Five Things Republicans Should Know

This will be a three part series covering Republicans, Democrats and the Tea Party...

1. The Voice- Right now, talk radio champ Rush Limbaugh is the voice of the Republican party. He holds this position whether you like him or not (and there are Republicans who don't). The problem is that he is an entertainer who makes gobs of money finding fault with every single thing done by the Obama administration and the Democratic congress. His screeds should not be mistaken for thoughtful political analysis. He panders to the extreme right and says 'shocking' things to keep ratings high. These things are frequently at odds with conservative beliefs and good governance.
2. The Network- Fox News is not fair and balanced. It is very difficult to discern when they are in 'news' mode and when they are offering an opinion. Their editorial slant is their business. It's just time to acknowledge people watch it because they like right wing opinions delivered by good looking news readers.
3. Moderates- If there is a backlash against moderate members of the House and Senate there will be no good governance over the next few years. Olympia Snow, Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham are thoughtful members of the Senate who are interested in passing good laws both parties can agree upon. If they knuckle under to right wing pressure to keep their seats in future elections conservatives will lose their chance to influence lawmaking.
4. No- Voting against every single Democrat bill is not a strategy. It allows up and comers like Eric Cantor and veterans like John Boehner to say they have a solid record of opposing Democrat initiatives. That way they can move on to easy re-election or higher office. Independent voters and conservative Democrats have no idea if Republicans are putting forth good ideas. The 'Loyal Opposition' is one thing. A brick wall is quite another.
5. The Role of Government- Regulations save lives and the economy. Nuclear power is safer than it used to be because of regulations enacted after the Three Mile Island accident. The economy is in terrible shape because Phil Gramm (and Bill Clinton) helped repeal the Glass-Steagall Act passed after the Great Depression. There are things only government can accomplish. Banks will bet your savings on Credit Default Swaps in a heartbeat and expect the government to bail out customers if they go broke. It has happened hundreds of times since 2008. The market needs some restraint because lunatics will chase profit to the detriment of us all.