Meghan McCain... fascinating

[nadinbrzezinski]

IF, and at this point this is a big if, the RNC survives... that party is going to get moderate.

Meghan is the next generation. So are the Log Cabin Republicans who brought suit.

If they do not survive. Well she may very well be the LEADER of a NEW conservative and MODERATE party... like oh the GOP of 1852.

Fascinating indeed.

[bullwinkle428]

1. NB, are you referring to Cindy or Meghan?

:shrug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. the kid, you are right

[BootinUp]

2. I was thinking the same thing, but it would mean a whole new coalition

You got to break some eggs first.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. and them eggs are starting to break

I have called the present RNC the modern day whigs... I think we are there.

[Dawson Leery]

5. Sideshow McCain is NO moderate.

Sideshow is a neo-con chickenhawk on matters of war and peace. Sideshow is also a supply side trust fund baby who was born on third and believes she hit a triple.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Her views are far more moderate

we are seeing the break up the GOP... that is what you are seeing.

And this kid wants a place IN THE NEW PARTY.

[Dawson Leery]

8. She is liberal on social issues.

That is all.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Xactly,. and that is the faction kicked to the curb

[Dawson Leery]

14. If it divided the GOP, that is fine with me.

But only if it divides them!

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. We are most likely seeing something rare

and quite historic in US Political History. The rise of a new party...

Remember the last time that happened... it was the... GOP who took over the presidency, over that other issue... slavery.

I just hope history don't go that far.

[Justitia]

28. Yet, she labels herself "pro-life" & says she "doesn't believe" in abortion. Standard GOP. -eom

[Lance_Boyle]

51. She can label herself however she wants

The crucial question is whether or not she believes that the label she chooses for herself should be applied to everyone else by force of law. If not, then I'm perfectly content with her maintaining her personal views and leaving society at large out of it.

[leftstreet]

7. Disenfranchised Republicans would likely embrace a new improved party

Their party got co opted by nutty religious freaks, moral majority types, then BushWhacked...

I could see them going 'populist' and getting strong

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Absolutely, still pro bidness

but far more moderate in certain issues. Don't expect them to be Ike Republicans, but if they are... that means compromise, alien word in the modern Republican Dictionary.

[leftstreet]

13. Exactly

Both parties are essentially pro-business. They just look for new tactics to entice voters. The Republicans had a good run with their morality police, but once the economy started tanking they started losing voters.

It'll be interesting to see what shakes out in the future

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

10. I don't know if I'd go that far.

She's cute and moderate and all, but aside from being right on the issues, she speaks like Lizzy Hasselbeck.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. I'll go as far as to say this is a definite split

granted she needs to take a few courses in public speaking, but I smell ambition there.

Still, get your popcorn here... if elections go badly for the GOP... this will just heat up even faster.

Get yer popcorn folks, hot popcorn....

[underpants]

16. Breaking: blonde with boobs gets attention

:+

[LanternWaste]

17. I think you're right.

I think you're right about the moderation of the RNC if it survives. I think they're going after a very delicate balancing act... keep the old-school, Eisenhower conservatives in, but whip up the Tea Bagger base with fiery rhetoric.

One or the other will eventually peel away, and we'll be left with The New & Improved RNC (great taste, less filling, or some such).

Either way, it is indeed interesting (on an academic level) to watch this. Does the host employ eventually dominance over the parasite, or does the parasite become the host?

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Hey I am just looking at this either as a historian

WHIG death in 1852 to the upstarars... or the political scientists. You are correct very academic and fascinating, to a lesser extent we have the same process in the DNC. If the RNC moderates itself many of our current blue dogs will go home.

[LanternWaste]

20. Do you think this is happening on the left?

Do you think this is happening on the left? Maybe I'm a bit too biased to see it more clearly, but I would have thought we passed that test in 2000. Nader and the Greens seemed to be the swan song of a progressive movement that had even the slightest chance of co-opting the Dem party.

