Lessons Learned

The votes have been counted and the United States has once again elected Barrack Obama as President. Although it was a tight race, I’ve known for a few weeks that this would be the likely outcome. As I’ve said before, the Republican party is a mess and it’s going to take a new approach and some new ideas to re-invigurate the nation.

Step one is learning to play ball again. Instead of partisan politics, we need to come together to solve the pressing issues our nation faces both in the short and long term. Our ballooning national debt, our growing number of under and un-employed citizens and the growing political divide that is separating us every day just to name a few. However the problems we face can’t be blamed on one side or the other, nor can they be solved without some difficult compromises from each.

Step two is specifically for the GOP. It’s time to define what our party is really all about. No longer can we afford to be a party of old ideas and rhetoric. I’m proud to be a Republican, but have been struggling with the far right for many years now. It’s as if I need to defend my party choice on a regular basis because some jack ass across the country says he speaks for me, and certainly does not. Separate from the divide between the two major parties, there’s and even more alarming spilt within the Republican Party itself.

Step three: it’s no longer an old white man’s game. Our country is as diverse as it’s ever been, shouldn’t our party be too? It’s time to reach out to the minority voters and start crafting your message to hit home with them. It’s now impossible to win without them and that will continue to be true moving forward.

Step four is one of the most crucial: Be the true Americans you always say you are. If you truly support our country, then it’s time to support our President. Like it or not, you’ve got him for the next few years. Instead of coming to the table with more problems and blame, come with ideas and solutions. Instead of name calling and finger pointing, why not try simple reasoning and a little compromise? I know it sounds pretty radical but it’s far less drastic than never winning the White House again, no?

I’m proud to be an American. I’m also proud to be a Republican, but only as long as the party can represent my views and vision for the future, a job they’ve failed at for several years now.

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