The death of the Republican Party

[Cyrano]

There have been countless American political parties. Google those three words to see just how many there have been.

But there has been nothing in the history of the United Sates to match the size and power of today’s Democratic and Republican parties. And the Republican Party is doing everything possible to commit suicide.

Not that they’ll be missed. Many here would agree that they’ve become a threat to the average American and everything this country is supposed to stand for.

But we really can’t exist as a one-party country. It’s too dangerous. Whatever a party’s intentions, programs, or goals, it requires opposition. Without it – well, we’ve seen the results of countries worldwide that have a one-party system. That party may seem benevolent at first. But once they realize there’s nothing to stop them, they very quickly turn their countries into tyrannies.

At the moment, the Republican Party looks to be a threat to the Dems in the near future. But don’t kid yourself. They are marginalizing themselves more and more each day. Outside of the South, the rural west, and a few other areas of the country, the Republican Party has been working as hard as possible to make themselves unacceptable to sane people.

They may win some seats in the next election, but the reality is that they are on a downward spiral. All they have left are the ultra rich, the ultra ignorant, the ultra fearful, haters and bigots. And this is by no means the majority of today’s Americans.

So here’s my question. Do we somehow, in some way, try to rehabilitate the dying Republican Party, (damned if I know how – or if we even should)? Or do we start building a true Liberal Party to oppose the Democratic Leadership Council. The DLC is far to the right of many of us and has far more influence over the Democratic Party than many of us would like to see?

Any suggestions?

[cali]

1. Reports that the repub party is dead are ridiculously premature

it's not even on life support. It's dangerous and it's posed to make a come back.

[GodDamLiberal]

3. Agree

Only a fool would say they were dead.

[Cyrano]

7. Reply to 1, 2, and 3

The Roman Empire (and every other empire in history) seemed invincible. Until it wasn't.

My guess is that big business will start deserting the Republicans like rats leaving a sinking ship, and start buying themselves as many Democrats as possible.

[cali]

11. Eventually, the repub party may de done in by demographics

but as for now, anyone who thinks that the repub party is facing imminent death, isn't paying attention.

[AllentownJake]

14. LOL

First define big business? Some businesses favor democratic policies some favor republican.

I highly doubt that the energy and defense industry will suddenly wake up and say Democrats are great!

Nope, think again. Most big business prefers Republicans. Big business will buy democrats when they are in power, but the moment they think they can beat a particular democrat guess what they are going to pull their money from the democrat and slit his throat.

:rofl:

[Cyrano]

24. Jake, you really need to stop and think for a moment..

Do you really think that the big business masters of the universe care whether someone has a Democratic or Republican label?

Do you really think they care about anything but profit?

To big business, a whore, is a whore, is a whore. And if you don't think there are a sufficient number of Democratic whores out there who will bend over for big business, try living on this planet for a while.

[AllentownJake]

29. I don't see any evidence for your assertion

1) On money. The Tea Parties are being largely funded by big business.

2) Let us assume your assertion is somehow correct. All that means is our party becomes the republicans.

3) As far as big business is concerned I'm not too worried, it is headed for an epic collapse.


Now as far as your assertion that the GOP is somehow going to be dealt a fatal blow in 2010. The polling says otherwise.
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/08/senate-rankings-august-2009-edition.html

[AllentownJake]

18. Both political parties are in trouble

Things will continue to get worse economically as the disastrous policies of the past 30 years are fully felt by the American people.

We are in charge right now, but try winning an election when unemployment reaches 15% and two years of wage deflation and sell the American people you are doing all you can to help them.

The republicans take over, well they inherit the same mess with no way to make it any better.

30 years of stupid economic policy is going to be biting both parties in the ass.

[Tim01]

25. The repubs will be back in power as soon as people are not happy with the dems.

Probably very soon.
I'm not trying to say they will last forever. But suggesting they are anywhere near dead right now is just plain psycho.

[cali]

31. ding, ding, ding. we have a winner.

[AllentownJake]

33. People are making a false assumption that most people vote logically

or on some idealogical basis.

They don't. Most voting is emotional.

[movonne]

12. Well you could be right but I don't see how they could win a national

elections with the hispanics and the blacks turning away from them...they need some minority groups to swing an election..

[madokie]

15. For each of you who think they are on the verge of a resurgence

there is plenty of us who don't see the picture that way at all. I see the dems picking up seats in both houses this next election, state houses too, yup even governors. Last poll I seen had the pukes in the teens in favorability ratings. So how is it you see this differently. Not trying to be mean, just asking.

[cali]

22. Polls certainly don't back you up

re dems picking up seats. And the early races- NJ and VA don't look particularly heartening for dems. In NH, Hodes is running 10 pts or so behind Ayotte. And in several other states we find the same pattern. You're just not keeping up. Not trying to be mean, but you haven't been paying attention.

