Republican Party on the Decline?

[PsychoSarah]

It seems to me that the Republican Party might be on the decline long term if it doesn't begin to appeal to more moderate voters. With the Tea Party, now officially the most hated group in the United States, associating itself with conservative views and some of the congressional activities of late only serving to sully the Republican reputation further, what are your guys' thoughts on the future? Do you think there will be a split within the party and it will become more divided, will some of its positions change, etc.

Note: I myself do not really associate with any particular political party, on many views I am rather liberal, but there are still issues on which I am rather conservative.

 

[GarfieldJL]

It seems to me that the Republican Party might be on the decline long term if it doesn't begin to appeal to more moderate voters. With the Tea Party, now officially the most hated group in the United States, associating itself with conservative views and some of the congressional activities of late only serving to sully the Republican reputation further, what are your guys' thoughts on the future? Do you think there will be a split within the party and it will become more divided, will some of its positions change, etc.

Honestly, at this point I highly doubt the Tea Party is the most hated party in the United States...

36 Times Obama Said You Could Keep Your Health Care Plan | SuperCuts #18 - YouTube

I don't think the American people like being LIED to REPEATEDLY by the sitting President, nor do they have a good opinion of his party. The fact that the left wing driveby's tried to paint the Tea Party as a bunch of kooks is just one more example of how "news" outlets like MSNBC and CNN are nothing more than mouthpieces for the Democrat party.

Note: I myself do not really associate with any particular political party, on many views I am rather liberal, but there are still issues on which I am rather conservative.

How exactly would giving tens of millions of new undocumented democrats (illegal aliens), be helpful to the Republican Party. It would be the opposite and would create a 1 party system, the kind you see in Banana Republics and Dictatorships.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Honestly, at this point I highly doubt the Tea Party is the most hated party in the United States...

36 Times Obama Said You Could Keep Your Health Care Plan | SuperCuts #18 - YouTube

I don't think the American people like being LIED to REPEATEDLY by the sitting President, nor do they have a good opinion of his party. The fact that the left wing driveby's tried to paint the Tea Party as a bunch of kooks is just one more example of how "news" outlets like MSNBC and CNN are nothing more than mouthpieces for the Democrat party.



How exactly would giving tens of millions of new undocumented democrats (illegal aliens), be helpful to the Republican Party. It would be the opposite and would create a 1 party system, the kind you see in Banana Republics and Dictatorships.

Polls, have been taken, actually, and the president, a single human being, is not a group and thus wouldn't be included in such a survey. Atheists are now number 2 most hated.

Well no duh MSNBC and CNN are very liberal, they are essentially the Democratic equivalent of Fox News. Did you not know that? Especially MSNBC

I don't even understand what instigated this last bit here, quite frankly, I was just wondering if anyone was thinking that the strength and unity of the Republican party was on the decline or not.

I don't mean any offense to conservatives, members of the Tea Party, etc, I really just want some honest thoughts is all

 

[NorrinRadd]

I do not favor the Republican party making some special effort to "appeal to moderates," or to blacks, women, Hispanics, men, whites, "the poor," "the rich," or any other faction. I want them to hold to some basic core principles, which for me include being Pro-Life and Constitutionalists. If they are such spineless pansies that they're going to abandon such things in order to garner a few more votes, then for me and many of "the base," there is no meaningful difference between them and Democrats, and we won't bother supporting or voting.

If that means the party is doomed, then good riddance. Let the libs run the country into Gehenna. Destruction is a good teacher for those who survive.

 

[EdwinWillers]

It seems to me that the Republican Party might be on the decline long term if it doesn't begin to appeal to more moderate voters. With the Tea Party, now officially the most hated group in the United States, associating itself with conservative views and some of the congressional activities of late only serving to sully the Republican reputation further, what are your guys' thoughts on the future? Do you think there will be a split within the party and it will become more divided, will some of its positions change, etc.

Note: I myself do not really associate with any particular political party, on many views I am rather liberal, but there are still issues on which I am rather conservative.

The Republican Party is functionally no different than the Democratic Party - both are big government, stay-in-power-at-all-costs entities that have built for themselves an unholy fortification of power and privilege that serves no one but themselves.

Disdain for the Tea Party is a perfect example of that - with both partys doing everything in their power to vilify and destroy anyone that dare upset the status quo in Washington D.C., that dare assail their walls or demand the doors be opened.

