Is the Republican Party Self Destructing

[~hellbaby~]

Is the Republican Party Unraveling?
Are they doomed to the condition of the Democratic Party?
Senators are voicing out over the latest Supreme Court nomination. The N.C. congressman who came up with the term ‘Freedom Fries’, once a firm supporter of the war, now speaks out against it. He is demanding the president to come up with an exit plan for Iraq. Many are fed up with the bad publicity surrounding Rove and Delay and the damage their actions have done to the party. Then there is the FEMA mess, a result of unqualified appointees. The move toward the extreme ideologies’ of some is causing friction within the party. Will all these fractures break the party into pieces? This question seems to be on the minds of an increasing number of people across the country. The Republican public is split, leaving many disillusioned and upset with the recent scandals, the president’s refusal to consider discussing an exit date for Iraq, and the increasing influence of the religious right. So can they pull it together, or are they doomed to end up without clear direction?

 

[human_male]

Don't worry, you won't have to worry about the democrats or anything as inconvenient as democracy ever again, because Bush doesn't plan to leave. He will run again. That's illegal of course but by then he'll have positioned his cronnies in all the official positions that would oppose something like that so no one will be able to do anything. You might say that won't happen because he'd never win the ellection, but he'll just cheat like he did before. And America will have a dictator.

 

[~hellbaby~]

Don't worry, you won't have to worry about the democrats or anything as inconvenient as democracy ever again, because Bush doesn't plan to leave. He will run again. That's illegal of course but by then he'll have positioned his cronnies in all the official positions that would oppose something like that so no one will be able to do anything. You might say that won't happen because he'd never win the ellection, but he'll just cheat like he did before. And America will have a dictator.

There was already a bill to take away the presidential term limit, I don't think there has been much action on it though.

 

[SensualMale]

Don't care if they are self-destructing, so long as they leave the rest of the world alone. They can go burn themselves alive all they want!

 

[Gringao]

Watch Santorum. He's going to lead the charge that will split the GOP down the middle.

 

[miles]

Politicians behaving like stewpid, arrogant assholes - I've never been more shocked in my life.

 

[PG13]

Is the Republican Party Unraveling?
Are they doomed to the condition of the Democratic Party?

God, I hope so.

 

[hurricane64]

It was not so long ago...1991...that we thought there was no way that George Bush (the Classic version) could lose the Presidency in the '92 election. And the Democratic party looked whupped.

A year is a lifetime in politics. Three years is an eternity. Admittedly things don't look good for the GOP these days, but they can moderate, and they usually do.

Just too early to tell at this point.

 

[Killswitch]

http://fool.exler.ru/sm/alc.gif

 

[Wrong Element]

I would never say never, but the odds are obviously way against it. The two parties are pretty durable and the two-party system itself is even more durable than that.

Both parties have been pronounced dead multiple times just since I've become politically aware. As recently as the 1980s, there were serious people who believed it was impossible for the Democrats to elect a president (this was when places like California and New Jersey used to always vote for Republicans).

The Republicans will likely have problems in 2006 and 2008 (winning a third straight election is rare, though not impossible), but that doesn't necessarily mean self-destruction.

 

[~hellbaby~]

Watch Santorum. He's going to lead the charge that will split the GOP down the middle.

He's from my state, I didn't vote for him. It seems to me if the McCain type Reps. and some Dems. who sit in the center or a bit right of center joined up and worked together they would be able to come up with a strong party with a lot of support that would leave the extremists on both ends out and unable to get control.

 

[hurricane64]

Watch Santorum. He's going to lead the charge that will split the GOP down the middle.

Is that related (among other things) to the Harriet Miers issue or unrelated?

I can see it either way.

 

[~hellbaby~]

I would never say never, but the odds are obviously way against it. The two parties are pretty durable and the two-party system itself is even more durable than that.

Both parties have been pronounced dead multiple times just since I've become politically aware. As recently as the 1980s, there were serious people who believed it was impossible for the Democrats to elect a president (this was when places like California and New Jersey used to always vote for Republicans).

The Republicans will likely have problems in 2006 and 2008 (winning a third straight election is rare, though not impossible), but that doesn't necessarily mean self-destruction.

The Dems. don't have a clear, or well defined directive other than ousting the Reps. I wonder if that will be the outcome of the party when the country's leadership and majority change.

 

[Gringao]

He's from my state, I didn't vote for him. It seems to me if the McCain type Reps. and some Dems. who sit in the center or a bit right of center joined up and worked together they would be able to come up with a strong party with a lot of support that would leave the extremists on both ends out and unable to get control.

The problem with that is the moderate wing of the Democratic Party has been mostly driven away by the fringe into voting Republican the last few elections.

