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Painting the Map Red: The Fight to Create a Permanent Republican Majority

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Hugh Hewitt is a conservative radio host who wants to see the GOP get to sixty senators in order to prevent the democrats from being able to stop the conservative agenda even as much as it has (some would say that it hasn't stopped the Republicans at all, but they wouldn't be conservatives). This book is his take on what the GOP needs to do in the present election cycle (looking forward also to the 2008 Presidential cycle) in order to make this happen. And when I say sixty senators, I am not counting the kinds of Republicans who tend to be social liberals (think Lincoln Chafee); Hewitt has no use for them whatsoever.

Being a staunch conservative, he sees the liberal agenda as something not only bad for America, but actually dangerous. If he could get the Democrats down to a stub party, he would be happy. However, I would caution that such a success might lead to something the conservatives might not intend. The American two-party system is really based around the idea of 51-49 political divides. The major parties are actually not continuing repositories of beliefs. They adapt over time to whatever will get them a majority. This is why the parties look quite similar to those on the extremes. The abortion debate has been great fodder for both sides because it locks in the extreme wings and allows them to jockey for moderates. If the Republicans actually did conquer the Democrats once and for all, it would not lead to one party rule. It would almost certainly lead to a split within the GOP and lead to the formation of a second major party from that breakup. It has happened before and our country, but hasn't happened in a long time because the parties are so adept at shifting with the political winds.

That aside, what strategy does the author of this book lay out? That the GOP should nationalize the election (this is riskier than he lets on, but he wants the big win so badly that he probably is willing to accept the risk or he doesn't see it) and that there are five messages the GOP should emphasize all the time and everywhere. They are: 1) The Democratic Left and the Mainstream Media (MSM) have declared war yet again on the military. (Remember, I am not saying he is right or that he is wrong, just reporting what Hewitt is saying). 2) The Democratic Left has declared war on religion (think about Schumer's statements about judges and their disqualification for "deeply held beliefs"), 3) The Democratic Left and its Senators have declared war on the judiciary (look at the extreme politicization of the confirmation of ALL Federal judges nowadays), 4) The Democratic Left wants to radically redefine marriage while portraying Republicans as bigoted, and 5) The Democratic Left is addicted to venom and is poisoning the political process. You can decide for yourself what you think of these positions once you read the book, but don't simply assume you know his positions from reading these one sentence summaries.

Hewitt also declares that the GOP must regain a semblance of party discipline and unity and withhold support from those who turn against party positions. He also cautions that the Border Security issue can be very divisive within the party. We are actually seeing this play out on our TV screens and reading about it in our newspapers.

The author uses twelve words to summarize it all:
-Win the war
-Confirm the judges
-Cut the taxes
-Control the spending

You know, if the GOP could actually get these twelve words into action rather than rhetoric, they probably would continue in power. However, Gingrich points out that the best campaign slogan the Dems can use in 2006 is, "Had Enough?" and I am afraid Gingrich might be right. While it is true the demographics within the individual races make it hard for the Dems to regain the House and they have to run the board in the Senate races, but it has been done before.

This book is an interesting voice in the debate about what should be done during this election year. It will be interesting to see what actually plays out.

A proud "man of the [Republican] party," Hugh Hewitt has come out with another book aimed at energizing and directing Republican grass-root members and leaders towards increasing their Senate majority in the next two elections and retaining the Presidency in 2008. This book is intended to provide a limited and compelling agenda for reelection and governing, with 5 issues/talking points calculated to clearly delineate the consequences of the choice between Republican and Democratic Party rule.

Hewitt devotes a chapter to each talking point supported by source material interspersed with commentary. If you do not think of this as a resource book, the number of lengthy excepts in the body of the text may be offputting. Take it for what it is and the format makes sense.

Hewitt continues to be very clear on the need for pragmatism as well as principle, indeed he argues for pragmatism in the service of principle. As in his past writings, he argues for political maturity in achieving and retaining a governing majority by allowing significant dissent, NO LITMUS TESTS, even on immigration and abortion. He names one politician as an exception that proves the rule: Lincoln Chafee.

