One wonders just how long it will be before the Republican party realizes that its scorched-earth, win-whatever-it-takes political tactics are consigning the party to electoral marginalization. It‘s been noted many times by moderate and left-wing pundits that the more the Republican leadership panders to the conservative base, the more moderates they alienate from the Republican party.
At first glance, it would seem that the conservatives would hold a distinct advantage. After all, according to a Gallup poll, nearly twice as many Americans, 40% to 21%, identify themselves as conservative rather than liberal. However, in that same poll, 35% of the respondents identified themselves as moderates or independents, and it is this demographic that the conservatives are abandoning in their drive to solidify the base. In the last election, Obama/Biden got 52.9%; in order for the Democrats to reach that percentage of the popular vote, they would have had to attract ninety-one percent of the moderates!
This is why the Republican party has done so poorly in the past two national election cycles.
The current Republican political model is simply untenable. They are facing one major disadvantage above all others: the instantaneous flow of information. The exchange of information leads to learning, to growing, to change, and change is, by definition, what a conservative should oppose. But what does their resistance to change, their adamant clinging to values of generations past, really do for the party as a whole? Such obstinacy only ensures that, as the world moves on, the Republican party will be left behind.
For instance, thirty years ago, would top-ranked television shows include homosexual partners? Would there have been legal homosexual civil unions and legal rights and protections, much less gay marriage? Would a mixed-race marriage not even raise an eyebrow in most of the country? Would a mixed-race man with a Muslim middle name have even been considered for a career job in the government, much less as president?
Of course not, but now, such are the norm. The world is moving on, and the Republican party is stuck in a death spiral; every time a Republican says or does or encourages something illegal, immoral, or otherwise politically abhorrent, that Republican is only accelerating their descent to political marginalization.
To wit: a short list of conservative political missteps:
- Fox News - the ‘fair and balanced’ official sponsor of Tax Day Tea Parties
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce blasts Obama’s budget and recovery plans. In this article in the New York Post, the C-of-C’s chief economist called it “the biggest return to the welfare state we’ve seen in decades.” That was a couple weeks before the Dow Jones hit bottom at about 6600 - it’s now about 8500. It’s interesting to note that just today, banks repaid the U.S. government $68B in TARP funds, and JP Morgan Chase is now paid in full. It should also be noted that in every major recession, including the Great Depression, the economy only recovered after massive infusions of taxpayer funds. The veterans of the Japanese economic meltdown of the 90‘s that heralded their economic lost decade had three words of advice to help us recover: “More money, faster.”
- There are the conservative pundits who wanted Ahmadinejad to win the Iranian election, and when the obviously fraudulent vote tally was published, they blamed the results on Obama.
- Of course Fox News couldn’t be left out of it - their commentators and guests said Obama’s speech “gave 9-11 sympathizers a voice on the world stage”, and repeatedly called the President’s overseas trip an “apology tour”.
- According to conservative pundits on Fox News, Iran is “one of the most hideous regimes in the world” (never mind that women there have FAR more rights and protection than they do in our ally, Saudi Arabia) and that our "only hope" is regime change, which term in modern politico-speak refers to assassination, coup, or invasion. Gee, a THIRD war! That’s just what the world needs, right? The same pundits also said that North Korea’s bad behavior and their arrest of two American citizens are “a humiliating repudiation of the Obama policy on North Korea” as if controlling the antics of North Korea’s Dear Leader were as simple as that!
- From South Carolina, after a gorilla escaped from a zoo elsewhere in the state, a GOP county chairman decided that “I’m sure it’s just one of Michelle’s ancestors — probably harmless.”
- Also from South Carolina, a campaign manager for the GOP candidate for governor tweeted, “Just heard Obama is going to impose a 40 percent tax on aspirin because it's white and it works."
- Yet more from South Carolina, where last year a GOP house member was caught with a flyer on his desk which stated that Obama was sure to lose the black vote because he had promised a job to all black Americans, but that those black Americans were too lazy to actually want the jobs.
(Gee, one wonders how successful the South Carolina GOP will be in winning the minority vote in the next several elections?)
- And I‘m sure by now we‘ve all heard of this repugnantly racist e-mail, sent by the legislative staff member of a GOP state senator, who only regretted that she sent it "to the wrong group."
