I also would have liked to see Michelle Bachmann lose her seat in Minnesota, because she represents the wing of the Republican Party that is responsible for all of the Party’s failures last night.
As a Minnesotan, you don't have to tell me!
If it's any consolation, her margin of victory was so small (1.21%, or 4298 votes out of 354,107 cast) for the state's most conservative district that I'm fairly confident in saying the only reason she won is because she out-spent her opponent $23M to $2M. We won't be seeing (or hearing, ugh) the last of her, but I think her days on the grand stage are effectively over.
More info, if you're interested: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/177789861.html
His Administration, since he became President, has reflected this amateur status.
A very succinct summation of my perception of his first term, which is little more than blunder after blunder from which he failed to learn. His inexperience in the political arena only empowered an obstructionist opposition, with predictable results.
For good or for ill, however, Obama has won another four years. I sincerely hope that the Republican Party has learned some important lessons, because if they haven’t, they are doomed to repeated defeat and, ultimately, collapse as a political party. This would be a catastrophe for America because a new credible opposition (and/or split in the Democratic Party) would take time to form, and in that time there would be no voice to question the DNC’s platform and goals. Regardless of political leanings, the idea of a one-party system for any length of time should be disturbing to anyone who values the democratic process and representative government.
I haven't seen much in the way of indications of what will happen, but I suspect that the learning will be protracted. On the other hand, when it does finally happen, I think we'll end up with a Republican party that I, at least, would be willing to vote for.
So what, then, are the lessons for the Republican Party as I see them? I’ll tell you:
1. Being anti-immigrant is a losing strategy.
2. America is much less homogeneous in general, and not socially conservative.
3. Inflexible positions may play to the base, but they breed defeat.
1. Being anti-immigrant is a losing strategy.
2. America is much less homogeneous in general, and not socially conservative.
3. Inflexible positions may play to the base, but they breed defeat.
What are your thoughts on your relationship between 1 and 2? Latin immigrants tend towards social conservatism; if a practical solution to dealing with Latin immigrants is arrived at, how would you anticipate that plays out with respect to social issues?
Essentially, I think the Republicans did a terrible job explaining why they were a better alternative to the President’s admittedly failed policies. I believe Mitt Romney would have made a better President than Barack Obama but sadly, the Republican Party and Romney himself were unable to convince a majority of Americans of this.
While I don't know if Romney would have been a better President for me, I agree completely that I really had no idea why I should have voted for him other than "because he's better than Obama".
This message last edited by Macharius on 08/11/2012 at 06:15:03 PM
My own thoughts on the election results
- 07/11/2012 06:12:26 PM
1174 Views
it's hard to say romney would have been better when he took every side of every issue
- 07/11/2012 07:10:25 PM
805 Views
Do you think Republicans got the message, or will it take one more unnecessary defeat? *NM*
- 07/11/2012 07:11:50 PM
338 Views
Good points all. Somehow I don't really think they'll take them to heart any time soon, though...
- 07/11/2012 08:00:56 PM
825 Views
Re: Hillary.
- 07/11/2012 08:13:25 PM
726 Views
A lot of people seem to think she will.
- 07/11/2012 08:26:57 PM
801 Views
Biden hinted he was thinking about running. But he looks older, so that might benefit her.
- 07/11/2012 09:18:49 PM
754 Views
Um
- 07/11/2012 09:50:08 PM
737 Views
Oh. I must've missed that.
- 07/11/2012 10:03:28 PM
723 Views
Well there has been a slightly more important US politics story for the media to cover of late
- 07/11/2012 10:18:28 PM
744 Views
- 07/11/2012 10:18:28 PM
744 Views
Snowe? Seriously? Chris Christie is far more likely.
- 07/11/2012 09:52:25 PM
727 Views
Chris Christie *was* far more likely. I expect his party to eat him alive after Sandy.
- 07/11/2012 09:59:17 PM
893 Views
Yes, but Christie gained the respect of a lot of moderates for that.
- 07/11/2012 10:20:08 PM
733 Views
Moderates don't vote in the primaries *NM*
- 07/11/2012 10:21:50 PM
406 Views
Enough of them vote to ensure a Christie victory in a GOP primary.
- 08/11/2012 05:09:24 AM
708 Views
Has been seen as not entirely Republican for quite a while, I think.
- 07/11/2012 10:08:15 PM
720 Views
- 07/11/2012 10:08:15 PM
720 Views
Dems went through this a generation ago when Reagan branded extremists and made "liberal" a slur
- 11/11/2012 06:10:00 PM
928 Views
Very interesting post, Tom.
- 08/11/2012 06:13:24 PM
828 Views
It will be interesting whether the GOPs financiers convince its primary voters you are right.
- 11/11/2012 05:07:43 PM
859 Views