Republicans Ask: Just How Bad Is It?

Politico: Young GOP Leaders See Permanent Defeat If Republican Party Does Not Change

(The Politico)  This column was written by
Jonathan Martin.

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Party leaders agree that the GOP has had a rough go of it at the polls in recent years.

How could they not?

Since 2004, they've gone from 55 Senate seats to no more than 43 once this year's last winners are determined, and from a 29-seat edge in the House to a 30 seat hole-and now they've lost the presidency, too.

They differ, though, on whether the heavy losses Republicans suffered in the past two election cycles were a result of unique circumstances and the ever-swinging political pendulum or structural problems that could keep them shut out of power for years to come.

GOP officials and strategists at party conferences last week offered sharply contrasting assessments of what went wrong, and of how difficult it will be to rebuild. Perhaps not surprisingly, the split tended to fall along generational lines.

Older party hands pointed to John McCain’s lackluster campaign and the difficult terrain Republicans found themselves battling on this year, and eschewed any sky-is-falling rhetoric. The up-and-comers, meanwhile, sounded the alarm of impending permanent minority status unless the party changes.

“I have looked down at the grave of the Republican Party and this ain’t it,” assured Mississippi Gov. and 90s-era RNC chairman Haley Barbour, “I’ve seen it a lot worse."

Barbour, speaking on a panel session at the Republican Governor’s Association meeting in Miami devoted to sifting through this year’s electoral destruction, recalled serving as executive director of his state party in the aftermath of President Nixon's resignation, when Democrats elected 49 “Watergate Babies” to the House in 1974.

It got so bad, Barbour recalled, that there was a task force set up to consider whether Republicans should change their name.

As for this year, Barbour argued there was a way to defeat Obama-by rendering him unacceptable to American voters.

“And the McCain campaign did not choose to try to make that argument,” he observed.

RNC Chairman Mike Duncan, who has worked at the highest levels of Kentucky and national Republican politics for decades, expressed optimism about the GOP’s prospects for the 2010 mid-term elections, suggesting the GOP losses this year were a result of a toxic stew very much unique to the cycle.

“The mood of the country is what was bad in this campaign,” Duncan said in an interview at the governor’s meeting. “It was 90-10 wrong track, you had the war, we had the economy going south on us, we had the third-term curse, all those things.”

What it was not, he insisted-offering post-election polling that showed voters still supported right-leaning positions, just not McCain, to make his case-was a rejection of the party’s conservative philosophy.

“If you look at the American electorate, and where they stand and what they believe-we’re in good shape.”

A group of younger Republicans expressed a very different view, warning that the GOP was on the verge of irrelevance if it did not make changes to appeal to a changing electorate.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty opened up a luncheon speech to his fellow governors by noting that excuses could be made, citing the unpopularity of President Bush, the Iraq war and the poor state of the economy.

But, he continued, such a rationale was “not fair and it’s not complete.” The party's problem, he said, is far more grave.

“We cannot be a majority governing party when we essentially cannot compete in the northeast; we are losing our ability to compete in the Great Lakes states, we cannot compete on the west coast,” Pawlenty argued, also citing similar problems in the mid-Atlantic and interior west. “Similarly, we cannot compete and prevail as a majority governing party when we have a significant deficit as we do with woman, where we have a large deficit with Hispanics, where we have a large deficit with African-American voters, where we have a large deficit with people of modest incomes.”

While just 43 percent of whites voted for Obama, the group now makes up just 74% of the electorate, down from 89% in 1980. And that trend is accelerating. Just since 2003, whites' share of the electorate fell four percentage points, while blacks, Latinos and Asians increased by three points, to 23 percent, and gave the Democrat 95%, 66% and 61% support respectively.

Later, talking to reporters, Pawlenty put it more plainly: “The Republican Party is going to need more than just a comb-over.”

He doesn’t advocate for a major ideological shift-few prominent voices in the party are-but rather for aggressively offering solutions on issues such as health care, energy and education that have been viewed as Democratic turf.

[denn034]

Things will reverse after Bush leaves office without having to resort to forsaking GOP values. What good are values that you discard whenever they''re not convenient? Stay true to values is this GOPs view.

[quatermass2]

The GOP got hooked on the fundy-evangelical block and needs to kick the habit. Jettison the creationists, the homophobes, and the assorted end-timers, rapture nuts, and jerks praying for Armegeddon, and get back to small government, fiscal prudence, and smart defense (and that means drop the anti-missle booshwah and the F-22).

[citizenusa-2009]

One Rep. Senator said today the the GOP always comes back, and promises they WILL be back in a few years...kinda like "cancer" don''t ya think?

