Comments on The 7-10: Palmer on Politics: Three Faces of the Republican Party's Problem

Chris McNeal,If a new political party is to form, ...

2009-01-24T11:16:00.000-05:00

Chris McNeal,

If a new political party is to form, it would be a coalition of Blue Dog Democrats (conservative Democrats) and moderate Republicans. The Republican Party is not large enough anymore to accommodate both the religious right and social moderates. These social moderates have made their home (tepidly) with the Dems, but if there is a viable political alliance, I'd expect this new party to be the most successful third party in decades. If the RNC chooses someone like Katon Dawson or that "Barack the Magic Negro" guy from Tennessee (Mike Duncan?), look for this crackup to happen within 5 years.

Thanks for the comment.

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Novice,

Thank you! And keep dropping by!

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King,

Have you ever noticed that when Democrats fail, it's because liberalism is a terrible philosophy, while when Republicans fail, it's because the politician failed and the ideology didn't? People say "Bush wasn't a true conservative" or that "Congressional Republicans weren't true conservatives." Well, why do these frauds keep getting elected? And whatever happened to personal accountability?

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Miniman,

I do agree that the GOP can't simply fold, otherwise, the Dems wouldn't be held in check by anything. However, they do need to find a way to make their party a comfortable home for a broader spectrum of voters because rural America is not large enough anymore to offset the new America.

Thank you all for the comments!

The Republican party doesn't have to change that m...

2009-01-21T08:47:00.000-05:00

The Republican party doesn't have to change that much tho. Thats what I've been trying to say- conservatism still appeals to a great number of people, even if they lost the last few elections. Should Obama's big plans of radical change and increased government fail, then it is almost certain that the conservatives (under the Republcian banner) will make as many gains in government as they have just lost.

At the very least, the Republican party exists as the alternative to the Democrats- a role that almost every party has taken on at some point in our nation's history.

-miniman

DB: I would challenge that assertion on the ground...

2009-01-21T00:17:00.000-05:00

DB: I would challenge that assertion on the ground that the current Republican establishment is not very inclined towards changing. What I see is one of two possibilities: More and more conservatives become independents but a rigid core of non-changers remains. As Republican resources deplete, the large group of independents slowly but surely join a rising third party which eventually overtakes the Republican Party.

The second possibility falls in line with the general trend of the declining power of the American political party. The Republican PArty continues but in name only as parties really don't do much these days and nobody really cares to overtake it because nobody cares about parties. I think this is a more likely reason for the Republican Party not being overtaken.

I'd have to agree with that. This election represe...

2009-01-20T09:35:00.000-05:00

I'd have to agree with that. This election represents a shift in ideology, but I really doubt it is anywhere massive enough to completely destroy the Republican party. The more relaistic question here I think is "How will the Republican party change?"

Palmer- About the Ronald Reagan thing, isn't looking back with nastalgia one of the fundamental principles of conservatism- the notion that society and government is headed the wrong way, and we need to return to the values and the governing of 'the good ol' days?'

-miniman

I know you didn't ask me, but I thought I would gi...

2009-01-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

I know you didn't ask me, but I thought I would give it a shot: the Republican Party isn't going anywhere. They will change before they die. No third party has the national infrastucture to compete at the level the GOP is still able to.

Mr. Palmer,Great thoughts. I have a question for ...

2009-01-19T23:05:00.000-05:00

Mr. Palmer,

Great thoughts. I have a question for you that you might want to entertain. Given that America's winner-take-all system does not support third parties well, do you believe that as the Republican party declines (and I believe it will continue to do so), that it will be supplanted by another party? If so, what do you think will distinguish that party from the Republican party?

Might also add that the GOP is bereft of ideas. Go...

2009-01-19T19:47:00.000-05:00

Might also add that the GOP is bereft of ideas. Good ideas should transcend bad messengers. Clearly, Bush is a bad messenger, but if Americans really believed in conservatism they would still support conservative candidates. That they do not is as telling as anything they might think about Bush, Palin, Cheney, Rove, Limbaugh or any other conservative notable.

Thanx AP for all you do.

2009-01-19T01:51:00.000-05:00

Thanx AP for all you do.

SWA,Regarding the Democrats, liberals had to find ...

