Which way forward, GOP?

[renard_ruse]

Recriminations, acrimony, panic, contradictory advice from every direction...

Its all we're hearing these days from and about the Republican Party.

The mainstream media has been quite generous in offering unsolicited advice to the party in the wake of last Tuesday's election, which is best dismissed out of hand when you consider that the same media detests the party to begin with and habitually does everything in its power to demonize and defeat it. Not the first place I would suggest going for objective analysis and advice, but hey, that's just me.

Within the party and among supporters, however, a vigorous debate is going on, and should be so, but there's no need to ask Democrats or liberals for their help. Its an internal matter that needs to be sorted out among the GOP, if indeed there actually is a major problem that needs to be "sorted out."

 

[ms_ann_thrope]

If I were betting odds, in 4 years the country will be begging for anything different.

 

[garbage can]

Recriminations, acrimony, panic, contradictory advice from every direction...

Its all we're hearing these days from and about the Republican Party.

The mainstream media has been quite generous in offering unsolicited advice to the party in the wake of last Tuesday's election, which is best dismissed out of hand when you consider that the same media detests the party to begin with and habitually does everything in its power to demonize and defeat it. Not the first place I would suggest going for objective analysis and advice, but hey, that's just me.

Within the party and among supporters, however, a vigorous debate is going on, and should be so, but there's no need to ask Democrats or liberals for their help. Its an internal matter that needs to be sorted out among the GOP, if indeed there actually is a major problem that needs to be "sorted out."

IMO, there are serious issues that need to be sorted out.

 

[renard_ruse]

Lets look, for a moment, at the actual facts from the Presidental election first.

Romney in fact came very close to winning the election against a still relatively popular incumbant President in what was perceived to be an improving economy, and this despite the vast majority of the major media being openly hostile to him and doing everything in its power to promote his opponent. He closed a large polling gap in just a few weeks.

The percentage of support for the Republicans was up in most major demographic groups over 2008, including women (so much for the ballyhoo'ed "war on women"). Romney significantly improved support among white women, as well as among white men, and won a majority of votes among whites in every age category, including 18-24 year old. But, here's a real surprise, he actually got into double digits among black men and improved over McCain's showing by a few points. And, most significantly, all this was with 3 million fewer Republicans showing up to vote than in 2008.

The Republicans maintained control of the House of Representative, and continue to control the majority of governorships.

Yes, there are serious problems, but its hardly time for panic in the party.

 

[warrior queen]

I'd like to ask 2 stupid questions, if that's ok?

1. What does GOP stand for?
2. How can anything be achieved when you have a Democrat President, but a Republican majority?

Thanx in advance

 

[blobfish]

I'd like to ask 2 stupid questions, if that's ok?

1. What does GOP stand for?
2. How can anything be achieved when you have a Democrat President, but a Republican majority?

Thanx in advance

Your Google must be on the fritz today.

 

[warrior queen]

Your Google must be on the fritz today.

*sigh* I have already explained this to you.
Please pay attention!

And seriously - wtf is lit for, if not to ask the edumacated folks stuff I can't understand?

 

[Tryharder62]

I'd like to ask 2 stupid questions, if that's ok?

1. What does GOP stand for?
2. How can anything be achieved when you have a Democrat President, but a Republican majority?

Thanx in advance

1. Grand Old Party
2. Nothing gets achieved.

 

[warrior queen]

1. Grand Old Party
2. Nothing gets achieved.

Another question..... I know this is annoying....
Why is it called the Grand Old Party?

 

[garbage can]

I'd like to ask 2 stupid questions, if that's ok?

1. What does GOP stand for?
2. How can anything be achieved when you have a Democrat President, but a Republican majority?

Thanx in advance

Someone once said...there are no stupid questions...

GOP means Grand old Party.

The Dems fucked up, if they wanted the Messiah to govern uncontrollably, they would have elected a full Democratic Congress.

 

[renard_ruse]

So, where are the problems? Well, there is no shortage of areas needing improvement according to the DNC, the mainstream media, and among the liberal and establishment wings of the party itself. However, as usual, much of the "suggestions" are self-serving from people who hate the party and want to see its demise in the first place.

