If you’re a Republican Party stalwart, and say you went to the Republican Governors Association meeting in Miami hoping for a good answer to the question of “Now what?” you might find yourself sweating bullets that the brand you thought was going to be a “permanent majority” for a generation (if not two), because Karl Rove said so, is looking a little like GM nowadays. Not quite bankrupt, but pretty close to it in terms of winning political ideas.

Now what, indeed.  The GOP is certainly at a crossroads as it’s abundantly clear many voters lost their taste for what the Republicans were selling and bolted in large numbers to Barack Obama. The party, though down, is not out, and hopes they can win voters back by getting back to basics like small government, low taxation, fiscal prudence and the like.  But there’s another wing of the party that thinks the culture wars will work its voodoo and bring voters back into the Big Tent. Moreover, they gots to get ‘em some of that Web 2.0 that Obama successfully used to stay in touch with supporters.  In short, despite the dubbing they got on November 4th, Republicans are convinced the old brand still has national appeal — they just have to find the right medium to deliver the message. (more…)