Why the future looks so bleak for the GOP
As I mentioned yesterday, as of mid-December some 53 percent of Americans perceived the Republican Party as too extremist, a record-high number that had jumped 17 percentage points in the two years since the GOP took control of the House in the 2010 mid-terms.
Given what has happened in the three weeks since that CNN poll was released — the GOP House rejected John Boehner’s fiscal-cliff plan as too moderate, and it refused to even vote on an emergency aid package for New York and New Jersey — that number has only risen.
In fact, the party is caught in a long-term downward spiral that will prove difficult if not impossible to escape.
Look at the top issues likely to dominate the 113th Congress: immigration reform, gun control, and the debt ceiling. On each of those high-profile issues, the Republican Party finds itself trapped defending a strongly held but distinctly minority point of view.
In November exit polls, for example, 65 percent of American voters said that illegal immigrants ought to be offered an avenue to legal status. To put it mildly, that is not a position that Republicans can easily reconcile with their base. And in a recent Gallup poll, 58 percent of Americans said they backed stronger gun-control laws; just 6 percent wanted less stringent gun laws, which is the default position of many in the GOP.
The debt-ceiling optics are even worse. The GOP plan is to confront President Obama with two brutal choices: Make serious cuts in Medicare and other entitlements, or Republicans will force the country to default on its debt. Maybe it’s just me, but if you’re trying to shuck a reputation as extremist, that’s not exactly the course I would recommend. As I’ve noted before, even Republican voters oppose Medicare cuts by an overwhelming margin. Yet somehow Republican politicians have convinced themselves that this is a battle that they must fight and can win.
And of course, the group that will continue to define the Republican brand in all these fights will be the House GOP caucus, a group that is considerably more conservative and yes, extremist, than the country at large. It’s not hard to understand why.
Take Georgia’s Republican House members as an example. All eight of them voted against the fiscal-cliff solution that President Obama signed into law yesterday. And all eight are likely to toe the hard-right line on immigration, gun control and the debt ceiling. And the truth is that based on their own narrow self-interest, they’d be fools to do otherwise.
Thanks to gerrymandering, a political evil in which both parties indulge, three of the eight are in such strong GOP districts that no Democrat even bothered to run against them last November. The five who did draw Democratic opposition won re-election by an average margin of 40 percentage points. So none of the eight has anything to gain personally by becoming more moderate.
That brings us to the ultimate question: How can the Republican Party shed its reputation as extremist on the national stage when most of those who create that reputation — the members of the House GOP caucus — have every incentive as individuals to continue on their present course?
I confess I’m stumped by that one.
– Jay Bookman
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823 comments Add your comment
TBS
January 3rd, 2013
1:33 pm
Stevie Ray
Try Publix or Kroger. You must be eating all organic food. If not, you are getting ripped off. Prices are going up, but if you are not getting ripped off, you are surely eating the good stuff.
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
1:34 pm
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
1:32 pm
Why is it any of your business who can marry whom? What are you afraid of? Clearly it’s a fear based bigotry…
Erwin's cat
January 3rd, 2013
1:34 pm
Who gives a flip about what your religion has to say about modern topics? The arrogance is breathtaking…
Same could be said about your, my, or anyone’s worldview
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
1:34 pm
Stevie Ray:
Who gives a flip about your opinion period… I’m happy in my bright red state….
Thulsa Doom
January 3rd, 2013
1:35 pm
“Christianity has done the world geometrically more bad than good.”
The blame God crowd busily at work.
DannyX
January 3rd, 2013
1:35 pm
“C. Conservative — “Homo marriage is not in some 30+ states.”
JHM, notice how they had to update their talking point from ‘not a single state has approved gay marriage through the ballot box”?
Still waiting for Georgia to defend Biblical marriage with an no divorce amendment.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 3rd, 2013
1:35 pm
You fruits are a riot…
Joseph is spewing foam on his keyboard.
What’s new at fincher stew?
TBS
January 3rd, 2013
1:35 pm
“Hang around Jm, you bring the entertainment”
Playing clown so long has tired him and his sock puppets.
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
1:35 pm
“Oh, I *assure* you, you can most certainly argue for the abridgement of the rights of others without anyone else’s consent.”
Of course. But the actual abridgement cannot occur without, as I said, the consent of a good majority. Are you somehow imagining such an abridgement might occur without any prior debate or argument? Do you have a point?