First, let's dismiss where the problem is NOT. The problem is NOT, as this election showed, with [all] women. Romney won a clear majority of white women's votes. The whole idea that there is a "woman vote" is prima facea stupid and the election proved that. Is there a "gender gap"? Sure, but this can be taken just as readily to say that the Democrats have a problem with the men's vote. More black men actually voted, however slightly, for the Republicans in 2012 than in 2008. Yes, even more ground was lost among black and Hispanic women, and yes, less women vote for Republicans than men, but there is no indication, save when a candidate makes a [politically] bonehead statement like some Senatorial candidates did, that women vote more socially liberal than men, and certainly no evidence of a significant gap between the sexes on the abortion question. Annecdotally, I can attest, that the most of the loudest abortion supporting loudmouths I find are in fact men.

That brings to the second point of where the problem is NOT. Its not over social issues. I will not dispute that the country is trending even more liberal on social issues than it ever has, BUT that does not appear to have been a driving force away from the GOP in the Presidential election this year, nor at very many local levels besides for, again, the occasional [politically] bonehead comment. However, one could argue that the lukewarm support, at best, on family values issues from Romney and the party establishment is partly to blame for the depressed Republican turnout. This was a turnout election and a lot of socially conservative voters stayed home, proving the old adage the GOP can't win without them.

So, where ARE the problem areas? This was in large part a racial election. Like it or not, our elections are becoming closer and closer to what South Africans call their "racial census" (a cynical but fairly accurate name for their national elections). To be specific, Hispanics (and Asian-Americans) were kingmakers in this election, and in many places at the state and local races as well.

 

[Tryharder62]

Another question..... I know this is annoying....
Why is it called the Grand Old Party?

Because it's an old political party that thinks it's Grand
Now you have to answer my question please! Did you ever say whether or not your avatar is you? I must have missed it if you did.

 

[Tryharder62]

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1481/why-is-the-republican-party-called-the-gop

 

[warrior queen]

Because it's an old political party that thinks it's Grand
Now you have to answer my question please! Did you ever say whether or not your avatar is you? I must have missed it if you did.

My av is most definitely me
A little old tho - I have been doing weights and cross-training since then.
If you look closely, you'll see my built-in wardrobe behind me

 

[Tryharder62]

My av is most definitely me
A little old tho - I have been doing weights and cross-training since then.
If you look closely, you'll see my built-in wardrobe behind me

Gorgeous!

 

[warrior queen]

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1481/why-is-the-republican-party-called-the-gop

Thanx!

 

[warrior queen]

Gorgeous!

And thanx again

 

[blobfish]

Another question..... I know this is annoying....
Why is it called the Grand Old Party?

There's not really a reason. Some said it back in the nineteenth century, and it stuck.

 

[garbage can]

The Repubs, through their own stupidity, allow themselves to be stereotyped.

 

[garbage can]

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1481/why-is-the-republican-party-called-the-gop

Thanks Th62.

 

[warrior queen]

Someone once said...there are no stupid questions...

Apparently there are.
Many people here flame for questions - of course, they're usually Americans who think that everyone in the world should know EXACTLY what they mean

Thankyou for acknowledging that not all of us are familiar with the USA.

 

[blobfish]

Apparently there are.
Many people here flame for questions - of course, they're usually Americans who think that everyone in the world should know EXACTLY what they mean

Thankyou for acknowledging that not all of us are familiar with the USA.

Google is available to all the people of the world. Or if you live in China, Baidu.

 

[garbage can]

Apparently there are.
Many people here flame for questions - of course, they're usually Americans who think that everyone in the world should know EXACTLY what they mean

Thankyou for acknowledging that not all of us are familiar with the USA.

Sometimes people forget that some just want to engage in conversation.

I thought your GOP question was a good one...............

 

[eyer]

Which way forward, GOP?

Definitely sounds like a lemming mating call to other lost and insecure herdmates...

 

[Squibbs]

Someone once said...there are no stupid questions...

GOP means Grand old Party.

The Dems fucked up, if they wanted the Messiah to govern uncontrollably, they would have elected a full Democratic Congress.

Yeah, Obama sure did fuck this election up.