Two visions of the electorate
The Reagan coalition that began to grow in the 1970s and brought Reagan to the White House and won the House for the GOP in 1994 is shrinking. Republicans can’t just keep trying to put it back together. It’s just not statistically possible.
In addition, the GOP “brand” has taken a big hit in recent years. Many voters still blame former George W. Bush for the economic crisis, and my hunch is that the Iraq War has done quiet but substantial damage to the Republican party as well, calling into question its overall competency and turning off isolationist-minded voters. In addition, the comments of Todd Akin reinforced the unfair image of the GOP as a party of men looking to take away the freedoms of women and return the country to the 1950s…
The first step to solving any problem is to admit that you have one. Many (though not all) on the right have been unwilling to admit that very real demographic changes are tilting the electoral map towards the Democrats. Conservatives have tried to convince themselves that turning Arkansas and West Virginia from blue to red will help stem the tide, but what good does it do to win these states yet see Florida, Virginia, Nevada, and Colorado slipping away from the GOP?
Blowback
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Just fire the Ayatollahs in this damn party post haste.
You’ll see immediate improvement in both morale and outlook and performance.
HondaV65 on November 8, 2012 at 4:24 PM
Margin of victory in key states: Virginia 107,339; Ohio 100,763; Florida 47,493; Colorado 111,094; Nevada 66,379. Total 433,068.
A majority is not at all out of reach.
alwaysfiredup on November 8, 2012 at 4:26 PM
I agree establishment people need to go, but the Tea Party “leaders” need a dose of reality, too.
blatantblue on November 8, 2012 at 4:27 PM
Thank ya.
Everyone is panicking.
OMG THE ELECTORATE HAS CHANGED.
Show me the evidence.
53 percent of people surveyed in exit polls said gov’t has gone beyond its reach in doing things that should be done by individuals and businesses. Obama’s margin of victory among many states, as you aptly pointed out, was anything but substantial.
The electorate has not shifted. Obama has run TWO campaigns talking about “reducing” the deficit and “lowering” taxes for most Americans. Low information voters; that’s all they see.
We are not a left wing country now.
blatantblue on November 8, 2012 at 4:29 PM
I don’t think embracing SSM (which I do for what it’s worth) or abortion is going to swing things back. Immigration may, for the short term, bring back some Hispanics but not, I think, for long.
This pro-Democratic element simply likes big government and it’s simply impossible for the GOP to “out-big” Democrats. They’ll always promise more and up the ante.
SteveMG on November 8, 2012 at 4:29 PM
Hmm, people say they want smaller government and cuts but when you ask them what to eliminate they say “foreign aid.”
Sorry folks, that’s not going to do it.
SteveMG on November 8, 2012 at 4:30 PM
Perhaps explaining conservatism in simple clear ideas might help.
.
.
Sorry must be the booze talking
LincolntheHun on November 8, 2012 at 4:32 PM
Yes the GOP brand has taken a big hit, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with Bush, or Iraq.
We are just not cool. Young people and single women are consistent voters now. We are seen as bossy, Daddy-types on Facebook.
faraway on November 8, 2012 at 4:33 PM
better be good booze
you know, ever time I see these republicans, establishment OR TP’ers, I face palm
they have NO skills in conveying a message
i always find myself saying WTF WHY DIDNT YOU SAY THIS, OR SAY THAT
blatantblue on November 8, 2012 at 4:33 PM
Really? Which one has the better electoral record? WHen was our last massive “moderate wave”?
ddrintn on November 8, 2012 at 4:34 PM
Ryan was a surprising hit with old folks in Florida. All we really need is a plan that seems likely to work and a smart, persuasive, good-looking pitchman.
alwaysfiredup on November 8, 2012 at 4:35 PM
RINOS 0
Dems 2
faraway on November 8, 2012 at 4:35 PM
That isn’t true. Don’t fall for the meme.
alwaysfiredup on November 8, 2012 at 4:36 PM
Yes, it does – in part - have to do with Bush. Fairly or not a not insignificant segment of the electorate blames him for the financial crisis.
Sure, most of them are liberals but I think a number of swing voters think so too.
SteveMG on November 8, 2012 at 4:39 PM
Did you not read the headline this AM?
Various “Tea Party leaders” talking, blabbing about how Romney ruined everything. Did you not see that?
How Romney failed to make a “distinction” of himself from Obama.
How he “failed” to articulate on the national stage. The guy jumped on the Third Rail of Politics for Pete’s sake.
What a joke. They’re clueless.
The pansies in the establishment are clueless, and the “leaders” of the Tea Party aren’t any better. The movement is in a real sh1tty place.
blatantblue on November 8, 2012 at 4:39 PM
the GOP has two choices:
try to pander like the Democrats and become a “free stuff” party
or
get in there and actually explain to the people receiving “free stuff” that the Democrats and social programs have ruined their lives.
With the people in charge of this party I think the first option will be taken.
joey24007 on November 8, 2012 at 4:46 PM
No, actually what I saw was this:
As Limbaugh would say, rightonrightonrighton. There is absolutely NOTHING untrue in that statement.
He did no such friggin’ thing. He BECAME the friggin’ Third Rail. He ran as the Medicaid candidate.
ddrintn on November 8, 2012 at 4:48 PM
* Medicare, rather.
ddrintn on November 8, 2012 at 4:48 PM
So, what you are saying is that Dems let it burn after the 2006 elections?
faraway on November 8, 2012 at 4:48 PM
I would add also, no sooner is Romney’s political body cold and buried, than we have the very same geniuses starting to pimp Jeb/Marco as Our Only Hope. I knew it was coming. I knew it.
ddrintn on November 8, 2012 at 4:53 PM
We must have watched a completely different campaign
They advocated keeping current benefits for older people and retirees, but changing the rest.
blatantblue on November 8, 2012 at 4:58 PM
Yeah, we must have, because what I saw was that in an attempt to gain south FL votes and out of fear of the usual Dem demogoguery, we had the bizarre spectacle of a GOP candidate setting himself up as a guardian of the welfare state.
ddrintn on November 8, 2012 at 5:02 PM
^ And the fact is, Romney wouldn’t have done a damn thing more than Obama about entitlement spending. You know it and I know it.
ddrintn on November 8, 2012 at 5:03 PM
Bullcrap! Conservatism isn’t or white men only. It is a philosophy that can appeal to anyone.
Why is there this assumption on the Left that minorities are natural Liberals?
Charlemagne on November 8, 2012 at 5:07 PM
You know, the continuation of 47% Americans are freeloaders meme, the us and them attitude, is exactly why the Republican Party dwindles. Alienate people, then wonder why they don’t listen to you, much less vote for you. Four years from now it won’t be 47%, it will be well over 50% (a person turns 65 and goes onto medicare every 7 seconds, do the math). What’s the plan then? Tell over half the voting public they’re parasites?
Only the big tent is going to save the party.
RINOs are people too on November 8, 2012 at 5:17 PM
You’d have a point if Romney had ever done anything to alienate anyone other than conservatives.
ddrintn on November 8, 2012 at 5:19 PM
Dumb and dumber?
squint on November 8, 2012 at 5:30 PM