[walt1944-2009]

In Miami, the neocon Fascist Nazi Republican Party tried to figure out what was wrong with it and what to do about it.

As usual, the Republicans could not agree on anything!

The "Old Guard" insisted that it was all McBush''s fault for losing the election, that there was nothing wrong with the party or its Fascist philosphy, and that things would be all right in 2010 with the Great Emperor Bush II gone (BUT DEFINITELY NOT FORGOTTEN!) and Obama unable to get any legislation thru Congress because the Fascist Nazis would fight him every step of the way!!!

The younger set in the GOP, however, claims that the party isn''t open to listening to what the people want, only what the party wants; in other words, the party was SELFISH!

Apparently, the "Old Guard" of the necon Fascist Nazi Republican Party has forgotten that Obama was supported and elected by an army of YOUNG people who wanted CHANGE, and older voters fed-up with not being listened to by the DEAF Republicans!!!

As the young Abrahams told the old "Establishment" in "Chariots of Fire" when he introduced new techniques to improve his running; "The Future Rides WITH ME!"!!!

SIG HEIL, I''M MAKING IT SO THERE ISN''T A FUTURE FOR ANYONE!!!, BUSH!!!

[karenbe111]

The Republicans should know how bad it is -- they are responsible for it! Now we should listen to them? I don''t think so!!!

[bjcone8559]

America is waking up. In singlewides all across the land republicans are beginning to realize that we are not going to take their shotguns, make their teenager daughters have abortions, burn their churches or make them kiss a gay man. Turn out the lights, the party (GOP) is over.

[omded]

The GOP will rise again. This is just part of an ongoing cycle. The two parties merely trade places every few years. If Obama can''t fix this mess pretty quickly, and, if he can''t remind people where it all began, he''ll be run out of office after 4 years and Americans will look back to the GOP for "the answer". The trouble is, nobody seems to realize the problem isn''t one party or the other. It''s that we only have two options to choose from, and neither is all that good. In fact, for the last several election cycles, Americans seem to vote for the "lesser of the evils". I assure you this: after a long day of throwing insults and attacks at each other, politicians from both parties get together behind closed doors and congratulate each other for another job well done. They fooled us again, and they''re still in full control of our country. You see, the Republicans and the Democrats only pretend to have their differences. It''s an act. But, in reality, the GOP and the Democratic Party are just one big political machine that rules our country. One animal with two heads.

One more thing to think about: The next time you go off on a binge about how much you hate "liberals" or "arch conservatives", remember this - you''re doing exactly what the two headed monster wants you to do.

[omded]

One reassuring thing about this election is that it looks like the moderates have reappeared on the political scene. First, they put McCain on the Republican ticket, instead of the two wackos who wanted the nomination. Then, when McCain picked a wacko as his running mate, the moderates put McCain on ice as well.

You see, it''s all about appealing to the wackos. The GOP was a party of moderates back in the 70''s, when Nixon was in office. Back then, the Democrats were reaching out to wackos. But, when Ronald Reagan rose to the top of the GOP machine back in the early 80''s, the republicans pushed the moderates out, and invited the wackos in. Then the Democrats moved more to the center. It finally paid off with 8 years of Clinton. Then the GOP turned to the wackos again, and actually put one, G.W. in office. But now, it appears the moderates are starting to take back the GOP. If they succeed, I think a lot of ex-Republicans, such as myself, will return to the party. But there is much work to do. I won''t align myself with wackos.

[whitemale08]

What happened was that the Republican party allowed junkyard dogs Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh take over and tell Americans who were losing their homes and their jobs that "The economy is FANTASTIC".

We all knew that the Bush economy was phony and fake but yet they still touted it as SUCCESS just like the failed war policies of Iraq.

You can preach to yourselves that everything is great but soon reality will leave you alone and preaching only to yourself.

[skiluuver]

The simple key to the Republicans'' future success is to give up on the whacko Religious nuts, lose the Evangelicals and the weird "Family Values" obsession. That will take you down for a while, but ultimately make you seem more sane. Have you got the kahoonas to dump the Christian weirdos and the unnatutal obsession with right to life and ***? If not, you will continue to fail............

[imnho]

I hope they stick with there current policies and values. That will assure the Democrat''s are in power for a very long time.

I hope Palin runs for priesdent in 2012. It will assure that Obama has a second term.

