Will the Republicans move further to the right?

[cali]

I ask this question because of the many articles I've seen from right wing pundits theorizing that repubs sold out their conservative values and their social conservative voters. These folks seem to be convinced that a) it was largely RINOs that were voted out in the recent election (despite the defeat of the like of Santorum, Allen, Hayworth and others) and b) the erroneous conventional wisdom on the right that the dems voted in were faux conservatives.

If the repubs move further to the right (is there any room left there?) they will lose more independent voters, presumably in exchange for more social conservatives. But are there enough social conservatives to make up the difference? I don't think so.

I've said it before: the republican party is in a shitload of trouble. They've painted themselves into the south at the expense of losing key areas of the midwest and southwest as well as the rustbelt. One sign of this is the paucity of credible repub nominees for pres in 2008.

So what will they do? If they inch toward the middle will conservatives simply drop the party? If they shift their focus from the social hot button issues and onto fiscal conservatism and small government will they be able to draw back enough of the so called reagan democrats?
Will their determination to carry out a scorched earth policy in the Congress add to their woes?

The repub party's recent losses in the midterms should be a wakeup call to them. Will they get that the party is in a world of trouble outside the south, or will they continue on their merry divisive road to ruination- or at least marginalization.

Finally, is it possible that the word conservative will become the new liberal?

[Gman]

1. There are several things that could happen

but money determines who gets elected and money goes to the most electable. If the right wing GOP is considered unelectable by "the powers that be" (i.e. corporations and their lobbyists), they won't get the money and they won't get elected.

[cali]

2. Sure money's a factor

but it's only one factor among many. And let's not forget that there are ways of getting around the corporate money juggernaut, as Dean demonstrated in the 2004 cycle.

[Skidmore]

4. I think the corporate money juggernaut trying to figure out

how to coopt Dems right now. Any Dem who falls for it will have my pledge to do everything I can to unseat them.

[sam sarrha]

5. however the real POWER and Driving force of a Fascist State is the Corporation, if they really want

to stay in power.. and the string of assinations in the 60's and 70's show they will stop at nothing.

[sam sarrha]

3. sense their world is flat.. maybe if the move far enough to the Right.... we will be rid of em

[cali]

6. Agreed

If they keep moving to the right, they will hold only the South.

[bowens43]

7. I hope so.....

moving further to the right will ensure larger Democratic majorities in congress and a Democrat in the oval office.

[AlinPA]

8. It looks like there is not much room in the R party for anyone unless they

are right-wing evangelical/fundamentalist-gay hating-jingoistic-immigrant-bashers. It they are not, they have to at least suck up to the hate-mongers like McCain is doing.

[Greeby]

9. If they get any further to the right

The next Republican National Convention will resemble Nuremburg

[zbdent]

10. I would be hesitant to declare the body dead ...

remember, they were eulogizing the Democratic party just two years ago ... relegating "liberal Dems" to obscurity ...

[LeftishBrit]

11. Move more to the right? Errr, is that even possible????

I hope not - AARRRGGGHHHH at the very thought!