Hewitt specifies four crucial votes, that tie to his 5 point agenda and his concern for building and maintaining a governing majority, on which Senator Chafee voted against the President and the Senate Republican Party. I confirmed Hewitt's factual claims by going to the Senate Voting Record, the Providence Journal, and the Americans for Democratic Action websites. Hewitt argues that it is necessary to defeat Chafee, even if that means Republicans voting for a Democratic senator in the general election.

The key problem this book identifies but does not satifactorilly address is getting party leaders and members, once elected, to actually carry out enough of the party platform to justify further investment of time and money. Nevertheless, Hugh Hewitt has provided a coherent center-right agenda for the next two elections; worthwhile as a basis for discussion, thoughtful debate, and action on either side of the political aisle.

At first I thought this book was intended seriously. If that were the case, then Mr. Hewitt would have to qualify as one of the most misguided and misinformed knuckleheads to ever drop from the bowels of the right-wing hackocracy. That was when I realized that no book could ever be this wrong. It must be a joke. Hugh Hewitt, in true Swiftian style, is showing what it would look like for an "author" to play the role of lickspittle, tongue-bathing his overlords in the Bush Administration and the Heritage Foundation. Hilarious. It is fascinating seeing a truly subversive satirist revelling in the role of partisan lackey, spewing talking points with bravado, all the while keeping tongue firmly planted in cheek. I highly recommend this book. It truly turns its alleged "premise" on its head and does so in a wonderfully understated way. Very rarely does he give that knowing wink showing the reader he knows what a fraud he seems to be. Great.

Hugh nails it! I don't know if the Republican congress can overcome their fear of negative reports in the main stream media for long enough to adopt this plan, however, This is the right plan to stop the devolution of our society back to old Europe. Well Done, A+!

Recommend that some other reviewers read the book prior to making their partisan and biased reviews which don't actually discuss this book at all. Even if you disagree with the stated goal, the political strategy is noteworthy.

Shallow, poorly written and ultimately wrong. Just what we have come to expect from this author...

So, Hewitt, how did those 2006 elections turn out for you? Just a macaque away from controlling the Senate!

Hugh Hewitt ia a radio talk show host (arch-conservative of course) and a keen observer of politics. In this book he is laying out a plan for the Republicans to conquer the Senate in the next elections. He wants at least 66 Republicans so that even the threat of filibuster and to guarantee things like the next Supreme Court nomination.

A lot of the book is his own analysis, but as a talk show host he invites other conservatives and political activists to come on the show with him. Mr. Hewitt believes that it is possible for the Republicans to score major victories. Most of his guests and conventional political wisdom says otherwise. The in power party almost always loses power in the off year elections.

Of course there's the little question of what are the Democrats going to do. If they go so far to the left that they offend the middle of the road too much, what Mr. Hewitt says may be correct. If they want ot win badly enough that they can move to the middle, they will pick up votes.

Mr. Hewitt is so conservative that he even wants to kick Sen. Lincoln Chafee out of the Republican party. He bases this on Mr. Chafee's views on abortion, gay marriage, the deficit, tax cuts, the environment and the war in Iraq. These are certainly issues of concern to a lot of us. But Mr. Hewitt's view is so far right that I think he is missing the mainstream of the country. And if he's serious about getting the number of Republicans up, kicking people out of the party seems to be going the wrong way.

Abortion for instance. The arch conservatives would like to rule it out completely. And they can certainly find polls that say Americans would like to see the number of abortions reduced. From this the conservatives say that the country is against abortion. But if you re do your poll and ask if the public wants the Federal Government or a woman and her doctor to make such decisions you get an entirely different answer.

Anyway, great book. I like Mr. Hewitt's writing. I enjoy these early in the season political books. It will be interesting to see how the political silly season works out this year.