That both parties have been so successful vilifying the Tea Party is genuinely disturbing inasmuch as the Tea Party is a grass roots efforts by a lot of average people of disparate backgrounds in disparate locations in America who want their government returned to them and functioning iaw the Constitution. And that's all the "Tea Party" is.

That there are people who have swallowed hook-line-and-sinker the propaganda of the DC careerist elites and view the Tea Party precisely the way they intend is alarming - and ought to be alarming to everyone who values this nation or their freedom.

The Tea Party isn't perfect, and by comparison to the DC careerist elites, who are portraying it as little more than a bunch of unsophisticated hicks, it's a rag-tag collection of disparate groups that don't enjoy the faux legitimacy the DC careerist elites have built for themselves. By definition they are going to make mistakes. By definition they are going to be disorganized and struggle to present an appearance of unity. They need leadership. They need everything the DC careerist elites are striving so hard to deny them - but if this country is going to dig itself out of the mire it's created for itself by allowing a handful of elites to take it over, it will need the Tea Party and other groups like it to make that happen.

The only thing in decline in this sense is our freedom and our Constitution that guarantees our freedom - both of which are under active assault by the powers that be, regardless the letter that appends their high and lofty names.

 

[blueapplepaste]

The Republican Party is functionally no different than the Democratic Party - both are big government, stay-in-power-at-all-costs entities that have built for themselves an unholy fortification of power and privilege that serves no one but themselves.

I'd agree with this to an extent. Both parties are more concerned with preparing for the next election than they are with actually governing. I would love to see term limits. I think that's something supporters of both parties could get behind and I think would do a ton to help curb the special interests and to get rid of so much of the career politicians.

Disdain for the Tea Party is a perfect example of that - with both partys doing everything in their power to vilify and destroy anyone that dare upset the status quo in Washington D.C., that dare assail their walls or demand the doors be opened.

That both parties have been so successful vilifying the Tea Party is genuinely disturbing inasmuch as the Tea Party is a grass roots efforts by a lot of average people of disparate backgrounds in disparate locations in America who want their government returned to them and functioning iaw the Constitution. And that's all the "Tea Party" is.

That there are people who have swallowed hook-line-and-sinker the propaganda of the DC careerist elites and view the Tea Party precisely the way they intend is alarming - and ought to be alarming to everyone who values this nation or their freedom.

The Tea Party isn't perfect, and by comparison to the DC careerist elites, who are portraying it as little more than a bunch of unsophisticated hicks, it's a rag-tag collection of disparate groups that don't enjoy the faux legitimacy the DC careerist elites have built for themselves. By definition they are going to make mistakes. By definition they are going to be disorganized and struggle to present an appearance of unity. They need leadership. They need everything the DC careerist elites are striving so hard to deny them - but if this country is going to dig itself out of the mire it's created for itself by allowing a handful of elites to take it over, it will need the Tea Party and other groups like it to make that happen.

The only thing in decline in this sense is our freedom and our Constitution that guarantees our freedom - both of which are under active assault by the powers that be, regardless the letter that appends their high and lofty names.

The problem is the Tea Party has been hijacked by social radicals. They have zero appeal except to the far right. I think they've been their own worst enemies. And that's part of the problem, so many in the TP seem to think they have a monopoly on the correct interpretation of the Constitution. Even the people who wrote the Constitution argued over it.

I also think part of the problem with the TP is they are, so far, been much too rigid in governing. It's been "my way or the highway" which has only hurt them that much more. People don't want partisan hacks. The entire "would you take $10 in spending cuts for $1 in tax increases" question last go around was a prime example. Any rational GOP person should have said "Yes, and HECK YES!" It may not be what they would have wanted, but part of governing is not always getting everything you want.

And that's been their biggest problem. They don't want to govern. The TP is self destructing and is going to be nothing more than a blip on the radar.

 

[blueapplepaste]

It seems to me that the Republican Party might be on the decline long term if it doesn't begin to appeal to more moderate voters. With the Tea Party, now officially the most hated group in the United States, associating itself with conservative views and some of the congressional activities of late only serving to sully the Republican reputation further, what are your guys' thoughts on the future? Do you think there will be a split within the party and it will become more divided, will some of its positions change, etc.