[jimsusancan]

Drop the wacko''s like Sarah Palin and stop sticking up for incompetent people. The GOP will be back alive and well as soon as they get over this stupid idea of "I hear no evil- see no evil" support of candidates like her. As John McCain likes to say stand up and fight but stop protecting incompetence. The public is away to smart to fall for this nonsense. Why can you not come out and face the facts that very weak people are speaking for the party. Dump on this crowd of "Fakes", be honest and the GOP will rise back quickly

[formrusmcsgt]

He doesn%u2019t advocate for a major ideological shift-few prominent voices in the party are....
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Then they''d better get used to their minority status.

[ramos937]

We cannot be a majority governing party when we essentially cannot compete in the northeast; we are losing our ability to compete in the Great Lakes states, we cannot compete on the west coast,%u201D Pawlenty argued, also citing similar problems in the mid-Atlantic and interior west. %u201CSimilarly, we cannot compete and prevail as a majority governing party when we have a significant deficit as we do with woman, where we have a large deficit with Hispanics, where we have a large deficit with African-American voters, where we have a large deficit with people of modest incomes.
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Pawlenty is correct. Examples? Unless he does something incredibly stupid, Obama has the black vote in his corner. Hispanics? The GOP has never gotten the message that Hispanics are very sensitive over the illegal worker issue. GOP congressmen and GOP state legislatures have passed very punitive anti worker legislation. The GOP has never reached out to LULAC, GI Forum, etc. The GOP has labeled itself as anti-Hispanic. The GOP will never again be a national party until it attracts members other than anglo males.

[rayuk-2009]

The Republican Party is the party of Herbert Hoover and now the whole world knows it. About time, don''t you think?

[formrusmcsgt]

He doesn%u2019t advocate for a major ideological shift-few prominent voices in the party are....
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Then they''d better get used to their minority status.

[treknutz]

Perhaps the U.S. should pull out of Chicago
Posted by keystonebull

Hey KeyStonedBullcrap,

You magnificently ignorant jerk. You are so bent on blaming the ills of the US on Obama you somehow can''t get it through your thick skull Dubya got us into this mess. Quit whinning, Obama won the election and you have to deal with it. By your rants I can only guess that you are scared to death he will unite the majority and fix this Bush caused debacle. You are the complete picture of what a sore loser is and can''t say anything positive about anything because you are having a temper tantrum and your widdle feewings are hurt.....poor BABY!

Oh by the way, I''m so sorry your favorite TV show was cancelled...King of the Hill! You illiterate PUTZ!

[torva-2009]

I just hope that the GOP keeps swimming in that river of DENIAL...that way they will never again trouble us with another presidency or GOPer-stamped congress again.

Wild!

[CNH]

Ever since the 1960''s, the GOP consistently has been, and will always be, the party of exclusion, the party that attempts to diminish those who look different than themselves, pray to a different deity, or follow a different lifestyle. They are the party that uses fear and hatred as a weapon to intimidate any who do not share their points of view. The GOP offers 20th century solutions to 21st century problems.

[estabwary]

I think they are fine, don''t change a thing.

Be who you are. LOL.

[tayled95]

"Republicans Ask: Just How Bad Is It?"

Well... lets see....

The People of the United States make the following decisions in undeniable majorities:

Democrats increase their lead in the House.

Democrats increase their lead in the Senate.

A new Democratic, liberal, half-black president is chosen.

Sounds to me like....

Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter and the other fascists are wrong and failed.
The Religious Reich is wrong and failed.
Republicans are wrong and failed.
Neocons are wrong and failed.
Hate is wrong and failed.

Poor bitter neocons, whining about their failure, day after day after day.

That about wraps it up. See you in four years - losers.

[flexsf]

Don''t forget about your disgusting base of bigots! I hope they''re all dead soon so I can live my intimate life without a bunch of holy-rollers voting my rights away. If I ever have the opportunity, I''ll support a similar measure to vote against their rights! Until then, I hate the Republican party too!

[gekejo1]

Obama_Dkhed- You are the Dkhed, not Obama and the people intelligent enough to vote for him. Keep up the good work with your comments since it only cements how stupid your redneck a** is- LOL!

[armydog2]

The republicans have to go back to the reagan years. The bush''s took control and completely destroyed the party.Corrupt, murdering theives do not make good leaders.

[earache4]

Don''t despair GOPricks, the wicked witch of Wasilla will save you!!

[bks59]

gov. pawlenty did not recieved more than 50% of the popular vote, either time running for govenor, less than 50% of the voters elected this guy to office, yet he speaks as if a majority of MN citizens elected him.

perfect repubasnob.

[bks59]

The republicans have to go back to the reagan years. The bush''''s took control and completely destroyed the party.Corrupt, murdering theives do not make good leaders.


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Posted by armydog2 at 07:18 AM : Nov 18, 2008


Right! and under Reagan the US deficit grew, HW raised to taxes to cover regans'' debacle, clinton restored some financial stability and shrub has put us near bankruptcy.