“In your opinion.”
If you think I am wrong, show me how.
“I know. Poor choice on your part, particularly because I didn’t criticize your exercise of your right to speak the way you’re criticizing others’ exercise of their right to choose.”
They were your words, period.
“What a ridiculously ludicrous request. You clearly admit that you’re arguing your *belief* and you demand *proof* to the contrary?”
Here is what I said elsewhere:
“I am speaking on this blog mainly to people who profess a belief in God and the Bible and who nonetheless advocate for abortion. What weight does anything I have said carry with agnostics or atheists?”
Why in the world are YOU trying to debate with me on this issue? Why in the world would you care what I criticize based on my religious beliefs? If you believed in the Great Unicorn and told me eating sausage was a deadly sin, I wouldn’t have the least interest in responding to or debating you upon this issue. I don’t get it.
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
1:36 pm
This blog is a prime example of why Georgia is bright red. Look at the minuscule amount of dems posting here… That’s about all we have here in Georgia…
DannyX
January 3rd, 2013
1:37 pm
“I’m happy in my bright red state….”
CC, you love to cherry pick, how about you fess up? What are your sins?
TBS
January 3rd, 2013
1:38 pm
Stevie Ray
Like Bruno, you were not supposed to bring up anything against Christianity. As right leaning as he is on economics, the times I saw were he said anything negative about Christianity………… he was called out and ridiculed like they are doing to you.
Butch Cassidy (I)
January 3rd, 2013
1:38 pm
Um, can someone tell me why RB is so obsessed with cookies?
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
1:39 pm
TBS
January 3rd, 2013
1:33 pm
I shop at Kroger racking up at least 600 gas points a month. Next time you go, walk down the peanut butter aisle. I think organic foods are health neutral at best. So I don’t buy them….
I’ve done all the grocery shopping for my family since I’ve been married. Before things got tight, I never paid attention to what I was spending..can you believe that? It was weekly multi-hundred dollar spends at Whole Foods…I only go there for fish now…love the produce but it’s obscenely overprices..IMO
JamVet
January 3rd, 2013
1:39 pm
You have basically declared war on christains (sic).
I too am disgusted by the thousands of churches that have been closed by atheists. And the dozens of “Christian” TV networks and radio stations that have been shut down by agnostics. And what about the massive abduction, torturing and murders of Christians by Jews, Muslims and Buddhists in this country.
To willie’s brilliant point, IT HAS TO STOP!!!
Thulsa Doom
January 3rd, 2013
1:39 pm
“There’s your sign”
The daily over under on how many times the repetitive post bunny would spout this particular kamspam was 10. So far it looks like the over bettors may bank some coin by the end of the day.
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
1:40 pm
jm,
You forgot to attack Senator Kirk.
Might as well attack stroke victims too.
Go for it con.
HDB
January 3rd, 2013
1:41 pm
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
1:30 pm
C. Conservative — “Homo marriage is not in some 30+ states.”
Just wait a bit. It’ll be legal in all 50 soon enough.”
Technically, via the Constitution…it already is!! As long as a marriage is recognized in ONE state (it’s now in 8 states plus DC)…it MUST be recognized in all 50! The Supremes should rule this way when the cases come before them (probably 5-4 decision….but look for a 6-3 with Sotomayor, Kagan, Ginsburg, Breyer, Kennedy, and Roberts on the decision!)……..
TBS
January 3rd, 2013
1:41 pm
Jam
Too funny.
Let us stand with them to stop to stop these atrocities.
Matti
January 3rd, 2013
1:41 pm
Christian Conservative,
Bless your heart. You missed that my comment was a subtle jab at your grammar.
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
1:42 pm
Thulsa Doom
January 3rd, 2013
1:35 pm
There is no metaphysical god…so why would I blame a non entity? We are victims only of ourselves and playing loosey goosey with physics and science in general when is pleases is silly. I bet if your waterboarded them 90% of those in church every Sunday would fess up that they didn’t believe in the invisible either but it was simply a tradition that has worked for past family…that works for me but suggesting we should make important decisions based on fantasyland is silly…
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
1:42 pm
DannyX — “JHM, notice how they had to update their talking point from ‘not a single state has approved gay marriage through the ballot box”?
Ayup. It’s just a matter of time.
“Still waiting for Georgia to defend Biblical marriage with an no divorce amendment.”
