Seven hopeful signs for Republicans
1. The economy’s getting better, but it’s still kind of lame. The Federal Reserve has said that it’ll keep interest rates low through 2014. That is not an encouraging sign about unemployment, which remains stubbornly high even as housing, retail sales and other indicia look better. Republicans can’t count on the economy to lift them out of the cellar in 2014 any more than it did in 2012, but it’s still likely to be a boost to them more than to Democrats. And, of course, the national debt will be on its way to $20 trillion by 2016.
2. The sixth year of a presidency is usually bad. Clinton’s Democratic Party picked up some House seats in 1998 because of reaction to the impeachment mess. But throughout the 20th century, the sixth year has generally seen a big loss like the Democrats in ’66 (Lyndon Johnson’s term was effectively JFK’s second) and Bush in 2006. Again, this isn’t enough to count on, but “Obama fatigue” is likely to set in.
3. Rubio offers a way out on immigration. As George W. Bush and even the much-maligned Gov. Rick Perry have shown in Texas, there’s a way for Republicans to garner enough Hispanic votes to stay in the game. (Why the culture of Texas and New Mexico has given rise to more Republicans who know how to navigate Hispanic politics than, say, Arizona and California, is a topic worth a book.)
Blowback
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The GOP is joke. We need a new party.
ronsfi on January 18, 2013 at 9:49 AM
Which is of no concern to Obama’s base, so forget that one.
OldEnglish on January 18, 2013 at 9:49 AM
Explain how that would work. Seems to me that’s a recipe for Democrat majorities on the order of Constitutional Amendment types of numbers.
The Count on January 18, 2013 at 9:55 AM
Thank you, what’s a joke is all the calls for a new or “third” party when in fact there are many many parties to choose from already. I’m pretty sure anyone making those calls for a new party aren’t building the groundwork for a new party, they just like to say it, to threaten the GOP without the work of actually making their own or at least doing their homework about their options out there. You’re right splintering up isn’t going to work and the Democrats will have unchecked power as we just punch each other instead of them.
thebrokenrattle on January 18, 2013 at 10:20 AM
We need strong conservatives of the ilk of Reagan who can promote, express, explain and make perfectly clear why conservatism is the best governance. I don’t know who that is, but when explained properly, as Rush says, conservatism always wins.
NJ Red on January 18, 2013 at 10:21 AM
.
Yeah that’s what they say. I don’t care. I want a party that represents my views. Then fight for it.
ronsfi on January 18, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Start with people who have actually practiced it, our conservative Governors and former Governors.
rockmom on January 18, 2013 at 10:41 AM
Thanks. I’d be more open to splitting up the union than splintering into a 3rd party where we’d lose far and wide into perpetuity. At least in that case there’d be an immediate payoff of somewhere to move to escape these tyrants.
I agree on the one hand – Paul, Cruz and Rubio look promising and can articulate conservatism better than Romney ever could.
The problem, if I take off my rose-colored glasses, is that I don’t think we’re dealing with the same electorate as we were 30 years ago. We still have enough numbers to win some elections, particularly midterms, when the laziest socialists stay home. But, it seems like the disengaged TMZ, free-$hit culture has taken over.
What if the Obamaphone voter is no longer just an Obama voter but a reliable voting parasite? We’re screwed.
The Count on January 18, 2013 at 10:42 AM
http://usconservatives.about.com/od/campaignselections/tp/AlternativesToTheGOP.htm
Here ya go. Go get ‘em!
thebrokenrattle on January 18, 2013 at 10:42 AM
That’s what I think, and keep in mind that my ancestors – and a lot of like-minded Southerners’ ancestors just like mine – were from whom the first Republicans were trying to save themselves. If we can disenthrall ourselves, anyone can.
Knott Buyinit on January 18, 2013 at 11:44 AM
I agree with you on the electorate…it scares me to think that sometimes. All is lost.
But the pendulum always swings back sooner or later. It goes back and forth, so I hope sooner than later for the sake of our country and kids.
NJ Red on January 18, 2013 at 11:52 AM
Most will not admit, and I don’t care bout the blowback that I get, but what the nation needs is raw conservatism. And in that sphere, its Palin. Getting back to the roots. No one else. No blowhards like West or Bachmann. No elitists like Obama. I would admit Perry to a certain extent. Hes got to brush up on his dialogue delivery next time around.
tommy71 on January 18, 2013 at 11:59 AM