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May 13, 2013

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Why the giving of the document that would permanently change the world could only be done in desolation

David G. Savage: Church-state, literally? Supreme Court weighing public school graduation in a church

Emily Alpert: Recession dragged down birth rates for less-educated women
Morgan Housel: The deep downside of home ownership

Peter Teffer: Will Dutch police soon be stalking cybercriminals on your computer?

Heidi McIndoo, M.S., R.D.: Meatless 'meat' can have its own set of problems

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Celebrate! This must-try appetizer is delicate yet has depth of flavor: Corn-Leek Cakes with Caviar, Smoked Salmon and Creme Fraiche

May 10, 2013

Rabbi Berel Wein: Be all that you should be

Caroline B. Glick: The dirty little secret about Israel's Arabs

Mona Charen: Hawking's Moral Calculus: The man and the movement he embraces
Morgan Housel: The biggest retirement myth ever told

Sandi Doughton: Eyes may provide new insight into brain problems

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : The Great Gatsby's Jewish Ties; Jews in the "Time 100 list" List; People's Most Beautiful Women

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: A sweet-hot meal: Pear salsa spices up salmon

May 8, 2013

Peter Ford: Why China is welcoming both Israel's Netanyahu and Palestinians' Abbas

Warren Richey: Obama administration quietly backs out of appeal over new contraceptive mandate

Fred Weir: At Kerry-Putin meeting, US-Russia relations thaw --- a tad
Amanda Paulson: Study reveals sad truths about community colleges

Harvard Health Letters: Evidence weak that zinc, echinacea are beneficial

The Kosher Gourmet by Leela Cyd Ross : Almost too pretty to eat, this colorful salad with Sicilian inspiration will tickle the taste buds and delight your visual sensibility

May 6, 2013

Edmund Sanders and Patrick J. McDonnell: Think Israel's objective in Syria is to weaken Assad or embolden the rebels? Think again

Brian Bennett: Israeli airstrikes may show weakness in Syrian defense

Michael Ollove: Millions of ex-felons, parolees and those on probation are about to be entitled to tax-payer paid health coverage
Karen Kaplan: Most men can skip PSA test for prostate cancer, urologists say

Kimberly Lankford: How to track down a lost life insurance policy

Dream of Mars exploration achievable, experts say

The Kosher Gourmet by Susan M. Selasky: EGGPLANT WRAPS are an easy, sumptuous and scrumptious meal

May 3, 2013

Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Human Courage and the Unavoidable, Disturbing Text

Steven Emerson: Attorney General Fights CAIR in Court, Lauds it in Public

Mediterranean diet helps beat dementia: study
Harvard Health Letters: When to be screened for a hearing problem

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom : Iron Man's Jewish Connections; Marc Maron's New TV Show; Martin Landau Grows Up with Israel; Shalom, Allan Arbus

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: A sweet surprise for Mother's Day dessert

May 1, 2013

Jonathan Rosenblum: An Improbable Journey to Orthodoxy

Jonathan Tobin: Blame Obama, Not Israel for Syria Push

Kids, kittens the Same? With employee perks at struggling Internet pioneer Yahoo! it's hard to tell
Halena M. Gazelka, M.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: What you need to know about implanted pain relief devices

Sandy Kleffman: Artificial kidney offers hope to patients tethered to a dialysis machine

Jessica Shugart: When it comes to math, MRIs may be better than IQs

The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: The celebrated chef on how high-maintenance ASPARAGUS RISOTTO need not be

April 29, 2013

Roy Gutman: Poland's new Jewish museum celebrates life, doesn't revisit Holocaust

Mark Clayton: Terrorism in America: Is US missing a chance to learn from failed plots?

Kim Murphy: Boston Bomber's 'Svengali' Revealed
Morgan Housel: He's rich, smart and old: Listen to him

Thomas Salinas, D.D.S.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: The safety of amalgam fillings

Harvard Health Letters: Tomatoes and stroke protection

Pete Spotts: Tiny satellites + cellphones = cheaper 'eyes in the sky' for NASA

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Swing into spring with lemon cream pie

April 26, 2013

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The world is a mirror

Caroline B. Glick: Time to confront Obama

Clifford D. May: Defense in the Age of Jihadist Terrorism
Kimberly Lankford: New strategies ease pain of paying for long-term care insurance

Howard LeWine, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Too much ibuprofen?