I could respect a religious conservative in government who advocated that. I’m not saying I’d *agree* with him, but I could respect that he was being consistent in his arguments by treating marriage as the ’sacrament’ that so many religious folk say that it is.
I understand that former US Senator Al D’Amato and his first wife were separated for many years due to their reluctance to actually divorce, which, from what I’ve read, stemmed from their devout practice of Catholicism. That said, I believe that Senator D’Amato and his first wife did eventually divorce (and he later remarried another woman).
Cherokee
January 3rd, 2013
1:42 pm
What Granny said.
Having read several of your posts, he’s not a conservative either, in the classic sense of what that word means…
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
1:43 pm
Another bleak outlook for dems is the 2014 Senate… Many dems will be vulnerable….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_2014
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 3rd, 2013
1:43 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqjJ8xR1Me4
JamVet
January 3rd, 2013
1:44 pm
Christians make up about 75% of the people in this country.
They also make up about 80% of the people in our federal prisons.
Something is really wrong here…
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
1:44 pm
Okay guys…I’m out. God bless.
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
1:45 pm
JamVet
January 3rd, 2013
1:39 pm
Here is my ideal metaphor for Christmas. True story. A neighbor of mine had a inflatable nativity scene in his yard..complete with inflatable and what appeared to be the 6 lb 8 oz baby jesus. Completely overshadowing this was an enormous santa with gifts in tow riding a smiling polar bear..there it is..
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
January 3rd, 2013
1:45 pm
jm,
You forgot to attack Senator Kirk.
Might as well attack stroke victims too.
Go for it con.
Well, looks like ol’ jm done stepped in it right up to his kneecap. A few more of his strolls thru the stuff and some muck cleaner will be out of a job.
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
1:45 pm
14 will give our President a rubber stamp congress for his last two years.
Bet on it.
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
1:46 pm
crier,
Yes, God bless the Obamas and Clintons.
Doggone/GA
January 3rd, 2013
1:47 pm
“You have basically declared war on christains”
Who are “christains”?
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
1:47 pm
Matti:
Bless your heart I honestly could care less.. Last I checked I wasn’t being graded here…
Peter
January 3rd, 2013
1:47 pm
Christian Conservative. Please tell me…
After the trailers given to Katrina victims were discovered to have caused all types of sickness and cancer………… should the Republican’s have sided with the makers of the trailers, or the folks who were given them ?
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
1:48 pm
Towncrier — “Of course. But the actual abridgement cannot occur without, as I said, the consent of a good majority.”
Which is not an argument I made.
“Do you have a point?”
Yes, and it’s quite simple. You’re arguing for the abridgement of the rights of others, full stop. Try to not add anything to it and my intent should become clearer.
“If you think I am wrong, show me how.”
Given our past history, I am reluctant to invest that amount of effort with you ever again. Start showing your *own* work more frequently, and I might change my tune.
“They were your words, period.”
And inapplicable to your position. You were arguing to abridge others’ rights. I *wasn’t* arguing to abridge yours. QED.
“Why in the world are YOU trying to debate with me on this issue?”
Because I don’t think you’re drawing the clear distinction that you claim to be. From where I’m standing, you’re investing a lot more effort in criticizing the act of abortion than the *advocacy* of it, as you claim.
indigo
January 3rd, 2013
1:48 pm
Christian Conservative – “you fruits are a riot”
That is MOST UNCHRISTIAN.
Better contact your fundamentalist minister and have him come to your house so you can kneel together, hold hands and beg forgiveness from God.
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
1:48 pm
jm,
Senator Kirk is okay for missing votes?
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
1:48 pm
TBS
January 3rd, 2013
1:38 pm
To be sure, it is a much, much more interesting undertaking on Kyles and other right wing posts i frequent…the stuff I hear and get damn-nated for makes great reading. Everyone has freedom of and from religion which is a major attraction of our country. But when metaphysics are introduced as argument to further a point, I gotta go a bit postal.
Williebkind
January 3rd, 2013
1:48 pm
“williebkind — “You and your liberal ilk do! You have basically declared war on christains.”
What, did somebody force you to get gay-married or something?”
No, I do not work for CNN or the AJC. Is this homosexual thing on your mind a lot?
Granny Godzilla
January 3rd, 2013
1:49 pm
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
1:33 pm
Granny Godzilla:
Wow you must be Jesus?