[AllentownJake]

23. Some people are still living on January 20, 2009

Before we had the White House.

Alot of them will be scratching their heads in 2010 when the returns come in.

[cali]

28. That's for damned sure.

But perhaps they'll pay attention if Corzine goes down and if a puke is elected in the VA gubanatorial election. Those are coming right up.

[Tim01]

2. The rebublican party is dying, huh?

Sure.:eyes:

[AllentownJake]

4. Where are you living, what are you smoking, and if you are smoking something can I have it?

New Jersey will have a Republican Governor in 2009. PA will probably have one in 2010 because our current democratic one is becoming increasingly unpopular because of our budget crisis.

We will probably lose seats in 2010 and 2012 due to the base being pissed off about the inability of the democrats to reform anything.

Do you think we are in power because people woke up after 30 years and said Ronald Reagan was a bad President or do you think we are in power because George W. Bush was a disaster?

[Cyrano]

8. see reply #7 above

[BumRushDaShow]

16. I doubt PA will have a Republican governor any time soon

unless massive election fraud takes place. Democratic registrations now outnumber Republican registrations in PA by over 1.2 million (see link with spreadsheet of registrations at the top of the page here: http://www.dos.state.pa.us/elections/cwp/view.asp?A=1310&Q=446974).

[AllentownJake]

20. Just because people are registered democrat

don't mean they will vote for a democrat.

We have a huge voter registration edge in my congressional district. Guess what, I've had a republican congressman since 1998.

Ed Rendell is taking a big beating on the budget crisis and who ever runs on our side is going to be lumped with Ed Rendell.

[BumRushDaShow]

34. Just because Fast Eddie, the DLC punk, is unpopular

doesn't mean he represents the philosophy of "all" Democrats.

"Politics is (often) local" and the fact is that the state has gained a number of Democratic Congressional districts over the past 2 election cycles, most notably in the most populated areas of the state - that which includes Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs (which is 1/3rd of the state's total vote), and those areas have a good chance of staying that way. IMHO there are unusual dynamics at play with upstate politics and your issue may be related to incumbency.

[AllentownJake]

36. Bitter Regional Primary is also in play

There is a 4 way race for Governor on the Democratic Side and a two way race on the GOP Side

Democratic former Congressman Joseph M. "Joe" Hoeffel
Democratic Thomas "Tom" Knox
Democratic Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato
Democratic Auditor General Jack Wagner

Two of those candidates are to the right of one of the Republican candidates for Governor.

The democrats may hold onto the Governor's mansion, it will not be a blow-out by any means.

[BumRushDaShow]

37. I am hoping for Hoeffel

but I don't think he is that well known on the western side of the state. Wagner might have the best chance having been elected state-wide.

Agree that it may be close mainly due to voter fatigue.

[AllentownJake]

42. He ran for Senate in 2004

He has some name recognition.

[Beer on a stick]

5. Weeping Banana Guy in the Supermarket says............no.

[lpbk2713]

6. Not as long as their de facto leader has a microphone.

The goppers will be with us for as long as they have their chief propagandist.

[Cyrano]

10. Limbaugh will be one of the major reasons for the downfall of the Republican Party

[Wapsie B]

13. Even after that. If Rush were led off in bracelets and shackles tomorrow

there's an army of wannabees who would love to carry the torch.

[AlinPA]

21. Glenn Beck has replaced Limbaugh. Slobs love him. nt

[saltpoint]

9. The first thing that's noticeable with the Pukes is that they have no

leader.

There's no Reagan anymore. Actually, there was hardly a Reagan when there WAS a Reagan. He did not suffer from Dementia outright in the early going but he was nevertheless a kook and a fool. Not really an appreciable difference.

So he's been elevated to Sainthood within the paternity of Puke propgandists and panderers. But now that he's dead and gone, his "revolution" is nowhere evident. Remnant kookery remains. We do have natty Sarah Palin, who sees Putin's head rising over the western straits. We have Romney, the matinee idol with the good looks but who may be emotionally unstable. We have Mike Huckabee who is charming enough for a chicken-and-taters fundraiser in selected venues but who is not charming enough to win the 2008 Republican nomination from a doddering old crank like John McCain.

The party has allowed the fundie nutbag rabble into the walls of the castle and now they won't leave. And they're stinking up the joint something fierce.

A Republican business person, Republican though he or she be, knows that if U.S. interests are not directed at and invested in the technology of stem cell research, for example, that other nations' laboratories will move in this field and eclipse our share of the glory (and profits) from said research. This is a problem for the GOP.

When you turn the public relations department of your mission over to people like Glenn Beck and Ann Coulter, you enjoy the decidedly mixed dividends of their work. You share their profile. You are identified by their marginal and seditious propaganda. When the Chairman of your Party is publicly apologizing to Rush Limbaugh, you cease in a very big way to be a meaningful or influential force on the life of the republic, and properly so. The screamers and teabaggers and the fundie nutbags ARE the party now. The tumor is throbbingly large upon the existing brain cavity such that a terminal prognosis is likely.

