THE BLUES HAVE IT
When Congress reconvenes in January, Democrats will have a 255-175 edge over Republicans in the House, with five races still to be decided, and a 58-40 advantage in the Senate, with two races, including one in Georgia, still being contested.
WASHINGTON — Despite heavy GOP losses in Congress this election, Tennessee and Georgia Republican lawmakers insist the party brand remains strong.
A retooled focus on its main platforms of limited government and low taxes can help the party recover in campaigns two years from now, Republicans contend. But they also caution that the GOP risks alienating more independents if it becomes too narrowly ideological.
“It’s not a matter of brand,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. “I think it’s obvious we lost a lot of independents in the last two elections. I don’t think it’s a failure of principle. It’s a failure of imagination of turning principles into results.”
Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., said the party should stand for values, national defense, small government, low taxes and government responsibility. But the party has botched the execution of those ideals in the last few election cycles, he said.
“We have taken positions over the last eight years that cause people to question whether we’re serious in believing those things,” Rep. Wamp said. “We’ve even mishandled the very necessary engagements of the military. We didn’t manage well or spend money properly.”
Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, said voters are likely to give Democrats control of federal government for at least six years, given the Republicans’ image problem.
“All an opposition party can do is to retool, rebuild, find new allies, and capitalize on the mistakes of those in power,” Dr. Sabato said. “The GOP is most definitely out of power for a while, at least until memories of President Bush’s mistakes are replaced, perhaps, with examples of Democratic errors.”
To restore trust with voters, Rep. Wamp said, Republicans must be more consistent in their message and bring in a newer generation of leaders.
“The same tired people are going to have a hard time getting voters to trust them,” Rep. Wamp said.
He also called for Republicans to work with President-elect Barack Obama’s administration and Democratic leaders to forge bipartisan compromises on energy, health care and the economy.
Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., said with congressional approval ratings at all-time lows, bipartisanship needs to carry the day in the new Congress.
“Collectively as a caucus, we have to work together,” Rep. Davis said of the liberal and moderate wings of the Democratic Party. “I’m one Democrat who doesn’t believe that our message is what got us the win. It was the failures of the last several years that gave us this election.”
Both Sens. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said Republicans need to take back the mantle of fiscal restraint, citing runaway spending over the last several years.
“What we have to reclaim is the fiscal conservatism that is the base of the Republican Party,” Sen. Isakson said.
