Dr.Traveler
Mathematician
- Aug 31, 2009
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Let us just hope that the Republicans attempt to do the things America can understand and approve of. I am always reminded there are more takers than there are makers...
I don't hold out much hope for that, unless they do a party shake up. However I do think some real change is happening with the electorate, way beyond swinging the pendulum.
As for me? I belive it will be a long time [if ever] it swings back left. The desparation on display from our leftist countrymen is funny, sad, and can always be counted upon when the people they claim to speak for continue to defy them.
Depends on a lot of factors. The GOP was talking about the end of the Left back in 2004, and got handed a resounding defeat in 2006, and again in 2008. The Democrats were talking about the implosion of the GOP in 2008, and are looking at tickets home in 2010. Things can swing rapidly. Democrats today sound no more desperate than Republicans did in 2006 leading up to that election.
The big issue facing a new ascendant GOP is making sure they don't screw it up. In the USA, holding onto a majority of the voting block is practically impossible. Ignore the moderates and their needs and you lose them. Cater too much to the center, and you lose your base. Your own base can fracture: GOP along Libertarian, Business, and Religious lines, and DNC along various special interest groups.
Some of the dialogue you see here, on the radio, and in the actual campaigns makes me think that the GOP learned practically nothing from the loses in 2006 and 2008. You still see moderates disparaged. You still see anyone close to the center labeled as RINO's. Disagrement is met with accusations of being a "closet lib."
IF the GOP wants to hold power, they'll need a Reagan figure that can move the middle to them. Right now, they don't have that figure. The Right Wing Radio guys are in it for the money and are much too shrill to appeal to the moderates. Palin is a divisive figure that actually motivates the DNC, much as Hillary motivates the GOP. Many of the tea party candidates are frauds or loons who have been completely unvetted, and in GOP they'll be running as incumbents, not running against incumbents.
In short the GOP in a position much like the DNC was in 2006: namely they can easily screw it up or they can find a candidate that can carry the White House. The outcome will be up to them. The fact the GOP is essentially in the driver seat on this tells you just how far they've come back.