Reagan Republicanism is Dead…What’s next?
Reagan used his communication skills and conservative starvation for power to knit-together three groups that have little, if anything, in common. it worked for a while, but McCain’s 70% finishes in five out of the last five primaries are evidence to the fact that the coalition Reagan put together is finished.
So what is next for the Republican Party?
Will it cling to Tom Tancredo‘s “explicitly authoritarian, religio-nationalistic brand of conservatism that would seek to cleanse the nation of foreign influences, expand the police powers of government and wage unremitting war against Islam?”
Or will it take on Ron Paul‘s conservatism that “would largely subsume conservatism within libertarianism by withdrawing from Iraq, avoiding other foreign entanglements, drastically scaling back government, axing the federal income tax, repealing the Patriot Act and ending the war on drugs?”
Or will it be Mitt Romney‘s plan to “transform conservatism into a business creed that puts social issues in second place?”
One thing is sure, there will be gallons of blood on the floor before the Republicans get to where they are going.
The Republicans miss the Cold War immensely. Most of their hard-ass rhetoric doesn’t work without it.
Once the John Birchers and the lunatic Christian right crawl back under their rocks, the Republican party will have the opportunity to return to its rightful place: as a minority party representing wealthy investors and corporations acting as an occasional brake on liberal excess.
My blood’s already dripping and has been so for a while now. You and a couple of others are quite aware of that, too.
I am not one to advise the GOP on what it should do. I do not have their best interests at heart.
Jason, sorry for stepping on your post.
“The Republicans miss the Cold War immensely. Most of their hard-ass rhetoric doesn’t work without it.”
Which is why we have a “war on terrorism” instead of a rational approach to it.
New Rule:
No apologizing for posting ontop of another post.
From the classic Onion piece in Jan. 2001:
“And, on the foreign front, we must find an enemy and defeat it.”
That Onion piece is so freaking prophetic – it is scary.
Again, it gives me no comfort to know that the Onion and I are less gullible than Joe Biden and Tom Carper.
Reagan assembled very strange bedfellows who are now acting out the inevitable morning after the one night stand scenario. “I got in bed with that?”
Talk about drinking the kool-aid.
This fracture was always going to happen as each group grew stronger and more organized. Actually, it’s the religious sect that is doing the most damage to the Republican brand, IMO, simply because there’s no room for compromise in the garden of good and evil.
Remember that guy at the WH who claimed they were going to create their own reality from now on? Well even the lowest-information voters are catching on to the idea that reality IS, you don’t create it. And you’d better find somebody who can deal with it, instead of trying to shape-shift it to suit the wealthy and corporate agenda.
Or will it take on Ron Paul’s conservatism that “would largely subsume conservatism within libertarianism by withdrawing from Iraq, avoiding other foreign entanglements, drastically scaling back government, axing the federal income tax, repealing the Patriot Act and ending the war on drugs?”
YES
Spoken like a true Paulite.
Nope, a left libertarian. I want libertarianism to govern with the democrats. I think adding a little libertarian spice to both parties is the only wany to preserve the constitutional liberty we enjoy. And also cultiviating a mind set that is progressive on civil liberties and rights, but not overly controlling would be a good thing for both parties. Also it would be good to end the wars on drugs etc. And interventionism. I generally like the party that gaurentees me and you liberty, and a fair playing ground. I lean toward the democrats becuase you are the party of Jefferson- live up to it! That is all I want. Do what Jefferson did instead of what the Telecoms ask you to do! For the Americas, for Liberty, For Peace! This is the Jeffersonian creed, dude you guys have some big ass shoes to fill. Fill them.
I think the Romney plan is most likely the one Republicans will take…
the republican`s are very cleverly electing blue dog democrates like Tom carper and exersizing thier power that way. republicans have not gone away they are just wearing disguises. That`s why this democratic congress hasn`t really changed anything. The corporations are still getting thier way and the little guy is still getting nothing. So put the party hats away, we are still a long way from tipperery!