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Republican Leaders Worry Their Party Could Divide in Two
Yahoo! News / National Journal ^ | February 14, 2013 | Ron Fournier

Posted on 02/14/2013 5:54:09 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Inside the cozy enclaves of GOP bonhomie—hunkered at the tables of see-and-be-seen Washington restaurants—Republican leaders are sourly predicting a party-busting independent presidential bid by a tea-party challenger, like Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., in 2016.

To them, the GOP apocalypse looms larger than most realize. Dueling State of the Union rebuttals and Karl Rove’s assault on right-wing candidates are mere symptoms of an existential crisis that is giving the sturdiest Republicans heartburn.

And yet, the heart of the matter extends beyond the GOP. My conversations this week with two Republican officials, along with a Democratic strategist's timely memo, reflect a growing school of thought in Washington that social change and a disillusioned electorate threaten the entire two-party system.

Seem like a lot to swallow? Allow me to describe my last few days at work.

Between bites of an $18.95 SteakBurger at the Palm, one of Washington’s premier expense-account restaurants, Republican consultant Scott Reed summed up the state of politics and his beloved GOP. “The party,” he told me, “is irrelevant.”

He cited the familiar litany of problems: demographic change, poor candidates, ideological rigidity, deplorable approval ratings, and a rift between social and economic conservatives.

“It’s leading to some type of crash and reassessment and change,” said Reed, who ran Bob Dole’s 1996 presidential campaign and remains an influential lobbyist and operative. “It can’t continue on this path.”(continued)

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Florida; Kentucky; Issues; Parties; State and Local
KEYWORDS: 2016election; apaulling; apaulogia; demographics; election2016; florida; gop; gopcivilwar; kentucky; marcorubio; republicans; scottreed; teaparty
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To: slapshot
You are correct. The author of this piece, Ron Fournier, is a rabid, agenda-driven Marxist.

Something to keep in mind.

41 posted on 02/14/2013 7:04:14 PM PST by Flycatcher (God speaks to us, through the supernal lightness of birds, in a special type of poetry.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

We can only hope! But I must say that these people ‘inside-the-loop’ are definitely slow learners.


42 posted on 02/14/2013 7:10:18 PM PST by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (Learn three chords and you, too, can be a Rock Star!)
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To: FlingWingFlyer
There is no middle at all. Our political landscape is in the shape of a bi-modal saddle ~ which gives you two large poles each of which is composed of a large number of factions.

Our national parties, and their state affiliates, engage in a battle to pick up followers from the factions. Sometimes a large faction will shift from the Demos to the Reps, or vice versa. More frequently small factions do that without being noticed.

There is a fringe around the poles ~ virtually depopulated. it is not a middle filled with undecided voters.

43 posted on 02/14/2013 7:12:55 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; onyx; cripplecreek
And it would primary the Moderate Republicans Fault.

It's like a business partner who comes in every day and knee's you in the balls and yet criticizes you when you express your desire to leave stating that the rival company will gain the upper hand.

The Great Whig Party has Spoken!

They don't want Conservatives in their party and we don't want to stay.

Not after the way the Treat Sarah Palin(stupid!), Michele Bachmann(crazy!), etc etc etc etc

44 posted on 02/14/2013 7:16:59 PM PST by KC_Lion (Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.-Sarah Palin)
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To: KC_Lion

Ya ever notice how much Millard looked like Alec Baldwin?


45 posted on 02/14/2013 7:20:30 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Republican consultant Scott Reed summed up the state of politics and his beloved GOP. “The party,” he told me, “is irrelevant.”

Scott Reed a leader of the GOP? He's a joke.

46 posted on 02/14/2013 7:27:26 PM PST by Darren McCarty (If most people were more than keyboard warriors, we might have won the election)
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To: cripplecreek
Don't be so mean to Millard Fillmore Cripple.


47 posted on 02/14/2013 7:28:23 PM PST by KC_Lion (Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.-Sarah Palin)
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To: cripplecreek
Much more importantly, the Carnival Cruise Ship Carnival Triumph LANDED and people are getting off.

I half way expected to see the local volunteer fire department out there hosing them down.

48 posted on 02/14/2013 7:29:19 PM PST by muawiyah
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Hey dumbass elite Establishment Republican wing of the ruling political class!!!

Ever think about growing a pair of balls?? I don't remember ever seeing them split!

What a bunch of tools.

49 posted on 02/14/2013 7:37:03 PM PST by cashless (Obama told us he would side with Muslims if the political winds shifted in an ugly direction. Ready?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Well if we are going to split, let us do so right away.

Give us time to re-establish a base of real support, and start to organize for a take-over election.

Stay or go. But let us make up our minds quickly please.


50 posted on 02/14/2013 7:43:19 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Rand is a fake conservative and fake Republican, just like his nutjob old man. That's it in a nutshell. Thanks 2nddivisionvet.
51 posted on 02/14/2013 7:48:18 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Revelation 3:16
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
52 posted on 02/14/2013 7:57:40 PM PST by Theophilus (Not merely prolife, but prolific)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Revelation 3:16
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
53 posted on 02/14/2013 7:57:57 PM PST by Theophilus (Not merely prolife, but prolific)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

This article reeks of an exercise in social engineering. Divide and conquer is the name of the game here. Although from recent events, the republicans are bent on purging the conservatives from their ranks, to appeal to moderate republicans of course. It almost seems like the republicans are content with playing the part of minor opposition within the party. Go along, get along, and get a piece of the ever shrinking pie, country be damned.


54 posted on 02/14/2013 8:07:11 PM PST by factoryrat (We are the producers, the creators. Grow it, mine it, build it.)
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To: Flycatcher

“You are correct. The author of this piece, Ron Fournier, is a rabid, agenda-driven Marxist. Something to keep in mind.” I don’t think a lot of these people on this thread understand what you are talking about. The old ‘Divide and conquer’ battle plan only work when about 5-7% of the opponents side buys into the notion that losing is winning. They are fools. I never ever thought we had so many that could be led around by left wing trolls and talked into not voting and letting Obama back in the oval office. God help us all.


55 posted on 02/14/2013 8:07:56 PM PST by ynotjjr (Under Construction)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Here’s another take on the state of the party:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/17/magazine/can-the-republicans-be-saved-from-obsolescence.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp


56 posted on 02/14/2013 8:13:07 PM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“That’s it in a nutshell, isn’t it? “

You said it, and don’t forget the “pink milk”.


57 posted on 02/14/2013 8:13:47 PM PST by jocon307
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To: KC_Lion

“It’s like a business partner who comes in every day and knee’s you in the balls and yet criticizes you when you express your desire to leave stating that the rival company will gain the upper hand.”

I saved that one and will laugh every time I read it or think about it!


58 posted on 02/14/2013 8:31:43 PM PST by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (Learn three chords and you, too, can be a Rock Star!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Does this mean the establishment GOP capitulating SOBs are starting to pay attention?


59 posted on 02/14/2013 9:55:14 PM PST by Blue Collar Christian (One "bitter clinger" praying for revival. <BCC><)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Republican leader.

That’s a contradiction in terms.


60 posted on 02/14/2013 10:02:25 PM PST by lurk
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