The Future of the Republican Party

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I see your point Aldeth. But I think most resistance will come from states like Iowa, New Hampshire, Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania. In a campaign where every vote counts (because the winner of the popular vote wins all the electoral votes) I think the smaller states will feel like they actually have a say -- nobody currently cares how Nebraska or South Dakota votes anyway, it can't get worse.

I think it will really help for those of us who are displaced in hostile territories -- Chandos in Texas, me in Illinois, etc.. Every vote would count in those states where the political atmosphere is really lopsided -- no more feeling like the vote was wasted.

I certainly agree candidates would just spend more time in places where they get bigger bang for the buck -- they do that now. But they would also need to at least pay a little attention to others as well.

 

I thought you voted for Obama? In my county, something like 78 percent voted for Mac and only 18% of us voted for Obama (I guess the other 4 percent was off in space somewhere). But in Harris county, which is where Houston is, Obama actually had more votes! I think something like 2 counties went for Obama in the entire state: Where Dallas and Houston are located, iirc.

 

And don't you think he deserved some of the electoral votes for texas considering he got 44% of the state vote chandos?

 

I voted for Obama in his senate race....

 

I'm not disagreeing with what you are saying, Martaug.

 

There was a little flap recently over this guy Saltsman, a good ole' GOP guy from Tennessee. He wants to be the next chair of the RNC. The flap is that he sent his buddies a "comedy" CD, with the title song "Barak the Magic Negro." It's not supposed to be any reference to race in a serious manner, just some good ole' boy fun for when they are out shooting their guns and agruing amongest themselves about who has the most "macho" gun collection (I guess these guys are never serious anyway). You can read more on that here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28541463/

Some would look upon this "gift" as poor judgment for a guy who hopes to rebuild the Republican Party. But none of this surprises me about this bunch, because it's exactly what I expect from them. Even their tired old deflection, which they trot out whenever someone says something they don't like: The real problem is the "liberal meda."

Really? Does anyone believe that if the Rev. Wright came out with a comedy CD "Sarah the Magic White woman," that there would not be outrage from the "conservative" media? I can see Rush now, choking on his cigar, trying to get out enough words of outrage at Wright (Obama is really the subtext), for his "racist" remarks - even if it is just a "comedy cd." And this is what they want to rebuild their party on?

Hypersenitivity in the press? He must not remember Rev. Wright and FOX News.

The problem is not the media, nor is it the rank-and-file Republican. It's about leadership, and how these guys conduct themselves. No guys, the problem is y'all.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16919_Page2.html

 

More Republican foolery: Remember all that talk about how capping CEO bonuses was socialism? That the government should not decide how much compenstation corporate fat cats should receive? Well, guess who's on the other side of the current AIG bonus scandal?

I guess Republicans have learned to be "good socialists" themselves.

Right, Comrade. Maybe someone should have explained to you that your party has opposed limits on bonuses for incompent corporate execs.

So where exactly does the party of "NO" stand on the issue? Who knows? Who cares? We have seen "the future" of the Republcan Party and its new motto: "Just Say No."

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/03/17/ap6178124.html

 

Yep just like the lliy-white democratic party that has shown the american people just how crooked they are.
Sen. Dodd goes on tv & says he has no knowledge about it & it was HIS amendment that let it happen!!
The ridiculous stages that the dems on this board are going to defend their party is really funny(yes, yes, pot meet kettle).
This administration was a good thing in that it allowed the american people to see just how corrupt & out of touch with america that the democratic party is.
Can't wait for 2010, expect to see a lot of new people in congress(not as many as i would like, as i am for strict 2-term limits).

Oh yeah, just WTF is up with obama going on the Tonight show? Hey dumb***, you won quit campaigning!!

 

Chill, guys and girls. Chill.

 

Oh man, you never let us have any fun!

 

I still have no idea how this "tax on the bonuses" is constitutional.

 

You're 100% correct Snook - it isn't Constitutional. I doubt it will pass the Senate, and even if it does, Article IX of the Constitution prohibits ex post facto laws, and since the bonuses have already been awarded, this would be the very definition of an ex post facto law.

Going one step further, I believe it also isn't Constitutional to write a law targeting a single person or small subset of the population - for which executives receiving over $100K in bonuses would certainly qualify. This may fail the Constitutionality test two ways.