But it’s not just about foreign policy and racism. Now RNC Chairman Michael Steele claimed that the upcoming Constitutionally-required census would be used for political gain: “Certainly the collection of this information is going to be part of an ongoing political campaign by this administration.” Not to be outdone, MN GOP Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann said that she would not be answering any questions in the census beyond how many people are in the household. Perhaps she is unaware that much more than that is required by Federal law.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - roger nowosielski
In spite of your good intentions, Glenn, as expressed in the last paragraph, you do know, don't you, that you're going to be shot down.
2 - Glenn Contrarian
Rog -
Yeah, you're right. It goes back to the old saw that a man will usually only expect from others what he would do himself. They would probably expect that my last paragraph to be insincere, for they would probably be just as sincere if they uttered the same statement.
But I've said many times the high regard in which I hold Reagan. Do you know he got rid of the government subsidies to HMO's - to the howling protests of the Democrats? And now the conservatives under Bush gave the subsidies back - to the muted protests of the Democrats.
3 - roger nowosielski
Fail to understand your last comment, Glenn. Perhaps I don't understand what is/was at stake (about the HMO's, that is).
4 - roger nowosielski
The remarks about Michelle Obama, though, that you're citing - are the epitome of stupidity. It's almost beyond belief.
5 - Arch Conservative
One could just as easily come up with a longer list of dumbass remarks made by liberal leftist moonbats Glen.........You're point?
Not too long ago people were writing the Dem party off. Politics, like economics, cycles. Emjoy your little pipe dream of 100 years of moonbattery while it lasts Glen. That dream is certainly destined to be run down by a freight train called reality in that not to distant futre, possibly as early as 2010.
6 - Arch Conservative
That should have been 1000 years (I think you get the reference [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor].)
7 - Jordan Richardson
Arch, you say that politics runs in cycles. I guess that begs me to ask you why it matters, then, if the dream is over and "run down by a freight train called reality" possibly as soon as 2010, preferably in the form of a nicely tanned Mormon you're in love with?
Wouldn't 2010's "inevitable" right-wing breakthrough, the one you apparently see as being "reality," simply mean another phase of the cycle and another brief period of time until the pendulum of "delusional democrats" swings back into power?
If politics is such a flimsy mechanism, how can one particular point of view be considered "real" at all?
When the election was on, you impressed me with your independent spirit. Now, however, it appears you've simply meandered right back into the old left vs. right arguments that inevitably clog these pages. What happened? You used to be a contender!
8 - Andy Marsh
you've simply meandered right back into the old left vs. right arguments that inevitably clog these pages
Isn't that exactly what this piece is about?
All i have to say about this entire thing is meant for all those young first time voters out there that thought that this one pol was less full of shit than all the rest....how do you feel about your vote now?
How's white house transparency look to you now?
The only difference between GWB and BHO is the color of their skin.
Gitmo's not closed....nobody knows who's visiting the white house...the auto companies are STILL declaring bankruptcy. Bankers are still taking vacations on the tax payers dime...where's all that change we can believe in?
You liberals have a very short, or is it convenient memory. Every time you get full control of the govt you lose it the next election cycle. Why? Because your party has more morons in it than the other party!
Yeah, it's a two party system and I'm tired of paying for this party, both of 'em. Turn out the lights, the party's over!
9 - Dave Nalle
Glenn, history suggests that the Republicans are most effective when they are out of power and least effective and least likely to know how to capitalize on their advantages when they are in power. The last time they were counted out they came back within just a few years to have majorities in both houses and then take the White House as well, and that was when Democrats were considerably more competent and the country was in better shape than it is now.
What you've got here is mostly wishful thinking, I'm afraid, combined with willful ignorance of how badly the left is alienating the mdoerate voter. It's those moderates -- increasingly radicalized and pushed to the right -- who are driving Fox News to higher and higher ratings and who are showing up at the Tea Parties. They are NOT happy with Obama's priorities and payoffs and it will show in 2010 and 2012.
Dave
10 - roger nowosielski
Dave,
"What you've got here is mostly wishful thinking, I'm afraid, combined with willful ignorance of how badly the left is alienating the moderate voter."
