Margaret Thatcher's Great Leap

With Margaret Thatcher's passing on Monday, scores and scores of obituaries, tributes, and diatribes have been written. These have run gamut from honoring her as the savior of Britain to celebrations that Thatcher--the wicked witch-- is dead. Some did not approve of her tough-as-nails approach to labor unions and her privatization of industry. Others cheered her liberty driven policies that helped turn the Britain around from the economic stagnation of the 1970s and her partnership with President Reagan that helped defeat communism in eastern Europe. A politician's legacy goes beyond his or her specific policies and outcomes to their impact on culture and ideology. Margaret Thatcher's conviction was shaped by those whom she admired, and those who admire her continue to be shaped by her legacy today.

Thatcher's childhood was not one of privilege. She grew up the grocer's daughter in a fairly ordinary town--not particularly urban or rural, affluent or poor- and often attended city government meetings with her father. Her father was her biggest political influence on her, but others were of influence to her during her formative years as well--including C.S.Lewis and Winston Churchill. In her book, The Path to Power, Thatcher notes that the writings of C.S. Lewis " had the most impact upon [her] intellectual religious formation" and that Lewis's book Mere Christianity " went to the heart of the appalling disparity between the way we Christians behave and the ideals we profess". During World War II, Thatcher, then Margaret Roberts, became especially fond of Churchill whom she would always count among her heroes. Also during that time, her family ended up being one of several families to house a Jewish girl to protect her from the Nazis in Austria.

Thatcher always loved politics and was involved in conservative clubs while attending college. However, she first received a degree in chemistry at Oxford, studying under Dorothy Hodgkin who later would receive the Nobel prize for chemistry. Thatcher would work as a research chemist for a food manufacturer that invented soft serve ice cream. Thatcher's true passion though was politics, and she pursued a degree in tax law that proved to be the next stepping stone on her path to power.

Thatcher first won a seat in parliament in 1959 and noted in her book The Path to Power the influence of a fellow female MP--Irene Ward. Thatcher was the mother of young twins when she first took office and contemplated her role of wife, mother, and politician:

The pull of a mother towards her children is perhaps the most instinctive emotion we have. I was never one of people who regarded being ‘just’ a mother or indeed ‘just’ a housewife as second best. Indeed, whenever I heard such implicit assumptions made before and after I became Prime Minister it would make me very angry indeed. Of course to be a mother and a housewife is a vocation of a very high kind. But I simply felt that it was not the whole of my career. A phrase that Irene Ward, MP for Tynemouth, and I often used was that ‘while the home must always be the centre of one’s life,it should not be the boundary of one’s ambitions.’

Thatcher's ambitions knew no bounds. Her conviction was shaped by those whom she admired--from her dad to C.S. Lewis to Irene Ward. While in many ways Thatcher is ideal feminist outcome, she rejected feminism. In fact, Thatcher famously said that she owed nothing to women's lib and compared feminism to a poison. She was keenly aware of her femininity though and famously noted what she was able to accomplish as a leader. She noted, "if you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman".

Although she did break a glass ceiling, the toughest ceiling she shattered was the "class ceiling" to use a phrase from Governor Palin's wonderful tribute to Thatcher. She rose from humble beginnings to become the most powerful woman in the world. Along the way she took on the elites in politics, as Palin highlighted:

 In taking on “Those Grandees,” she wasn’t afraid of having strong opinions and fighting for them — something the establishment often found distasteful. British ambassador Sir Anthony Parsons recalled a conversation about this: “She said, ‘You know, Tony, I’m very proud that I don’t belong to your class.’ I said, ‘Prime Minister, what class do you think I belong to?’ She said, ‘I’m talking of course about upper-middle-class intellectuals who see everybody else’s point of view and have none of their own.’”

 Upon taking the reins as leader of the opposition in 1975, Thatcher called out the elites in her own party for "sneering at 'middle class values'". Instead Thatcher called for putting the people first and seeking the support of all classes of Britons.

