Image via WikipediaWith Barack Obama and Joe Biden making history, John McCain heading back to the Senate and Sarah Palin hopefully becoming a distant memory, it’s time for the powers-that-be in the Republican party to figure out how they’re going to regain power and deal with newly energized Latino and African-American voting blocs.

I don’t think anyone is surprised by how well Obama did with minority voters, but what’s truly scary is how poorly the Republican ticket did with college-educated whites, particularly those under 30. The fact of the matter is, in a time when people are more worried about how they’re going to make their mortgage payment (if they still have a house), the whole culture war nonsense that is Sarah Palin’s bread and butter — and what got W. his two terms — just doesn’t resonate as it once did. Those elements of the base hijacked the GOP and left people like me behind.

If Republicans are too short-sighted to see that this election has awoken millions of voters who — by seeing Obama elected — are only going to want more, then we may be seeing the beginning of the end. Republicans need to go back to the principles the party was founded on — small yet effective government, states’ rights, tax policies that make sense for those who need it most and strong national defense, among others.

The idea that it’s time for a change goes far beyond an Obama campaign slogan. This country has gone through some fundamental changes in the past eight years, the Republicans just didn’t see it. If they don’t open their eyes soon, they may never regain their competitive edge, much less the millions of former Republican voters they’ve alienated.

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Edit: My friend Sara – who was in the tank for Walnuts and Palin — often has insightful things to say about my views and it encourages a nice back-and-forth. Here is one such exchange after I posted this earlier.

Sara: I hope palin doesn’t become a distant memory. she’s one of few examples of moral leadership. not that u care about morals, family values or anything like that.

Me: Wow. I think you know me better than that. I do care about morals and family values, but I feel very strongly that each family is different and should have the opportunity to determine what is right and wrong for them. Legislating so-called morality goes against everything this country is founded on, and to shove your beliefs — whether they be religious or anti-religious — down your neighbors’ throats is fundamentally wrong.

I believe we should have leaders who do what’s best for all Americans, not just those who think like them. Banning abortion, stem cell research and teaching “creationism” is not what we should be wasting our time and money on. Does that give us and our leaders carte blanche to live our lives in an amoral fashion? Absolutely not!

As a matter of fact, our leaders should work to set an example for us to follow — even if that involves being pious or displaying whatever version of “family values” they subscribe to. They have to recognize, however, that not everyone thinks the way they do, and in a country who at the very core is founded on freedom, that should be all right.

And that, Sarah, is why I hope leaders like Sarah Palin whose agenda includes nothing more than forcing their belief system on everyone else, will give me my Republican party back.

Sara: you can’t adjust your morals so you don’t offend people, or else where do you draw the line? r u ok with polygamy? u must be by your argument, b..c it wouldn’t be fair to legislate your morals…

Me: I’m not talking about adjusting your morals to not offend others. I’m talking of standing by your beliefs but being secure enough in them that you can be tolerant of others. It’s wrong for anyone — Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, whatever — to be intolerant of those around them.

That said, your slippery slope argument doesn’t hold water, because you know just as well as I what the framers had in mind. It sure as hell wasn’t legislation based on any religious book or credo. They wanted laws based on men (and women) of sound reason and judgment gathering to decide what was best for the people they served — free from the influences you seem so fond of.

Christians don’t have an exclusive hold on morality, and I’m sure as heck not advocating anarchy or even libertarianism. I do believe, however, that people from all segments of society should be able to come together to decide what is right and wrong for this nation. The legislative process shouldn’t be all-out war, they should be a time to come together to work for what’s best for all of us.

Like it or not, we’re no longer a homogenous nation of WASPS any longer, and our leaders and laws are going to have to start reflecting that.

Sara: i understand what you are saying about civil liberties but some people feel a moral obligation to keep others from committing what they see as immoral activity (gay marriage, abortion, etc.)

for example, they might feel responsible to God if they sit in a position of authority and let these things go on without trying to stop it. i realize it is not the popular position but some of us feel responsible to a higher power beyond the electorate.

I’m sure some people will roll their eyes at that statement, but to each his own. if you value “choice” over innocent life, then no, you probably shouldn’t support Palin or the few people who are willing to stand with her for what they believe in. and that’s fine by me, i am glad we live in a free country! i am just disappointed to see there are so few that share those values with me.

Me: Those in positions of authority should use their moral compass as a guide. That said, true wisdom comes in making decisions that are best for the whole in spite of the fact that sometimes, it may go against your personal feelings or beliefs. There’s a lot to be said for people who can think beyond themselves. My elected representatives are not shepherds, they are not spiritual leaders and they sure as heck aren’t Jesus.

Personally, I’d rather have my legislators worrying about turning the economy around and keeping me safe from terrorists than what my my neighbor Jennifer does with her body or my friend Mike does in his bedroom. Others may disagree with how they live their lives, but God is the only one who can judge them, and when he thinks the time is right, he’ll do so.

My wife wants to know what you would think about someone who is, perhaps an evangelical Muslim or Mormon or Atheist? How would you feel if someone like that were elected and took it upon themselves to force their beliefs on the electorate?

It gives you a lot to think about when the shoe is on the other foot.

I married a smartie.

Sara: that’s why i said i am disappointed there are not more who share the same values with me.

Me: I think, to a certain extent, we all feel that way.

I suppose it’s about time we stopped wishing and started putting our differences aside and working together.