You order it, you eat it.

[Kaleko]

46. Agreed.

Those loud incoherent noises we hear are the death rattles of a now leaderless GOP.

The convulsions are a spectacle to watch if you're glued to the TV, but from a higher altitude you can see that the GOP as we've known it is no longer a viable entity.

[AlinPA]

17. re:"Do we......try to rehabilitate the dying Republican Party,...." - Hell no!

Let's do every thing we can to eradicate the party of ignorance and let new, enlightened parties develop.

We do not want ignorance, intolerance, hatred, and stupidity based in religious fanaticism to be embodied in a political party in America.

[Lex]

19. The mid-term elections will tell us a lot

about the overall health and viability of the Republican party.

What's left of their base, demographically, is shrinking. They embraced the religious fundies in order to rise to power, but the old-style educated conservatives have never been comfortable with that marriage.

Now they just seem like the party of angry old white guys and ignoramuses.

It will be interesting to see how the mid-term elections turn out.

[Stellar]

26. You can't rehab a party that enjoys lying to

their constituents on a daily bases. Their politicians and media of choice (FOX News) are the ones that created those people.

http://www.ceasespin.org/ceasespin_blog/ceasespin_blogger_files/fox_news_gets_okay_to_misinform_public.html

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/rulings/pants-fire/

And because they lie so much to them, Fox viewers score very poorly on knowledge of current affairs. Their viewership have been trained to believe nobody but Fox News. I don't see any hope for that party, but I do think we need another party to balance out things in America, just like we do the Public Option for health care.

http://people-press.org/report/319/public-knowledge-of-current-affairs-little-changed-by-news-and-information-revolutions

[anonymous171]

27. They won't die unless we kill them. Time to lock and load. nt

[AlinPA]

32. Yes, let's vote them all out. nt

[anonymous171]

47. That is not enough. We need to defund them as well

And take out their media. The GOP will not die through democracy alone.

[Jackpine Radical]

30. I say let the Dems be the conservatives

and create a new Progressive party (by whatever name) to take them on. That should shift the center to the left of the current Democratic mainstream, which is where it should be.

[Cartoonist]

35. Painted into a corner

By being the party of the religious right, they have no real options. They can not discard them as that will leave them so shrunken that they will never win outside the south. Frankly, I'm surprised they still have them. When the repubs controlled all three branches of government for six years, there was no overturning of abortion, the fundies primary obsession. The GOP continues to dangle that carrot in front of them and the people continue to be hoodwinked by them.
That ruse works more effectively when the GOP is out of power as it gives the fundies something to fight for, but when they are in power and do nothing to bring about the end of abortion, they lose motivation and stay away from the polls as they did with McCain. I expect the fundies to have a large presence in the mid-term elections that will revitalize the GOP. Couple that with the left's misplaced disenchantment with Obama and you have another possible 1994.
We need to support Obama all-out, despite any misgivings, or the GOP will once again become transcendent. And if you think a GOP controlled Congress is a good idea in order to have political opposition, then you're not a progressive, you're a nut.

[Gman2]

38. We beat their asses down every day, in every way. If they steal power

with their hate going, we gotz nazi's, and we are the Jehovah's witnesses.

[Hugabear]

39. The rethugs are purging their ranks - they'll be back, and more dangerous than ever

They're basically reforming themselves as the New American National Socialist Party.

[Xenotime]

40. Socialism will help calm the waters. It's the only sane option left to try.

[cali]

41. and how will that come to pass? Through the dems? Don't hold your breath.

[tilsammans]

43. Not so fast. As long as THEY control the M$M . . .

. . . THEY control the message. And their dittohead followers are too damn stupid, intellectually incurious, and lazy to research and learn what's really going on (not that they'd care, anyway -- to them, it's much more FUN being fearful, racist, gay-hating, etc.).

:rant:

[Fumesucker]

44. These fuckers are more durable than a movie monster..

I thought after Nixon that the Repubs would be out of power for a generation, I won't make that mistake again.

Not to mention that the Dems are possibly the most inept foot shooters I've ever seen, with friends like them who the hell needs enemies.?

Keep in mind that it wasn't what the Dems did right that got Obama elected, it was what the Repubs did wrong. Americans have a remarkably short attention span (see: Nixon) and will flip around and vote Repub again before most of you would believe possible.

[AllentownJake]

45. History repeats itself

Conservative Democrats in the Senate killed Healthcare reform in 1993 in order to protect themselves.

One year later many of the same conservative democrats found themselves either out of the Senate or no longer holding their gavels as chairman of committees.

Same thing will happen again.