The Absolutely Positively Only Way The GOP Can Win In 2016 by Rick London

 As GOPs & former GOPs, from Susan Eisenhower to me and so many others, we’ve been warning to stop the (“creating Obama scandals, stop the sequester immediately…and get our GOP Congress to work on real job bills”). 

 The Tea Party claims they know best.  Here’s their best.  Obama’s approval rating up almost 10% since the “scandals” started, and Hilary’s has maintained an even keel, way above anyone who could possibly run against her (and expected to rise over the next year if this behavior continues). This is not from me, it is from the very conservative GALLUP POLL.  We’re trying to help, but you won’t listen.  So left to your own devices, you must know best.   

Want to win in 2016? I can tell  you how.  Find a VERY brave GOP Senator or Congressperson.  He/She’ll have a press conference.  He/she will say something like, “Benghazi is over. We know what we need to know to prevent another like asking Daryl Issa to stop defunding security (to the tune of 400 million dollars before the attack).  Besides it wouldn’t have mattered. We now know that Ambassador Stevens refused in writing any additional security.”  

“The IRS is an independent agency. We know Obama had nothing to do with that; he can’t.  AP got people killed. And more will be killed by exposing one of our spies in Al Queida. The Justice Dept begged them not to run the story for that reason. They were after “Pulitzers On Steroids”. 

“Today we will stop the sequester.  We will start jobs, and social politics is no longer a part of our agenda unless it is to make sure Obamacare is handled properly along with our Democrat and Independents across the aisle.  The war on women, gays, etc etc is over. Anyone caught pulling that crap is out of our club.” 

“In addition, we will be totally supportive and protect the 2^ND Amendment.  That means any monies from the NRA is going back to them and we are asking them for no more report cards or lobby money.  Nobody has done more to erode the 2^NDnd Amendment or the GOP and cause blood and carnage in the streets than the NRA. They are no friend of us, or the 2nd Amendment.  They are the fringe. Not their members, their directors and employees.  They began as a wonderful organization that taught gun safety to our youth, and ended up an incestuous Machiavellian lobbying firm for the gun makers and distributors.  They work extremely hard to keep military weaponry on American streets until ours look like Syria (and the former Iraq and Libya).  They will be long gone to a Polynesian Island counting their cash by the time America becomes that, but I assure you, it will be come that and probably worse, if they have their way.  They do nothing for the law abiding gun owner but hurt his/her chances of keeping his/her guns with their political shenanigans.”

“When a party decides “Umbrellagate” is now the juiciest scandal within the Beltway, trust me there are HUGE problems within the party. But, deep down we know that Obama has nothing to do with those “Scandals”.  We also know he is not an “out of control spender”.  Americans know that too.  That’s why we are losing.  We are lying with straight faces, and even allowing Fox News to do it for us when we need a break.    Meanwhile the deficit is shrinking much lower than we ever imagined (which is why we need to talk about that).  Give credit where credit is due.  What Obama did, worked.  What we are doing, is killing us. What we are forgetting, America is watching.  Furthermore, our party is shrinking yet again, and the Independent and Democratic party, like in 2011, are growing by leaps and bounds.  We don’t stand even a chance (and will lose most seats in 2014) if we continue creating “gotcha scandals”.  We need to get to work.  And stay there.  That’s what we were elected to do.”

“Please, wake up and get our once great party back, or continue this spiral until there is nothing left.  Really.  I’m not being condescending.  Our country runs best on a strong two party system. Right now we have a super-virile Democratic party and a VW Bug full of clowns throwing stones at their intelligence and virility, frankly because it scares us.  We know as a political party we used to ‘have that mojo’ but now its gone and there is no way to get it back.  Or is there?  Of course there is.”

“That’s Jr. High politics and why American GOPs keep jumping ship in huge numbers every single day.”

