[Bernard]

Honestly, I cannot think of one Republican who has a chance.

Pre-Crash or Post-Crash? After the economy collapses the public will be in a very different mood, and will be able to see the difference between builders and takers. Until we crash, too many people are taking the position that "things are okay, so let's vote for the free stuff guy or not vote at all."

Of course, that is working on the notion that we have already gone over the cliff, or at least reached the Point Of No Return.

With all that said, Pre-Crash Republican candidates for President will continue to look like Democrat-Lites, such as GW Bush, McCain, and Romney.

Post-Crash Republicans (or Conservatives, if you prefer) will have more leeway with the public.

And right now, any Republican who was not involved in getting closer to the cliff or PONR stands a much better chance than an establishment type. But, Pre-Crash, it will be a tougher road.

[rodguy911]

Your post sounds logical until you look at Greece. They have already crashed. What happens? The losers riot in the streets demanding more free stuff. Meanwhile the producers have long since left town.

[TomGuy]

Pre-Crash or Post-Crash?

I really think that there is one thing that kept Obama from losing, as Carter did. That thing is hyper-inflation.

Yes, inflation is happening, but the Admin and the MSM have managed to keep it off the front pages. It has been more subtle than under Carter. Even the high gas prices (nearing or just over $4) started going down a few weeks before the election. Co-winky-dink? Nah, it was planned to help the status quo.

Now that Obama is safe for the next 4 years, we will see 'revised' unemployment numbers heading toward reality, and we could see hyper-inflation manifest itself very soon.

[Cheerio]

Pre-Crash or Post-Crash? After the economy collapses the public will be in a very different mood, and will be able to see the difference between builders and takers. Until we crash, too many people are taking the position that "things are okay, so let's vote for the free stuff guy or not vote at all."

I have a theory on why folk on the right might have sat out this election - ROBERTS showed a lot of people that there is no fail safe anymore.

IMHO there has to be a crash before anyone wakes up in sheeple filled America.

[kabar]

Agree with your analysis on pre and post crash. The welfare state is unsustainable and its collapse is inevitable. Unfortunately, it could take a long time to happen as long as the Dems can tax and spend and eviscerate the military--guns versus butter. In the meantime, the rapidily changing demographics of this country fueled by immigration and minority birthrates will make the Dems the permanent majority party at the federal level.

I really see no way the Reps win in 2016 regardless of how Obama performs in office. Hillary will be the next President barring some health issue or something else preventing a run. She is next in line and Obama will support her. Bill's enthusiastic support on the campaign trail was just building up the chips for an Obama endorsement in 2016.