Note: I myself do not really associate with any particular political party, on many views I am rather liberal, but there are still issues on which I am rather conservative.

The GOP is fast tracking itself to becoming completely irrelevant on a national stage for at least a generation if they don't change course and change fast. I honestly can't think of one issue where the GOP has a winning message. They've lost the culture wars (abortion isn't going to be illegal anytime soon, gay marriage is coming), immigration (the electorate wants reform), economic policies (their policies fast tracked us to an oligarchy), and so forth.

They have ignored their own analysis after '12 of how they need to appeal to more voters. All of their problems they've ignored.

Now I know we'll get plenty who will scream that America has rejected the Dems and Obama when they GOP has a decent showing in November. But come '16 with they're defending many more seats, they Dems will take back the senate, win the POTUS, and then in '20 after redistricting, it will favor the GOP even less.

Yes they may win some short term battles, but they're going to lose the war with keeping on doing what they're doing.

 

[EdwinWillers]

I'd agree with this to an extent. Both parties are more concerned with preparing for the next election than they are with actually governing. I would love to see term limits. I think that's something supporters of both parties could get behind and I think would do a ton to help curb the special interests and to get rid of so much of the career politicians.

I totally agree with term limits. Not having them imho has been a key element to why we are where we are with the government as it is. Most who go there do so as a career move; and once there, the careerists already there welcome them with open arms into their fold as compatriots.

The problem is the Tea Party has been hijacked by social radicals. They have zero appeal except to the far right. I think they've been their own worst enemies. And that's part of the problem, so many in the TP seem to think they have a monopoly on the correct interpretation of the Constitution. Even the people who wrote the Constitution argued over it.

I also think part of the problem with the TP is they are, so far, been much too rigid in governing. It's been "my way or the highway" which has only hurt them that much more. People don't want partisan hacks. The entire "would you take $10 in spending cuts for $1 in tax increases" question last go around was a prime example. Any rational GOP person should have said "Yes, and HECK YES!" It may not be what they would have wanted, but part of governing is not always getting everything you want.

And that's been their biggest problem. They don't want to govern. The TP is self destructing and is going to be nothing more than a blip on the radar.

I don't really agree with the Tea Party being "social radicals." And yeah, there are some people in it who are too rigid in their ideology - but you have to understand that the "Tea Party" can't be compared to other recognized - and organized - political parties. It's truly a grass-roots, heterogenous collection of disparate groups all over the country, each with their own general allegiance to the general principles behind the concept that is the "Tea Party" but it simply is not possible to accurately broadbrush the whole with much other than that they generally adhere to general principles - beyond that, each group has its own identity and personality (if you will), each interpreting the general principles a little differently. Conceptually, I'm in alignment with the general principles, but it's impossible for me to say (or anyone to say, in truth) that we are "Tea Partiers" - except in the general sense of the term. Whether the TP disappears or not is in my mind somewhat irrelevant, as long as the general principles persist - because as a nation, we need them, desperately.

 

[bhsmte]

It seems to me that the Republican Party might be on the decline long term if it doesn't begin to appeal to more moderate voters. With the Tea Party, now officially the most hated group in the United States, associating itself with conservative views and some of the congressional activities of late only serving to sully the Republican reputation further, what are your guys' thoughts on the future? Do you think there will be a split within the party and it will become more divided, will some of its positions change, etc.

Note: I myself do not really associate with any particular political party, on many views I am rather liberal, but there are still issues on which I am rather conservative.

All parties go through periods where they need to redefine themselves to be more attractive to changes in social culture and it would appear the republican party is in that phase right now.

Everything goes in cycles and politics is no exception.

 

[Creech]

There is no real conservative movement in America and there never really was a strong one except for in the South. What happens is liberals push for radical change, conservatives end up tolerating it, then accepting it, then embracing/defending it. American "conservatives" basically just want to preserve the liberal traditions of the past. I think it will be soon when "conservatives" are the ones defending issues like gay marriage and abortion and claiming THEY were the ones that were always in favor of it, much like they tried to claim the Civil Rights movement was conservative and MLK was a conservative (lol).

 

[scraparcs]

Republicans seem to already be moving towards the middle, the Tea Party candidates don't have nearly the traction they did in 2012, and there are more LGBT GOP candidates nationally campaigning for higher positions and more GOPers embracing views that are more socially and economically moderate.