During her tenure, Thatcher cut the top tax rate more than in half and reduced inflation from  more than 25% to 2.5% by 1986. She secured the Falkland Islands from the Argentinians and worked side-by-side with Ronald Reagan to help defeat communism in eastern Europe. However, her legacy extends beyond the policies and to those whom she inspired. As she said herself, she doesn't make little jumps, but great leaps, and those leaps helped pave the way for those admire her today and in the future:  Crossposted here and here.

Rejecting "Crystal Pepsi" Conservatism and Embracing People and Principle Centered Conservatism

"It was a tremendous learning experience. I still think it's the best idea I ever had, and the worst executed. A lot of times as a leader you think, "They don't get it; they don't see my vision." People were saying we should stop and address some issues along the way, and they were right. It would have been nice if I'd made sure the product tasted good. Once you have a great idea and you blow it, you don't get a chance to resurrect it."  

Those were the words of Yum Brands CEO, David Novak, . His "great idea" was that  of revamping Pepsi as a clear soda called Crystal Pepsi. Crystal Pepsi was introduced to the market in the early 1990s and proved to be a massive flop. Why did it flop? Because they tried to change a winning product. However, Novak and Yum Brands took Crystal Pepsi off the market because it failed. They knew they could not get customer buy-in on a poor imitation of a solid product. Perhaps the Republican party could learn a lesson from those in marketing. When you match a good product with the right messaging, the product sells.

However, the Republican Establishment and Beltway campaign operatives think that the way to improve conservatism is to change it, rather than to do a better job of marketing conservatism. This kind of "Crystal Pepsi conservatism" is pushed by Establishmentarians like Governor Jeb Bush who wrote a piece at the National Review this past summer indicating that Republicans need to become the "Grand Solutions party" and abandon the "black lines of ideology". However, in Governor Bush's attempt to make the GOP big tent, he has tried to drive the ideological pegs into the swampy ground of moderation, rather than the solid ground of principle. Following the electoral loss last week, Republicans like John Boehner and conservative pundits like Sean Hannity have called for immigration reform. Bill Kristol is encouraging the GOP to give in to tax increases. All of these men are trying to re-package a failing "Crystal Pepsi conservatism" that betrays principles. Instead, the party ought to follow the advice of Governor Sarah Palin that she shared following the 2010 GOP victories, " a winning conservative message must be careful crafted" just as Reagan changed his messaging between his 1976 and 1980 campaigns. The message may need to be re-crafted, but the conservatives principles need to remain. 

The Republican Establishment would be well served to replace their high investment, but low return DC/NYC political strategists and operatives with conservatives who are in the field of marketing. Those in marketing don't change good products; they only seek to provide the product with the right message in the appropriate media so that it sells. Conservatism is a great product. Individual freedom, free men and free markets are marketable to every demographic. It just needs to be messaged appropriately to our diverse American melting pot. Those in marketing and advertising use market segmentation research to reach our diverse popularity by tailor the message by race, income, education, urbanicity and other factors. Just as Pepsi isn't sold to baby boomers using the same commercial advertising and advertising platforms as millennials, so conservatism shouldn't be marketed to white empty nesters in the same manner as it is marketed young Hispanic business owners. Free market conservatism is the product, but the message to empty nesters might be one of reduced capital gains taxes to protect their retirement while the message to young Hispanic business owners might be one of reduced corporate taxes and fewer government regulations that provides a better life for their family. This enables conservative coalition building, and is something that would have served the Romney campaign well. However, Hispanic and black conservatives approached the campaign with coalition building ideas that were turned away.  The campaign did not effectively engage the consumers of conservatism. There is no need for pandering, but there is a place for engaging all segments of the electorate a candidate ultimately aims to represent. 

