There’s the key word - competence.
On the political blogs, there is debate on whether the GOP needs to be more conservative or less right wing. Such debate misses the point why 2006 and 2008 were bad years. Bush’s low approval ratings are due to perceived incompetence on Iraqi, Katrina, and lastly the economy. My county voted 55-45 for Bush in 2000 and 2004. But in 2008, my county went for the Messiah, 55-45. My neighbors, who voted for Bush, switched to the Messiah because they were angry with Iraqi and the economy. They felt it was time to try something new. This was how the Messiah won. Pro-Bush Suburbs in CO, OH, NC, FL, IN, and Va flipped to Obama.
You are exactly correct...this happened just as you say. Freepers don’t understand that this is the real issue...I have a hard time explaining. You did a much better job. This is why I say a move to the right is meaningless unless the GOP congress can establish that they are competent...they have to do more than say no also...develop their own plans and get the word out.
People look at history and see different things according to their belief system. I was trained as a scientist in the old days... put aside personal prejudices and let the data speak. Sometimes it says things you don’t like too. Roosevelt was elected 4 times not because people loved him...he did things that people did not like (trying to pack the Supreme court is one example). However, the GOP was viewed as incompetent thanks to Hoover-who’s policies did not work (especially the fed policies). People starved and many died under Hoover...they did not soon forget. It was 20 years before a GOP president was elected.
Also, people did not doubt Eisenhower’s competence, he had proved it during the war.