Flattery will get you nowhere
You know whats in my heart…
Heavens no, just what you post
You fruits are a riot…
Like that, so very conservative of you and yet lacking that certain true christian style
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
1:49 pm
JamVet:
hey also make up about 80% of the people in our federal prisons.
Got any stats to back that up or did you pull that out of thin air…
Williebkind
January 3rd, 2013
1:49 pm
“Better contact your fundamentalist minister and have him come to your house so you can kneel together, hold hands and beg forgiveness from God.”
That is pretty good advice.
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
1:50 pm
Granny Godzilla:
And I know what you post hun… And its fruity…
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
1:50 pm
GETALIFE
Did you see that i was referred to as a Liberal earlier? That wasn’t expected…
Matti
January 3rd, 2013
1:51 pm
Hahahaha!
Thulsa Doom
January 3rd, 2013
1:51 pm
“Why is it any of your business who can marry whom? What are you afraid of? Clearly it’s a fear based bigotry…”
Then clearly nearly all of mankind has been bigoted for nearly all of recorded history. In exit polling on the California referendum on gay marriage whites were split on gay marriage. Hispanics voted against it and blacks voted overwhelmingly against gay marriage by 70%.
So I’m curious if you reserve as much criticism and accusations of bigotry against say black people for voting against gay marriage. Or does that just not fit your pre-conceived narrative?
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/70-of-african-a.html
josef
January 3rd, 2013
1:52 pm
Christian Conservative, et al
So, are we to assume y’all think this is “the right thing to do?”
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/11/principal-punishes-high-school-boys-with-public-hand-holding/
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
1:52 pm
indigo:
How is it unChristain to laugh at what you far left fruits say….
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
1:52 pm
Stevie Ray .
I did see that but that was a con knee jerk reaction.
indigo
January 3rd, 2013
1:53 pm
Stevie Ray – 1:42 “make important decisions based on fantasyland”
And yet, that is precisly what that good Christian George W. Bush did for eight years in the White House, to the complete approval of almost all the cons in the land.
Matti
January 3rd, 2013
1:53 pm
Boehner re-elected as Speaker.
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
1:53 pm
Doggone — “Who are “christains”?
It’s a punk band. Kind of like the Crucif*cks.
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
1:54 pm
DannyX:
CC, you love to cherry pick, how about you fess up? What are your sins?
Oh I was born a sinner as we all are. Its human nature. But I ask for forgiveness every day and try my best to live my life as the Lord would have me lead it….
Soothsayer
January 3rd, 2013
1:54 pm
Time Warner Cable Drops Current TV Upon Sale To Al Jazeera
NEW YORK –- Time Warner Cable pulled the plug on Current TV just hours after news of the cable channel’s sale to Al Jazeera became official.
“This channel is no longer available on Time Warner Cable,” read an on-screen message where Current TV used to be found.
Hmmmmmm . . . .
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
1:54 pm
Any poll asking “are you a christian” is not remotely credible. Identifying with Christians and actively practicing are two different things…I imagine the options were Christianity, Judism, Muslim, all other and none of the above…
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
1:55 pm
williebkind — “No, I do not work for CNN or the AJC.”
non-sequitur
“Is this homosexual thing on your mind a lot?”
Is this “ZOMG PPL DECLARING WAR ON US” delusion on your mind a lot?
indigo
January 3rd, 2013
1:55 pm
Conservative Christian – 1:52
You might want to read The New Testament.
You see, Jesus never taught that you should laugh at people who don’t believe as you do.
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
1:56 pm
josef:
They should be punished… This has no place in school….
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
1:57 pm
indigo
January 3rd, 2013
1:53 pm
What does George Bush have to do with this? Is that all you got? the obligatory reference to what Bush did? He is just as ridiculous as the others who think faith can help make better decisions…as opposed to campaign cash…
Jm
January 3rd, 2013
1:57 pm
Aquagirl
Jesse has nothing next to you
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
1:58 pm
indigo:
You see, Jesus never taught that you should laugh at people who don’t believe as you do.
Where was it said????
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
1:59 pm
jm,
So Senator Kirk gets a free pass because he is gop.
Got it.
Erwin's cat
January 3rd, 2013
1:59 pm
He is just as ridiculous as the others who think faith can help make better decisions…as opposed to campaign cash…
Is that parody?