"If the RNC moderates itself many of our current blue dogs will go home." That's an interesting point also. If (big if) the Tea Baggers become dominant on the right, we'll get a LOT of conventional GOP voters and politicians coming this way, and it would be a numbers game at that point.

Odd all the way around.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. It is happening to the whole partty

left, right and center actually.

The DLC wants to purify the party from the lefty children.

The Left wants to purify it from the DLC, yes it is mutual...

And both cannot stand a few of their own sub groups

For the left, well real commies, whoever they are... the Naderites who were never in the party... still are not... for the right of the party, we have a conflict between the fiscal conservatives and the social ones, as well as the conflict between the anti war and the pro war factions of the Party.

What I think we are seeing is a full realignment of the US... as it leaves world power status. It is going left, and that scares everybody.

[LanternWaste]

Damn you for making me think...

Damn you for making me think.

Or thank you. Or both...?

(Either way, another good post of yours...)

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. You welcome

I find this whole thing fascinating, to be honest.

[BootinUp]

22. Not a poli sci major but I would think it works like this

Once one party gets marginalized enough that it has to start making major changes to its plank, it then pulls some support from the other party, which eventually leads to changes in both parties planks and therefore changes to the makeup of the coalitions.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. In the US you got it right

we have a third party, which does nothing generally speaking due to the winner takes all

So don't be too shocked if the new coalition includes a few libertarians right now... not the rand paul variety, but it will.

[Johonny]

19. I see no evidence that the Republican party is changing soon

they are about to win an election cycle with a hard right message. Megan's job is to attract to the party those people that some how can find justification for still voting Republican. They have her out there trying to get enough youth vote to vote against their interest. As soon as she stops attracting them and making money at this tactic, she will change her spots and the party will find a new youth to push their movement. For all the minorities they rolled out this election cycle in no way have they become more moderate. So I would be frankly amazed if those people that are attracted to Megan's message (Which basically boils down to "sure nothing the Republican party stands for works, but ah vote for it anyways cause in magic fairy land these policies will work") make any head way in this party. Why would anyone listen to them, the other wing of the party is winning elections this year? Also all the $$$ that goes to Republicans goes to the other wing of the party. Any sound minded fiscal conservative/social liberal votes for Democrats.

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. What I am describing takes anywhere form two to four election cycles

The GOP were formed in 1852, they took the presidency in 1860... that's the time scale we are talking.

I am sure people saw the Party of Lincoln with the same nah, they will not be a thing in 1852 as well.

What you are seeing RIGHT NOW, is the radical phase that also affected the Whigs at the end.

[madrchsod]

23. she`s rockefeller-eisenhower republican

socially liberal and economically conservative....

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. 'xactly and they have lost complete control

to the loons.

[MilesColtrane]

29. Meghan is a poster girl for the greedhead contingent of the Republican party.

She's not into the social conservatism of the Teabaggers and Biblebangers.

Her favorite pickup line would be, "Hey babe, How's about a nice, fat tax cut?"

[awoke_in_2003]

30. ah yes, the Log Cabin Republicans...

they are all fine and good with cutting social services and pissing on the poor, as long as their beliefs are upheld. Sorry, socially liberal and economically conservative=asshole. How does the joke go- a libertarian is a conservative that wants to get high and get laid.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. And you are still seeing something not seen more than at

Most once a generation. Likely once in a lifetime.

[awoke_in_2003]

34. I would love to believe that...

be we are an extremely cold-hearted species, it keeps getting worse every generation. "Give me mine and fuck you"- kinder and gentler my ass. We are an extremely self centered culture, and only radical change will fix that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. Actually it has gotten better

Or do you know anybody selling themselves into indentured servitude? If you do, you are well over 150 years old.

The arc of history and all that. Things are bad, but there could be so many more levels of pain. Methinks actually the crazee is about to crest. Or we are one step away from a hot civil war.

