The Relevant Elephant

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Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:32:34 -0700

The Religious... Left?

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:39:28 -0800

Do Republicans care for the poor? It's a fair question to ask. Unfortunately, the response for too many young voters is "No." This has caused many young evangelicals to flock to Obama and the Democratic party.

One of the leaders of this exodus is Chris LaTondresse, creator of RecoveringEvangelical.com. This son of evangelical missionaries says the reason he, along with many others, made the switch is because their faith speaks about more than gay marriage and abortion.

Here is how he put it on an interview with Fox News.

Okay, point made. But that leads to the question: what are the best policies for helping the poor around the world?

Spring Cleaning Comes Early at RNC

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:30:03 -0800

In case you missed it, Michael Steele became the new RNC Chairman last week. He said in his acceptance speech that "it's time for something completely different." He wasn't joking.

Yesterday, Steele gave legs to his rhetoric by asking the 100 staff members at the RNC to resign. He has certainly wasted no time in bringing change to the Republican Party.

So what do you think? Was Steele the right choice? Was getting rid of all RNC staffers a smart move?

You can read more about Steele cleaning house here.

Democratic Depression

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:26:12 -0800

This little gem comes from our friends at Post Secret. We're guessing many on the left are having similar bouts of depression. On the flip side, though, many Republicans are likely realizing the benefits of being in the minority.

Democrats are now the ones who are responsible for our government; they are expected to have the right ideas and policies... the magic elixirs, if you will. While this temporary relief is refreshing, Republicans can't stay in the minority for long. The future of our country depends on it.

Even though our ideas aren't the ones being passed in Congress right now (unless you consider a $700 billion reformed stimulus package a Republican idea), it's important we're still developing them. The country will probably be looking to Republicans once again in a few years. We better be ready.

Democratic Depression

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:33:46 -0800

Just Say No

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:11:49 -0800

President Obama recently said that we all need to show the same spirit and courage as the Founders of this great country. I’m glad to say that on this point, the President and I actually agree. I only hope he’ll follow his own advice.

Alexander the Great is said to have remarked that the reason the peoples of Asia had for so long been slaves was that they never learned how to say “no,” and in that story lies the soul of what made the Founders of this country so great. When writing what would become the Constitution of the United States and given the chance to seize total power for themselves, they said “no”.

A Friendly Reminder: Don't Lose Focus

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:43:09 -0800

We have a new president. This reality has set in for many of us after months of media-driven euphoria culminating in a historic inauguration. Now it's back to politics.

But before you get too carried away with questioning the policies of the new administration, your friends here at The Relevant Elephant have a friendly reminder: don't lose focus.

Remember that the Republican Party must become relevant once again to young voters. Until that happens, we'll be "wandering in the wilderness" for decades to come. So while it's natural to go negative on bad policies, try and focus on what we as conservatives must do to once again win the hearts and minds of young voters.

A Young Conservative's Manifesto

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 04:26:19 -0800

Upon the election of our new President, Barack Obama, many of my friends (even conservatives) encouraged me to give our new leader a chance. I agreed with that request. I did my best to believe (maybe out of naivety) that despite his record, I would give the chance of hope to our new President. Today, I must announce that I rescind that hope. The fact of the matter is that within days of taking office, President Obama has made dastardly executive orders that only prove his record as the most liberal United States Senator.

Obama signed a Presidential executive order today that lifts the ban (placed by the Bush administration) on overseas abortion funding. One day after the 36th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade court decision, the order will reverse the policy that “requires any non-governmental organization to agree before receiving U.S. funds that they will 'neither perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations.'”

Leading the Way, A Farewell Address

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:37:08 -0800

My grandfather, a pastor, has told me many times that leadership is a bloody nose and having both of your front teeth knocked out. Sometimes the saying varies and it’s a broken nose and black eye. But in the end, the essence of leadership is facing more persecution than praise, more anger than applause.

As I watched President Bush give his farewell address last Thursday night, I thought to myself, Now there’s a leader. Like the Greek boxer from an ancient Olympics, President Bush has taken such a beating that it is very likely his own dog doesn’t recognize him anymore.

Yet there he stood, addressing the nation for the final time, not lamenting over the hand he had been dealt, but standing by his decisions and thanking the American people for giving him the honor of serving as our president.

What Kind of Leader Are You?

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:16:41 -0800

The focus within the Republican Party since the election has been on who the new RNC Chairman will be. Like we said previously, this is an important job. It's not the only one, though.

