Open Thread on Future Roles of the Party: Bopp and Yue Offer Resolution Against Bailouts to RNC

From this morning's Washington Times:

In what would amount to a slap in the face to a sitting Republican president and the party's Senate and House leaders, national GOP officials, including the vice chairman of the Republican National Committee, are sponsoring a resolution opposing the resort to "socialist" means to save capitalism.

"We can't be a party of small government, free markets and low taxes while supporting bailouts and nationalizing industries, which lead to big government, socialism and high taxes at the expense of individual liberty and freedoms," said Solomon Yue, a cosponsor of a resolution that would put the RNC -- the party's national governing body -- on the record as opposing the U.S. government bailouts of the financial and auto industries ...

The RNC has never played a leading policy role or any policy role except once every four years in framing the national party platform, which is quickly forgotten and almost never referred to for another four years.

Part of the Rebuild the Party plan calls for significant changes in the way we run the party.

The power of traditional connections is being replaced by the power of mass connectedness. Politics is taking place on a grander stage than ever before, with millions, and not just tens of thousands -- participating directly in the process. Millions of people can not only vote, but they can organize with each other across geographic boundaries to build political power in real time. Their sheer scale allows them to rapidly outflank traditional power brokers in a way that simply wasn't possible before.

The Republican Party can no longer survive in a modern era if we resist this new reality. With our power in Washington waning, our grassroots are the source of our greatest strength -- not a problem to be managed. To revitalize ourselves, we must invite the crowd back in and tap their energy and creativity.

One can legitimately opine that this resolution authored by RNC Vice Chairman James Bopp comes from a realization from some RNC members about the importance of our grassroots infrastructure. But this resolution only offers more questions than answers that I could provide. Please share your thoughts on the following:

• If you were on the RNC, would you vote for the resolution? (I probably would.)
• In both the short term and long term, is it a good idea for the RNC to play an active philosophical-policy leadership role beyond the platform? Or should the party stick to reorganizing the infrastructure, tools and strategies for future election cycles?
• Should part of the "revitalization" of the GOP and "tapping the grassroots' energy and creativity" be public policy oriented?
• If the RNC were to take on more of a public policy role, how would that role differ if we were in the Congressional majority vs. minority? How would that role differ if we have the White House vs. not having the White House?

Comments and thoughts please.