 Our Republic was founded on "we the people", and that is what conservatism's messaging should be founded upon as well. This is a  messaging concept that Margaret Thatcher understood an ocean away and nearly 40 years ago, when in 1975, the Tory party suffered considerable political defeats. She wrote (emphasis added):

Politicians should not be either professional efficiency experts or amateur industrial consultants. Their concern is with people, and they must look at every problem from the grassroots, not from the top looking down. 

[...] 

My kind of Tory party would make no secret of its belief in individual freedom and individual prosperity, in the maintenance of law and order, in the wide distribution of private property, in rewards for energy, skill and thrift, in diversity of choice, in the preservation of local rights in local communities. 

Size is not all, any more than economic growth is all. Even efficiency is not enough. People come first—their needs, their hopes, their choice, their values and ideals. We have to understand these first—to be seen to be listening with sympathy and concern. It is important to be able to lead, certainly. But you cannot for long lead people where they do not want to go.

Conservatism must be framed in the context not in the white papers based theory of policy, but in the reality and application of those policies in individual's lives.People must come first, and as Thatcher said, politicians must look at problems not from the top down, but from the grassroots--the people, not the consultants. The message medium has changed as well, and the Republican Establishment must adapt. Texas conservative grassroots activist Michelle McCormick characterizes the current GOP as " Blockbuster in the age of Netflix". Both the brick and mortar Blockbuster and Netflix have the same product of "rentable" movies, but Netflix acts within the framework of the internet while Blockbuster operates in the last century framework of tangible DVDs. Conservatism must operate in a new media, entertainment age. As Andrew Breitbart famously emphasized politics is downstream from culture, and this is something the Republican party must capitalize upon. 

William F. Buckley famously noted that he'd rather be governed by the first 400 names in the Boston phone book than the faculty of Harvard. In the same way, conservatism would be well served to employ conservative marketing strategists instead of beltway strategists and blue blood politicians who insist on single minded and poor imitations of the winning product of conservatism. 

Palin, Reagan, Thatcher, and the Political Second Coming of 1976

Today, February 11, 2012,  Governor Palin gave the closing address at CPAC. Today also marks 37 years since Margaret Thatcher was elected to be the head of British Conservative party ousting former Prime Minister Heath. That same year, 1975, Thatcher was given that leadership, Ronald Reagan gave his famous "bold colors, no pastels" speech to that year's CPAC convention. Three leaders whose principles and passion drive them, not their political party.

Governor Palin's barnburner of a speech hit on everything from her call to stand for life to highlighting how Obama's policies led to the MF Global's disastrous loss of billions of dollars of people's money to criticizing how the Obama administration is sharing nuclear intelligence with the Russian Kremlin . She carved out every leg of the stool.  She hit on the permanent political class who, rather than viewing Washington D.C. as a cesspool that needs drained, see Washington as a hot tub to lounge in. She called for not a red or a blue America, but a red, white, and blue America--unity against a president who is not trying to win the future, but lose our country. She also called for the presidential candidates to stick to the issues and to the need to replace President Obama in the issues. Perhaps drawing (in a bit of a softer way) from her recent Facebook post about the cannibalistic methods of GOP Establishment, Governor Palin called on the candidates to avoid the personal attacks and misrepresentations and lies of each other's records. There's no need for the Republican Party to become the political Donner party to only make the Democratic machine's job easier in the general election.

Any words I could type about this speech would not do Governor Palin justice. The best thing to do is watch it for yourself. There are some who, even after this speech, which required 4 overflow rooms to be open at the event with who knows how many watching at home, downplay Governor Palin's influence. There are some who say that if she was a real fighter she would have thrown her hat into the ring for 2012. However, Governor Palin's flame has not be snuffed out, as Adrienne Ross noted yesterday. She is still a fighter. None of the current presidential candidates went to Madison, Wisconsin in the midst of one of the fiercest reform battles in modern American history. None of the others stood with the Tea Party when we were essentially deemed accomplices to murder following the horrible Tucson shooting in January of 2011, yet Governor Palin did--even while she was the main target. Today, she stood with us fighting a two front ideological and strategic battle with both the GOP Establishment and the Left. Governor Palin has always stood with us, not in front of or behind us. She has spoken with us, not at us or to us. She has done so, not to score political points and not to gain political power. She has done so because it is who she is. She happily clings to principle; she doesn't bitterly cling to power. What you cling to is what guides you.