Yeah republicans and reagan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mytoosense]

Didn''t The Republicans brag, after Bush''s second election victory, that the Republicans would be in charge forever. Didn''t they also predict the slow death of the Democratic Party?

Karl Rove has a spot in the history books under the heading "Loser".

[jamshied]

SOME REPUBLICAN''S ARGUMENT THAT THEY RECOVERED FROM 1960S AND 1970S DECLINE, ARE NOT VALID ARGUMENTS.

I THINK MINNESOTA GOVERNOR, PROBABLY, KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT.

YOU CANNOT APPLY 20th CENTURY SOLUTIONS TO THE 21st CENTURY PROBLEMS, ENVIRONMENT AND DEMOGRAPHICS.

THE VOTERS TODAY , ESPECIALLY YOUNGER ONES, ARE FAR MORE EDUCATED AND HAVE BETTER GRASP OF WHAT IS GOING ON. THANKS TO THE INTERNET THAT PROVIDES ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON YOUR FINGER TIPS. YOU CAN SEARCH A SUBJECT AND GET VARIOUS VIEWS AND MAKE KIND OF YOUR OWN ANALYSIS. IN THIS DAY AND AGE THE POLITICIAN ARE MORE AND MORE ARE BEING EXPOSED.

ANOTHER THING IS THAT CERTAIN REPUBLICANS PHILOSOPHIES ARE JUST OUT DATED. THOSE ARE THE SO-CALLED CONSERVATIVE IDEALOGIES THAT ARE RELIGION BASED. FORTUNATELY US CONSTITUTION PROHIBITS INTERFERENCE OF RELIGION WITH GOVERNMENT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY REPUBLICANS KEEP INSISTING ON INJECTING THEIR RELIGIOUS IDEALOGY INTO GOVERNMENT BY WAY OF LEGISLATION. WE HAVE SEEN HOW REPUBLICANS KEPT FIGHTING FERVENTLY FOR school prayers AND THEY ARE STILL NOT FINISHED WITH ABORTION ISSUE AND STEM CELL RESEARCH.
YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE YOUR VERSION OF RELIGIOUS MORALITY AND BELIEF. YOU HAVE FREEDOM TO PRACTICE THEM IN YOUR PRIVATE LIFE, PREACH THEM IN YOUR HOUSE OF WORSHIP BUT YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE THEM ANYMORE.

[cheteunice]

It seems that the media and the Democrats are anxious to bury the Republicans, if the economy had not tanked when it did the outcome would have been much different. Give Obama two years and the congressional elections will reverse many of the gains being claimed now.

[cheteunice]

raflin0010, I agree the main problem with the democrats is their anti-FAMILY values!

[mytoosense]

Give Obama two years and the congressional elections will reverse many of the gains being claimed now.
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Posted by stlouisman3

Hopefully by then we will have universal health care, a solution to the social security mess, an improved economy, a working alternative energy program, troops out of the sand box, Gitmo closed, and a majority of Americans happy enough with these results to build on the Democrat''s majority.

The advantage the Democrats have is, they actually want to help the average American.

Most Americans have come to realize the Republicans only provide lip service to average American issues whenever an election rolls around.

[mytoosense]

This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois . And he''''s gonna ''''fix'''' Washington politics for us?
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Posted by keystonebull

I love Chicago. It''s one of the coolest cities I''ve ever visited. It''s taller, cleaner and friendlier than New York City.

Obama should be proud to call Chicago, Home.

My opinion is jaded though, I live in Detroit.

[biblethumpar]

GOP, Toe Tapping their Wider Stances on Family Values!!

YOU BETCHA!!!!

[clovisbuford]

"raflin0010, I agree the main problem with the democrats is their anti-FAMILY values! Posted by stlouisman3 " err working americans being able to feed their families , send their kids to college,go to the church of their choice ,whether they are muslim, jewish, christian ,bhuddist etc, not fighting a 12 billion dollar a month war on our grandkids credit card is Pro -family.Not holding up torture as an american value is pro family ,Having a health care system where 45 MILLION americans that dont currently have health insurance have that opportunity is Pro family .not doubling our deficit in 8 short yrs like BUsh and republicans have done is pro family . someone needs to get a clue .. caue they obviouls think when it comes to republicans ..denial is a river in egypt.

[clovisbuford]

Posted by jamshied at 09:50 AM : Nov 18, 2008
err you had to post in all CAPS so i couldnt read that , no need to shout , you are no more important than anyone else that posts here and that is annoying .. a little nettiquette would be handy .. thanks