OK, Obama hasn't been tested on defense quite yet... In a manner beyond acting on previous effort or ignoring ambassadors completely. BTW, many of the leftists now support republican cause. At least the ones that i know, they are hawks when it comes to foreign policy. This is pure nonsense. You are seriously reading the internet and media in the worst way. But bravo. Not sure how this is related. Keep contributing to the thread buddy. Would not want your opinion to be neglected
The grunts think this, but the leadership knows differently. Listening to some analysis yesterday by a Rep (forget his name) he said that the Reps need to include Latinos in their platform/party.
The triumph of the DLC and the essential jettisoning of the progressives by the Dem leadership has reduced a lot of the infighting. But only after the public watched them spend months pandering to the far right. And that identity crisis caused the Dems capturing the center right is the root of their problem. Now if the Reeps find a way to actually be center right again in a way that legitimately differentiates them from the Dems (as opposed to just screaming "socialist!", which almost nobody buys) rather than just juking center in the final weeks of a campaign, maybe they can hang on. There is a place for intelligent conservatism in the American landscape. The problem for the Reeps is that Dems have captured much (but not all) of that territory.
It is entirely possible that they'll try to do both at the same time. The more socially conservative church-going block within the Latino immigrant community should be a decent fit within the GOP but I think the GOP has thrown them away for a few decades, especially if the Dems start actually moving on things like immigration reform, etc.
Technically they don't have to do it yet, although that seems to be where they're putting the blame now: The demographics changed!!!!! Rmoney and Ryan are also are being blamed for the poor campaign and the VP selection is being questioned (duuuuh.. Rubio). But they're not willing to say that their policies suck and that their candidate field is full of loonies. The "rape thing" costed dearly among white women not to they don't want gays, immigrants, muslims or anything other that evangelical Christians in their party lines. If there is something that would really really worry me if I was a GOP strategist, is the positioning with the young vote: People under 40 voted overwhelmingly for Obama and the babyboomers, which are their stronghold can only continue to vote for so many years.
Disagree about the Far West--unless you mean the West Coast. The Mountain West is, along with the old Confederacy, where the party is making its last stand. And even there, you see them losing New Mexico, Colorado, and Nevada, just as VA, NC and FL are slipping away.
The GOP economic policies involve putting all of their chips behind a short term economic boost. Obama's policiy is looking 30 years down the road in a changing world (energy independence, education, slow and steady growth). It's no wonder young voters flock to Obama, while older voters flock to the GOP.
Can you give some examples in any of those fields (specifically energy independance and education) that Obama has implemented for our long term future? And the examples of the GOP ones that are just looking for a short term boost? Thanks.
these states are becoming more & more integrated and have less interest in winger racial and social politics There are just too many real-world issues with the economy, education and even global warming that us adults have to deal with. The republicans deal with small, insignificant issues.
Here's a pretty decent article discussing what Obama has accomplished on the education front, largely without any cooperation from Congress: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...459346-e171-11e1-ae7f-d2a13e249eb2_story.html On energy independence, here's a campaign comparison that gives a quick rundown of Obama's 1st term energy policy acheievements and plans for the 2nd term: https://www.cnbc.com/id/49692742
More stringent gas mileage standards, put in place without congressional action. Applying fuel efficiency and anti-pollution standards to diesel trucks, again without congressional approval (pretty sure about that). The Bush temporary tax cuts, a giant turd poised to hit the fan once he was out of office.
I think in the states you cited, the Republicans have lost serious ground to the Libertarians and Independents - especially in Colorado. that's why the Dems are starting to do well in these states.
-Domestic oil production is set to exceed oil importation in the next few years. Domestic oil production is at it's highest in decades -Since taking office, we've increase our renewable energy production from roughly 400 billion kWh to 520 billion kWh -We've doubled our production of wind energy and solar energy -Expanded pell grants to help low income students pay for college -Apointed the first Cheif Technology Office -Overhauled no child left behind
That may be shaving into their margins in close races, but speaking as a Northern VA resident I think it has more to do with demographic changes. Tim Kaine did a lot of TV ads in Spanish up here.
It's worse than that. In those days, Republicans and Democrats in congress hung out together. Because they knew and liked each other as human beings, they were better able to work together. Apparently there is much less of that happening these days. So if members of Congress themselves aren't crossing party lines to socialize with each other, it's hard to see them socializing a POTUS from an opposing party.
Party branding doesn't seem to be as important out West as in the South. In the South, Democrats are the black people's party and are to be resisted regardless of the candidate's policies. They are a bad brand. In the West, not so much. Democrats seem to do just fine as long as they walk and talk like Republicans.
Enjoyed this bit on the media aspect - the linked Friedersdorf article within is also excellent. This could certainly be a learning moment. Maybe. http://www.slate.com/articles/news_...he_republican_party_in_the_2012_election.html
They just elected their second consecutive Democratic governor. The guy who was term limited out is named Brian Schweitzer, who I hope campaigns for president some day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Schweitzer However, that would probably cut into his appearances on Real Time with Bill Maher
I think demographics are part of it too here in CO as well. the second or third (not sure which) largest city in the state is after all named Pueblo.
Not sure if the masses have learned, but the billionaires surely have. Rove, Morris, and The WSJ Op-Ed section lied to them nonstop about Romney's chances. I don't really understand why the Journal played in. Rove and Morris can make $$ in the election and cash out if wrong. The Journal is ongoing. Now it looks like a total chump. People buy the Journal to be informed and they were consistently misinformed. Now you can argue that is always so with the Journal Op-Ed section but rarely if ever does the Journal make a vociferous argument for something that will soon be publicly and visibly tested. That was a huge risk and to my mind a stupid risk. Not worth hyping just one more Presidential election if it means treating your loyal mover-and-shaker Republican readers as clowns.