Karen Tumulty / Washington Post:
The GOP sinks deeper into chaos. Can it still function as a party?
Editor's notes: Question - when was the last time the GOP was declared dead and gone, gone, gone? Seriously. Do you remember? I do.
Going back to 1998, following a failed attempt to impeach Clinton, we have the press telling us what a disaster the 1998 midterms were, forgetting that the GOP only lost 3 seats in that election and maintained control of both the House and the Senate.
Again, after the election of November, 2008, the GOP was pronounced dead and gone, gone, gone.
The first election cycle following, was the replacement election for the deceased, Ted Kennedy, December of 2009. A Republican won that election, a Senate seat held by the Democrats for decades.
The second election was the 2010 midterms and a landslide election for the GOP . . . . . you know, that same GOP that was declared gone, gone, gone.
In 2012, Obama won the election, but dropped 3.5 million votes compared to his 2008 election, with Romney bringing in one million more votes than McCain . . . . a differential of 4.5 million votes in favor of the GOP.
Then we have 2013 and the so-called "government shutdown." All the polls showed the nation blaming the GOP for the shutdown . . . . and come 2014, the GOP won in a historic landslide, much worse than the 2010 Democrat debacle. 2014 took the Dems back to its weakest since 1928, nearly 100 years ago.
And now, the Dems and their media are asking once again: Is this the end for the GOP?
Me? I am betting that it is not. More than this, I am betting that the November, 2016 elections will be as bad an election result, as was the Carter election against Ronald Reagan.
Wow, you're saying the GOP will win the presidency by a landslide?
ReplyDeleteWell, its a guess, but an educated guess, based on historical norms, so "yes," that is what I am saying.
DeleteYour statistical facts are almost also right on, but not in the case of the 1998 elections. Check it out: the GOP lost 4 seats in the House, taking their 227 majority down to 223 - they need 218 to win any vote. In the Senate, there was no change to the 55 member majority of the GOP. Your point is right on - there is no historical reason to believe that the GOP is harmed when it takes an unpopular stand. The failed impeachment of Clinton (1997) and, the "failed" government shutdown (2013) cost the GOP nothing.
DeleteJust 158 families, along with companies they own or control, contributed $176 million in the first phase of the campaign, never have so few people and businesses provided so much early money in a campaign, most of it through channels legalized by the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision five years ago. They are overwhelmingly white, rich, older and male, in a nation that is being remade by the young, by women, and by black and brown voters. These rich whites contributed well over half the money in the presidential election -- the vast majority of it supporting Republicans 7 to 1.
ReplyDeleteHow's that for a democracy? Now you know why conservatives support Citizens United. They think the oligarchs can buy control of America.
How silly. If only those families were allowed to contribute, you might have a point. The fact is this: before Citizens United, the democratic process was violated each and every year until that Supreme Court decision. Because there was no "Citizens United," Obama took in 787 million in to 2008 compared to McCarin's 460 million. Before Citizens United, Union giving had no counter. IN fact, such was not even possible. Your side of the aisle has dominated the campaign donor class for decades.
DeleteAs far as "democracy" is concerned, it is painfully obvious that Progressivea no longer believe in democracy as defined by the US Constitution. You do not believe in free political speech, seeking to criminalize opposition speech such as anti global warming discussion. You do not believe in the 2nd Amendment, the 1st Amendment as to freedom of religious expression. the 14th Amendment as to states rights or the principle of equal but shared powers, chosing, rather, to ignore the people's House of Reprentation as you rule by executive order. You all have become enemies of the state and belong in jail.