 Personally, I've always thought of Governor Palin has the political lovechild of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. Ronald Reagan's "bold colors, no pastels" speech came when he was not an office holder, nor had he launched his 1976 presidential campaign. Margaret Thatcher's position as head of the British Conservative party came when her party was in the minority. She wasn't running for prime minister at this time. In the timeline of conservative political history, so many have tried to correlate this year's upcoming election with that of 1980. While there is indeed a Jimmy Carter like figure in this election; there is not a Reagan like figure. While there are no perfect political parallels, perhaps this election year begs the question if  it is really the second 1980? Perhaps instead it is the second 1975-1976--when the conservatives in America and in Britain called their parties to be bold in their principles and in their foundation. After all, what good is a "big tent" if the tent pegs are driven into a mushy ground?  Conservatism is often described as a three legged stool, and indeed it is, but it's that stool won't hold together unless it is bound by the seat of character and the glue of the optimism and good humor. This is the principled bond of Thatcher, Reagan, and Palin. Because these principled leaders reasonated with so many people, they were often tried to be silenced by their critics. However, they all possessed that "glue" of optimism and good humor in the face of hecklers, as Rubegonia has captured in this clip of Palin's speech today and one of both Reagan's and Thatcher's speeches:

 

 Thank you, Governor, for being principled and passionate, and happy birthday!

Crossposted here and here.

Happy Birthday to an Iron Lady!

Today marks Margaret Thatcher's 86th birthday. During her time in office--from parliament to Leader of the Opposition to Prime Minister--she emphasized individual liberty, union reform, national sovereignty and strong national security. Her relationship with Ronald Reagan was one of true kinship of ideas and a love for freedom. There are few others who tried to instill that in their own governments while also exporting that love of freedom into the USSR ( as a note, I highly recommend the John O'Sullivan book, The President, the Pope, and the Prime Minister). As the first female prime minister of England, serving as a role model to the likes of Sarah Palin and many female leaders throughout the world. Her book, The Path to Power, outlines her life up until she was elected  prime minister. She was an admirer of C.S. Lewis and Winston Churchill. Plus, she was a science nerd, working as a chemist before getting a law degree and entering politics. She was probably one of the best people around at thinking on one's feet. In honor of the Iron Lady's birthday, here she is at her best:

Happy 85th Birthday, Baroness Thatcher!

Across the Pond, the day is coming to a close, but, today, October 13th marks Margaret Thatcher's 85th birthday. Last year, Governor Palin offered these remarks regarding the "Iron Lady's" birthday:

I would like to extend warm birthday wishes to Margaret Thatcher today. Baroness Thatcher continues to remain a role model to many people, particularly women, around the world. Her career is a collection of "firsts." She was the youngest female Conservative Party member to stand for election in history, she was the first woman to hold the title Leader of the Opposition, and she was the first woman to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

As Prime Minister, she took an active role in defending economic freedom and democratic ideals. Her push to privatize British industry and lower tax rates led to a substantial economic expansion in the United Kingdom. She was just as influential in foreign policy. Along with President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, Prime Minister Thatcher recognized the evil of Communism and worked tirelessly to erode the power and influence of the Soviet Union.

Her life and career serve as a blueprint for overcoming the odds and challenging the "status quo." She started life as a grocer's daughter from Grantham and rose to become Prime Minister - all by her own merit and hard work. I cherish the accomplishments of Margaret Thatcher and will always count her as one of my role models.

