Frum: How should Republicans respond to Obama's aggression?

[^_^ 5,021]

...

So how should Republicans respond to the president's aggressive approach?

The very first thing to do is to accept the basic political fact that a party that holds only a (reduced) majority in one house of Congress can't impose its own agenda.

...

Just this one first step would be a giant break-through. Republicans engaged in large and dangerous self-delusion after the 2010 elections. They thought they had regained their governing majority of the 1980s, based on a big win in a small electorate. As some of us spent two years warning - not very effectively I'm sad to say - the 2012 electorate was bound to look very different from the 2010 electorate, and success in the off-year no way guaranteed success in the presidential year. My next guess: accelerating economic recovery over the next 24 means will mean that the 2014 electorate will be less angry than the 2010 electorate. Conservatives are a political minority, and are likely to remain one for some time to come.

Second, Republicans need to recognize a hard political fact, the same hard fact on which the president built his address: the party's brand identity is badly damaged. The president dared upbraid Republicans in the terms in which he did because he felt confident his criticisms would resonate with the public. The congressional party has allowed itself to behave in ways that seem frightening, extreme, and provocative to many people.

...

The congressional GOP needs to commence a detoxification process aimed at rebranding itself as a responsible, reasonable, governing force ... a force that can be trusted by moderate-minded Americans.

Third, Republicans should fight for small wins on process issues. Keith Hennessy offered a smart post yesterday underscoring the value of pushing Congress to return to a more regular budget process. Such achievements are both significant in themselves as moves to reform, better governance, and spending restraint. They also check Democratic momentum and solidify Republican identity in ways that can appeal to the widest range of Republicans.

...

Fourth, Republicans should reconcile themselves to lesser-evilism. For example: most Republicans disagree with me that a carbon tax would be a good idea. But almost all Republicans will likely agree that a carbon tax is a better idea than EPA rule-making to reduce carbon emissions by regulatory process. Preventing things from being worse is a political victory too...

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/01/22/obama-s-fighting-speech-part-4.html

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

When you don't have muscle, you need brains.

The Republicans are doomed.