By Travis Johnson

The Democrats are imploding.  Republican Scott Brown won a Senate seat previously held by John F and Edward Kennedy.  Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are scrambling for every vote they can get for a health care reform bill most Americans do not want. The people of Nevada have turned against Reid.  Legendary Congressman Charlie Rangel is under investigation by an Ethics panel for allegations of fraud.  His fellow New Yorker Eric Massa has been brought down in a hail of accusations, as well, but he went down swinging at White House Chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel.

The Democrats’ ritual circular Firing Squad is loading its weapons.   Progressives are angry at moderates over their votes on health care reform.  Moderates think Progressives are going too far.  And above it all stands a President who is unable to rein in his own party.

Republicans are positioned to benefit from the Democrats weakness.  But, are we positioned to win, or just not lose?  I’m worried that gains we make will not be because America wants us to lead, but because we’re the only fallback position in a two party system.

We’re not going to lose in 2010.  How do we win?  How do we retake the country from the Democrats and create a long-term, sustainable Republican majority?  Here are three suggestions:

No American Left Behind:  “Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day; teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” This should be the cornerstone of all of our future efforts.  Rather than offering draconian cuts to entitlements, we need to transform them into short term investments in the future of America.  Instead of just extending unemployment , let’s work with our school system to get the unemployed retrained in the types of careers businesses are currently importing  immigrants to do.  Instead of fighting health care reform, let’s work to feasibly put control of health care back in the hands of families.

Consistent Conservatism:  I just saw a “conservative” t-shirt that read “I’d rather be waterboarding.”  This is unacceptable.  We cannot defend the Constitution from governmental overreach with one breath, then, in the next breath defend extra-Constitutional means of dealing with prisoners.  We cannot be pro-life without supporting programs which would make the decision to abort seem less reasonable.  We cannot be against Big Government controlling our economy and for Big Business doing it.    The traditional three legs of conservatism can no longer act independently.

A Unified Front:  “RINO hunts” must be a thing of the past.  How can we survive as a Party and build a governing coalition if we’re driving people out of the party because they have the temerity to disagree with the Party line?  How can we achieve a national majority status if we don’t accept that some regional party factions follow variations on the central Republican theme?  How can we create a sustainable majority without actively recruiting members from our fastest growing demographics?  One answer to all three questions:  We cannot.

Distance from Dividers:  I expect this one will get me some heat, but,  I think it is so important that I don’t think we can avoid it:  we can no longer let anger drive the conservative movement.   There’s no question that the Obama Administration isn’t what they told us they were.  There’s no question that there is legislation, like Cap and Trade, pending that can potentially do more harm than good.  But the way out to prevent it is by encouraging our leaders to legislate, not to encourage them to act like petulant children and obstruct.  Rush , Glenn, Hannity, Palin, Armey et al are more concerned with getting you hepped up and out on in the street for their own personal power than they are about helping America achieve its promise.   That’s why their shows and their speeches are more focused on criticizing the other party and “RINOs”, than providing positive examples we, as individuals, or our government can follow.  They’re appealing to the negative emotions you justly feel about a country that seems to be out of control.  They’re appealing to your anger, your outrage, and your fear.  They get you so angry, you go out in the streets and shout about stopping spending and immigration and “Socialism,” but forget to talk about what we’re going to replace those things with.

This isn’t a lecture or condemnation of conservatism, but a way forward.  We need to have our eyes on a positive future, not on an angry present, or a mythical past.  It seem to me the only way we can actually win, and just not lose in 2010 and beyond.

What do you think?

Travis Johson  is the Founder of Republicans United a group seeking to bring the “Big Tent” back to the Republican Party.