[awoke_in_2003]

38. well, shit...

compared to 200 years ago, of course we are a better people. But if you have been paying attention, we are devolving- we will soon be back to that time. Hell, look how hard it is to get a good education these days. It is a design- only the rich will be educated, every one else will be ignorant serfs. Why do you think higher education is so expensive?

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. And you honestly believe we are going back

To indentured servitude?

I am paying attention why I am telling you that you are seeing the RNC split. That I guess is a bad thing. And to be trite, it is always darkest before the dawn.

[awoke_in_2003]

42. in my lifetime...

I have seen the destruction of unions, the ridicule of education, and our entire manufacturing base being turned over to the chinese. During this time, higher education prices have gone through the roof- why? Because an educated work force demands an honest wage. With the rise of the Indian and Chinese middle class we are getting put on the back burner, and we are the future cheap labor.

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. Yes so have i

What part of things don't continue in the way forever?

Look if you want to believe the country is going back to slavery, be my guest.

What we are seeing RIGHT NOW is significant. Might even be the crest of it.

[awoke_in_2003]

45. you know..

I really want to cuss you out, but I won't. You are an optimist, I am a pessimist- either way, I respect you. So, while we disagree, I will not do the dishonor of cussing you. You are "good folk" :hug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. I am a pesimist most of the time

But that intervirew was a change of zeitgeist moment. It will take time to be damn obvious though.

[flamingdem]

31. Except that she speaks like a Valley Girl nt

[Swamp Rat]

33. The GOP has already split in two.

Many just don't realize it yet.

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. Perhaps even three

[lonestarnot]

37. What's so fascinating about another rich turd?

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. Not about her

But what is going on in the Republican Party. Crack a book open on the Whigs of 1852 anx one oh Abraham Lincoln.

[lonestarnot]

41. Yes I know, but you specifically said that particular conjob.

[nadinbrzezinski]

44. Catch her on the RM show

This will make sense then, perhaps.

[lonestarnot]

50. No thanks

[nadinbrzezinski]

54. Why afraid to see something rare?

Personally I am happy to finally see that split.

[Warren DeMontague]

46. They're all 'moderate', until they have to win that primary.

then, they realize that the only way to compete in that carnival of nutjobs is to be at least as bat-shit bugfuck insane as the next Republican.

[nadinbrzezinski]

53. I am telling you the GOP has finally split

[Warren DeMontague]

58. The fissures have been there for a long time

but as long as the 'socially moderate' wing of the party cares about TAX CUTS as the number one be-all and end-all of civic existence, they'll continue to support the nutjobs.

[geek tragedy]

47. Republican 'moderates' vote just like Teabaggers in office.

Same garbage, different pile. The 'moderates' try to sound reasonable, but they share the same agenda as the foaming mouthers.

[activa8tr]

49. Yes, and in a way, that's even MORE scary.! The average voters fail to see

the reason NOT to vote for them, and they get elected!!
And they vote to obstruct.
Very scary.

[DailyGrind51]

48. Any future GOP has to come to the center to survive because the Hispanic vote ain't turning "right"!

[TheKentuckian]

55. I don't know. They'd have to get left of Democrats to become moderate and all their factions

loves them some voodoo economics with a heaping helping of social Darwinism.

They'd best lose some elections or they'll dig into that corporate teat and continue to burn the house down until they get their way or population trends pass them by.

Got my fingers crossed but I figure they can zombie around for a number of years due to the money powered life support.

[nadinbrzezinski]

56. The Whigs did for three election cycles

But that civil war has led to an actual split. Ironically it is again over civil rights.

[Arugula Latte]

57. If the RNC survives & becomes moderate, what happens to the millions of extreme rightwingers?

This country is chock full of them, so where do they go, politically?

[nadinbrzezinski]

59. The extremes are extremes

If they lose that they might go home, I hope.

I keep going back to Whigs.

[FourScore]

60. Don't worry. The GOP will bend her to their will just like they did with her father. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

61. No one bent John, he was always a bigoted jerk

Always.