The GOP's 20% Problem

The Wall Street Journal/Opinion Journal ^ | 10/12/2007 | Peggy Noonan

[Forgiven_Sinner]

STT: “Broken Glass Democrats?
Don’t buy that BS.”

jalisco555: “I hope you’re right but I think you’re wrong. They want to win so badly they can taste it. They will swallow their differences and do what it takes. Can we?”

I agree with STT. We tend to project ourselves upon others. Democrats are NOT individualists; they’re a follow the herd group, led by their intellectuals. The intellectual few may be broken glass; the majority are apathetic and as unlikely to vote in 2008 as they were in 2000 and 2004.

Republicans vote because they want to; Democrats vote by being bribed or driven to the polls. Historically, the Republicans have always had a higher turnout ratio.

I like Peggy's writing, but she does tend to be insular, as New Yorkers and Washingtonians can be. She isn't well-connected with the rest of the country.

No one has commented upon what I thought was the most objectionable part of the column: that the 20% who back Bush (that includes me) would be happier to see the Democrat win rather than a Republican. Perhaps that's true of Washington insiders, but certainly not among the rank and file. It's just a very stupid statement.

I hate Rudy's positions on social issues and I consider him too liberal for the Republican party, but I would still vote for him over Hillary or any Democratic nominee, on the theory he would still do less damage to the country.

Rudy getting the nomination doesn't seem to be very realistic to me. The majority of the primary voters object to his positions.