"The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated" -Mark TwainThe young Democrat approached me with a smile that came close to swallowing her ears. "Haven't the past three months been wonderful?" She practically giggled. "The Republican Party is finished, they'll never come back." I just smiled. The last time she saw me she was proudly wearing her Barack Obama for President "Yes we can!" T-shirt. I told her I was going to be voting for Barack and I guess she figured I was a Democrat like herself. She was mistaken.
Like a lot of the Democrats I've been talking to since the election, she took the results of last November to mean that the message of the Democrats had finally broken through the lies and rhetoric of the Republican Party. That people had finally seen that their message was one of kindness, hope and freedom. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Republicans have simply found themselves at the end of their cycle. And a bad cycle at that. Two terms is usually the limit for a party to control the Presidency and the fact is, up untill 3 years ago, the Democrats had seen themselves falling further and further out of favor with the mainstream. They lost the House that they had controlled for over 40 years during the Clinton Administration and in 2004 couldn't even stop G.W., a relatively unpopular president, from getting a second term. In fact, over the past 17 years the Republicans have been running the show 15 of them. The Dems have only seen a resurgence in the past two elections with only the last one reestablishing their power. Most of that can be attributed to a bad economy, an unpopular president and a misbehaving Wall Street. Not something the Dems can count on continuing to profit for them.
So in the interest of fairness, I'm going to demonstrate why the Republican party can, and almost assuredly will, come back from the dead, if they follow this platform.
*Nation Security*
As I've said before, the Democrats are one major attack on the U.S. from losing it all. From closing Gitmo, to stopping interment, to outlawing "Advanced Interrogation", to allowing the suspected terrorists access to our courts, the Democrats have put themselves in the position of champions of the rights of people accused of terrorism. That's well and fine for now, but the people's view will change dramatically if we're attacked. Remember, the vote on the Patriot Act was 98-1-1 in the Senate. No one wanted to be seen as soft. For the Republicans the message is, "Obama and the Democrats are sacrificing our safety for their principles" Should an attack happen, they'll look like prophets.
*Social Issues*
Gay Marriage is not going to go away. With 30 states already outlawing G.M. in their constitutions (even California has joined) and another 18 outlawing it in other ways, the Republicans have public sentiment on their side. Gay advocates have a bad habit of being their own worse enemy. They have turned to judge shopping and using their connections in Hollywood to "blacklist" opponents and overturn laws instead of using public sympathies. The Civil Rights argument angers minorities and their lack of compromise is seen as all or nothing politics. For now, this is still a winning issue for the Reps.
*Guns and Abortion"
I like to say, "We will always have guns and abortion in this country, only the restrictions will change." Any attempt by the Dems (and there will be some) to restrict guns will lose Moderate Democrats and Independents like myself. Democrats have a bad habit of not understanding guns or the culture that surrounds them. Unlike some of my moderate Republican friends, I do not think Anti-Abortion is a losing position for the Reps. Recent polls show more and more people rejecting the idea of abortion. The Dems will further anger those in the middle with daffy legislation against parental notification and defense of the gruesome act of partial birth abortion.Those issues will lose a lot of people on the fence for the Dems.
Now for some positions I would change if I we're in charge of the Republican Party.
*Global Warming*
For the Republicans to win young people over, this issue has to go. The problem is the Reps look like they're defending polluting our planet. Plus, they use phrases like "Clean Coal" which sounds a lot like "Clean Dirt". Young people and people from my hippie generation are very environmentally conscious. They don't want to continue polluting because it "might" not be hurting our planet.....yet.
*Corporate Greed*
Defending excessive executive pay, trusting profit driven corporations to do the right thing unregulated, pollution, labor exploitation, deregulating the banks and our entire economy are all a black eye for the Republicans. Despite their attempts to refocus the blame, the American people understand one truth. Unregulated people will do whatever they can get away with. The Republicans need to lose the "Deregulate to prosperity" line. After two Bush Family driven banking scandals, the people no longer trust Wall Street unregulated...and they shouldn't.
*Health Care*
Get an alternative plan out as soon as possible. Predict rampant overspending on the Dem plan (a guaranteed winner). Offer Catastrophic coverage for all Americans as a compromise. The lie of "everyone gets care in America" isn't cutting it anymore. People see the jars in the stores begging for help to pay for 5 year-old Timmy's bone marrow transplant. Too many people know someone who's lost everything because of no insurance. Worst of all, poor working Americans aren't covered as well as those who don't even work. Republicans are seen as heartless on this issue and too many people fear their own health insurance may soon dry up.
If the Republican Party re-invents itself as the party of traditional social values, Nation Security, reasonable, controlled, and sensible moves toward universal health care, well-regulated Capitalism, and non-radical environmentalism, they can reestablish their place in politics. If they should continue fractured or adopt a "Democrat Light" platform, they are assured of more losses. On the other side, my advice to the Democrats is simple, "Don't dig the hole while the body still moves." H.C.
11 comments:
You have to be kidding. Like the deficit, Obama just bested any scandal that has ever been out there what with his corrupt cabinet and bankrupting of the country.
This is the Obama depression and his foreign banker friends are making money off it.
He has handed us over to the EU as well.
This was a hostile take over and we no longer have the Constitution.
It's not the GOP, but the grassroots that is rising and hitting back, under no particular name. We are not waiting for the GOP.
Hey Anonymous,
I don't believe this was a piece about how wonderful the Democratic Party or President Obama is doing.
In fact I said, "(they) couldn't even stop G.W., a relatively unpopular president, from getting a second term." and then I said, "The Dems will further anger those in the middle with daffy legislation against parental notification and defense of the gruesome act of partial birth abortion." and finally "Obama and the Democrats are sacrificing our safety for their principles."
