Paul Krugman: Emerging Republican Minority

[cal04]

Remember how the 2004 election was supposed to have demonstrated, once and for all, that conservatism was the future of American politics? I do: early in 2005, some colleagues in the news media urged me, in effect, to give up. “The election settled some things,” I was told.

But at this point 2004 looks like an aberration, an election won with fear-and-smear tactics that have passed their sell-by date. Republicans no longer have a perceived edge over Democrats on national security — and without that edge, they stand revealed as ideologues out of step with an increasingly liberal American public.

Right now the talk of the political chattering classes is a report from the Pew Research Center showing a precipitous decline in Republican support. In 2002 equal numbers of Americans identified themselves as Republicans and Democrats, but since then the Democrats have opened up a 15-point advantage.

Part of the Republican collapse surely reflects public disgust with the Bush administration. The gap between the parties will probably get even wider when — not if — more and worse tales of corruption and abuse of power emerge.

But polling data on the issues, from Pew and elsewhere, suggest that the G.O.P.’s problems lie as much with its ideology as with one man’s disastrous reign.

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http://donkeyod.wordpress.com/2007/03/25/emerging-republican-minority/

[Erika]

1. The GOP has emerged as the party of war, fear, and greed

They have become "the ugly American". Americans want to know our sick and needy are going to get care.

They want to know we will be world leaders in peace, not war.

[HappyWeasel]

2. Basically, they are barbarians in a rapidly civilizing world.

[WCGreen]

5. Great way of putting it....

[creeksneakers2]

3. Every plank of conservatism failed

SMALLER GOVERNMENT = They knew all along that they could never deliver because government programs enjoy broad public support and eliminating any major program would result in their party being voted out of office.

TRICKLE DOWN = They don't even mention this core GOP economic belief anymore. Years of tax cuts for the rich haven't done anything to eliminate poverty, or substantially improve incomes for working people.

TAX CUTS INCREASE REVENUE = All they've done is increase debt. Revenues grew at much faster rates during the last years of Clinton than they have during Bush's time in office. Revenues doubled under Reagan but not if inflation is taken into account. The whole economy crashed under Bush 1. Bush 1 had to raise taxes because deficits exploded.

ABORTION = The Republican Party never really tackled it.

BIG MILITARY/NATIONAL DEFENSE = Military is falling apart. War is draining our nation of lives and treasure.

UNILATERALISM= Brought us nothing but enemies.

BELLIGERENT DIPLOMATIC METHODS = Didn't frighten anybody into submitting to US authority.

FAMILY VALUES = The GOP turned out not to have these.

RELIGIOUSLY BASED INTRUSION BY GOVERMENT = Got plenty of lip service but couldn't be carried out without widespread public disapproval that would lead to GOP losses. Only symbolic activities were carried out.

LAW AND ORDER = Crime is up under Bush and cuts in grants have led to less cops at the local level.

SCHOOL VOUCHERS = Would have costed huge sums of money so the GOP financial elite were never going to allow a significant voucher program.

FREE MARKET APPROACH TO ENERGY = Led to high gas prices and dependency on unsafe parts of the world. While still not submitting any significant funding to reduce fossil fuel use, every GOP politician in America speaks of the need for government support energy alternatives.

BALANCED BUDGETS = Clinton succeeded but the GOP failed miserably.

FREE MARKET APPROACH TO HEALTHCARE = Bankrupting companies and leaving millions uninsured. Even the National Chamber of Commerce is now looking at some form of universal health care.

[whoneedstickets]

4. Their 'fact free' belief system which...

...denies evolution
...denies global warming
...denies the advances of stem cell research
...denies the benefits of energy efficiency
...denies the advantages of universal health care

Leaves them squarely on the wrong side of history. The longer they defend these indefensible positions, the more they will recede.

[applegrove]

6. The longer * rules, the more the GOP looses support. At least one good thing about * still being in

power. It hurts the GOP in the end.

[hedgehog]

7. That's why I think Bush should be left in as long as he doesn't invade

Iran. Impeach Bush and all the blame goes with him, opening the door to Republican victories in 2008. Leave him in office and it is clear that all Republicans must take responsibility for the last 6 years!