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
2:00 pm
josef,
Our Principle made us do that after fighting in elementary school.
Mr_B
January 3rd, 2013
2:00 pm
“I don’t think you are anymore a true Christian than my dog.”
Or perhaps less so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY
Granny Godzilla
January 3rd, 2013
2:00 pm
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
1:50 pm
Granny Godzilla:
And I know what you post hun… And its fruity
.
.
.
Fruit is of course much healthier for the mind and body than the bile you spew.
.
.
.
Dear Lord
Please be patient with “Christian Conservative”, he has been led away from you and your love.
Please don’t kill him in a tragic lawn mower accident and condemn him to the eternity of fire,
before he finds your true spirit.
Thanks God, you’re a peach!
(a fruit you may note)
Robert Lee - Cogito ergo zoom
January 3rd, 2013
2:00 pm
It seems CC needs reading comprehension and grammar instruction………
JamVet
January 3rd, 2013
2:01 pm
BTW cc, 91% of executed murderers in this country are……………………… you guessed it, Christian.
DannyX
January 3rd, 2013
2:01 pm
“But I ask for forgiveness every day and try my best to live my life as the Lord would have me lead it….”
Enough of the cop out and fantasy waivers. You use your Bible to attack others then hide behind a delusion. Judge not lest you be judged, what are your sins Christian Conservative.
Granny Godzilla
January 3rd, 2013
2:02 pm
I’m out…..
Keep ole CC in your prayers and meditations.
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
2:02 pm
Mrs. speaker is orange too.
Are their kids orange?
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
2:03 pm
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
1:52 pm
oh come on you big silly! I do and always will detest anyone who fights against womens rights, gay rights and the like for any reason…it’s no different that the Taliban and it’s demand that mankind be damned…we want the stone age…drag our pleasure neutered women by the hair..all for the sacred choice in dusty books..Ugh
The Taliban is an extreme and hyperbolic example, but the idea to live in a world defined by 2000 year old manual seems borish in both examples..
Peter
January 3rd, 2013
2:03 pm
I guess Republican’s and Christian’s don’t want to answer this question…….
Christian Conservative. Please tell me…
After the trailers given to Katrina victims were discovered to have caused all types of sickness and cancer………… should the Republican’s have sided with the makers of the trailers, or the folks who were given them ?
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
2:04 pm
Whisky
Tango
FOXTROT
Just saw a banner ad for this abomination on the side of the page.
http://gritchips.com/our-flavors/
Regnad Kcin
January 3rd, 2013
2:04 pm
What is it about Moslems and Christians that makes them feel they have the right to tell you what to do?
Regnad Kcin
January 3rd, 2013
2:06 pm
“Just saw a banner ad for this abomination on the side of the page.”
It’s a sign of the apocalypse…
Matti
January 3rd, 2013
2:06 pm
(@1:54) Apparently, the Lord would have CC come to this blog today and judge others as he wishes to be judged: anonymously, by folks he’s never met who know nothing about his life.
Peter
January 3rd, 2013
2:09 pm
What is it about Moslems and Christians that makes them feel they have the right to tell you what to do?
Self importance.
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
2:10 pm
Exceptional George Will column today..
Best quote:
Second, Barack Obama has (as Winston Churchill said of an adversary) “the gift of compressing the largest amount of words into the smallest amount of thought.” His incessant talking swaddles one wee idea — raising taxes on “millionaires and billionaires,” including people earning less than half a million. He has nothing pertinent to say about the steadily worsening fiscal imbalance that will make sluggish growth — less than 3 percent — normal.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/george-will-our-decadent-democracy/2013/01/02/90dac36c-5477-11e2-bf3e-76c0a789346f_story.html?hpid=z2
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
2:10 pm
Stevie Ray,
I believe,
Get your religion out of politics.
Thulsa Doom
January 3rd, 2013
2:10 pm
What is it about Atheists and Democrats that makes them feel they have the right to tell you what to do?
josef
January 3rd, 2013
2:12 pm
getalife
In elementary school, how did that make you feel and what “lesson” did you learn? High School and the ridicule that came, how would that make you feel, and why?
CC
So, what should be done to the principal? What would be the Christian thing to do, and I’m not being snarky. I’d like your opinion on that.
Regnad Kcin
January 3rd, 2013
2:12 pm
“What is it about Atheists and Democrats that makes them feel they have the right to tell you what to do?”
