BillsNYC Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 Good read: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/07/fee...cans/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 It wasn't that long ago that people said the Dems were dead. And they rebounded for pretty much the same reasons. Delusional people like Pasta Joe like to believe our country suddenly woke up one morning on the far left, but it's simply not the case. The parties represent the extremes, but most of the people are in the middle. When the left goes too far, the pendulum will swing back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wacka Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 It wasn't that long ago that people said the Dems were dead. And they rebounded for pretty much the same reasons. Delusional people like Pasta Joe like to believe our country suddenly woke up one morning on the far left, but it's simply not the case. The parties represent the extremes, but most of the people are in the middle. When the left goes too far, the pendulum will swing back. IMO, the left has already gone too far in electing the Messiah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Fischer Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 It wasn't that long ago that people said the Dems were dead. And they rebounded for pretty much the same reasons. Delusional people like Pasta Joe like to believe our country suddenly woke up one morning on the far left, but it's simply not the case. The parties represent the extremes, but most of the people are in the middle. When the left goes too far, the pendulum will swing back. The problem is that three of the scenarios don't call for the GOP to do anything but wait for the Democrats to screw up. There is no call to arms, a policy or GOP platform based on an idea or principle. All may lead to a "comeback" that may prove temporary at best. 1) Overreach: I think this the most likely scenario, that is why, as a Democrat, I like to see Obama put the brakes on the twin morons: Reid and Pelosi. See: Obama's attempt to defuse the torture issue (and Pelosi's inability to do/say anything right). As a Dem, I hope the Warner part of the Party in Congress start to step up more to manage the economy and foreign policy. 2) Checks and balances: this is basically the same as #1. Unfortunately for the GOP, it is much more likely the Democrats increase their Senate majority in 2010 and the 2012 prospects don't look much better. The GOP is more likely to win a few seats in the House but unless the GOP starts taking state legislatures and state houses (not all that likely) the 2012 redistricting process may solidify 2008 Dem gains. Ironically, the best shot for Checks & Balances may be to take our Obama in 2012. 3) Crisis breeds renewal: this is unfortunate wishful thinking, but more important, something the GOP cannot control. 4) Talent senses opportunity: Unfortunately for the GOP most of the "talent" he describes are much more moderate and pragmatic than Rush, Cheney and base want as leaders. Ridge didn't run because chances are he would not win the primary (sad), Cantor is getting drilled for not talking about social conservative issues, Jeb has an unfortunate last name and Jack Kemp just died. The other irony is that most of the "good opportunities" in 2010 are led by moderate Republicans. Hmmmmm. 5) The Republican Party is the de facto Libertarian Party. He may say but that doesn't mean that people think this is so. Republicans may THINK their libertarians but libertarians don't necessarily think their Republicans. This is a "Sit back and wait for Democrats to screw up plan," not a plan to deal with taxes, immigration, abortion, foreign policy, the budget, social security, medicare and a host of issues that a majority of public doesn't agree with GOP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 The problem is that three of the scenarios don't call for the GOP to do anything but wait for the Democrats to screw up. That's pretty much what the Democrats did Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fingon Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 People act as if the Republican party needs to go towards the center, however it needs to go farther to the right. There is a very significant amount of people that believe that the party has drifted too far towards the things it should oppose (big government). This is why a guy like Ron Paul can be the darling of half the internet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 People act as if the Republican party needs to go towards the center, however it needs to go farther to the right. There is a very significant amount of people that believe that the party has drifted too far towards the things it should oppose (big government). This is why a guy like Ron Paul can be the darling of half the internet. So you are saying Ron Paul actually pulled voters away from McCain... And then coupled with the ones that didn't vote becuase McCain was too center. ?? I don't know, that is a pretty big risk the GOP is taking if they believe that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fingon Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 So you are saying Ron Paul actually pulled voters away from McCain... And then coupled with the ones that didn't vote becuase McCain was too center. ?? I don't know, that is a pretty big risk the GOP is taking if they believe that! Ron Paul didn't pull votes from McCain, but he had many supporters that ended up voting for Obama. There is a large segment of people that would prefer libertarian-conservatism, but would never vote for McCain because they believed he was a continuation of Bush. To put things simply, they would rather have Obama than McCain, but have very conservative economic ideas. This is because both are relatively pro-big government/spending. It's no secret that there is a tremendous amount of conservatism among the youth on the internet, and the country as a whole. However, the next generation of voters are much more liberal on issues such as gay marriage and abortion, but a lot are very fiscally conservative. That is the direction that political opinions are heading, and that is the way that the party must go. The Republican stance on social issues is quickly becoming less and less prevalent among the population, however the disgust with the trillion dollar deficits is growing exponentially. The Republican party must take on more libertarian ideas if it wants to return to power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Cat Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 The Republican party must take on more libertarian ideas if it wants to return to power. I'd ride that