I'm actually starting to respect Frank Luntz. Grover Nordquist (kumquat!) is still another matter. But Luntz actually has some good advice in his WaPo editorial today:
Be bold, return to basics, stop telling, start asking, focus on results, abolish "earmarks" and embrace a permanent balanced budget.He's talking to Republicans, but any politician with a brain should be listening. I was particularly interested in what Florida Republicans had done:
As a pollster, I rarely hear voters call for smaller government. They tell me that they want more efficient and more effective government.
Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio challenged his colleagues to create an agenda for the future with "100 Innovative Ideas" from ordinary people around the state. Instead of fundraisers, they held "idea raisers." Republicans, Democrats and independents were all welcome -- any idea that advanced the principles of good government and political accountability was considered.But the next two paragraphs are what really got me:
It wasn't a political ploy. They released their "100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future" after the election. And Republican legislators got back in touch with constituents.
But what did national Republicans do as the new Congress convened and Democrats began pushing through their "Six for '06" proposals in the first 100 hours? They called a news conference not to present counter-proposals to guide the minority over the next two years, but to complain that the Democrats were treating them unfairly. They objected that the committee process was being skirted and members were denied opportunities to offer amendments."Note to Republicans:..." Hah. Yes, make me laugh, and my respect for you goes up.
Were Republicans standing up for retirement security, control over health-care decisions or economic freedom? No. They were upset over who was or was not allowed to offer amendments on the floor. (Note to Republicans: Americans don't care.)
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