhal is exhorting the GOP to “stop being the stupid party,” he has pursued the exact policies that label the GOP as being stupid and out of touch with reality–not to mention being lacking in compassion. As governor of one of the poorest states in this country, he enacts policies that guarantee Louisiana’s poor standing in terms of quality of life measures. The extremists have become the face of that party, and they are the ones in control. Brooks is just talking out of both sides of his mouth, because he makes truthful observations on one hand and on the other continues to endorse this dysfunctional party.
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