Oh and regarding Obama "campaigning on Leno" - I think that's the new way of politics in the US. Presidents campaign continuously now. The process first started with Clinton, who started doing weekly press conferences. The process was perfected under Bush in the run up to the Iraq war, and he was not even an adept public speaker. For a charasmatic guy like Obama, you can expect to see him talking to people almost daily.

 

So Chris Dodd represents the future of the Republican Party? There's not much hope for your party there, Martaug. I guess when you don't have much in the way of ideas, that's what happens - you have to talk about the other party, since there isn't much to talk about regarding your own.

I thought this thread was about the Republican Party and how it was going to rebuild its future. I suppose we could have a thread on the Democrats and their silly tax on the AIG bonuses. But then so many Republcians voted for it, that it would no longer be just a "one party" issue. We have a "Big Obama Thread," which because of its ill-defined nature has been fairly meaningliess. But I thought that maybe we could discuss the "Republicans" and how they were going about rebuilding their party on this thread. But I guess some of the members feel that any thread, is one to chatter about Obama and the Democrats, since I guess they are unable to mount a real defense for their own party. What shame that is.

 

Dodd is in tough re-election race. There is certainly a possibility he could serve as a catalyst for the republican party to regroup and gain back some losses.

 

Umm, chandos you might want to go back & check how many republicans voted for the stimulus package that had the latest AIG money it(with the amendment allowing them to use it for bonuses).

Oh, & just when have we ever been able to stay on just one topic?????? Thats like asking a dog not to lick his own junk!

 

So just about as many Republicans voted for it as voted against it.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ca...sses_aig_tax_bill.html?wprss=capitol-briefing

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Can you expand on that? I'm not sure I agree with the notion that Dodd's failure could save the Republican Party, at least in a meaningful way. Which specific Republicans would benefit?

 

Dodd has been a Senator since 1980 -- he is running for his sixth term in 2010. He is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. If he loses a re-election bid the republican party should milk that for all it's worth and make the connection of 'see the people of Connecticut don't trust the democratic party and the people who gave you the stimulus package -- why should you?' Never mind the first stimulus bill came about during Bush's administration (that's going to be forgotten by the average voter by then).

His latest blunder with side-stepping what he wrote in the latest bill -- and then placing the blame on a President from his own party -- is even further ammunition.

Remember, perception is all that's needed to shift the balance of power in contested districts. Failure of Dodd may just be the perception needed to shift the balance of power. Who specifically -- no one. In the big scheme of things, it doesn't matter who specifically will benefit. What matters is public perception. It worked in Obama's favor this election, a small catalyst is all that's needed to work against him.

With Dodd out there in the forefront, the republican party has a scapegoat. They don't need to change at all to get back into power.

 

Yeah, they do. I don't see how they can get back into power without some new ideas. There is no doubt that Dodd is in trouble, even within his own party. I heard much the same kind of talk when the guy, I can't think of his name - he used to be senate majority and minority leader - lost his election. But it made little difference to anyone, except those in his state in the end (Tom Daschle, I had to look it up). He lost in 2004 and the Dems were back again in 2006. I don't think history supports that notion, but I could be wrong.

Nevertheless, that's a really sorry statement if that's all the Repbulcans have going for them - hoping that one middling senator loses his seat. That says less for them than even I would give them credit for.

Everyone knows the Republican Party needs to broaden its appeal. The "angry white male" is a shrinking voter group, and dwindling fast. Joe the Plumber is the last gasp of a dying breed. The Republicans need to change, and big time, if they ever hope to not only gain power, but hold on to it in the future.

 

That's just wishful thinking Chandos. The last election was a knee-jerk reaction of the populace dislike for Bush; there's not another wave for democrats to ride now. The pendulum will swing back like it always does. Enough people don't like the stimulus package (which is now somehow a democratic item) that the Republican party is gaining support. The only changes Republicans need to make are fundraising -- but then Obama showed everyone how to do that.

It would also be good if the main players in the Republican party could keep away from boys....

 

It sounds to me like that's "wishful thinking" on your part. Last time I checked GWB WAS a Republican. What I hear most Republicans saying is that they have to change from how they have behaved the last 8 years.

Yes, it does. When the other side changes enough.