Will Obama's presidency kill the 2-party system?

[Number23]

Would you want it to?

I'm referring to the numerous articles and speculation that Obama will appoint any number of Republicans to prominent positions in his administration. I respect and applaud that decision.

From The Wall Street Journal:

"Many of the Republicans emerging as potential members of the Obama administration have professional and ideological ties to Brent Scowcroft, a former national-security adviser turned public critic of the Bush White House."

The relationship between the president-elect and the Republican heavyweight suggests that Mr. Scowcroft's views, which place a premium on an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, might hold sway in the Obama White House.

There have been numerous threads on DU about the inclusion of several Repubs in Obama's administration, including:

Chuck Hagel - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4489227
Dick Lugar, who Obama has worked with in the Senate; Colin Powell; Snowe, Collins and Specter - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7876743 and numerous others.

If Obama is successful in recruiting and incorporating prominent Republicans into this administration (and I believe that he will be), how many other moderate Republicans could come under the Democratic fold? And what will that mean to the rest of the Republican party?

My guess is that if Obama is successful in bringing moderate Republicans into the fold, that the Repub party is in bigger trouble than they even realize. Where will the die-hard conservatives go? It was all they could do to stomach McCain and if Obama is successful, the Repub party could be in the beginning stages of a significant transformation. This country could easily become divided among Dems, independents, a spattering of Greens and Libertarians and a group of former Republicans looking for a new identity. Could this be the beginning of a literally brand new Repub party and ideology?

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

1. Doubtful.

Political parties have suffered major setbacks in the past and have recovered. Recall the Democrats of the early 80s. The Republicans will be ready to go again by the next election cycle. They just need to lick their wounds for a while and reorganize.

[Number23]

2. That's a fair point. But Obama's stated commitment to bi-partisanship

could be THE deciding factor. I believe it's fairly unprecedented in modern politics.

[orestes]

3. I wouldn't mind if the 2 party system died if it gave way to a true multi party system

where the other parties are actually viable. However, I wouldn't count on it.

[Number23]

4. Me either

I wouldn't mind if the 2 party system died if it gave way to a true multi party system where the other parties are actually viable.

My personal thoughts are that this would be a very good thing for the country...

[izzie]

10. I am with you on this but I do not think it will happen.

Dem. have always grabbed up any third party that got in the fold. Which is not so bad. I think the GOP have pushed out every one but the crazies from the church side and the big money people so they will have to re-build which they will. The crazies have always been with us so they will stay but big money will change and do what goes to their pocket books. The GOP may be down but it is not out for good. I will count on it even if you do not.

[geomon666]

5. In a way I guess.

It's my opinion that we're seeing the early days of a one party system.

[Number23]

8. I agree

It's my opinion that we're seeing the early days of a one party system.

It certainly does feel that way... right now. That could change tomorrow but I think that Obama's bi-partisan philosophy is making alot of right-wing Repub ideologues very, very nervous.

[BlooInBloo]

6. If the issue is Borg-style assimilation of the republican party by Obama....

then the answer is no. But only because you can't kill something that's already dead. And even the briefest investigation clearly shows that it was an accidental suicide.

EDIT: Obama's hypothesized success in picking off rats running from the fire would be the EFFECT of the death of the republican-party-as-we-currently-know-it*, not the CAUSE.


* And of COURSE they'll rebuild the party.

[Number23]

7. I don't necessarily see it that way

Obama's hypothesized success in picking off rats running from the fire would be the EFFECT of the death of the republican-party-as-we-currently-know-it*, not the CAUSE.

I believe that both can be argued successfully. At its strongest point and in its heyday, the Repub party decided to cater primarily to its fringe members. It's because the Repub party has lurched so far right that it has alienated so many of its own moderate, much less ideological members. As such, these folks are ripe for the plucking for a shrewd politician such as Obama.

And even the briefest investigation clearly shows that it was an accidental suicide.

:) Is Russian roulette ever REALLY accidental?? :) If you throw your lot and livelihood in with the most rabid and ill-informed among you, should you really be surprised when no one else wants to come anywhere near you and treats you as if you have cooties??

[BlooInBloo]

9. "Is Russian roulette ever REALLY accidental?" - Yes, if you believe your own hype.

[bullimiami]

11. yesterday on tv they were showing parts of election 2000, during fl recount.

there in texas were cheney, bush and POWELL.

powell knew they stole that election. he was fine with it. he knew bush was a liar. he was fine with it. he took his bag full of lies to the un and was fine with that too.

he is responsible for starting a war that has destroyed iraq for profit and revenge. powell should be in hell, not washington.

[SmileyRose]

12. No

If the Republican party manages to make itself completely all fundie all the time then the fiscal "me only" crowd will jump to the Libertarians and build it up.

[Number23]

13. Okay, Smiley

the fiscal "me only" crowd will jump to the Libertarians and build it up.

Okay, so if that happens, again where will the die-hard social conservatives go? I think you're absolutely right that the fiscals will go Lib. Where will the fundies go??

That was the root of my question all along. I'm really starting to wonder if we're about to see the emergence of a whole new political party.