What would happen to the Republican party if/when they lose the election?

[NoodleBoy]

Presidential wins and losses usually tend to dictate a reorganization of a political party. Bush I's loss in 1992 wasn't taken very seriously by the Republican party, although there was a surge in focus on Congress. Dole's loss in 1996 brought about a fairly obvious reorganization, and Bush II's winning the Republican primaries in 2000 cemented that (the move away from old-er politicians, the rise of neocons etc), and his selection for the presidency brought about a reorganizing of the Democratic party, shifting from the 'Clintonian' politics practiced by Gore a bit to the left, as well as beginning the appearance of fairly unknown politicians such as Kerry, Dean, Edwards, Clarke and the like.

So my question is, if/when Bush loses this election, does anyone think there would be a 'reorganization,' and if there is one, what would it shift toward?

[olddem43]

1. They will eventually find something that works for them -

just as when communism collapsed, they turned to attacking the US government as the enemy. It's always amazed me that a party of simple isolationists and tax haters could turn into this ugly crowd of bigots.

[childslibrarian]

2. McCain

That's why he's hanging in there. He can write own ticket and lead the party if Bush loses...

[qazplm]

3. yeah

McCain is definitely top dawg, and I think you see the Republicans turn away from the social conservatism and move more towards economic conservativism.

[NWHarkness]

4. Civil war in the GOP

There will be a very nasty struggle within the party between those who think they lost by being too conservative and those who don't think Bush was conservative enough.

I doubt any of the current favorites, McCain, Frist, Hagel, etc. will be on top in 2008. More likely a new leader will emerge in each faction.

If I had to guess, I'd predict that they will nominate a real Neaderthal in '08 and go down to ugly defeat. Only then will more sensible politicians gain control of the party.

[yellowcanine]

5. Neocons will be down but not out, McCain will be up but a lot depends on

whether the pubbies lose either the Senate or the House. If they lose the House DeLay and Hastert will be out as leaders. If they lose the Senate, Frist is out and McCain is in as leader. If they lose the WH, House, and Senate all hell breaks loose and there could be some major defections of moderate Republicans to the Democratic Party.

[NoodleBoy]

6. would you say...

that if we take the White House, and make strides in the congress, or take a majority in either one, that this would trigger the defection of McCain and others?

Or would some Red states going Blue for the Presidential election trigger that?

And on another line, what would happen to the Democratic Party if we don't gain the White House and little changes occur in the congress?

[belle]

7. Neocons will be down *or* out, but fundies aren't finished yet...

look for them to make their move.

[Big Al from WI]

9. GOP not going to lose the House

because of gerrymandering in places like TX and PA. We'll have to settle for the White House and Senate for now, that will be better than this nonsense.

[amber dog democrat]

8. The will go back to the Supreme Court to Get the Chimp

re appointed.

[Nicholas_J]

10. Neo Conservatism isTo Republicanism

What Clintonian Centrism was to the Democrats. Both changes to the original party base seems to be surviving. The democrats have started to lose the most liberal and progressive supporters it attracted, while the most moderate of Republicans are finding that Neo-Conservatism is starting to leave a bad taste in its mouth due to its extremism. Netther attempt has been found to be sucessful. Moderate Republicans are beginning to suspect an ideology that spends untld sums of money engaging in unneccesry militarism. Democrats are begniing to be uncomfortable with a democratic party that was starting to look TOO uncomforatably conservative, sacrificing its core social elements in order to appear fiscally conservative.

The selection of one of the most liberal senators in Congress sent the democrats a message that sent shivers up their spines. Get back to the party's original ideology. THe type of Democracy espoused by FDR and John Kennedy is what they want again, not CLintoninan Centrism. THe rejection of Dean style government, based on fiscal conservatism, rather than fiscal responsability was a very clear call that the American Public is looking fomr something it had and lost, rather than more changes that do not seem to work.

The basic mesage, if its not reall broken, it doesnt need to be fixed.