The Republican Party needs good leaders at all levels, including the state and grassroots levels. We need leaders that can communicate the benefits of conservatism. It is relevant, after all. We also need more young leaders in the party.

Republican Tree Huggers

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:51:42 -0800

Young voters care about the environment. Republicans have made it seem like they don't. That's a shame because, as David Frum points out in the video below, protecting the environment has been strong part of the Republican past. It needs to be a part of the future.

This doesn't mean we should all run out and hug a tree (although they are lovely). It does mean we should be realistic in figuring out how we damage our environment and then look for market-based solutions to fix the problems.

You can watch Frum's video below:

How Will the New RNC Chairman Attract Young Voters?

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:12:01 -0800

The verdict is still out on who the new RNC chairman will be. While we don't know who it'll be, we do know how they would plan to attract young voters back to the Grand Ol' Party.

The candidates recently went through a round of debate as part of the selection process. During said debate, a question was asked: how can the GOP be more attractive to young voters?

This question was based on the statement that many within the party have said the young vote is important, yet few have laid out clear plans how to reach them.

This question is important; any re-birth of the Republican Party depends on it. So what did they say? You can watch the video below:

Bleeding Heart Conservatives

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:25:01 -0800

Liberals are personally stingy. A recent NY Times article by a self-proclaimed liberal bemoans the fact that conservatives give 30% more to charity than do liberals. Maybe this is why those leaning left are in favor of government handouts.

I'm sure this comes as a shock to liberals. They have given conservatives a label of not caring for the poor. That's wrong. We just think it's our responsibility as individuals and community members to help them.

Time for New Blood?

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:45:41 -0800

As the new year starts, a major question remains: what is the future of the Republican Party? It might take several years to figure out. One of the first steps, though, is determining who will be the new RNC chairman.

While most of us never hear much about the RNC chairman, it's an important job. Six candidates have dropped their name in the hat, all with their own hopes and visions for the direction of the party. One of the six is current chairman, Mike Duncan, who is seeking a second term.

What do you think? Give Duncan another shot, or is it time for new blood?

To learn more about the election process, click here.

A Misunderstood Hero's Foreign Policy Legacy

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 05:31:18 -0800

"A hero who has become the scandal of his generation, aware that he is a paradox that cannot be understood, cries undaunted to his contemporaries: 'The future will show I was right!'"

No, this is not a reference to our soon-to-be-former President George W. Bush (although it certainly applies). The quote dates back to 1843. Soren Kierkegaard, an influential philosopher, penned them in his seminal work, Fear & Trembling.

So, is Bush a misunderstood hero? Will the future prove him right? No one knows, especially when it comes to Iraq.

Shallow Policies and a Damaged Brand

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:16:00 -0800

If you could secretly give Republican officials four suggestions, what would they be? Charlie Cook, from the National Journal, recently gave that opportunity to two leading political consultants. Here are their best thoughts, in our opinion:

1) The desire for change in the 2008 election was because of the damaged Republican brand, resulting from corruption scandals, high spending, and not addressing the problems people really care about.

Rebuild the Party

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:13:43 -0800

As everyone knows, Democrats used this thing called the "Internet" a little better than Republicans in the past election. Rebuild the Party hopes to change that.

The group of conservatives behind the website have a plan to get the Republican Party back in the game, using new technologies to build a grassroots movement. While Rebuild the Party doesn't talk about strategy or the issues, it does address something very important: how the Republican Party communicates those issues. You can check it out here.

Prescriptions for a Republican Recovery

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:00:22 -0800

Over at Politico.com, they recently had a discussion on the question, "What's the most important first step Republicans should take on the road to recovery?" Below are several of our favorite responses.

Zach Wamp, Rep. (R-Tenn.):
First steps should include laying out policies to bring about bipartisan compromises on major issues in the areas of energy, healthcare and the economy.

Why Sarah Palin Should Write a Book

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:40:56 -0800

Since Sarah Palin lost her bid to become the first female VP, buzz of a 2012 presidential run has surrounded her. Buzz can be a good thing, especially if you're wanting to change your public image (and make some money off writing a book).

Will Republicans Win in 2010?

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:41:50 -0800

Despite recent losses, many conservatives are optimistic about the future. But not all. David Frum, a conservative columnist, thinks it a little too optimistic to predict a Republican return in 2010.

Frum gives four reasons why it will take longer, with his main reason being "the collapsed intellectual state of the party." You can read the entire article here and see if you agree.