How we get it back.

For two days now, we conservatives have been reading our movement’s obituary in publications like the New York Times, the New Republic and the Los Angeles Times.

Let me assure all of you that rumors of our demise have been greatly exaggerated.

While the current junior Senator from Illinois will be residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for the next four years and the Democrats have extended their majorities in both houses of Congress, the Conservative movement is far from dead.

We have two years people. Two years to get back to true conservative values, find a suitable candidate that will stick to those values and, most importantly, establish a real message.

The message is the key. No matter how vapid you may have found the “hope” and “change” themes of the Obama campaign, you have to admit they worked. Talk to anyone that voted for Obama and ask them why they support him. The words “hope” and “change” will be uttered in under nine seconds.

Now, I’m not suggesting we adapt an equally empty message to counter this “hope” and “change” rhetoric. (By the way, what the hell is Obama going to say when he runs for reelection? “Change” won’t make too much sense will it? Seriously, I haven’t a clue what he’s going to do. “Change” was every third word out of his mouth. I guess we should prepare ourselves to see a sea of “Hold” and “Persist” banners in Grant Park in 2012.)

But back to my original point, we need a real message. One that will not only resonate with voters, but one that will also adhere to real conservative values and dramatically distance ourselves from the policies and ideologies of liberal Democrats. It doesn’t have to be gimmicky or even catchy, it just has to speak directly to each person in America.

While we don’t know what President Obama’s priorities will be once his term starts, we can all agree that we’re going to see a much bigger government that has more influence on our lives.

That’s where we need to attack them. We need to show the electorate that the answers to their problems don’t reside inside the White House or the halls of Congress. They reside in their minds, their ideas and their hard work.

I would love to hear our candidate say the following when they announce their bid for the presidency:

“Since the beginning of 2009, we have heard President Obama and his cohorts in Congress tell us what government will do for us and how they will make our lives better. The results of this ideology have been incredibly detrimental to this nation’s most important and unique institution…the individual.

Ladies and gentlemen, when I am elected as the next President of the United States, I will not talk down to you and explain how government will fix all of your problems. I will not provide a laundry list of programs and policies that will sap you of your God-given right to determine the direction of your own life. I am not that arrogant and naïve to believe that us politicians have all of the answers.

Quite the contrary.

I will explain how government will get out of your way and step back to allow you to make the decisions that affect your life and the lives of your family. I will do my best to ensure that you are free to live your life as you see fit, that you earn a living in the manner in which you prefer and that you keep as much of your hard earned money as possible. Because, after all, there is no one more qualified, more able and more willing to help yourself than yourself.

Of course, we will be here if you need assistance. We will not be an administration that turns its back on our fellow citizens.

However, ladies and gentlemen, I can honestly say that I believe those times will be few and far between. I believe this because I have more faith in your intelligence, ingenuity and hard work when helping yourself than the combined “expertise”, programs and policies of every member of our vast bureaucracy trying to do the same.”

Ok, maybe I’m being naïve here, but who couldn’t get behind that message?

It’s positive, uplifting and it speaks to every single voter directly. It will help them believe in themselves and resurrect the good old “can-do” spirit of America.

The spirit that allowed us to turn 13 small colonies into the most powerful, global superpower the world has ever seen.

The spirit that allowed us to construct the strongest, most diverse and innovative economy in the world.

The spirit that has allowed us to build the most successful political model in the history of mankind.

That’s a winning message folks and one that I would love to see someone use to take back the White House.

That’s all for now folks. Until next time, take care and be well.

- John