5 Republican Party Resolutions for 2009

As we ring in the new year, we once again face that time-honored tradition of laying out a resolution or two, a hopeful goal of self-betterment. Barack Obama has, yet again, set his sights on kicking cigarettes for good. Rod Blagojevich, meanwhile, has resolved to remain a very painful thorn in the Democrats' foot. But what of the Republican Party? In the wake of their electoral trouncing, do the GOP have any corrective measures in mind? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Be less racist. Of course, I don't mean that a majority of Republicans harbor such views, but as the "Barack the Magic Negro" episode shows, many of those vying for leadership of the RNC are part of an utterly tone-deaf group.

2. Reclaim the "fiscal conservative" brand if you can.

3. Listen less to Rush Limbaugh.

4. Ditch the anti-immigrant rhetoric. Why? Look at the Hispanic vote in four states that went to the Democrats this year: Colorado, Nevada, Florida, and New Mexico.

5. Learn to compromise with Obama. The country is in rotten shape. Ideological battles need to give way to pragmatic, effective governance.

I know they aren't my resolutions to make, and that to many Republican readers it will simply sound like I'm telling the party to stop behaving like itself. True enough. We'll see if some of our writers on the right side of the aisle have ideas for the Democrats, too.