The GOP is Home Alone

[GoLeft TV]

Run time: 03:24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwGd38LLF5Q   Posted on YouTube: February 18, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: February 19, 2009 By DU Member: GoLeft TV Views on DU: 809

 
Who is in charge of the GOP? That's the question that most conservatives want answered. From the look of it, the de facto leaders have become people like Rush Limbaugh, Joe the Plumber, and Sarah Palin. Ring of Fire's Mike Papantonio talks about how the GOP's leadership void happened, and what this means for American politics.

[bdamomma]

1. the repigs need to be stamped out in 2010 and we could do it.

[MrModerate]

2. I've been paying attention to politics for 40+ years now . . .

And I'm yet to see a period where both parties were functioning in a responsible, effective manner that would let centrist compromise give birth to good policy. It's always been one party in the weeds and one party in the ascendancy.

Maybe we need more than two parties? (i.e., more than two parties having a shot at viable voting blocks in Congress and state legislatures, as well as higher federal office.)

[RBInMaine]

3. Democrats ARE in the center today. The ground has shifted, and Americans FINALLY want their

government to work in their interest again. Dems DO need to be wary not to pull too far to the left. But such positions as universal healthcare, financial regulation, affordable higher education, affordable housing, living wages, MORE political reform (get the lobbyists out), smart diplomacy, smart use of American power overseas (wind down Iraq and finish Afghanistan timely), FAIR trade agreements, a greener economy, and collective bargaining are in vogue BIGTIME. Why? Because Americans have finally started to realize how royally screwed they've been by the GOP and the right wing corporations who control so much. Democrats must continue to seize this moment and be the NEW MAINSTREAM party of America on those progressive and populist issues. The DANGER for Dems is if they allow themselves to again be over-controlled by some groups too far out on the left on the social issues such as "guns, gods, gays, and abortion."
On those wedge issues, Americans on balance still lean at least slightly right of center. The formula for continued DESTRUCTION of the GOP is to CRUSH them on the domestic economic issues (where they are WAY out of touch)and foreign policy, and to not allow them to divide on the controversial social issues by keeping with traditionally "centrist" approaches to those. (i.e. keep abortion legal but RARE; go for instant background checks on guns, and allow legal hunters to hunt; don't be afraid to invoke religion, and REMIND people how devoted Jesus was to social and economic justice;
civil unions and equal protections are right and moral, but gay marriage goes too far as of now.)
If we stay organized, are well lead, and stay on the right side of the issues, we win BIGTIME into the future.

[MrModerate]

4. I agree with you the dems have captured the center . . .

(note my screen name) and that's the sweet spot of policies that should be guiding the country. However, I'm holding two somewhat incompatible notions in my mind simultaneously:

1) Timidity in the face of guns, gods, gays, and gestation is *not* the way to govern or to maintain power. Those issues (as articulated by traditional center-left dem constituencies) are central to liberal beliefs regarding human rights. Being "pulled too far to the left" is a red herring, and in fact strength and consistency on such issues is not only morally defensible, but politically smart. "Abortion legal but rare" is an aspirational goal but not a policy; the problem with guns is not that unqualified people can buy them, but that guns are so lethal no one is genuinely qualified to carry them in uncontrolled conditions; marriage (same-sex and otherwise) is an inalienable right; and religion is a personal choice that has no place in politics, period.

2) Having said that, what dems lose by having no one at home in the opposition with a lick of sense is the necessary counterweight that ideological consensus in the ruling party demands. In the absence of serious countervailing views, our ideas don't get tested, don't get comprehensive reality checks, and can be seen as disenfranchising to citizens who naturally find their home in the other camp.

My fondest dream is that the 'Licans get whacked in 2010 (we get 5 or more Senate seats plus whoever Burris' replacement ends up being, plus Franken; and additional 'Lican losses in the House). Two outcomes: the adults seize control of the rump Republican party and begin fighting back on the basis of competence and genuine philosophical competition (providing the necessary counterweight), and an emboldened Democratic party tells its timid DINOs and Blue Dogs to get with the program or get out of the way, since they are no longer essential swing votes.

By 2014 or 2016, things have balanced out, but instead of shrill shrieking (in this dream, Hannity, Limbaugh, and O'Reilly have all become softcore porn producers in Mumbai following the collapse of their US-based careers), real political dialog ensues -- and it's mostly clustered at the center of the political spectrum.

[RBInMaine]

5. Nice dream, but won't happen if we go "hard left" on god, gays, guns, and abortion.

With all respect, I think you've fallen into the social issues trap that has thrashed D's in election after election. Like it or not, political reality is political reality. On god, guns, gays, and abortion, the country remains traditionally center/center-right. If we do as you suggest and try to pull the big trigger on those, it hurts us bigtime because the R's will still be able to use these issues with some effect. Make absolutely no mistake about that. 1) I myself am a deer hunter in Maine, and I will see you in hell before I give up my three firearms. This is America, we are a diverse nation with a tradition of hunting, and PLENTY of Dems especially in rural areas hunt and target shoot. Most gun owners are fine with reasonable provisions to keep guns away from criminals, kids, and mentally ill people, but start talking like you do here and it will DOOM us.
2) Legal but rare on abortion is absolutely a policy. You push education, prevention, adoption, and regulation, but it remains legal. 3) The country as a whole is not ready for national gay marriage, much as you would like to see it happen. Face reality on it. Maybe in time, but not yet, and you can't force it down their throats. I think most ARE ready for equal rights in all other social venues (jobs, school, accommodations, etc. as we have in Maine) and most are ok with civil unions, but we just aren't there on marriage yet, and Obama and Biden were damn smart to reject it as national public policy. 4) It is absolutely fine to discuss religion in our party and to talk a lot about how Jesus shared our values.

Clinton was successful because he ran and governed from the center. We are moving fast toward a new progressive and populist center on economics and foreign policy. Social issue remain center/center-right whether we like it or not. Many of us have learned this lesson. Our job is to keep the trend moving fast toward progressive-populist on the economy, and move very slowly and carefully on the social issues. That is a winnning strategy which will add to the R's doom, a party that is now flailing and trying to figure out whether it is going to go "hip hop" as their new RNC Chairman wants, or if they are going to huddle around Rush, Sean, Bill, and Ann and their right wingers in congress. It will be interesting to watch them struggle, but we must not help them. We must stay UNITED even if we always don't agree (we MUST have a big tent), and we must keep our finger on AMERICA'S pulse, not just our own.