bump for a great analysis. I think it might be true that the Democrats are a party of special interests with divergent and unpopular agendas, hardly the stuff that builds a coalition.
For the Presidential race in 2008 it will come down to the personalities as it always does, our celebrity driven society is not as discerning as it should be.
If the GOP is entering majority status, why have they allowed the (essentially) unoppposed reelection of Democrat senators in states where the President is strong?
Arkansas (Lincoln), Nevada (Reid), Montana (Baucus), North Dakota (Dorgan), soon to be North Dakota again (Conrad).
This is not the mark of a strong, national party.
In 1980, there were thirteen Republican Senators from states that Al Gore won in 2000 by 54% or more. By 2000, that number was down to two.
The Democrats have cleared GOP Senators out of the blue states. The Republicans have failed again and again to clear Democrat Senators from the red states.
If the Bush states had the same tendency to "Republicanism" in the Senate as the Kerry states have to elect democrats, we would have 60+ GOP senators right now.
Can you imagine the Democrats allowing a Republican to run unopposed for the Senate from Massachusetts? That is in essence what happened in Nevada, and Montana, and North Dakota.
The GOP may not be as strong as you suppose.
Good piece that highlights many of the reasons for the death spiral of the Democratic Party. Thanks.
Another contributing factor to the Democrats' self destruction, IMO, is the mainstream media's longstanding support for all things liberal. With the press unquestionably championing their agenda (and at the same time being complicit with their attacks against conservatives) Democrats have had little reason to moderate their positions secure in the knowledge that they would always be supported by the media. In effect, there was no governor on them to control their excesses.
Outstanding essay and right on the mark!
WELL DONE ANALYSIS, PUBLIUS .. AND LOGICAL CONCLUSION !
We are watching daily the implosion of the Democrat Party. Until the past few months it was a gradual, almost imperceptible thing; now, it seems to be going on in a very public way. Can't say it upsets me one bit.
Excellent read and a ping!
bump for later
*Bump* for later.
Beautifully written! Very well put! I enjoyed reading this!
Great BIG Bump!
And, it's a beautiful thing!
BUMP
I enjoyed it immensely. I will re-read it later more critically.
Regards.
Bump.
Ping to self.
Great Article Publius, thanks for the heads-up.
truth bump
BTTT Nice to see our Publius in print once again! :)