I hardly think that's a ringing endorsement of the Democrats policies.
I guess I should have thrown in fiscal responsibility as another area that the Republicans could benefit from, but considering their own lack of it, it wouldn't be a very strong point.
This was a piece on how the Reps can save themselves. How bad Obama is doing or the possible rise of third parties or the Libertarians is a subject for another day.
Thanks for your input, I'll try to tackle those issues in the near future.
Excellent post H.C.
I'm not going to lie. Sometimes I do find myself overcome with joy when I flip on Fox News and see Hannity or O'Reilly throw a temper tantrum over the air. I am also realistic though. As much as I prefer having a Democratic party in control right now, I would never want them to be the only party.
Many democrats are flying so high right now, they aren't paying attention to what's going on below. I feel like the right now the Republicans are patiently waiting for Obama to make a mistake so they can find a way back in. The problem is that a majority of people can see right through them(for now). I just worry the Dems will get to big headed and there may be a mistake looming in the near future they won't be able to recover from.
Now is the time for Republicans to reconsider their positions for the long term. Please, Please let them get over their ridiculous doubts on global warming. Until they at least get over that hump, I don't know how they will ever gather enough followers to compete.
I like that there are Democrats in the White House right now, but I don't want them there forever! Whether it's the Republicans with a fresh face, or a third party...pull yourself together!!
Hey Anonymous,
Hallelujah and Amen. As bad as the two party is, one party is far worse. Ten would be better. I wouldn't worry too much though, the Democrats are already setting themselves up for a future loss. Hopefully the Republicans will drop the stupid issues (like that it's O.K. to pollute as long as it's not warming the planet). Thanks for your comment.
For the Republican party to regain their political footing they will need a clear platform for individuals to rally around. After watching John Boehner on CNN yesterday it still looks like the party needs to deal with Rush Limbaugh and find a solid voice.
Hey Aviad,
Welcome aboard! The Republican Party is very splintered at this point and they seem to be lacking any kind of real leadership. (unless you count Newt and Rush). They badly need some fresh faces to help them redefine themselves. Mitt Romney is a good internal politician for them, but the Mormon thing seems to be holding him back. Strange that we're ready for a Black man but not a Mormon. John Boehner is a good candidate for them, as is Bobby Jindal from Lousiana, but so far the Reps haven't found someone that catches fire with the people. The problem the Republicans have with Rush is he helps at the same time that he hurts. On the one hand he keeps the base fired up, but on the other hand he alienates any Moderates or Independents. The Reps can't afford to lose Rush's support, so their best bet is to keep him on the radio but out of the photo ops. Thanks for your input.
You and I have discussed the problem with the Dems overconfidence. It still rings true. I recently heard that James Carville is about to release a book about how the Dems will be in control over the next generation. If he and his ilk think that, they'll be in for a rude awakening.
It's true that the Republican brand is tilting right now. The country is apparently getting less rural, less Evangelical, and less fearful...all a perfect forumla for the Republican machine. But at some point the Dems who are now in control found themselves in the minority. I mean, during the Reagan-Bush era (and even during Clinton's time in office) the Democrats were on life support for years.
Sadly for the GOP (and for a "Democracy" thriving on at least two legitimate parties), their party leaders have disconnected from their voters, due mostly to their out of touch views and their Obama-phobia.
All the same, they'll be back. Maybe not for the next decade or so...but they'll be back.
Hey Dre,
From Bush's victory in 'o4 to Hillary's historic loss, James Carville aka Skeletor has shown himself to be a prophet of being wrong. Me and you do a better job of predicting than he has ever done.
You said, "their party leaders have disconnected from their voters, due mostly to their out of touch views and their Obama-phobia."
On that I have to disagree, If you look at the links I gave in this piece you'll find the Reps on the mainstream side (according to the polls) on abortion, gay marriage, guns, fiscal responsibility (although they'll have to recapture that issue), family, and taxes. That's the problem, the Dems THINK they have the issues when the polls show otherwise. Once the people have a national health care program and a better regulated Wall Street, what are they going to run on in 2012? They won on hating Bush and the corruption that his administration fostered. Without that, what do they have that's a winner with the people?
Perhaps I should have clarified. I don't think the GOP's positions are out of the mainstream...even I pointed out the interesting decline in support of abortion in Gallup polls. But those areas are not of the least bit of concern by the general electorate right now. Moral issues don't matter as much as the economy, an area still hanging over the head of the Bush administration. But should Obama's economic policies fail, the GOP might be back in control pretty soon.
I don't like to use too many polls, but I found this one pretty interesting.
Most groups who are not 65+ year old churchgoers have been bouncing from the Repubs.
Something drastic has to happen (heaven forbid) for the GOP to turn the tide anytime this decade or the next.
Hey Dre,
Every party that has ever been in power for more than one Presidential term has seen their support fall after the second. It's the reason that you don't see either side control everything for very long. The Republicans rode their rise to power after 1994 for a considerable amount of time. Remember, they had control of at least two of the three elected positions (President , Senate ,House) for 15 of 17 years. They also still control the Supreme Court which they have held since the early 1970's. The problem is, with power comes blame. One has to wonder if that recent decline was the result of the Republican's stand on the issues or just Bush's unpopularity and the resulting bad coattails. Certainly the Dems took full advantage of their position as dissentors, but I would caution you against believing there has been a shift in values in America. Rather I would say it has been a referendum on the job those in power have done. The Dems are going to have to continue their fight for unpopular issues and I will predict they will be damn lucky to hold the House and Senate for all of Obama's term(s). In fact, I would bet hard against it. Thanks for the link though-very interesting stats.
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