The New Republicans

SnowCal · Nov 21, 2012

PK at the NYT:

There has been a lot of talk since the election about the possible emergence of a new faction within the Republican party... These new Republicans, were told, are willing to be more open-minded on cultural issues, more understanding of immigrants, and more skeptical that trickle-down economics is enough; theyll favor direct measures to help working families. So what should we call these new Republicans? I have a suggestion: why not call them Democrats?

First, on economic issues the modern Democratic party is what we would once have considered centrist, or even center-right. Obamas Heritage-Foundation-inspired health care plan is to the right of Richard Nixons. Nobody with political influence is suggesting a return to pre-Reagan tax rates on the wealthy. Fantasies about Obama as a socialist, redistributionist hater of capitalism bear no more resemblance to reality than fantasies about his birthplace or religion.

The New Republicans - NYTimes.com

Rion · Nov 21, 2012

The conversation that needs to take place in the Republican party is between the Conservatives and the Libertarians. These progressive, blue-blood types can take a hike, as far as I'm concerned.

Marek · Nov 21, 2012

The way I see it, is that you have four basic groups. First, social liberals who don't mind big government. These individuals make up the bulk of the Democratic Party. Then you have social conservatives who don't mind big government (neoconservatives), social conservatives who want small government (tea party), and social liberals who want small government (libertarians). The challenge the Republican Party faces is bringing together those three, often times conflicting groups.

QuiltAngel · Nov 21, 2012

Rion said:
The conversation that needs to take place in the Republican party is between the Conservatives and the Libertarians. These progressive, blue-blood types can take a hike, as far as I'm concerned.

I agree. Also, taking the move that the liberals seem to think we should make will leave some of us with no political party at all. Yet, that is how I felt the last 2 elections anyway.

Creech · Nov 21, 2012

The Republican Party is becoming worse and worse by the day.

ThatRobGuy · Nov 21, 2012

Marek said:
The way I see it, is that you have four basic groups. First, social liberals who don't mind big government. These individuals make up the bulk of the Democratic Party. Then you have social conservatives who don't mind big government (neoconservatives), social conservatives who want small government (tea party), and social liberals who want small government (libertarians). The challenge the Republican Party faces is bringing together those three, often times conflicting groups.

Not sure if I agree with this grouping. I would say that libertarians are the most conservative in the sense that they want to adhere strictly to the constitution and keep federal government restricted to its constitutional bounds. The rest of them are all liberal to an extent.

USincognito · Nov 22, 2012

Marek said:
Then you have social conservatives who don't mind big government (neoconservatives),

You're going to need a new appellation as neoconservative already has a specific meaning.
Neoconservatism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

szechuan · Nov 22, 2012

Creech said:
The Republican Party is becoming worse and worse by the day.

Well have fun scaring all the Republican Moderates away.

MacFall · Nov 22, 2012

Socially liberal, pro-immigrant Republicans have been around for decades as members of the Republican Liberty Caucus.

Gxg (G²) · Nov 22, 2012

Change...

Creech · Nov 22, 2012

szechuan said:
Well have fun scaring all the Republican Moderates away.

Republican "moderates" might as well be moderate democrats.

Jeffwhosoever · Nov 22, 2012

The GOP will move right, toward more conservative values and away from the mid to liberal side

Trogool · Nov 22, 2012

Jeffwhosoever said:
The GOP will move right, toward more conservative values and away from the mid to liberal side

Then the party will become increasingly marginal and eventually disappear from prominence.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

MacFall · Nov 22, 2012

Whatever "conservative values" means...

Jeffwhosoever · Nov 22, 2012

Trogool said:
Then the party will become increasingly marginal and eventually disappear from prominence.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

Not according to the data.

http://azpundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/NewImage.png

szechuan · Nov 23, 2012

Creech said:
Republican "moderates" might as well be moderate democrats.

Yes like Eisenhower oh wait...

szechuan · Nov 23, 2012

Jeffwhosoever said:
The GOP will move right, toward more conservative values and away from the mid to liberal side

Toward to more extremism.

Good Job Tea Party good job.

jgarden · Nov 23, 2012

Jeffwhosoever said:
The GOP will move right, toward more conservative values and away from the mid to liberal side

In other words, the Democrats are destined to become America's "ruling party" and the Republicans will be relegated to an "Old Boys" club of white, "redneck" males!

dysert · Nov 23, 2012

From the OP:

So what should we call these new Republicans? I have a suggestion: why not call them Democrats?

This is true. If the Republicans move more towards the center from the right, and if the Democrats move more towards the center from the left, we'll end up with an indistinguishable set of centrists devoid of leadership and winning votes based on their charisma. (Basically where we are now.)

Creech said:
The Republican Party is becoming worse and worse by the day.

I don't know if it's becoming worse yet, but it could certainly go that way if they want to follow the voters instead of lead the voters. Leaders don't take the pulse of the people and adjust their agenda to fit. Rather, they put forth what they think is right, and hopefully the people will follow that leadership. Sadly, it seems that any more the American people would rather have "leaders" that actually lead by following instead of leading by leading.

If we want our leaders to follow us, then we'll continue the downward spiral, and we'll be deserving of what we get. However, if the GOP (or whoever) is brave enough to advance what's right regardless of polls, and if the people get smart enough to follow what's right, we can climb back to greatness again. The choice is really up to us.

MachZer0 · Nov 23, 2012

Creech said:
The Republican Party is becoming worse and worse by the day.

If by worse and worse you mean they're becoming more like the Democrat Party, then I agree.

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