 

[Jagged]

The Democrats are destroying themselves and aren't even like their icons.......(FDR &JFK). The Republicans I think need to get back on track and do the things expected of them before the next election. Immigration.....fix the process for those who use it and crack down on those who break the law and more importantly that provide jobs for those who come here illegally. Continue on with the war the best they can........giving up is not an option. Continue the war on terror. End the department of education.....


My big thought would be to end....the income task. Have a national sales tax in its place...not in addition to income tasks. End the IRS. With a national sales tax everyone pays. Can't agrue rich people don't pay.....because they buy things like everyone else......and spend more. This will end big government for many people.


The party can be saved they just have to make the moves before they lose the White House in my opinion.

 

[~hellbaby~]

The problem with that is the moderate wing of the Democratic Party has been mostly driven away by the fringe into voting Republican the last few elections.

I Know that's why I think if they had a choice they'd come back. I doubt an accurate representation was aired but from a few call in shows there is a good bit of Republicians who won't vote that way again. In one hand is the fed up group, on the other hand is the fierce extreme right with there god fearing rhetoric, there doesn't seem to be many happy middle grounders.

 

[CuriousJack]

The only thing i know about american politics is that Ralph Nader? is evil, or so an online cartoon told me!

 

[~hellbaby~]

Republicans I think need to get back on track and do the things expected of them

They've got the big spending down pat. I think if they would stand up to some of these issues united instead of a few 'breaking from the party', it would help. There are a lot of things they can pick from, Miers, Delay or Rove, a plan for Iraq, something; if they would endorse a party stance on something it may help. I guess they really cannot oppose the president though, but if they did, it would send him a clear message he's got to change. Unless of course they do not think there is discontent within the ranks. If that is the case they need to be replaced. Party loyalty should not keep you up at nights.

 

[~hellbaby~]

The only thing i know about american politics is that Ralph Nader? is evil, or so an online cartoon told me!

Unfortunately that is the extent of knowledge of many American voters too.

 

[Wrong Element]

The problem with that is the moderate wing of the Democratic Party has been mostly driven away by the fringe into voting Republican the last few elections.

I think there's been some shifting, as there always is. There are people who have left the Democratic party because of differences on social issues--it would have to be social issues because by any measure the Democrats are a lot more centrist on the economy than they were a generation ago. That's why West Virginia isn't Democratic anymore.

But there's a movement the other way too, which you can see in places like New Hampshire--not a hotbed of liberalism by any means, but not a place that's culturally in touch with the dominant strain in today's Republican party. In the old line Republican suburbs of Columbus, Democrats are doing increasingly well. These are old fashioned Main Street Republicans who aren't really comfortable with the religious right and figure that hey, Clinton wasn't all that bad on the economy when you get right down to it.

And that's why, barring something pretty major happening in the next 3 years (of 9/11 significance or greater), the 2008 election will be close too.

 

[CuriousJack]

Unfortunately that is the extent of knowledge of many American voters too.

LOL!

I have a question though, what is so bad about Kerry's party? (I get demo's and republicans mixed up!)

I mean, they seem to keep the economy in check, and Bush's mob seems to do nothing but fuck it up?

 

[Oliver Clozoff]

Corruption, cronyism, and failed policies are a bad trifecta for a party, but as was mentioned earlier, the current 2-party system is has been in place 150 years. It would take helluva lot to get rid of the Repubs. If the elections were held today they'd get whipped, but time changes a lot (as another poster mentioned). I expect the Dems to pick up seats in Congress next year the way things are going, though.

 

[GeorgeWBush]

Not by those that think that bush is gods gift to the world. But as far as i care the republican party can just drop dead just the politicians.

 

[RoryN]

Is the Republican Party Unraveling?
Are they doomed to the condition of the Democratic Party?

The Democrats' game plan, from November 2000 onward, was "give the Republicans enough rope, and they'll hang themselves." No-brainer that it was gonna happen, and it'll probably be the Republicans' P.O.A. the next time around...and it'll probably work for them as well. Poor substitutes for real plans, but there you have it.

I love and breathe democracy, but it breeds mediocrity; that's a side-effect of its design. Who screws up in what timeframe will be the primary factor in American elections from here on out.

 

[~hellbaby~]

LOL!

I have a question though, what is so bad about Kerry's party? (I get demo's and republicans mixed up!)

I mean, they seem to keep the economy in check, and Bush's mob seems to do nothing but fuck it up?

KERRY~ DEMOCRAT
BUSH~REPUBLICAN
Your point is right but the voters are too busy reading the comics to realize this. The problem with the Dems. I think, is right now they are wishy~washy, like a glob of clay that has no defined shape and is sitting on the wheel looking for a potter to throw(form) it into a sturdy urn to carry them forward.