WHAT REPUBLICAN Party?

It’s uncanny how many times I’ve heard that phrase when discussing the trials and tribulations of Rhode Island’s Grand Old Party.

Unfortunately, because of a variety of factors, including the dogged determination and the enduring skills of the leadership of the state’s Democratic Party, the once powerful Republican Party has become so weak and inconsequential that it’s a rare sight to see a candidate for public office put the party label on his or her lawn signs.

From the high-water days of 1983, when then Republican state Chairman John Holmes led a revolt against one-party (the Democrats) arrogance and tyranny (the regular election of 1982 was delayed six months because of a badly flawed redistricting plan that ended up in federal court), resulting in the tripling of the number of Republican state senators from seven to 21 (out of a total then of 50 senators), to the now anemic five senators, who despite their talent and best intentions, like their counterparts in the House, are largely ignored by the Democratic leadership, the Republican Party seems a ship without a rudder.

For Rhode Island to move forward, this gross imbalance must be fixed. The vehicle should be the one person who has the ability to orchestrate it — Gov. Donald Carcieri. The state GOP is inextricably linked to the success (or failure) of Governor Carcieri as the state’s leader and titular head of the Republican Party.

In his last two-plus years of his tenure, the governor is entering the legacy years.

The governor is suffering the lowest approval ratings of his career, because of a combination of factors within and outside of his control, and polls have repeatedly shown that Rhode Islanders overwhelmingly think that the state is on the wrong track. It is not rocket science to figure out why.

The administration (with the help of the legislature) has been rocked by out-of-control budgets, alarming deficits, residents leaving the state in droves, a poor business climate, a confusing economic-development agenda and media missteps of epic proportions. One of the classic blunders of all time was the administration’s highly questionable strategy to “go around” the only statewide newspaper (The Journal), which continues to be the feeder for other print and electronic news outlets.

The good news is that the governor apparently has had enough, and has started making some dramatic changes in the upper levels of his administration.

Rarely has the state seen the kind of communication skills that this governor has. He can dominate a room in seconds and project a warmth and confidence that make people comfortable.

With his impressive business background and unique personal skills, it seems that it would be a slam dunk to move the state and the Republican Party forward. So what happened?

He was poorly represented by the people he turned to for advice.

Rather than reaching out to minority and other communities not normally considered Republican supporters (an initiative launched by President Reagan in the 1980s), the administration has angered these communities with some fumbled policy decisions and media missteps. Nowhere was it more evident than when the governor refused to meet with Southeastern Asian teenagers critical of the governor’s cuts in state interpreters. Rather than meeting with these representatives of an important group, his harsh stand and media missteps turned a one-day negative story into a two-week media disaster, further eroding his popularity.

On economic development, the governor deserves much credit for his support of alternative-energy programs, such as solar, wind and geothermal.

However, on the two major issues that could jump-start our lagging economy — the development of Quonset Point as a major port, and the development of destination gaming like the projects proposed by our Narragansett Indian Tribe for West Warwick and the mega-development proposed by the Procaccianti Group in Newport the administration has instead taken a NIMBY (not in my backyard) stance.

Republicans have success when we articulate a clear plan that separates us from the Democrats, like Reagan’s steady course, Speaker Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America, or closer to home, Chairman Holmes’s voter-protection plan. There’s an old saying in (conservative) Republican circles: “Given the choice between a Democrat and a Democrat, the people will always vote for the real Democrat.”

Apparent GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain has outlined the differences between the parties in clear, concise terms. He said, in an interview with The Journal’s M. Charles Bakst, “They [the Democrats] want bigger government, higher taxes, more regulation. We’ll debate that.”

It wouldn’t be difficult for Governor Carcieri to develop bold new initiatives (such as totally restructuring government as we know it) to focus on during the remaining months of his tenure, and work with GOP Chairman Giovanni Cicione, and House GOP Leader Robert Watson and Senate GOP Leader Dennis Algiere to promote them. In doing so, he could help raise needed funds for the party, and help identify and nurture candidates to alleviate the lopsided advantage that the Democrats enjoy in the legislature, where he has to either work miracles with the other party to pass his agenda, or be relegated to sit and bark at the moon.

The governor has the skills to develop such an agenda. He needs people around him with the knowledge and skill to reach out to diverse groups, to help make those initiatives a reality. In so doing, he can start laying the bricks to develop an effective governmental and political system, and lay the foundation for his legacy.

A famous politician once said that you can’t shake hands with a clenched fist. The clenched fist campaign didn’t work. An open-door initiative will.

The governor has an army of skilled tacticians scattered throughout Rhode Island that he could turn to for help. In doing so, he will not only develop a legacy that will endure, but rebuild a great party critical to the operation of government on all levels.

J. Michael Levesque is a former Republican state chairman, two-term mayor of West Warwick, and long active in efforts to build an Narragansett Indian Tribe casino.