Sharon Palmer, R.D.: How to feel your best -- with plenty of energy, a healthy weight and optimal mental and physical function -- without driving yourself batty

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Jewish Major Leaguers, 2013; New Movies and Comedy Show; Shalom, 'Lumpy' (Leave it to Beaver)

The Kosher Gourmet by Emily Ho : A bright and cheerful salad to herald the warmer months ahead

April 24, 2013

Steven Emerson: Boston Bomber Exposes Islamist Secret

Morgan Housel Admit it: No one has any idea what's going on
Harvard Health Letters: Can you get headaches from headache medication?

Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D.: How to easily get more Omega-3s in your diet

Melissa Healy: Pot in a pill: All the pain relief without the smoke

The Kosher Gourmet by Susan Russo: Chipotle Chili Butternut Squash Soup is bold, zesty, hot

April 22, 2013

Ken Dilanian: Counterterrorism's future is unclear

US man departing country arrested on terror charges
Barbara Williams: An unorthodox but growing treatment in a 9-year-old's battle against cancer

P.J. Skerrett, M.D.: How to recognize a good whole grain product

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Teen actor Jonah Bobo in New Flick: Hunky James Wolk on Mad Men; Erich Segal's Daughter Writes Prize-Winning Jewish Novel

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: 'Noodles,' Asian style is a carb sub, sure. But they are also amazingly delicious and colorful

April 19, 2013

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: When violence seems the only answer

Caroline B. Glick: Why Obama's visit to Israel had no impact on public opinion or government policy

Morgan Housel: Gold collapse: The start of something big?
Harvard Health Letters: Can you die of a broken heart?

Pete Spotts: Livable super-Earths? Two candidates among Kepler's latest finds

Nora Schultz: Oxytocin helps beat booze cravings

The Kosher Gourmet by Carole Kotkin: Middle Eastern cuisine meets Italian delicious with this lentil and eggplant pastitsio

April 17, 2013

Shira Rubin: Too much of a good thing? 'Palestinians' realize downside of foreign aid boom

Geoffrey Mohan: Can computers decode dreams? Researchers take a first step

Morgan Housel: BAD NEWS: EVERYONE IS RIGHT!
Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D.: 6 heart-healthy eating tips help cut saturated fat but not taste

Michael Craig Miller, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Told your child has sensory processing disorder? Seek a second opinion

The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Corn and Curry Add Zing to Chilled Soup

April 15, 2013

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The Death of Education?

Kristen Chick: Egyptian Christians respond with harsh words to attack -- rocks, Molotov cocktails, and gunfire -- against main cathedral

Marcy Darnovsky and Karuna Jaggar: High Court to decide if you should own your DNA
Howard LaFranchi: US bracing for more Russian blowback after taking action against 18 more human rights violators

Kristin Ohlson : The loneliest fight

The Kosher Gourmet by Dana Velden: A tasty, rich dish that hints at spring's arrival while still anchored in a favorite winter staple

April 12, 2013

Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb: The Inspired Loner

Caroline B. Glick : Must we continue to be enablers of our own destruction?

Mark Clayton: New cybersecurity bill: Privacy threat or crucial band-aid?
Morgan Housel: Twitter: The carnival barker of investing

Harvard Health Letters.: Dietary supplements: Do they help or hurt?

Jewz in the Newz by Nate Bloom: Jackie Robinson's Friend, Hank Greenberg; CNN's Jake Tapper; Texas County in the News is named for 19thC. Jewish soldier and Congressman

The Kosher Gourmet by Susan Russo: FRUITY QUINOA STUFFED PEPPERS: A flavorful, colorful and edible vessel of delicately fluffy, mildly nutty filling combined with chewy apricots, tangy cherries, and crunchy pistachios

April 10, 2013

Edmund Sanders: Kerry leaves Israel with hopes, but few results

Nicholas Blanford: Iran's 'axis of resistance' loses its Palestinian arm to Syrian war

Peter Grier: North Korean missiles: Could US shoot them down?
Morgan Housel: Warning: Don't waste your capital being fooled by profit prophets

Donald Hensrud, M.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Take vitamin supplements with caution --- even approved, they may actually do damage

Eryn Brown: 74 DNA discoveries move cure closer for three cancers

Mark Guarino: Google Glass already has some lawmakers on high alert

The Kosher Gourmet by Dana Velden: A soup to feed every guest, no matter how finicky

April 8, 2013

Jonathan Tobin: What Part of No Preconditions Do American Jews Not Get?

Christa Case Bryant: No Place on Earth

Fred Weir: Is Putin finally trading his own party for a new power base?

Hara Estroff Marano: The Spice of Life
P.J. Skerrett, M.D.: Harvard Health Letters: Generic drugs: Don't ask, just tell

David Cook : Husband-hunting advice from Princeton alum triggers outrage, humor

The Kosher Gourmet by James T. Farmer III : A simple, rustic white pizza: Good ingredients, fresh herbs, and an infused olive layered upon a crispy crust hits the spot


Jewish World Review Nov. 24, 2008 / 26 Mar-Cheshvan 5769

Whither the Republican Party?

By Robert Robb

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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | After two electoral pastings, the debate and infighting about the future of the Republican Party will be intense.

There are basically three factions:



  • Those who want to exhume Ronald Reagan and return to the principles Bill Buckley and Barry Goldwater brought down from Mount Sinai. This faction tends to attend think tank confabs and remember wistfully late-night undergraduate debates about whether lighthouses should be privatized.

  • Those who think that Reagan is so, like, yesterday. This faction thinks the need is for a post-Reagan communitarian Republican Party that feels people's pain and doesn't truck with the sort who, you know, believe the Bible really means what it says, and stuff like that. They tend to write for the New York Times.

  • Those who think the problem is that Republican politicians are just a bunch of political wimps who won't fight tough or mean enough. This faction tends to congregate on talk radio.


What really happened to the Republican Party, and what should be done about it?

What happened

What happened is this: Iraq, Bush and the economy.

2004 was a base turnout election. Both political parties had fabulous turnout operations. The Republicans did a slightly better job and kept the presidency.

In 2006, Democrats again turned out and voted for Democrats. Republicans turned out and voted for Republicans. Independents, however, split decisively for Democrats over the Iraq war. Independents wanted an end to it and turned Congress over to the Democrats.

By the time 2008 rolled around, it was clear that the American electorate had had enough of President Bush and Republican rule.

Bush's low approval ratings were well-known. The depth of hostile sentiment, as revealed by the election exit poll, was nevertheless astonishing.

According to the poll, 71 percent of voters disapproved of Bush's job performance. That's familiar territory. But 50 percent of voters disapproved strongly. That's an electorate willing to take up a collection to pay for the moving van.

In 2008, Democrats still voted for Democrats and Republicans still voted for Republicans. But a significantly smaller portion of the electorate identified themselves as Republicans. The Republican base had shrunk.

Independents still split decisively for Democrats, this time on the issue of economic anxiety.

The failure of big-government conservatism

Why the Republican base shrank will be the subject of endless debate. But this much is certain: During the Bush years, the Republican Party lost any claim it had of being the party of smaller government.

The Bush presidency began with the largest expansion of the federal role in primary and secondary education since Jimmy Carter. It ended with the Bush administration partially nationalizing the banks.

In between, there was the largest expansion of the entitlement state since Lyndon Johnson with the Medicare prescription drug benefit. An explosion in pork-barrel spending. The biggest farm and highway spending bills ever. And a rate of spending growth double that of the Clinton presidency.

Part of this was actually by design. Bush and his political architect, Karl Rove, wanted to establish an enduring Republican governing majority by reconciling conservatives to an activist federal government, but one pursuing conservative ends. Hence, the role of the federal government in education was to be expanded, but to serve the conservative reform of accountability through testing.

