Now that the election is over, the self-recriminations by Republicans as to why they were soundly thrashed at the ballot box have begun.  The sniping against Sarah Palin by assorted anonymous McCain campaign personnel has been discussed at length in a multitude of other blogs, so there is no need to go into the subject.  Instead. let’s focus on what went wrong and how to make it right.

Given my place of residence, I hear the phrase “go green” a lot which translates into the source of global warming being identified: it’s the tremendous amount of hot air generated by people talking a good eco-friendly game but in reality doing not a thing of any genuine value to enhance the environment.  For the GOP I’d like to propose a modification of this phrase:

Go Gospel.

Before anyone gets visions of me desiring an army of believers waving their Bibles and quoting Scripture in the middle of budget discussions, I’m not.  The Bible isn’t made for either waving or beating someone over the head.  It’s to be read, believed, and acted upon as not only the direct communication between God and man it is, but also as a practical guide for how one should conduct oneself in all matters.  Including politics.

Some examples:

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.  So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.  To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here!  How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” (Jn. 2:13-16)

The GOP needs to clean house.  No more Ted Stevens or variation thereof.  Root those who act illegally out and flush them away.  There can be no tolerance whatsoever for those who abuse their position as a holder of public office.

This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes.  They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.  They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The LORD says: You will have peace.’  And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’  But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word?  Who has listened and heard his word?” (Jer. 23:16-18)

Grousing about liberal bias in the media has approximately the same level of effectiveness in changing how things are done as complaining about the way Al Davis runs the Raiders.  Every failing in the Obama administration will be laid at the feet of President Bush because, as the media is already and will continue to describe it, he messed up every everything so much it’ll take at least two terms in office for Obama to fix it all.  Republicans are not going to get a fair shake, they will not be covered in a positive light, and they will be repeatedly lied about and slandered.  So what should the party do?

Pick a handful of skilled spokespeople — a Fred Thompson, a Rudy Giuliani — and get them out there getting in the media’s face 24/7.  Attack every lie full on.  Never let the liberal pundits have their say without opposition and correction.  Force the message down the media’s throat, while doing so taking advantage of every opportunity to speak directly to the people.

Another part of this is a dire need for more than a few conservative pundits to STFU.  We don’t need Hugh Hewitt and his ever-present man crush on Mitt Romney leading him to one day totally trash first Mike Huckabee then John McCain only to spend the next day posing as Mr. Conservative Standard Bearer.  We don’t need Michelle Malkin whining every time someone fails one of her litmus tests for acceptable policies.  We don’t need South Park Republicans and their mantra of ‘be crude, be crass, be conservative.’  We need more Victor David Hansons, writers discussing the issues with clarity and authority.  This “look at me — SQUEE!” garbage has to stop.  People need to get over themselves and get with the program of not shredding those who identify themselves as conservatives yet differ on a point or two.  We who write about such things are not the show.  A healthy dose of getting over ourselves is in order.

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  Remember the height from which you have fallen!  Repent and do the things you did at first.  If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” (Rev. 2:4-5)

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest, and repent.  Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:19-20)

I listed these verses together because they are such apt descriptions of the GOP today.  It has lost its vision and become overgrown with selfishness and senseless bickering.  It needs to firmly rededicate itself to the principals of conservative governing, of personal liberty as sacrosanct and minimal government interference in personal plus professional affairs of the people it serves, not the other way around.  It needs to extend a hand to those in need, not a handout, by working to end unequal treatment and provide opportunities for all to acquire the skills needed to be a productive member of society at which point in time each individual must rise or fall on their own merits.  And frankly it could use more than a little churchin’ up.

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.  Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matt. 10:16)

And need I mention be smart about things?

Go Gospel, GOP.  Go Gospel.