2009-01-18T22:58:00.000-05:00

SWA,

Regarding the Democrats, liberals had to find a way to coexist with centrists. As for Republicans, the hardcore religious fundamentalists will have to find a way to coexist with the RINOs. When you apply so many litmus tests to members of your own party, it makes it very difficult for you to grow it. It seems that if you vote for any tax increase, equivocate on gay marriage, support modest gun control measures, or do not support a blanket ban on abortion, you are bludgeoned as a "liberal" or a RINO or some other political pejorative. Amazing.

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DB,

Hannity/Limbaugh/Coulter/et al. may be quite popular, but they also do a great disservice to the party by turning off the broader electorate who thinks they are blowhards. The vitriol they commonly spew is like catnip for their audience. "John Edwards is a faggot! Ayers is a Obama's terrorist friend!" It's juicy red meat indeed, but it distracts the GOP base from talking about meaningful solutions that can appeal to the middle 40-45% of the electorate. Of course, the left has its blowhards too, but they don't seem as influential as a Hannity or Limbaugh.

And finally, I must also apologize for not being able to update this blog as much as I used to. I have no intention of letting this blog die. But classes are much more difficult this semester, so I've had to put a lot of things on the backburner. But I do appreciate your loyalty and hope you'll continue to drop by and leave your thoughtful comments. I might not be able to reply to all of them individually, but I do read them all. And I appreciate them.

A lot of this really boils down to their mentality...

2009-01-18T21:13:00.000-05:00

A lot of this really boils down to their mentality of exclusion. Reagan brings about the "real conservative" mantra, which only implies that you are a conservative or you are not. No one else welcome. Hence the term RINO.

Obama shows exactly what this exclusionary philosophy gives you...a strictly conservative, white, Southern, Christian Party. The Latinos moving into Florida, Texas, Arizona, and everywhere else in the Southwest will only make this practice hurt more. If Texas goes blue because of the Latino vote, the Republican Party may finally realize it has a problem.

Palin epitomizes this brand of conservative. Rush Limbaugh is convincing his followers that these exclusionary practices aren't why they lost, but because they weren't exclusionary enough! I see more and more of his and Hannity's influence each day and they simply do not get it and the more followers they get, the worse this problem will become for them.

Great post. It is right on target for the current state of the GOP.

"Obama was able to keep this nostalgia in check an...

2009-01-18T19:57:00.000-05:00

"Obama was able to keep this nostalgia in check and make his presidential campaign about the future. If Republicans are unable to do the same, they will be locked out of power for a very long time."

Good point, but keep another one in mind as well. They don't like to admit it, but a good many politically active Republicans know very well their ideology and positions on many issues are at odds with the thinking and preferences of most Americans. Polls consistently verify that. A big reason Reagan won big twice was because of looks, charm and charismatic personality. Even a good many people who weren't that thrilled with his politics just liked and admired Reagan.

It's hardly surprising that what most Republicans most want is another charming, charismatic Reagan type as a presidential candidate -- someone so compelling and attractive he (or she) makes people forget or ignore what Republican rule is like and what it leads to.

"The point is that so few people of color are voting for Republicans."

Ah, but if Republicans really court the black vote, they have to be assured of winning more black votes nationwide than the white votes they'll lose in the South as they abandon their Southern Strategy. Republicans would also have to seriously depart from their ideology and political positions they've held for generations. Things like an urban policy of benign neglect.

Re: Palin: "If Republicans continue to rally behind such a candidate, they will send a very clear message to people outside the GOP that she espouses what they value. Palin represents a certain level of ignorance that is both alarming and repulsive to her detractors."

Republicans like in Palin the same thing that bound them to George W. Bush. That perverse "attribute" is that the rest of us find Palin ill prepared, terribly lacking and completely unsuitable to lead the country. The more the rest of us find her unacceptable, the more a strong core of conservative Republicans like her and want to support her. At basis, it's a spite thing.

I agree Republicans need new icons and new leadership. Colin Powell was and remains their best bet. Trouble is, he's not a doctrinaire conservative, is a moderate consensus builder and isn't likely to sell out his good name and self-respect saying and doing anything to win an election. As for Powell being spite-job material, forget it.