The Candidates

The first thing to understand about the major parties, at least in the United States, is that they are not made up of consistant, completely like-minded schools of thought. Rather, they are coalitions of people with similar values and thought processes that band together to accomplish their political goals. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Republican Party.

This historic election has shown us the large rifts between the different sectors of the Republican Party, particularly during the primary. Each major candidate displayed major wings within the party that do not always agree. Here is a breakdown:

Mike Huckabee: The Huckster was a physical incarnation of the public's steroetype of a conservative: A bible thumping, enthusiastic, barbeque lovin' evangelical preacher who's number one cares are abortion and gay marriage. Huckabee was by far the most likable of the GOP frontrunners, playing the bass at appearences on Jay Leno and other TV shows, more apt to make a joke than to talk substantive policy. Why he lost: he appealed to NO ONE outside of the evangelical, "social conservative" base. He disagreed with many other elements in the party about several things, taxes being first and foremost.

Huckabee represents the wing of the GOP that holds most of their political views over a firm religious foundation. The top of their list is, and always will be, abortion and gay marriage. While the more politically saavy of them often care about size of government and the war on terror, the moral issues will always reign in this sphere.

Rudy Giulliani: A pro-choice, mob-slaying former prosecutor and NY mayor, Rudy carried the Repubs that wanted someone tough on crime and terror. A genuine and likeable guy, Rudy always seemed to say what he felt and thought in sincere and thoughtful ways (despite his lisp that would have been SNL's hayday if he had won). I didn't know many conservatives who hated Giulliana, but I also didn't know any who loved him. Why he lost: He is pro-choice and more than just friendly to gays, so he was quickly crossed off the evangelical short list (despite his endorsement by Pat Robertson). GOP hopefuls do not get very far without the evangelicals.

Giulliani represented the tough-on-crime wing of the GOP; this wing sees security as a top priority. They normally care very little about the hot topics (abourtion, gay marriage) and concentrate on the state's obligation to defend the innocent from threats at home and abroad.

John McCain: John McCain is the maverick, the guy who has repeatedly given the GOP coalition the proverbial finger. He campaigned on two promises: straight talk and victory in Iraq. Why he won: Whether people agree with him or not, everyone knows where McCain stands on just about every issue. Wishy-washi-ness (technical political term) is like poison in politics, and John McCain is the farthest anyone has every seen from it.

John McCain represents the national security sector of the GOP, the ones who would sell their own mother before admitting defeat in a foreign conflict. These conservatives see wars as black and white conflicts between the USA (good-guys) and their enemies (bad-guys). They want to always keep military force on the table in any negotiation.

Mitt Romney: Mitt tried to be everything to everyone. If there was one GOPer who understood the coalition it was he. Pro-choice, pro-business, tough on issues like immigration and terror. he fashioned himself to appeal to every single type of conservative, much like Reagan. Why he lost: Mitt was the opposite of McCain. He seemed to polished, so rehearsed, so branded that voters did not connect with him, nor were they exactly sure of his values and sincerity. Being Mormon didn't help in the evangelical community. either.

Romney represented the whole coalition, trying to be the new Reagan, sewing each piece together.

Now let me make one observation. Blazingly absent from the race was vigorous advocacy for small government. Romney tried, but was undermined by his huge health care program in Massechusetts. Huckabee tried but was undermined by his tax hikes in Arkansas. John McCain tried but was undermined by his campaign finance reform and global warming positions. Giulliana tried, but not one was listening because he was absent from the race until Florida.

If there is one thing the GOP needs to do, it is to go back to small government roots. The argument that government does very fews things better than the private sector I think resonates very well in all voters' minds. When the Dems scream for nationalized health care, simply point to medicare and ask senior citizens if they think it is run efficiently and effectively. When the Dems scream out against school choice, ask citizens if they think public schools function better than private schools. Besides the military, what does the government do well?

More to come...