I just don't see the repub party recovering by 2008

[cali]

In fact, I think their downward drift will continue at least through 2008. It doesn't matter how good there much vaunted GOTV is if the votes aren't there.

The party is at war with itself. Social conservatives loath the small government conservatives who in turn hold contempt for the social conservatives. The two leading contenders for the nomination have little support from social conservatives. And McCain is also detested by small government types. Libertarians and moderates are deserting the republicans, made uncomfortable by both extreme social polices and the war.

Bush will continue to be a drag on the party, as will the war. Guns, God and Gays now has a distinctly hollow ring- that ploy is worn down to the bone. Demographics which were supposed to be a continuing huge advantage for the pukes, actually aren't. Key states such as VA, CO and NM are trending bluer. They've got a strong hold on the south, but that's at the cost of other parts of the country.

Two years- actually less than two years, isn't enough time for them to turn it around. That's why swiftboating and GOTV don't worry me terribly. All the dems have to do, is not blow it, and I think we stand an excellent chance of gaining more seats in Congress and the Presidency.

Once you lose power, it's not so easy to regain it.

[rurallib]

1. And their potential pres candidates look pretty shaky

IMHO - and probably so incompetent they couldn't steal an election like W did.

[ClassWarrior]

2. But we still need to fight like we're in the minority.

Take nothing for granted with these criminals...

NGU.

[marmar]

6. Totally...

Never underestimate cornered rats.

[Orsino]

3. They may not need to.

All they need do is continue their corporate talking points, and they will still be taken seriously by the media, who will continue to trumpet their failures as success.

I suspect that the economy is collapsing, though, which may drive us toward some sort of New New Deal.

[cali]

4. Yeah, I agree that there are

indications that the economy is shaky, but I their corporate talking points and media complicity (which btw, they can't take for granted as long as Iraq continues to spiral out of control), aren't, I don't believe enought to turn it around in 18 months.

[Bigmack]

5. Perhaps a wooden stake thru the heart? nt

mt

[cali]

7. Are you referring to this story?

Reminds me of the story when Pat Brown beat Dick Nixon in 1962 in the California governor's race. JFK phoned Brown and said, "I killed him, and you buried him." Brown responded: "Yeah, but somebody forgot to drive a stake through his heart."

[catmandu57]

8. I don't either

In fact there is going to be things coming to light in the next year, that will in effective drive that stake into their black heart. Only the most hardcore blind faithful will close their eyes and continue to support the reptiles.

[madinmaryland]

9. I think Bush is going to be a hugh drag on their party for the next

several years. As the Dems are poised to begin investigating, I think there is going to be a lot of dirt dug up that will suck many repubs into the mess and keep Bush and his failed policies in the news.

[benEzra]

10. Guns are off the table for now...

BECAUSE national Dems have dropped the ban-more-guns thing, instead of mindlessly following Feinstein and the DLC. That's good.

However, Republican Sarah Brady would like nothing better than to resurrect the Protruding Handgrip Ban or other such crap, thereby reviving the Dems'll-take-yer-guns meme.

IF the DLC manages to push new gun bans back onto the agenda, then yes, the gun issue could be revived in a big way, and it can bite. Don't forget who controlled the House, the Senate, AND the presidency in the spring of '94...and what happened when the DLC zealots and the Bradyites shoved restrictions on rifles with protruding handgrips through Congress. Loss of House and Senate in '94, further slides in '96 and '98, loss of presidencies in '00 and '04. A slide that was only reversed after W royally screwed up the situation in Iraq, AND the Dems stopped trying to ban people's nonhunting guns and started trying to welcome gun-owning Dems and indies back into the tent.

Never underestimate the ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.



-------
Dems and the Gun Issue - Now What? (written in '04, largely vindicated in '06, IMO)

[NewJeffCT]

11. As somebody on DU once put it...

The Democrats never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

[cali]

13. Yeah, that's always trotted out

about both parties by disappointed partisans, but really, the pukes are in such a mess, the dems would actually have to work hard at missing the opportunities presented now.

[NewJeffCT]

12. The Republicans & the media

The Republicans & the media were able to repackage an alcoholic, drug-abusing, military deserter and a failed businessman (with an arrest record) from a family of New England elites and make him out to be a good Christian man and a down-to-earth Texas cowboy regular guy.

If they can do that with Bush, I think they have an easier job in 2008 if they run somebody with a modicum of competence.

[cali]

14. That was then.

Good economy- or at least the perception of such. Bill Clinton's personal foibles. Al Gore's lousy campaign. Not to mention that Gore won. Fast forward: Incredibly unpopular repuke incumbent. Repuke party in shambles- or close to it. Shaky economy. Failed war replete with thousands of dead Americans, and hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis, not to mention the gravely injured. Israel and Palestine spiraling out of control Afghanistan essentially a failure. Iran and N. Korea flaunting the international community. Front runners in puke party unpopular with the base, etc., etc.

[radfringe]

15. to redeem themselves by 2008 "s"elections

they would need to do at least these 3 things:

1. apologize for drinking kool-aid

2. show sincerity by burning all their rubberstamps

3. introduce and support articles of impeachment against bush/cheney