Some called this big-government conservatism. It didn't work out too hot. Republicans got the big down pat. But somehow the conservative reforms, except for education, got dropped by the wayside. And once slipped from the leash, congressional Republicans found that spend-and-elect was fun.

Of course, Democrats are congenitally better at it than Republicans.

Getting back into the game

The voters didn't turn the government over to Democrats because Republicans lost their small-government cred, as some on the right would have it. With wages stagnant and the economy tanking, voters weren't in a small-government mood.

Recovering their small-government credentials, however, is how Republicans will get back into the game. At some point, voters will decide that Democrats have gone too far and someone needs to clean up. If voters have concluded that Republicans really will expand government less and spend less, they will get the call.

Restoring that reputation won't be easy, since Republicans pretty thoroughly trashed it. Although it should be easier to do in the minority.

Opposing the auto bailout is a good starting point, although even now Republicans cannot quite get it right. Republican leaders are saying that the problem is that the auto industry doesn't have a plan to restructure.

It wouldn't matter if Detroit hired every underemployed MBA in the country and had a gazillion plans. The principle is this: the only way Detroit should get money from the American people is by selling cars.

When saying stuff like that comes naturally to Republican politicians again, they will be on their way to recovery.

Building a governing consensus

However, Republicans have two challenges — one substantive, one political — that have to be addressed if they are to have a chance to be more than just the cleanup crew called in temporarily after Democrats have gone overboard.

The substantive challenge is to create a program to address economic anxiety.

The paradox of democratic capitalism is this: its success depends on risk-taking, but most people yearn for a sense of security.

It used to be that the pace of the creative destruction endemic to a market economy was slow enough to be manageable and politically tolerable.

With computerization and globalization, the pace of creative destruction has accelerated. The sense of economic anxiety it creates requires political attention.

Democrats are telling the American people that the pace of creative destruction can be slowed or somehow they can be made immune from it. That's just not the case.

Republicans, however, for the most part have told people they need to learn to live with it. That might make for a better performing economy, but not for a better civil society.

Republicans need to be developing programs to help people cope with and adjust to the faster pace of economic change. This is where the Republican Party really does need some new ideas.

The political challenge has to do with social conservatives.

Those who say that the Republican Party needs to jettison the religious right need a remedial math course. There is simply no plausible winning Republican formula that doesn't include an enthused social conservative base.

According to the election exit poll, a quarter of the electorate was White evangelicals. Try getting to 50 percent for a Republican candidate without them.

Nor are social conservatives going to agree to become second-class Republicans, as some would like — stuffing envelopes and voting for moderate Republicans who ignore their issues just because Democrats would be worse.

Moreover, social conservatism, properly articulated, is certainly not politically debilitating. In fact, it can attract swing voters and in most elections has.

The problem is that Republicans talking about social issues have increasingly sounded like Oliver Cromwell. And that has alienated independents and those who are economically conservative but socially liberal.

America has a strong live-and-let-live ethic, as does Arizona. Republicans do need to show more respect for it.

Dems have ball control

Despite the big-eyed reactions by political scientists and journalists, Americans are incrementalists when it comes to elections. They don't tend premeditatively to usher in sweeping, generational changes.

In 1980, voters didn't decide they wanted a generation of conservative rule. They decided they had had enough of Carter and it was OK to give Reagan a chance. In 1984 and 1988, they liked what they had seen, and decided to continue it. By 1992, they decided it was time to give a Democrat another shot.

Similarly, voters haven't decided to usher in a generation of liberal governance, as Democrats hope and Republicans fear. Instead, they decided that they had had enough of Bush and Republican rule, and it was OK to give Barack Obama and the Democrats another try.

Ball control is now with the Democrats. If the American people like what they see, their contracts are likely to be renewed. Republican criticisms or alternatives aren't going to matter much.

But Democratic overreach and history are likely to give Republicans another chance someday — maybe soon, maybe not.

At that point, Republicans have to represent an acceptable option for a disappointed, disgruntled or restless electorate. Republicans have quite a bit of work to do to get properly prepared for that moment.

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

JWR contributor Robert Robb is a columnist for The Arizona Republic. Comment by clicking here.

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