The Daily OrangeRepublicans prove resiliency after losses, optimistic for future
By John Cassillo
Posted: 3/3/09, 5:11 AM EST Section: Opinion
As I walked into the OMNI Shoreham Hotel in our nation's capital, I questioned what the atmosphere would be like at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this past weekend. Republicans were beaten badly at the polls, and pundits all over were saying that conservatism was dead. In no way could the mood have been pleasant, or so I assumed.
Music blared, people from all walks of the Republican Party smiled and laughed, and they were genuinely happy, and surprisingly resilient.
Speakers like former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke about change, but not ideologically. Instead, Huckabee insisted that the crowd continue pushing forward and continue to pursue the party's faith in its ideals. He encouraged hope that the party could right its ship from the free-spending ways of the Bush era, and that new faces could lead.
After the 2008 presidential election, I called for a change of face for the GOP. I said that the party needed to soften how it presents itself to pursue more votes in an increasingly left-leaning electorate. I even encouraged bipartisanship and open-mindedness in constructing a stimulus bill with Democrats to fix the country's failing economy.
Then, I saw the Democratic Congress waste taxpayer dollars on a wasteful stimulus bill and attended CPAC - and truly realized what the GOP's strength lies in. Republicans' strength, just like the strength of our government, lies in its people and the peoples' will to succeed. That strength does not, and has not ever, lied in the government, nor the Republican establishment. If Republicans want to take back the government, they'll do it by being people that genuinely care about others in this nation.
Just 20 minutes in a convention room with other Republicans, and all the notions I previously believed true were undeniably false.
"The party has had a long history of success, made of strong individuals and convictions," said Jon Margulies, fellow attendee and SU College Republican. "There's no reason to change the ideology now."
Music blared, people from all walks of the Republican Party smiled and laughed, and they were genuinely happy, and surprisingly resilient.
Speakers like former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke about change, but not ideologically. Instead, Huckabee insisted that the crowd continue pushing forward and continue to pursue the party's faith in its ideals. He encouraged hope that the party could right its ship from the free-spending ways of the Bush era, and that new faces could lead.
After the 2008 presidential election, I called for a change of face for the GOP. I said that the party needed to soften how it presents itself to pursue more votes in an increasingly left-leaning electorate. I even encouraged bipartisanship and open-mindedness in constructing a stimulus bill with Democrats to fix the country's failing economy.
Then, I saw the Democratic Congress waste taxpayer dollars on a wasteful stimulus bill and attended CPAC - and truly realized what the GOP's strength lies in. Republicans' strength, just like the strength of our government, lies in its people and the peoples' will to succeed. That strength does not, and has not ever, lied in the government, nor the Republican establishment. If Republicans want to take back the government, they'll do it by being people that genuinely care about others in this nation.
Just 20 minutes in a convention room with other Republicans, and all the notions I previously believed true were undeniably false.
"The party has had a long history of success, made of strong individuals and convictions," said Jon Margulies, fellow attendee and SU College Republican. "There's no reason to change the ideology now."
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