My Comments: Some of you may find it confusing when I say I want a viable Republican Party, one that will field candidates for elected office that have a chance of winning. Partly it’s because I believe in the two party system and partly because I think the Democrats could be as dangerous to the future of this country as the Tea Party Republicans.

A Republican I can probably vote for in 2016 is John Huntsman. He comes across as rational and truly interested in MY future welfare, instead of a simple, narrow perception of reality. When I heard Ted Cruz’s comment the other day about all the negative press he was receiving, I cringed. His shouted comment was “Who cares?” He obviously thinks I count for nothing, that my citizenship is irrelevant, that the future is his way, or I can take the highway. Perhaps Texas deserves such a pathetic individual.

By Jon Huntsman October 23, 2013 6:46 pm

If we take a constructive view and try to find compromises, we will win, says Jon Huntsman.

Led Zeppelin said it best: for Republicans, the song remains the same. The big lesson of the 2013 government shutdown is the same one that emerged from the 1995 government shutdown – that shutdowns do not work. They tend to make the party look extreme, hand the Democrats a political victory and cloud rather than clarify differing ideological perspectives.

This time, besides alienating mainstream voters, the party has come close to alienating its most traditionally loyal constituency – business. The consequences could be catastrophic. Boardrooms and entrepreneurs by and large want a commitment to stable markets. But they also want winners intuitive enough to learn from recent defeats.

From the business point of view, the Republicans were on the high ground just before it erupted. They stood for lower government spending, economic growth and holding the line on taxes. They stood against the Affordable Healthcare Act, or “Obamacare”, a concern for most industries because of the associated uncertainty. Rebuilding the confidence of business requires serious reflection and changes.

This episode has made clear that partisanship does not pay, and that strategy – particularly a co-ordinated one – matters. In other words, do not go over a cliff without a plan. Like the coyote chasing The Road Runner, the Republicans went over the cliff, then looked down. Worst of all, the solution that reopened government and raised the debt ceiling solved none of our problems. In the weeks of nonsensical conflict, nothing was done to enhance US competitiveness or inspire confidence in our future.

So, to retain support among both voters and business, next time must be different. As Republicans dust off and reload for the 2014 midterm elections and the 2016 presidential poll, we must do three things.

First, the party must tie the quest for national electoral gains to our solid successes at state level with a simple, focused, clearly articulated national road map. A plan for taxes, spending, energy and jobs should lead the way. Americans still want lower taxes, smaller government and a balanced budget first; politics and partisanship last.

Second, the lack of co-ordination has deprived us of both a reliable voice from leadership and our ability to set institutional priorities. This must be fixed. A key reason for Republican success in 1996 budget negotiations following the last major shutdown was that we shared a goal with President Bill Clinton: a balanced budget. The only fight was about how to get there.

Today there is no clear agreement, either within the party or with Democrats, on our big goals – and without that there is no way the two sides can be expected to agree on anything. The cloud of dust kicked up by Republican skirmishes has allowed President Barack Obama to move on without enunciating what he really wants. Mostly he seems to support higher taxes and increased spending, giving only lip service to a reduced deficit, simplified tax system or smaller government. As a candidate he invoked Ronald Reagan but as a president he has chosen record deficits and record expansions of government spending over fiscal prudence, even dismissing the bipartisan report from the Simpson-Bowles commission that would have provided a template for growth.

Finally, next year there will be temptation on both sides to do it all again. Many Republicans may say only lack of resolve denied us victory. But a different course can and should be set. We need to be seen as problem solvers, seekers of practical solutions. We need to win over swing Democrats to our cause where we can.

Defaults and shutdowns do not work but that does not prevent us making our case for reform, holding the line on sequestration and going into the midterms with momentum and a rationale for the voters to expand the Republican majority rather than shrink it.

And as a party we must strengthen our sensible centre. Time and again we have lost seats we should win because we field candidates in sync with 15 per cent of the population (half the Republican base), not 50 per cent. We need to support stronger mainstream candidates who understand the need to rebuild the American opportunity ladder, which means we cannot afford to allow the primary process to be dominated by eccentrics in the midterms.

The lessons of the past few weeks should not be lost. The Democrats may be hoping for gridlock, since it benefits them. Let it not be forgotten that the Republican Congress, not the Democratic president, is up for re-election in 2014. If we take a constructive view and try to find practical compromises on the budget and taxes, strike a balance on immigration and try to improve Obamacare, Republicans will both accomplish something for the people and come out winners.

It is only by stopping the fighting and starting the fixing that the Republicans can apply the lessons of this shutdown and maintain the alliance with business that has been indispensable to earlier successes.

The writer was formerly governor of Utah and a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination