Yes, let us please drive the party entirely in the ground...

Those are the statistics for the death of a party.farking GOP. You're handing the nation to the Democrats. All to spite your face.

This seems kind of the inevitable result of calling anyone wanting to compromise on anything an "appeaser"; a relentless slide into Balkanization.

Apparently, the leadership hasn't figured out that you can't really appeal to the bulk of the nation when your target rank and file think Ed Anger is a political commentator...

hubiestubert: Apparently, the leadership hasn't figured out that you can't really appeal to the bulk of the nation when your target rank and file think Ed Anger is a political commentator...

I'm really confused as to what line of logic makes them-- and by 'them' I mean the party leadership, as inchoate as they are-- think that it will somehow magically start working again.

It's like a poor bastard by the side of the road, turning the key to start a car he know just died a final death.

As a result, 60% of all Republican voters support a more conservative direction for the party.

Yeah, that's the ticket, Republicans. That will save you.
/morans

Yeah, a far-right Republican couldn't win any more than a far-left Democrat could...oh wait...

Yes which is why they nominated Bob Dole, GHWB, GWB, and John McCain all from the Center-Right to Center faction of the party

Obdicut: Those are the statistics for the death of a party.farking GOP. You're handing the nation to the Democrats. All to spite your face.

This seems kind of the inevitable result of calling anyone wanting to compromise on anything an "appeaser"; a relentless slide into Balkanization.

It's really sad and potentially frightening that they can't take their role as the opposition party seriously. They are so hung up on "getting even" with everyone who has wronged them (which is pretty much every living being on earth at this point) they can't do anything else.

patrick767: As a result, 60% of all Republican voters support a more conservative direction for the party.

Yeah, that's the ticket, Republicans. That will save you.
/morans

If "conservative" means smaller budgets and fewer entitlements, I'm all for it.

Obama is a muslim born in Kenya!~
Scientists are all politically biased imbecilles!
Liberal Hollywood Jews control the media!
Homosexuals are coming to queerify your children!
Fear fear fear fear fear!
America is a Christian nation!
The fundemantals of the US economy are strong!
More upperclass tax cuts will save us!
Why are we losing support?

/GOP

Bill_Wick's_Friend: Obama is a muslim born in Kenya!~
Scientists are all politically biased imbecilles!
Liberal Hollywood Jews control the media!
Homosexuals are coming to queerify your children!
Fear fear fear fear fear!
America is a Christian nation!
The fundemantals of the US economy are strong!
More upperclass tax cuts will save us!
Why are we losing support?

/GOP

Dad?

thenateman:

If "conservative" means smaller budgets and fewer entitlements, I'm all for it.

just as most of the mouth-breathing rank and file can't define "socialist," i'd just bet they can't really define "conservative," either. things like smaller government, personal responsibility and fewer foreign entanglements are anathema to the modern GOP.

The GOP's shtick only works if people are scared. After eight years of the War on Terror people have just been burned out. The GOP needs an "enemy" to get people angry about, but the only one they can find is Obama. This is a problem, since people generally like him. The only thing that could save them is another 9/11.

I predicted after the last election that our two parties would change dramatically in the next ten years. At the time I wasn't sure if they would actually be a "new" party or if the current parties would just reinvent themselves, but now I think the "Grand Old Party" (which I've always found to be a stupid term for it nowadays) will be going the way of the dodo.

GOP will eat itself

What I love is how Rush Limbaugh whines that the evil liberal media as well as a political conspiracy has been wrongly made the "leader" of the Republican party, he is just a mere radio commentator. Then when others in the Republican party say this Rush gets pissed and makes them kiss his ass totally proving his critics' point.

Kind of like what Sharpton and Jackson did for years with the Democratic party until a candidate appeared who couldn't be blackmailed by them labeling him a racist. Obama marginalized Sharpton and Jackson in many ways for the betterment of the Democratic party. Until someone can marginalize Rush Limbaugh and other "conservative" pundits with strong personalities they are farked.

heavymetal: Kind of like what Sharpton and Jackson did for years with the Democratic party until a candidate appeared who couldn't be blackmailed by them labeling him a racist. Obama marginalized Sharpton and Jackson in many ways for the betterment of the Democratic party. Until someone can marginalize Rush Limbaugh and other "conservative" pundits with strong personalities they are farked.

Good point.

ChiefBoss: GOP will eat itself

We can only hope that the resulting black hole takes their idiotic, inbred, gullible supporters with them.

FlashHarry: just as most of the mouth-breathing rank and file can't define "socialist," i'd just bet they can't really define "conservative," either. things like smaller government, personal responsibility and fewer foreign entanglements are anathema to the modern GOP.

People have written books on what it means to be "conservative" or "socialist." TFA discusses a single question in a phone interview. I don't think we can fault anyone for seeing the question through the lens of their personal experience.

They asked Republicans "should the party be more conservative." Since Republicans mostly identified themselves as conservative, the question translates to "should the party be more like you." And people answered "yes" to that -- I'm not astounded.

FlashHarry: thenateman:

If "conservative" means smaller budgets and fewer entitlements, I'm all for it.

just as most of the mouth-breathing rank and file can't define "socialist," i'd just bet they can't really define "conservative," either. things like smaller government, personal responsibility and fewer foreign entanglements are anathema to the modern GOP.

This is the only definition the neocons want:

The ironic thing is that, once the GOP dies (and I'm not convinced that's going to happen anytime soon, despite their doldrums), so will the Democratic Party. The entire national politik will realign along two different ideological stances--maybe libertarian/authoritarian?

Not that the current system is that ideological; it's more constituency-based. People just want their turn at the trough--liberal and conservative, libertarian and authoritarian. There needs to be no reason, other than "me wantee."

thenateman:
They asked Republicans "should the party be more conservative." Since Republicans mostly identified themselves as conservative, the question translates to "should the party be more like you." And people answered "yes" to that -- I'm not astounded.

i'm sure you're right.

there may have been paleoconservatives polled who honestly wish the GOP was more like the party of eisenhower and goldwater. then there were probably a lot of ditto-heads who think "conservative" means more religion in government, more legislation of morality, more war, etc. - in that case, though diametrically opposed, both groups would agree.

Fabric_Man: The ironic thing is that, once the GOP dies (and I'm not convinced that's going to happen anytime soon, despite their doldrums), so will the Democratic Party. The entire national politik will realign along two different ideological stances--maybe libertarian/authoritarian?

Not that the current system is that ideological; it's more constituency-based. People just want their turn at the trough--liberal and conservative, libertarian and authoritarian. There needs to be no reason, other than "me wantee."

Is that a bad thing? Everyone apparently wants "change"

These are the kinds of statistics that should be a wake-up call to every Republican out there. My party has got to stop the constant purging and attacking of moderates and recognize that the GOP has always been a big tent party where a variety of different view points have been accepted.

I've been arguing a lot on some of our internal websites in my state, and because I happen to be a moderate Republican, I've been called a RINO, a squish, a socialist, a communist, a liberal, a robot, and 'lacking intellectual rigor.' All because I argued that Republicans should support the concept of equal opportunity.

This is the kind of self-immolation that will end up destroying the party. If we are going to regain the confidence of the American people, we need to quit making excuses and give voters a reason to trust us and to vote for us again. And we won't do that by casting out anyone who doesn't agree.

October 30, 2008



You really should click those "Read More" links once in a while...

How's that Big Tent theory working out for you GOP, now that the crazies you let in have run everybody else out?

Shadowknight: ChiefBoss: GOP will eat itself

We can only hope that the resulting black hole takes their idiotic, inbred, gullible supporters with them.

This is the real problem with even a new conservative party forming, the filth that destroyed the Republicans will just latch on and destroy it as well.

make me some tea: Bill_Wick's_Friend: Obama is a muslim born in Kenya!~
Scientists are all politically biased imbecilles!
Liberal Hollywood Jews control the media!
Homosexuals are coming to queerify your children!
Fear fear fear fear fear!
America is a Christian nation!
The fundemantals of the US economy are strong!
More upperclass tax cuts will save us!
Why are we losing support?

/GOP

Dad?

Long lost brother?

The GOP will never die. It'll always exist to act as a scapegoat for loose fiscal policy and bad social experiments.

heavymetal: What I love is how Rush Limbaugh whines that the evil liberal media as well as a political conspiracy has been wrongly made the "leader" of the Republican party, he is just a mere radio commentator. Then when others in the Republican party say this Rush gets pissed and makes them kiss his ass totally proving his critics' point.

Kind of like what Sharpton and Jackson did for years with the Democratic party until a candidate appeared who couldn't be blackmailed by them labeling him a racist. Obama marginalized Sharpton and Jackson in many ways for the betterment of the Democratic party. Until someone can marginalize Rush Limbaugh and other "conservative" pundits with strong personalities they are farked.

Sharpton and Jackson only had race, an issue that Obama could trump by being black.

Guys like Rush are hysterical about a wide range of issues and unless Supply Side Jesus himself puts on a swastika, starts sending gays to death camps, exempts the wealthy from all taxes and demands war with the rest of the world it is going to be hard to trump those guys.

rump party.

much like their actual parties.

Mrbogey: The GOP will never die. It'll always exist to act as a scapegoat for an instigator of loose fiscal policy and bad social experiments.

DeltaXi65: These are the kinds of statistics that should be a wake-up call to every Republican out there. My party has got to stop the constant purging and attacking of moderates and recognize that the GOP has always been a big tent party where a variety of different view points have been accepted.

I've been arguing a lot on some of our internal websites in my state, and because I happen to be a moderate Republican, I've been called a RINO, a squish, a socialist, a communist, a liberal, a robot, and 'lacking intellectual rigor.' All because I argued that Republicans should support the concept of equal opportunity.

This is the kind of self-immolation that will end up destroying the party. If we are going to regain the confidence of the American people, we need to quit making excuses and give voters a reason to trust us and to vote for us again. And we won't do that by casting out anyone who doesn't agree.

You must be a liberal if you believe that.

DeltaXi65: My party has got to stop the constant purging and attacking of moderates and recognize that the GOP has always been a big tent party where a variety of different view points have been accepted.


The religious right that Rove courted and brought into your Big Tent is not exactly known for its acceptance of differing points of view. No sympathy whatsoever for the moderates, like you ostensibly, who are whining now. You certainly didn't mind those crazies in the tent when it helped you win. Now that they're burning the tent down you urge modesty? As ye sow, so shall ye reap. Reap mofos, reap.

Rove brought these people to you through the use of Wedge Issues™. Funny thing about wedges, they sure go IN a lot easier than they come out.

You built an Electoral juggernaut with Jesus Ragers, Gun Nuts, Racists and other offal. You people had the chance to reject them a long time ago. Stop whining now that you are in exile. Instead of trying to bring the crazies to the center, YOU need to get with the program and embrace their views, crazy as they may be - THEY are the body and sould of the New GOP. It's not fair to offer them a place where their views can be represented then try to throw them out when it gets rough.

Enjoy, I know I am.

DeltaXi65: I've been called a RINO, a squish, a socialist, a communist, a liberal, a robot, and 'lacking intellectual rigor.'

It's amusing to see a Republican upset because the more extreme members of his own party called him all these nasty names, but then he includes "liberal" in the list of words that insult him. You're just as bad as the people you're complaining about. Try extending your "can't we all get along" philosophy to non-Republicans as well, and you might find yourself in much better shape in 2012. 2010 is already a lost cause.

Even though liberals like myself might not care for hate radio it is still working for the benefit of liberals in the long run.

1) It makes the right more extreme and therefore the public is less inclined to vote for them.

2) In the case where a con gets elected it makes them less likely to have a succesful term in office because their policy will be more extreme.

The Why Not Guy: It's amusing to see a Republican upset because the more extreme members of his own party called him all these nasty names, but then he includes "liberal" in the list of words that insult him. You're just as bad as the people you're complaining about. Try extending your "can't we all get along" philosophy to non-Republicans as well, and you might find yourself in much better shape in 2012. 2010 is already a lost cause.

I include it in the list because they were using it as an insult, not because it is one.

And 2010 is still a year away. It's not lost yet. Not by a long shot.

This isn't a question of reaping what we've sown. I don't have a problem with others viewpoints, even if they disagree with me. If they are Republican and believe in the fundamentals of our party, I'm fine if they disagree with me on social issues. I don't want them run out of the party. I just don't want them running me out either.

The Why Not Guy: DeltaXi65: I've been called a RINO, a squish, a socialist, a communist, a liberal, a robot, and 'lacking intellectual rigor.'

It's amusing to see a Republican upset because the more extreme members of his own party called him all these nasty names, but then he includes "liberal" in the list of words that insult him. You're just as bad as the people you're complaining about. Try extending your "can't we all get along" philosophy to non-Republicans as well, and you might find yourself in much better shape in 2012. 2010 is already a lost cause.

Er, he could have just been using that as an example of "Them calling me something I am not". As in, "These people are so unhinged, they think my views align with the opposite party just because I disagree with them."

Dear GOP,

Please take all your neocons and exterminate them. Start with Dick Cheney and Bill Kristol, then make sure there is not one single neocon left. Problem solved.

Love,

Wolvernova

Shadowknight

Yea, because when I think of California, DC, and Chicago, I think of right-wingers.

DeltaXi65: This isn't a question of reaping what we've sown.

The hell it isn't.

I don't have a problem with others viewpoints, even if they disagree with me. If they are Republican and believe in the fundamentals of our party, I'm fine if they disagree with me on social issues.

Yes, as long as they're Republican. We get it. That's why the GOP is in the spot it's in. Their idea of tolerance is tolerating other Republicans. Their idea of compromise is compromising with other Republicans. Their idea of working together is working with other Republicans.

GOP Conservative?


LOL. not exactly. Attributing any of the GOP's buffoonery to "conservatism" is a mistake.

DeltaXi65: And 2010 is still a year away. It's not lost yet (for repubs). Not by a long shot.

Total BS.

There is no proof either way. It might be lost and it might not be lost.

There is simply no way to tell at this point.

Why is it so difficult for people to know what they don't know ?

Hey Farkers, we gotta have a TEA PARTY! That'll show 'em to mess with us!

C'mon, say it with me!
NO TAXATION WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED REPRESENTATION!
NO TAXATION WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED REPRESENTATION!
NO TAXATION WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED REPRESENTATION!
NO TAXATION WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED REPRESENTATION!
NO TAXATION WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED REPRESENTATION!

Just wait until the 2010 election. Then we'll REALLY be tyranically oppressed by voters.

The true death kneel for the GOP will come if they ever start supporting pro-choice decisions even on the tiniest of levels.

DeltaXi65: the GOP has always been a big tent party

- Nixon ranting about Jews and homos
- GHW Bush stating that an atheist cannot be a true citizen or a real patriot
- Anti-muslim slurs all through the 2008 presidential campaign
- The anti-immigrant zeal of Malkin and Rush and FreeRepublic

This "big tent" has never existed in my lifetime. There's a reason that the TV cameras have to play "scramble to find the black guy" at the RNC every time the subject of race arises and it ain't cuz their tent is so big and welcoming to all.

Obdicut: I'm really confused as to what line of logic makes them-- and by 'them' I mean the party leadership, as inchoate as they are-- think that it will somehow magically start working again...

I think it's an unshakeable, childlike faith in their own beliefs.

Now I can't begrudge them their core values. Values are a good thing, and much of what they say they care about is motherhood-and-apple-pie stuff.

Their big mistake is taking the same rock-ribbed habits of thinking and applying them to how they think the world works. Examples -- foreign policy, opponents are just like untrained puppies. Whack 'em on the nose and they'll know who's boss. Anyway, if Ronnie could single-handedly wrestle the evil empire into submission, anything we could do will be a cakewalk. Economics? Taxes are the only factor that matters in any financial equation.

Et cetera.

No need to reflect on whether the ideas really work, or not. The ideology's correct, don't question it.

Damned ideologues...

virtigex: The GOP's shtick only works if people are scared. After eight years of the War on Terror people have just been burned out. The GOP needs an "enemy" to get people angry about, but the only one they can find is Obama. This is a problem, since people generally like him. The only thing that could save them is another 9/11.

Bingo.
But please, don't give these criminals any more ideas.

DeadZone: October 30, 2008

You really should click those "Read More" links once in a while...

No. The survey in the article is from April 11, 2009 here (pew pew pew).

When they say become more conservative do they mean fiscal, social, both?

/not subby.

The Why Not Guy: Yes, as long as they're Republican. We get it. That's why the GOP is in the spot it's in. Their idea of tolerance is tolerating other Republicans. Their idea of compromise is compromising with other Republicans. Their idea of working together is working with other Republicans.

Of course it is. Is it any different with Democrats?