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

The fight between Dems and the GOP at this point, at least at the federal level, is increasingly looking like a fight over the helm of the Titanic.

 

[AceHero]

I do not favor the Republican party making some special effort to "appeal to moderates," or to blacks, women, Hispanics, men, whites, "the poor," "the rich," or any other faction. I want them to hold to some basic core principles, which for me include being Pro-Life and Constitutionalists. If they are such spineless pansies that they're going to abandon such things in order to garner a few more votes, then for me and many of "the base," there is no meaningful difference between them and Democrats, and we won't bother supporting or voting.

The longer the GOP avoids trying to appeal to others, the less relevant they will be in the future.

 

[Joykins]

The Republican party is in the midst of a struggle for control, between the old school Republicans and the Tea party, and this is creating a situation where the party is, at the Federal level, effectively unable to govern (and taking the Federal legislature down the toilet with it).

As as Democrat, I can live with (though I don't necessarily like) the vision (or lack thereof) of the old school moderate Republicans. The vision of the social radicals at the helm of the Tea Party is not a future that I want for myself or this country.

Back in the old days, by which I mean the 1990s, I used to vote Republican sometimes, if a candidate appealed to me. Now I don't feel I can responsibly do that, though.

 

[bhsmte]

The longer the GOP avoids trying to appeal to others, the less relevant they will be in the future.

The GOP will adapt, just like the Dems started to decades ago by moving more to the right.

Granted, the GOP has been slow in recognizing their ideology is shooing away more people than it is bringing in, but to survive, they will have to adapt.

 

[Aldebaran]

The GOP will adapt, just like the Dems started to decades ago by moving more to the right.

Granted, the GOP has been slow in recognizing their ideology is shooing away more people than it is bringing in, but to survive, they will have to adapt.

I think the GOP's biggest problem is that they throw away every opportunity they get in order to say, "See, we compromise with the left, so vote for us because we are reasonable". What they forget is that they no longer distinguish themselves from the left, which is why former Republican voters end up voting for Tea Party members.

 

[GarfieldJL]

I think the GOP's biggest problem is that they throw away every opportunity they get in order to say, "See, we compromise with the left, so vote for us because we are reasonable". What they forget is that they no longer distinguish themselves from the left, which is why former Republican voters end up voting for Tea Party members.

Bingo, this is the real problem the Republican Party faces. Trying to act more like Democrats is what causes them to lose elections and also infuriates their base, which is what causes a decline.

You have to be able to present clear differences between yourself and the other party, you need to ignore outlets like CNN, MSNBC, cause they're only interested in helping Democrats get elected.

 

[AceHero]

The GOP will adapt, just like the Dems started to decades ago by moving more to the right.

Granted, the GOP has been slow in recognizing their ideology is shooing away more people than it is bringing in, but to survive, they will have to adapt.

I think the GOP's biggest problem is that they throw away every opportunity they get in order to say, "See, we compromise with the left, so vote for us because we are reasonable".

Oh please. The GOP has barely compromised with the Democrats at all during Obama's time in office. I would love to see some actual compromise.

What they forget is that they no longer distinguish themselves from the left, which is why former Republican voters end up voting for Tea Party members.

Yes, because the mainstream Republicans are so liberal...

 

[GarfieldJL]

Oh please. The GOP has barely compromised with the Democrats at all during Obama's time in office. I would love to see some actual compromise.

To be perfectly blunt, this country would be in even worse shape than it already is, if they had let Obama have his way on the things they were able to block.

Yes, because the mainstream Republicans are so liberal...

The Republicans certainly display more diversity in congress than the Democrats, remember Obamacare is what caused people like Evan Bayh to leave office.

 

[Veritas]

Why is it when the democratic party is on the outs, you don't hear the call for them to be more like the republican's to make people vote for them? It's always the republicans that are suppose to change, give up their principles and throw in the towel. This is getting to be funny....sort of.

Frankly, the more the R party abandons what it stands for, the more people leave it and gravitate toward movements like the Tea Party.

I don't believe the Tea Party (which isn't actually a party) is the most hated. I think the media have encouraged animosity toward them and the infamous government tax agency has taken it to whole new levels by harrassing conservative individuals and organizations to silence them.