Has Dubya destroyed the Republican party?

[techweenie]

Only 35% of Americans now identify themselves as Republicans according to a new Pew research study.

[DaveE]

Hopefully that chart won't change through 2008.............

[legion]

Yes.

Completely and totally.

So much so that they should be written off for the future.

The Whig party is soon to make its return!

[lendaddy]

He hasn't helped, but the important detail of the chart is that the Dems have only gained 1-2 points. The Republicans are just angry and will rally around a fiscal conservative if given the opportunity.

In other words "We're hurt real bad... but we're not dead."

[techweenie]

Originally posted by lendaddy
He hasn't helped, but the important detail of the chart is that the Dems have only gained 1-2 points. The Republicans are just angry and will rally around a fiscal conservative if given the opportunity.

In other words "We're hurt real bad... but we're not dead."

The question is: will a fiscal conservative emerge from the Democratic or Republican party? I don't see either side having a greater propensity for fiscal responsibility.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Dems have only gained 1-2 points.

Wow, you are right!

Looks like more a case of people distancing themselves from failure than jumping on the Dem bandwagon.

[DaveE]

If 2001 to 2006 were any example, the Dems may be the tax and spend party; the Republicans were the spend, spend, spend party.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by techweenie
The question is: will a fiscal conservative emerge from the Democratic or Republican party? I don't see either side having a greater propensity for fiscal responsibility.

Not in some time, I agree.

[hytem]

From Clinton's example, and Bush's recklessness, the Democrats are now the fiscally "conservative" party. So much for labels, which were largely created by all that phoney TV advertising, anyways.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by hytem
From Clinton's example, and Bush's recklessness, the Democrats are now the fiscally "conservative" party.

That's not even close to accurate. Selling any Democrat including Clinton as Fiscally Conservative is fantasy. Clinton and the congress increased spending as much as any other tandom, they just got lucky that revenue increased at a faster rate. They didn't balance the budget, their budget got balanced by the economy.

And to add: Fiscal Conservatism isn't about balancing budgets anyway, it's about spending less.

[the]

Len is right on all of the above.

Bush didn't destroy the Republican party, obviously, since it isn't destroyed.

But he did put quite a few bullets in it.

And Dems as being the new fiscal conservatives, that's a laugher. That will never, ever happen, because it simply can't. While Repubs and Dems are starting to look more and more alike, one difference still exists a bit on philosophy re distribution of wealth. The party heavier into redistribution of wealth is never going to be fiscally conservative.

Repubs will be back, for sure. Outside of the base of each party, most don't really vote for the one they like, they vote against the one the dislike. The repubs and bush gave people a lot to dislike. Now it's the Dem's chance to do that, and from all indications thus far, they are well on their way.

[Seahawk]

I don't think he has destroyed the entire Republican Party, but certain elements, like neo-conservatism have been discredited in the minds of many.

My biggest fear is that both sides have so sullied rational discourse that little credence is given to vetting ideas against advancing political agendas' in the most vile manner possible.

[Jeff Higgins]

Who conducted the study?

[Joeaksa]

As long as we are looking at biased reporting, here is another Pew study factoid.

[DaveE]

I think it's accurate, Joe. People want the troops out. They're unhappy the Dems haven't gotten it done.

[Superman]

Originally posted by the
The party heavier into redistribution of wealth is never going to be fiscally conservative.

Both parties make decisions about distribution of wealth. One party does their best to see that this wealth flows to already-wealthy people, and that what you think of as "fiscal conservative."

What's happening now is not a temporary bad reputation for the Republicans. It's a remembering. It's the American people seeing the Republican Party for what it is. The party that hates your government so much they don't know how to run it. They know how to make business more profitable, but that's the only agenda. This only fools American for a short time.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by DaveE
I think it's accurate, Joe. People want the troops out. They're unhappy the Dems haven't gotten it done.

Lets not generalize. I want the troops out and back home ONCE THEY HAVE FINISHED THE JOB.

Please do not suggest that you are talking for everyone. You are talking for ONE person.

What the Dems are doing is a shame. Ask what the grunt over on the ground is thinking right now, hearing that the Dems now want to cut off their supply of food, ammo and support, while they are 7000 miles away from home and being shot at by the enemy. The enemy that most of them WANT TO DEFEAT before coming home, but then why ask the military, they do not know what they are talking about....

I received an email from one just last night. They are in Afganistan and coming home in less than a month. They were asking me if the Democrats are really going to cut off their funds while everyone is overseas. They are now more scared of the Dem's than the enemy and are getting really pissed off at the same time.

This will backfire on the Dems and hope that they cease to exist as a party. They deserve it IMHO for doing this "Cut and run" after promising not to do so before the election.

[GO DAWG GO]

The great Monday morning corterbacks...They all bought into it in the beginning...Now they want to cut and run....Simply ball-less. Old George fed us a line of nonsense also...Any intellectually honest person knows that the WMDs were in Iraq. Where did they go should be the question? The problem is at the macro level..Not conservatives. George has spent absolutely recklessly.. Has some major effect on gas prices..(Note prices fell before the election? then started back up the day after...Supply and demand? interesting) Illegal aliens are the real threat that he embraces....How can you secure a country and not try in any way to secure the borders..Simply allow your companies to off load all manufacturing to an enemy with no tarifs on their junk imports His leadership doesnt add up to being constructive to not only our country but to the party...Conservatives principles are minimal government, responsible spending and carry a big stick....I'm there. This guy wears a conservative mask and has been the best democrat and a greedy republican...He has indeed done irreparable damage..But whats the alternative Hillery?????geez... What are demo's going to accomplish? Socialized everything...at your and my expense....Conservative democracy requires responsibility and the libs have erroded it away with there campaign of nonsense and identity theft...

I'm a mad as hell Republican...930 owner....

[GO DAWG GO]

Quarterbacks...Sorry

[Moneyguy1]

It is the philosophy of "Me First" when it comes to a lack of "redistribution of wealth". Look back in history and see what happens to any nation that permits the "have nots" to grow beyond a certain critical mass.