Governor Palin is much like Margaret Thatcher. Governor Palin is the daughter of a school teacher; Margaret Thatcher is the daughter of a grocer. Both have been ostracized by the Establishment. Both have scrutinized about their accent and mannerisms. Both are outspoken, bold women who believe wholeheartedly in the free market, personal liberty, and strong national security. As much as Governor Palin is compared to President Reagan, comparisons can be made to Margaret Thatcher as well. Personally, I like to say that Governor Palin is the political love child of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.

Often times, Governor Palin's rhetoric echos that of President Reagan, and quite often, whether intentionally or coincidentally, her rhetoric echos that of Margaret Thatcher:

On a woman being the national leader-

Margaret Thatcher: "Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country."

Governor Palin: "“I think this country would be served very well by a woman president, someone who has raised a family. We just want to get from point A to point B and get the job done. I don’t waste time; I’m too busy."

On facing criticism-

Margaret Thatcher: " If my critics saw me walking over the Thames they would say it was because I couldn't swim."

Governor Palin: "I couldn't do anything without Nick Carney griping about it. That was the nature of our relationship. I could have walked across Lake Lucile on the water, and he would have griped about me splashing."

On their upbringing-

Margaret Thatcher-"I just owe almost everything to my father and it's passionately interesting for me that the things that I learned in a small town, in a very modest home, are just the things that I believe have won the election. " -

Governor Palin" My mom and dad both worked at the elementary school in our small town. And among the many things I owe them is one simple lesson: that this is America, and every woman can walk through every door of opportunity."


On remaining true to conservative principles-

Margaret Thatcher-"Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides."

Sarah Palin-"The GOP needs to live the planks of its platform, not just offer lip service."

Happy birthday, Margaret Thatcher!

My Dream Decor

I have absolutely no sense of style, but I've discovered that I have the desire to decorate my living room with a political pop art flair. This would act as a complement to the Rosie the Riveter subtlety in my kitchen. Right now, I only have a Van Gogh "Starry Night" print hanging above my couch. However, I would like to change my living room (or one day,my library) decor to represent that political pop art flair.

A Shepherd Fairey inspired ode to Margaret Thatcher

A potential 2012 match up in comic book form-love it!

Not pop art, but the representation of my blogging pen name-- the female figure of the American Revolution--Molly Pitcher

No Political Argument Left against Governor Palin

I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.
-Margaret Thatcher

The last week or so proved to be quite an eventful period amongst the "Attack Governor Palin" crowd. First, as Governor Palin was shooting part of her documentary in Homer, Alaska, she engaged in conversation with a protester, who laughably touted her "Worst Governor Ever" sign all the while bemoaning the fact that Governor Palin resigned. One would think that if someone declared a Governor the worst ever that he or she would be glad when said Governor resigned. However, I suppose we all must remember that such individuals' trains of logic run on non-existent rails. Additionally, the Governor supposedly rolled her eyes when the protester mentioned that she was a teacher, resulting in yet another "gate": eye roll-gate. Later this past week, following the saddening passing of Senator Ted Stevens, a New Hampshire Democrat disrespectfully exploited the Senator's death to attack Governor Palin with a death wish which rightfully cost him his seat in the New Hampshire legislature. Then, as has often become the case when Governor Palin makes an endorsement, the endorsee's opponent throws a hissy fit. This time Maryland gubernatorial candidate, Bob Ehlrich, began launching attacks at Governor Palin when she endorsed one of his opponents, Brian Murphy, rather than trying to articulate why he is the better person for the the job.

This has become fairly common symptomology for those suffering from Palin Derangement Syndrome. Everything in Governor Palin's life becomes a giant scandal in their minds and a "nontroversy" in the minds of supporters and those with a non-delusional sense of reality. Let us not forget some past symptoms of PDS: bus-gate, visor-gate, socialized medicine gate, palm-gate and bendy straw gate-- just to name a few. These are ridiculous, silly "attacks" on the Governor. They are not political, nor ideological criticisms. They are not valid questions regarding political strategy. Why is that? Why can't the "enlightened, well educated intelligensia" question or attack Governor Palin on the issues? After all, she is a polarizing, far right wing nut case who only represents the fringe of the Republican party, right?

