A well-thought-out opinion piece on how the Massachusetts Republican Party (and Republicans across New England) might start over. The author's contention is that a center-right party that returns to core conservative principles would have a good chance of success.

Interesting article about future prospects for the Republican Party by James Peyser, former chairman of the Massachussetts Board of Education and a registered Republican. The author provides a thoughtful perspective based on reasonable factual evidence, and argues for rebranding their local chapter in Massachussetts and calling it the Independent Republican Party, to separate it from the national party.

This article offers some practical ideas for remaking the Republican Party and capitalizing on its traditional strength--its call for "limited and accountable government, individual liberty and responsibility, and free markets." Particularly admirable is the author's call for the Republican Party to abandon its reactionary, anti-science, look-to-the-past approach and begin to develop a vision of the future that can compete with the vision offered by Obama Democrats. "Conservative" does not have to mean "stodgy."

The article narrows the issues focus to things that are more state oriented and domestic. No mention is made of the rule of law, offensive wars of choice, global climate change, and racism. Peyser speaks softly, acknowledging that the national party has become a radical regressive party of negativity, but not dealing with it directly. In the end, the story is more about marketing and labeling philosophies, rather than change on major national issues.

Peyser raises some good points, and echoes similar calls I've seen in other publications lately. Historically, this is exactly what the Republicans did after the Goldwater defeat, and it was very successful strategy.