Guerilla Politics
Posted on November 10, 2008
Guerilla Politics
According to Wikipedia: “Guerrilla warfare is the unconventional warfare and combat with which a small group of combatants use mobile tactics (ambushes, raids, etc.) to combat a larger and less mobile formal army. The guerrilla army uses ambush (stealth and surprise) and mobility (draw enemy forces to terrain unsuited to them) in attacking vulnerable targets in enemy territory. This term means "little war" in Spanish and was created during the Peninsular War.”
To successfully lead a guerilla army, a leader needs to understand the strengths of his opponent and match them up with his own strengths. He attacks when the numbers are on his side. He avoids big fights that can decimate his side. He always keeps public opinion front and center, as it is public opinion that will ultimately win or lose the campaign.
Congressional Republicans need to now embark on guerilla politics.
When the numbers are against them, they should avoid the big fights. When the numbers are with them, they should press their advantage. And always, they should keep public opinion front and center.
Taking on Barack Obama right now is silly. He has a huge mandate, backed by the media, the international community and a solid majority of the American people. This is not terrain hospitable to the GOP minority.
Let Obama march through to the Inaugural. Let him take those first steps as President.
Raise questions when he reverses President Bush on off-shore drilling. But do it not out of contempt. Do it out of concern.
Same on stem-cells. Congressional Republicans needn’t fight this battle with Obama. Let the outside groups take this on.
And as the new President moves through the budget cycle, wait until he steps into unfamiliar terrain of raising taxes. That is when we pounce.
And when he decides to withdrawal funding for the missile shield, pounce again. Most Americans think we are already protected. Remind them that we aren’t.
And when Obama and the Democrats pass huge spending bills that include special interest funding like money for ACORN, pounce again.
In other words, when the terrain is favorable, like it will be on taxes, defense and special interest funding, the GOP should attack. When it is not favorable, they should hold back and let their members vote their districts.
It would be ironic if the GOP were to employ tactics first perfected by Chairman Mao to beat the Democrats at their own game. But we shouldn’t fear the irony. We should find a way to beat the Democrats.