Posted on 06/13/2009 11:26:56 AM PDT by MadIsh32
There has been much chatter about who now speaks for the Republican Party and whether the GOP has a message or agenda to combat President Obama's popularity. Those questions are important to the party's future, but the most serious problem remains the deeper demographic and political forces at work in the country.
For the past few months, political analysts and demographers have been poring over the results of the 2008 election and comparing them with presidential results from the last two decades. From whatever angle of their approach -- age, race, economic status, geography -- they have come to a remarkably similar conclusion. Almost all indicators are pressing the Republicans into minority status.
Republicans are still capable of winning individual elections, but until they find a way to reverse or at least minimize these broader changes in the country, their chances of returning to majority status will be severely reduced.
Democrats have now won the popular vote in four of the last five elections, though in one case (2000) they did not end up in the White House. In years when they have also won the electoral vote, Democrats have wracked up sizeable margins. Obama bested John McCain 365-173 and Bill Clinton's two victories were in the same range. George W. Bush's two electoral college victories were narrow; he won just 271 votes in the disputed election of 2000 and 286 in his 2004 reelection.
What has brought this about? It's not just one thing, it's everything. Start with the Democrats success in the suburbs. Lang's formula is that demography and density have combined to help the Democrats. The Democrats now dominate not just the cities but the urbanized suburbs that contained the largest share of the suburban population in America.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I can’t wait to see him debating Chris Dodd. I swear, I’d pay for a pay-per-view event to see that! lol
He will destroy Dodd.
I think this guy actually has a chance in 2016 at the POTUS.
Him, Sanford, Gary Johnson if he could scale down a bit his border ideas
The GOP is not our “hope”, never was. Doom and Gloom? Come on. The GOP will at some point have to choose between the “dust bin of history” (apologies for stealing from El Rushbo) and re-energizing their parties’ chances.
If they choose to be the whipping post of the Democrats, then they will go the way of the Whigs, and a new party will have to emerge. It’s not pleasant, but it’s that simple.
I really do not see the ‘I don’t give a damn about social issues’ Republicans doing very well in the primaries.
See: Steve Forbes
However yes, when you begin to call out certain groups on social issues, you do garner support among the base but you also push away swing voters who may have gays in thier family or have had an abortion.
2000:
Bush 271
Gore 266
2004:
Bush 286
Kerry 251
I think in certain places it will work. In the Northeast in particular
Northeastern Republicans DO CARE about social issues, but do not PRIORITIZE THEM as high as southern Republicans
So Schiff can win in a place like Connecticut. Other liberty minded Republicans can win in Vermont, NH, Mass.
I am with you, but you cannot hold a “Big Tent” together with NE Republicans who do not care about social issues and southern and western Republicans whose main priority is social issues.
Most importantly, the GOP cannot abandon Life.
I'm not contradicting my earlier post by saying this, but that's part of the problem. These social issues need to be the concern of the STATES, not the federal government. Those who call themselves need to remember that we have a 10th Amendment & stop trying to force our values on those in different parts of the country who believe the opposite. Washington, D.C. should NOT be "The Decider" when it cones to how we govern ourselves!
Every time, we lose an election, the media talks of doom and gloom. Yes, we are not a good place right now. But I am confident we will bounce back once we find our voice.
Remember Goldwater got his behind kicked in 1964. 4 years later, Nixon, a political has been, won. In 1974, thanks to Watergate, the GOP numbers shrunk to a lower level in Congress than we have now. 6 years later, Reagan won.
We held the White House for 8 years and Congress for 12 years. These things go in political cycles. The big question is are we going to get our act straight and find our way of the wilderness in 4 years or 12 years?
Think outside the “GOP v Dem” model. That model’s only use is to screw over small government conservatives.
In blue states, they’ll do better than the pro-choice Republicans who always lose even though we’re told they ‘are the only ones that can win’. And instead of a Dem with an R, we get someone who cares about freedom based domestic policy. Win-win for everyone.
In conservative areas, go conservative. However, we’ve elected FAR too many Republicrats who speak the social conservative talk and act like fiscal liberals in states like SC (in the House and the legislature, not Sanford) and other conservative states.
I’m a social conservative, but I have HAD IT with the way this country is being run fiscally to the left with a government getting larger and larger no matter which party runs it. I’m tired of all these issues that shouldn’t be federal being federalized by both the Republicans AND the Democrats.
Right now, cutting government matters the most to me. A wishy-washy ‘pro-choicer’ isn’t going to cut government, but a libertarian will. That’s where I’m coming from.
Sure you can.
You focus on things that everyone has in common.
In particular small government, low taxes, strong border enforcement, pro 2nd amendment and letting us guide our lives
Life will always be part of our platform. We just don’t have to stand on every rooftop yelling “baby killer!” at those who get abortions
Again, it is HOW you present yourself that matters
By the way, using your logic, I could say the following:
I really don’t see a hard-line conservative ever getting elected. I mean, look at what happened to Goldwater.
Steve Forbes was a long time ago. Our freedom is literally at stake here and it’s going to take someone who believes STRONGLY in doing whatever it takes to save it to do what needs to be done.
I think now it really starts to have an impact though
We aren’t dealing with the demographics of the 60s, 70s and 80s
Like it or not, convservatives have to figure out how to speak to hispanics, blacks and asians
And I say we do that by speaking about how we support the small businesses they start and will allow them to choose how they wish to raise and educate their child.
Be the true “pro-choice” party with school choice
You sound like one of the liberals trying to destroy the party when you say that.
Conservatives need to focus on what ALL AMERICANS of all colors, races and religions have in common and the interest they have in self-responsibility and freedom.
We can't start pandering to identity groups. We do that and we're finished.
Again, you don’t start pandering
There is a difference between pandering and presenting conservative principles in a way they understand
Right now, the game is played via identity politics. Learn to play the game and then change the game.
But if you think I am saying pander to particular groups, no sir
Again, talk about small business, the old Jack Kemp “enterprise zones” and school choice. All issues where we GET BIG SUPPORT from these types of groups
Don’t say “we will give hispanic businesses tax breaks and black families vouchers” No sir
It made me (again) proud to be an American,and with the Leftist agenda that seeks to dismiss or even outright delete the earthshaking accomplishments of such incredible Americans like Charles Lindbergh just because they were white,I felt a little proud to be white as well—if only because I detest overt hate in the defense of ideologically motivated mendacity strategically designed to take power not from merit but from forced guilt.
Am I a racist? If Lucky Lindy were nonwhite would his accomplishment require more adulation?
Not in my book if he were still an American.
But them I am a descendant of white devil slavemasters so my input is moot. But to make relevant my post to this thread,is the current liberal leadership of the GOP scared to publicly admire the deeds of such as Lindy without a politically correct disclaimer? No and we must dump them.The RINOs running the party have no concept of defense when attacked and God's America is perishing for it.
Their game is unplayable for anyone but them. Try to play that game and you lose. It is stacked against anyone who doesn’t toe the liberal line.
The only way to play is to change the game.
I meant to say “Yes,and we must dump them.”
I’ll be 55 next month so mind oops come more often.
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