They cannot attack Governor Palin on the issues because she has her finger on the pulse of the American people when it comes to the issues, as Sheya recently highlighted. Most recently, Governor Palin has been lock-step with the American people in opposition to the building of a mosque at Ground Zero. When you look at recent polling on the issues among likely voters-- immigration, the free market, health care reform, off shore drilling, the Bush tax cuts, and whole host of other issues, Governor Palin is right in line with the American people. Her opponents, whether they be from the political class on the Left, the political class on the Right, or the media, have nothing with which they can successfully and substantively attack her.

On a personal or non-political level, Governor Palin's critics have shamelessly attacked her family and disparaged her Alaska roots. As we are now quite aware of, one such critic took it upon himself to move next door to the Palins, then proceeded to use rhetoric comparing the family to Nazis when they took action to protect their privacy. They have ridiculously attacked things such as what she writes on her hand and her supposed diva-ish demands for bendable straws. (As I side note, I recently purchased a package of one hundred bendable straws at Walgreens' for a whopping 99 cents.It really breaks the bank). They have wrongfully called her a racist for opposing President Obama on issues. They have also wrongfully called her a racist (Fair warning: Shannyn Moore HuffPo link) for opposing the construction of a mosque at Ground Zero. However, some such opponents may need a little bit of a sociology lesson. Islam is a religion, not a race, and she did not oppose the practice, simply the location. So even if someone attacks Governor Palin on a political point, they cannot do so appropriately, nor can they do so truthfully.

Very few can speak to whether or not Governor Palin "cheers up immensely", as Margaret Thatcher states, when yet another personal attack is launched at her. Governor Palin is human, and no doubt these attacks garner an emotional reaction of some sort, perhaps even sometimes a legitimate eye roll. However, whatever her internal reaction is, Governor Palin has always been one to take attacks in stride and to keep them in perspective. Earlier in her political career, Governor Palin once said about a political adversary, "I couldn't do anything without Nick Carney griping about it. That was the nature of our relationship. I could have walked across Lake Lucile on the water, and he would have griped about me splashing", echoing Thatcher's quote of, "[i]f my critics saw me walking over the Thames they would say it was because I couldn't swim". She recognizes that some critics are relentless and may never been won over, even by reason and truth. In one of her final speeches as Governor of Alaska, Palin spoke of how she responded when a reporter asks how she handles "difficult" days:

“I said, ‘Oh no,’ it is not a down day – my son called this week from Iraq,” Palin recalled, referring to her son, Track, an Army enlistee. “He is safe, he is sound. It is always a good day when my son calls.”

Interrupting the applause, Palin said: “I wish that some in the media would keep things like that in perspective, what is really important in our country. And what is important is our freedoms, America’s security, our liberty.”

Governor Palin is a leader. From her perspective, the greater pertinence is America's freedom, not what attacks are levied at her personally. In spite of all the media attacks and frivolous ethics complaints levied at Governor Palin, and despite the misrepresentations of her stellar gubernatorial record over the past nearly two years, Governor Palin maintains a 44/47 favorable/unfavorable rating, a favorability index of -3, in the country. Contrast this with President Obama, whose approval index has stayed in the negative double digits for more than six weeks straight and for the vast majority of 2010 in spite of the fact that the President has a largely doting media supporting him. Despite what the media have done to support President Obama and trash Governor Palin, it seems that the country likes Governor Palin more than they approve of President Obama. Personal shots at the Governor may be all that can be launched at this point, as disapproval of where she stands politically, puts one at odds with the American people.

However, whether there be personal or political shots against the Governor, there are no more free shots at Governor Palin. She has our back; let us have hers. She is standing with us on the issues; let us stand with her on the truth.

Crossposted here.