train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drnykterstein Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 I'd ride that train. It means dropping the anti-abortion and anti gay shtick. And stop trying to force creationism into the classroom. (this is not directed at you, it's directed at the crazy christian conservatives) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 when? 2012, 2016, 2020 Bill Bennett, a Republican, and Donna Brazile, a Democrat, expressed very different views Sunday about who might be good candidates to represent the Republican Party in the public's mind. WASHINGTON (CNN) - Prominent Republican Bill Bennett took issue Sunday with what he called the "media's focus" on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Asked about the Republican Party's increasingly public struggle to define itself and identify new leaders after eight years of the George W. Bush administration, Bennett said the press should be less myopic in its coverage of the GOP. "One of the things the media could do - some of the media - is to move the debate off Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh," Bennett, a CNN Contributor, said on State of the Union. "This is probably not the future of the Republican Party," added Bennett. "You don't think Gov. Palin's the future of the Republican Party?" queried CNN Chief National Correspondent John King. "I do not," said Bennett. "It could talk about a Paul Ryan or a Mike Pence. It could talk about a Bobby Jindal. It could talk even about a John Kyl or a David Petraeus. You know, there's a lot of talent in this party." Keep searching ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 the two parties don't even necessarily have stances on issues: they are totally focussed on identity politics. it is apple, whole foods, and fubu vs Wrangler, budweiser, and affliction Tshirts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 the two parties don't even necessarily have stances on issues: they are totally focussed on identity politics. it is apple, whole foods, and fubu vs Wrangler, budweiser, and affliction Tshirts. Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffaloaggie Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 The GOP is stuck on the delusion that a bunch of left wing voters suddenly appeared and got Obama elected. Reality tells us that it was an anti-Bush backlash. People did rally around Obama, but let's face it, he is inexperienced. That probably serves to his advantage. He is being careful and doing the right things so far. Bush came in with an arrogant attitude, and did what he believed he was charged to do by the grace of God in finishing daddy's unfinished business in Iraq. The GOP has done exactly what Jack Kemp warned them against...isolating the masses and making the Republican Party a party for the select far right idealists. The Republicans don't realize that most people have gone back to the middle of the road while the Republicans want to steer right and the Democrats of course are always turning left. The Libertarians may emerge from all of this as the new party of choice, if the Dems screw things up. I personally lean right, but not as far as the whacko Fox News watching fanatics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramius Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 It wasn't that long ago that people said the Dems were dead. And they rebounded for pretty much the same reasons. Delusional people like Pasta Joe like to believe our country suddenly woke up one morning on the far left, but it's simply not the case. The parties represent the extremes, but most of the people are in the middle. When the left goes too far, the pendulum will swing back. The real trick is somehow finding a way to stpo the pendulum from swinging farther in each direction everytime. We need to be working on slowing the pendulum down and making sure the swings don't get too far away from center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typical TBD Guy Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 5) The Republican Party is the de facto Libertarian Party. He may say but that doesn't mean that people think this is so. Republicans may THINK their libertarians but libertarians don't necessarily think their Republicans. I'm a card-carrying member of the Libertarian Party, and while I can't officially speak for anyone else but myself, I believe that Republicans and Libertarians are so far apart in ideas that we don't even speak the same language. I feel that the 4 biggest issues for the Libertarian party are (not listed in order of importance): 1. Reduction of military-industrial complex 2. End to Drug War 3. No more corporate bailouts 4. Return to a sound monetary policy. The Republican Party has maintained the polar opposite opinion on the first two issues for as long as the LP has been around. Republicans talk in agreement about the third issue, but their actions speak louder than words. And of course the Republicans don't even mention the fourth issue, with the notable lone exception of Ron Paul...who was promptly laughed out of the primaries. Conversely, the Democrats agree on the first and second issues in talk but not in action, and are blatantly against the LP on the third and fourth issues. So...you could make the case that Libertarians have as much in common with Democrats as they do with Republicans, yet somehow we're a de facto subset of the Republicans? Wishful thinking on the part of the Republicans, who are desperate to stake claims on any votes that can help them avoid permanent minority party status on the national level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 People act as if the Republican party needs to go towards the center, however it needs to go farther to the right. There is a very significant amount of people that believe that the party has drifted too far towards the things it should oppose (big government). This is why a guy like Ron Paul can be the darling of half the internet. And until you realize that AMERICA is made up of MORE than some “very right leaning individuals” the R's will lose time and time again!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 And until you realize that AMERICA is made up of MORE than some “very right leaning individuals” the R's will lose time and time again!!! I think BF4E just climaxed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I think BF4E just climaxed you must be one of those closed minded right leaning republicans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 I think BF4E just climaxed Was connor giving him a reach around? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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