Mr. Hewitt minces no words in his latest book: Republicans must win big in in the congressional midterms of November 2006 and win back the presidency in '08 if this country is to be safe and win the Global War against terrorism. This is no mere hyperbole. Democrats might talk big to serve their political interests, but the party's actions have not demonstrated the seriousness , much less the will, needed to win this epic struggle.

Critics may accuse Hewitt of demagoguery, but these prostestations are nothing less than projection. "Painting the Map Red" is thoughtful, well-written, easily read and above all factual. Just ask yourself, for example, what exactly is the Democrat plan to keep this country safe from terrorist attacks other than undermining President Bush and providing propaganda for the enemy?

For Republican senators and represenatives, this book is a clarion call to put the party's long term interests above intra-party attacks and jockeying for the attention of the mainstream media (ala Senators McCain and Hagel). Hewitt also makes a great case for purging of Senator Lincoln Chaffee from the GOP tent and why this action would go along way in enforcing party discipline. For most of his tenure in office, Chaffee has consistently gone against the party's interests whenever crunch time rolls around. Hewitt argues persuasively that Chaffee's Republican rival should receive all the support in the mid-term , even though such action might turn the seat over to a Democrat. Let's face it, Chaffee's actions against the ranks of the GOP would not be tolerated by the left, plain and simple.

Serious minded people need to pick up this book. It's what is needed to fire up the base and it will be up to the grass roots if Republicans are to prevail. As Hewitt illustrates, Conservatives do not have the luxury of sitting on their hands come election time as they are wont to do when angry at their elected officials. This can't be, must not be, the case during this crucial time in our nation's history.

I live in the same county as Hewitt and have read his writings online and in newspapers. His book is easy to digest as far as style and length. How do you win the $400 billion war in Iraq, cut taxes and control spending? It's easier to write than to execute. His fourth major recommendation is to confirm the right judges.

Hewitt definite sees only two parties and two colors. Third parties, the media and independents like me are "just crowds at the sporting event. There are only two teams on the field, and one of them controls the ball," he writes.

Yet in the recent primary, where less than 25% voters went to the poll, there was little discussion of his four items. Not even in the most Republican County in the country--Orange County.

IMMIGRATION, IMMIGRATION, IMMIGRATION...was all that voters heard from city, county, state and federal elected officials. Plus all the junk mail.

Still I give him credit for trying to steer GOP faithfuls to the promise land come November. Let's revisit on November 8, 2006.

Hugh Hewitt is right on target encouraging Republicans to remain loyal to President George W. Bush. We are confronted with a long term fight against Islamic nihilists. The Democrats who dominate that party nationally are essentially pacifists trapped in the mindset of the countercultural excesses of the 1960s. Indeed, if the Democratic Party returns to power, the war on terror will be severely compromised---if not lost. Even theological modernists like myself recognize that the Republican Party also best represents the values required to underpin a viable social order. And yes, we need to purify our ranks and rid ourselves of back stabbers like Senator Lincoln Chafee. But what about the Republican crybabies who threaten to severely damage the party if it fails to cater to their excessive demands? These folks may be our greatest threat in the elections of 2006. Many of them possess a suicidal Nietzschean streak. In their heart of hearts, they idiotically believe we should let the Democrats win so that the Republican Party can be "purified." The author has yet to sufficiently deal with this crisis. Hopefully, he starts to do so real soon before it's too late.

The crybaby Republicans are particularly dangerous concerning the explosive illegal immigration issue. A number of them come across as nativists who despise Hispanics. We cannot, however, forget that the children of numerous illegal aliens are often American Citizens. They get to vote at the age of 18---and will most certainly seek revenge on the GOP for harassing their parents. Let's get something straight: we are also not going to send an estimated 10-12 million people back to their original homeland. But aren't these individuals breaking the law? Human law is not about the striving for utopian perfection. Yucky sausage making compromises are occasionally required. I may have a few complaints about Hugh Hewitt's newest book. Still, you need to purchase a copy. His overall advice is indispensable if you truly love your family and wish to protect the United States from ruin.

David Thomson
Flares into Darkness