I'm afraid, Dave, you're wrong on this score because imo, the so-called "moderate voter" population is rapidly shrinking. (If for no other reason that we're living in hardly moderate but crisis-ridden times.) Consequently, that's one reason, I believe, why we such nastiness from both sides - because of the polarization that's occurring.
I wouldn't call the tea-party attendees "moderate voters" anymore. They may have been "moderate" during the Bush era, turning blind eye on the Iraqi adventure, but they've become "radicalized." I think "hardened" is a better word.
As to the major showdown come 2010 and 2012, we shall see. But it's not going to be pretty, I predict. I believe we're going to see the worst in divisive politics. All "moderates" will be taken prisoners.
11 - Jeannie Danna
It is a two party system... I don't even know why my party affiliation is independent! There is nothing independent about it except that the Independent party is absolutely devoid of any kind of political power. so I am in independent limbo Where are my talking points? Where is my Carl-The Architect
I wanted to volunteer to work the voting booths and I was told I had to be either a Republican or a Democrat in NY State.
When I checked out the link to the rural Pennsylvania paper I discovered it was Warren.
As a liberal I am surrounded and outnumbered here and at home. Help!
12 - roger nowosielski
#9:
"willful ignorance"
So now we've casted Glenn in an unenviable role of willfully distorting facts and opinions for the sole purpose of befuddling the mind and creating chaos and confusion whereas clear thinking ought to be the order of the day. In other words, nothing other than a shill.
Nice!
13 - Jeannie Danna
Roger, I just wrote the most depressing article. I bet they won't even publish it..:(
14 - roger nowosielski
Was it on the order of "Remembrance of Things Past"?
15 - Jeannie Danna
Remembrance of things best forgotten is more like it.
16 - Jeannie Danna
I want to write something fun and lighthearted. I either write depressed or angry it seems to me.
17 - Clavos
I'm afraid, Dave, you're wrong on this score because imo, the so-called "moderate voter" population is rapidly shrinking. (If for no other reason that we're living in hardly moderate but crisis-ridden times.)
If you're right about that, then the article is completely off base, because, as the polls show, the ranks of self-identified conservatives are growing rapidly, far more so than the self-styled liberal group.
18 - Jeannie Danna
liberal can be a nice word too:(
19 - roger nowosielski
It'd stand to reason because reaction is a natural human response, right or wrong. As to the present breakdown, I have no interest in that. 2010 will serve as a test.
20 - m ark
Yeah, it's a two party system and I'm tired of paying for this party, both of 'em. Turn out the lights, the party's over!
I'm with Andy.
21 - Jeannie Danna
Yeah, it's a two party system and I'm tired of paying for this party, both of 'em. Turn out the lights, the party's over!
ditto
22 - Jeannie Danna
But you should all pay your taxes before you leave
23 - Glenn Contrarian
Arch-Con -
If you can come up with a similar list of political missteps by Democrats - including flagrant racism of equal repugnancy, and murders of innocents just because they're conservative - then please do so.
But you won't, because you can't.
24 - roger nowosielski
Perhaps we should try to distinguish between what's good for the country and what's bad, and admit that the two-party system (and their virtual split) is not necessarily indicative of the first-mentioned distinction.
Perhaps, just perhaps, it may well be that we're all being taken to the cleaners. And any such eventuality would seem to pose an even greater dilemma: is there a way of setting things aright, or perhaps that time is long past?
25 - Glenn Contrarian
Dave #9 -
If as you say the conservatives are at their best when they're out of power, then I think most conservatives would disagree and use the Reagan era as their example. But you may be right on that point.
However, you're ignoring reality when it comes the the left's 'alienating' of the moderate vote. While many on the left are frustrated with SOME of Obama's decisions, the VAST majority are happy with him OVERALL.
Not only that, but even the moderates who are unhappy with Obama face a choice - a Democratic president who is governing from the center (which by definition means taking some cues from left AND right), and an increasingly shrill Republican base that is being framed in the public view as tainted by far-right extremists, racial prejudice, and domestic terrorism.
Please note I did not say the Republican base was guilty of those such extremism, prejudice, and domestic terrorism - I said that's the public perception...
...and that's why even if the moderates don't want to vote for Obama, they WILL vote against what they see as a party of prejudice and extremism.