The Watcher’s Council

The Council has spoken, the tribal votes have been cast and the results are in for this week’s Watcher’s Council match-up.

Even taking into consideration the normal high level of quality in both the Council and Non-Council entries, this was a tough call with some exceptional pieces to choose from and the close vote tallies reflect it.

This week’s winner, The Right Planet’s Disunity in the Republic, is a well written take on the current split between establishment Republicans and conservatives within the party, as well as his own epiphany and ideas on what needs to be done about it. Here’s a slice:

Been mullin’ over the current disunity within the Republican Party, and the Republic in general, since Obama’s reelection. Sadly, none of it really surprises me. It is really just a another tiresome example of the same ole, same ole—curse of the ole republican circular firing squad syndrome.

I am just a blogger, just an American, just a citizen journalist—nobody of particular import. But I’ve been following this political stuff long enough to see some troubling patterns on my side of the political aisle.

My first question: where is the spirit of cooperation within the Republican Party? Are we striving for unity here or not? Why do republicans and conservatives choose to tear each other’s heads off so often? It is rather ironic when I listen to some on the right, who claim to eschew the tactics of Saul Alinsky, engage in Alinskyite tactics against their own. For example, republican establishment types referring to their Tea Party brethren as “chuckleheads” or “hobbits,” or tearing down people like Sarah Palin or Rush Limbaugh—apparently in an effort to retain standing with their more “moderate” or “liberal” colleagues.

What does this accomplish? The very people they are marginalizing are their own voters. Are those within the Republican establishment so blind that cannot see that they are literally telling their voters and constituents “we don’t need you”? What do you think such a message tells potential voters?

There are plenty of people who would vote for the Republican Party, if the republicans would reach out more and clearly delineate their principles and beliefs in simple terms, as opposed to thumbing their nose at those outside the beltway and the establishment—who are ostensibly seen as beneath their political acumen and prestige. Some of the Republican establishment types have snubbed people like Allen West or Michelle Bachmann. Yet, it is people like Bachmann and West who take the time to meet and speak with their constituents, as opposed to some within the Republican Party who remain aloof and unapproachable, or just downright hostile. Again, from a purely political perspective, it is incredibly demoralizing to the republican base at large.

Republicans need to loosen their collars a bit, in my mind … roll up their sleeves and get some outreach going to communities where their message is non-existent. I’ve heard from a number of black conservatives, for example, that there is no republican presence in their neighborhoods and communities; they feel they are really fighting an uphill battle with no substantial support. This lack of presence by the republicans would also apply to other communities, such as Latinos, Native Americans, Asian, homosexual, etc. The republican establishment really needs to wake up and support efforts at the grassroots level by assisting new organizing efforts. We need a bottoms up, top-down approach to counter similar efforts by the Obama camp.

Of course, in order to reach out to new voters, you must have a clear and simple platform. I think the Heritage Foundation has it right: First Principles—meaning: defending individual rights, fiscal responsibility, strong defense, balanced budget, limited government, fair taxation, supporting the entrepreneur, freedom in business, etc. In a nutshell: the defense, protection and preservation of the U.S. Constitution. By sticking to First Principles, the republicans can find common ground with many libertarians, conservative democrats, independents, etc., as opposed to a bloated platform which attempts to appeal to every special interest group under the sun.

In our non-Council category, the winner was BeliefNet with She survived Hitler and wants to warn America, submitted by The Political Commentator. It ought to be required reading for every American in the age of Obama. Call it a warning from the past from someone who experienced directly how easily freedom can be taken away before you realize it’s gone.

Okay, here are this week’s full results. Only Gay Patriot was unable to vote, but was not subject to the usual 2/3 vote penalty for not voting:

Council Winners

• *First place with 2 2/3 votes! – The Right Planet – Disunity in the Republic
• Second place with 2 1/3 votes – The Mellow Jihadi – Suicide Curses the Navy, Again
• Third place with 2 votes – The Noisy Room – Battered America Syndrome
• Fourth place *t* with 1 2/3 votes – Joshuapundit – U.S. Agrees To Allow Taliban To Open ‘Political Office’ In Qatar As Obama Declares War Lost
• Fourth place *t* with 1 2/3 votes – Rhymes With Right – Note To Anti-Gunnites
• Fifth place with 1 1/3 votes – Gay Patriot – Addressing the GOP’s image problem
• Sixth place *t* with 2/3 vote – Bookworm Room – Adam Carolla’s newest Prager U video about our ability to change is very, very important
• Sixth place *t* with 2/3 vote – Simply Jews – Chuck Hagel controversy and beyond
• Seventh place *t* with 1/3 vote – The Glittering Eye – Why Is Chicago’s Murder Rate Higher?
• Seventh place *t* with 1/3 vote – The Political Commentator – Can the Obama administration be compared to the Taliban…

Non-Council Winners

• *First place with 3 1/3 votes! – BeliefNet – She survived Hitler and wants to warn America submitted by The Political Commentator
• Second place *t* with 2 1/3 votes – Mark Steyn – ObamaCare’s Other Shoe submitted by Joshuapundit
• Second place *t* with 2 1/3 votes – Steve McCann/American Thinker – I will not Be Intimidated submitted by The Watcher
• Third place with 1 vote – Charlemagne/The Economist – France Goes It Alone submitted by GrEaT sAtAn”S gIrLfRiEnD
• Fourth place with 2/3 vote – Treppenwitz – What an awkwardly worded denial! submitted by Simply Jews
• Fourth place *t* with 2/3 votes – Moore To The Point – Louie Giglio and the New State Church submitted by Rhymes With Right
• Fourth place *t* with 2/3 vote – ZenPundit – Battling bus ads revisited submitted by The Mellow Jihadi
• Fourth place *t* with 2/3 vote – Jim DeMint – Conservative ideas need a new message submitted by The Watcher
• Fourth place *t* with 2/3 vote – Defining Ideas – Obama Puts the World at Risk submitted by Gay Patriot
• Fifth place *t* with 1/3 vote – Daniel Greenfield/FrontPage Magazine – Why is a Gambler from Hong Kong Funding the Pro-Hagel Campaign? submitted by The Noisy Room
• Fifth place *t* with 1/3 vote – The First Street Journal – Yes, Mr President, we do have a spending problem, a huge spending problem, and you are the reason why. submitted by The Colossus of Rhodey
• Fifth place *t* with 1/3 vote – Jed Babbin/American Spectator – The Unserious Gun Control Debate submitted by The Right Planet
• Fifth place *t* with 1/3 vote – Commentary/Seth Mandel – Joe Biden told you so submitted by Bookworm Room
• Fifth place *t* with 1/3 vote – Michelle Malkin – What I most admire about James O’Keefe… submitted by The Independent Sentinel

See you next week! Don’t forget to tune in on Monday AM for this week’s Watcher’s Forum, as the Council and their invited special guests take apart one of the provocative issues of the day with short takes and weigh in… don’t you dare miss it. And don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter… ’cause we’re cool like that!