“I hope you know this press conference is not a slam. It is constructive criticism…actually of the most important kind.  It is not only suggesting change, but change that will require so much flexibility, so much bravery, and often letting go of toxic elements within ones own party.  Don’t think it can be done?  The Democrats did it.  Do you truly think they are that much better than you?   If you don’t believe it, watch in 2014.  Watch again in 2016. Please bookmark and save this blog so you can remember “who told you so” if you don’t make dramatic changes, big dramatic organized changes…like NOW. “

So what is written above, or something like it, is close to what a brilliant, brave, winning, GOP will not only say, but do with his/her actions by legislating and voting in the manner in which he/she speaks.  Look for that.  Look for what could be a reincarnation of Teddy Roosevelt or Abraham Lincoln.  And you’ve got your party back; stronger than it was before it turned into the circus that it is today.  And you know I’m not being unkind when I say that.  It has become a circus at best due to horrendous leadership, and as they say, ‘leader sets the tone’. “

Here’s the Gallup Poll Graph (A very conservative polling system) that shows Obama’s popularity rating before we started creating scandals, and now, nearly 10% up and we’re at our all time low.  They tend to agree with what I just wrote.   Thank you in advance in 2016.  May you surprise many, do the right thing, and win a lot of elections.

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Rick London is a writer, designer, and cartoonist.   He lives with his wife Lee Hiller-London who is the founder of nature photography blog HikeOurPlanet.com.  Together they hike and commune with nature in the Ouachita Mountains which they call their home. London founded Google #1 ranked offbeat cartoons and funny gifts “Londons Times in 1997.  Follow them on Twitter @RickLondon & @LeeHillerLondon.

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The Bernie Madoff Syndrome: How Grover Norquist Did What He Did by Rick London

    

 Whether we admit it or not, to a certain extent we all played “the popularity game” in junior high and high school.

     Hopefully, by the time most of us got to college, we were humbled by the fact that the world was much bigger than the walls of our tiny lower education walls, and there would always be someone stronger, richer, cuter, smarter, more talented, etc.

     And that’s a powerful lesson.  Unfortunately and obviously, not all of us grew out of it.

     Bernie Madoff was able to pull off what he did by using “The High School Popularity System”.   If you remember, the way it worked was to find someone in your grade (or higher) who was more popular than you.  You befriended them, and basically held them hostage.  If your other friends were nice, you made the introduction and the recommendation.  If they weren’t nice, they were banned from your “in group for life” or in the case of high school “until you graduated”.

      Oddly enough, as strange as it may sound, a great many never grew out of that adolescent game.  In fact all those who donated money to Bernie Madoff knew that he was “friends” with Steven Spielberg and a host of other Hollywood icons. Maybe, just maybe if they donated enough to his charities, they too, could finally get the best revenge that they never got enough of in their youth “popularity”, or to which it is referred in adulthood “money, power etc etc yawn”.

      As strange as it may sound, this is the exact model of Grover Norquist.  He drew up a simple pledge that he knew would appeal to the wealthiest in the country (no new taxes).  But something went wrong.  The more savvy among the wealthiest such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Walmart Political Super Pac and others, saw through his little game.  Though the Walton kids continued to give money to the GOP (after their candidate Jon Huntsmann lost, the Walmart SuperPac for the first time ever gave more to Democrats than Republicans this election term).  Why?  You tell me. 

      But the Congresspersons who signed it did not.  They felt by signing the pledge, they could then go back to their constituents and say, “Listen, vote for me and I can get you in with some mighty fancy people through this guru named Grover Norquist” (though I doubt they even mentioned his name as they wanted credit for pulling off this magic.)

      The Congresspersons also knew this would appeal to the wealthiest in their own district, giving them yet more leverage in their own districts by offering them untold millions in tax loopholes.

       After the smoke settled, and people realized the little high school game Bernie Madoff was playing to lure his contributors, he went to prison.  As the political dust settled and voters figured out that Norquist couldn’t guarantee a damned thing except that he was willing to “Pledge An Allegiance” to the wealthiest of this country, not to the flag (and for which it stands) decided to move to the Independent Party, or just go ahead and vote for President Obama.  They’d played the game in high school, and many were way too old and smart to play it in adulthood.  

       Besides, such pledges were always temporary and subject to human behavior, moods, health and a million other things.

      There’s a lesson here.  Vote for a candidate who will do the best for the entire country. When the entire country is healthy, so is everyone. 

      Consider that Bill Gates and Warren Buffett didn’t buy into the strange little high school GOP ploy. In fact even WalMart with all its flaws, didn’t either.  And if you’re smart (and now out of high school), neither should you.

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Rick London is a writer/designer/cartoonist living in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas with his wife Lee Hiller-London who is a popular nature photographer and has a blog Hike Our Planet.   London f0unded the Internet’s #1 offbeat cartoons & funny gifts Londons Times Cartoons in 1997.