Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
This Is The Best They Can Do?
Breaking news, three days before the election: Obama's aunt is an illegal alien! Racism and anti-immigration all wrapped up in one. I have a hard time believing this could possibly be a game changer.
What is the Future of the GOP?
What will happen to the Republican party if they lose? Will the party move more toward the Bush-centered base or in a more moderate direction? Will they engage in some genuine discussion about what their party stands for?
At its core, the Republican party is being splintered apart right now. The fiscally conservative wing of the party vs. the Christian base. The Democratic party was torn apart in the 60's by two phenomena: 1) Southerners in droves -- anti-segregationists -- left for the Republican party. 2) Our economy boomed. Prosperity and suburban drift were accompanied by a general impulse to protect. Keep urban problems in the city, lock prisoners up, keep taxes low, and encourage growth in the stock market where 401K's were stashed away. It will be interesting to see if the Democrats (and I don't have much faith that they will) can co-opt the Republican message of fiscal responsibility with low taxes, absorb that wing of the Republican party and establish a long-lasting reign. The suburbs are beginning to contract.
At its core, the Republican party is being splintered apart right now. The fiscally conservative wing of the party vs. the Christian base. The Democratic party was torn apart in the 60's by two phenomena: 1) Southerners in droves -- anti-segregationists -- left for the Republican party. 2) Our economy boomed. Prosperity and suburban drift were accompanied by a general impulse to protect. Keep urban problems in the city, lock prisoners up, keep taxes low, and encourage growth in the stock market where 401K's were stashed away. It will be interesting to see if the Democrats (and I don't have much faith that they will) can co-opt the Republican message of fiscal responsibility with low taxes, absorb that wing of the Republican party and establish a long-lasting reign. The suburbs are beginning to contract.
Who Would Fare Better?
An interesting discussion going on at Politico about which other Republican nominee might have done better against Obama.
Some other candidates discussed:
1. The "Real" John McCain -- of 2000.
2. A Palin-less McCain, perhaps with Tim Pawlenty (to keep the base) or Lieberman or Ridge (to bring in the moderates).
3. Maybe Mike Huckabee.
4. Ronald Reagan.
5. Abraham Lincoln.
The funny thing about all of these responses (the most popular by far being a "Real" McCain) is that they tap into a general thread of nostalgia and romanticism that runs through the Republican party. It's just a continued denial of reality and present circumstances. What about McCain has changed in eight years? He's developed a pragmatic ruthlessness that has given him the nomination and made him competitive in a race he should have been blown out. Dreamy Republicans want their candidate but want him without the very qualities that anyone running for higher office in their party must display: a witless pandering to the base, a general dumbing down of discourse and a rigid adherence to party lines on abortion/taxes/environmental issues.
Some other candidates discussed:
1. The "Real" John McCain -- of 2000.
2. A Palin-less McCain, perhaps with Tim Pawlenty (to keep the base) or Lieberman or Ridge (to bring in the moderates).
3. Maybe Mike Huckabee.
4. Ronald Reagan.
5. Abraham Lincoln.
The funny thing about all of these responses (the most popular by far being a "Real" McCain) is that they tap into a general thread of nostalgia and romanticism that runs through the Republican party. It's just a continued denial of reality and present circumstances. What about McCain has changed in eight years? He's developed a pragmatic ruthlessness that has given him the nomination and made him competitive in a race he should have been blown out. Dreamy Republicans want their candidate but want him without the very qualities that anyone running for higher office in their party must display: a witless pandering to the base, a general dumbing down of discourse and a rigid adherence to party lines on abortion/taxes/environmental issues.
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