Poor Mr. Doom, are those mean old atheists picking on you?
Doggone/GA
January 3rd, 2013
2:13 pm
“It’s a punk band. Kind of like the Crucif*cks”
Gotcha! If I’m at war…I like to at least know who the enemy is!
oops
January 3rd, 2013
2:13 pm
“Both King and Grimm voted for Boehner as Speaker on Thursday.”
Peadawg
January 3rd, 2013
2:14 pm
What is it about certain “Christians” that makes them feel they have the right to tell you what to do?
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
2:14 pm
stevie,
Quoting the always dead wrong talking head will shows you are still a con.
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 3rd, 2013
2:15 pm
Jm@12:22 pm
John Lewis didn’t even vote on the fiscal cliff
How can one be more chicken and useless than that?
————————————————————————-
His wife of 44 years died monday
I will stop at that statement and not say what I am thinking about your statement
Thulsa Doom
January 3rd, 2013
2:15 pm
“After the trailers given to Katrina victims were discovered to have caused all types of sickness and cancer………… should the Republican’s have sided with the makers of the trailers, or the folks who were given them ?”
Or should the “victims” have started fresh and gotten a new job, rented an apartment or house, or looked to purchase a new house elsewhere. Its interesting that nowhere in that post does Peter seem to think these “victims” have any responsibility or roles in their life outcomes.
wahoo
January 3rd, 2013
2:15 pm
I don’t think the future looks that horribly bleak for the GOP. Long run there certainly are demographic challenges to contend with, but demographic changes tend to take longer to than most armchair pundits realize. And there will always be specific policy battles that may put the GOP in a less than popular position. In a contemplative moment, I think all but the most purely partisan bloggers will acknowledge this and also that there are specific policy battles that paint the Democrats unfavorably as well.
On the short term front: the GOP doesn’t always do a good job of marketing, clearly, but let’s look at the recent tax battle. Ignore the rhetoric and handwringing and just look at the results: the GOP won hands down. The Bush-era tax rates were made permanent for over 99% of filers in the US. The Bush-era dividend and capital gain rates were made permanent. The payroll tax reduction has concluded and the other concessions made for UE benefits are going to be temporary in nature. When push came to shove, despite their protestations over the last ten years, Democrats signed up for those rates as well in a bipartisan manner.
Now that the political fingerpointing over raising taxes on just the top 1% or 2% (which wasn’t even going to put a meaningful dent in the deficit) is over, Congress turns its attention to the spending side of the ledger, where the potential exists to make progress on reducing the deficit. We’ll see what that yields.
Medium Term: the GOP controls a plurality of governships and state legislatures. Its prospects for maintaining control of the House look promising for several years. If some of the more extreme members of the party can be muzzled (always a big IF), the GOP can do just fine in the upcoming Senate races of 2014.
So in a nutshell, Jay, I respectfully disagree that the GOP’s future looks so bleak. I can imagine that you and several fellow bloggers who share your political persuasion may wish it were so, but I personally don’t see it that way. Political fortunes can change very quickly and the GOP still has several things working in its favor.
Joe Hussein Mama
January 3rd, 2013
2:16 pm
Doom — “What is it about Atheists . . . that makes them feel they have the right to tell you what to do?”
What is it that makes you lie and make crap up?
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
2:17 pm
Peter:
After the trailers given to Katrina victims were discovered to have caused all types of sickness and cancer………… should the Republican’s have sided with the makers of the trailers, or the folks who were given them ?
I’ve never heard of this lawsuit. I’m sure its frivolous though… Just people wanting more handouts so they can sit on their behind and not work but it should go through the courts…
Thulsa Doom
January 3rd, 2013
2:17 pm
Poor Mr. Regnad, are those mean old Christians picking on you?
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
2:17 pm
josef,
I met my first black student and asked why he was black.
It was embarrassing but broke my arm three times fighting that year.
The black student turned out to be my best friend and he would egg me on.
Yeah, I was a problem child.
Jm
January 3rd, 2013
2:18 pm
Fetalife
I have no idea whether Kirk voted or what his situation is
Stop putting words in my mouth cheeseball
Peadawg
January 3rd, 2013
2:18 pm
“Yeah, I was a problem child.”
Was?
Thulsa Doom
January 3rd, 2013
2:19 pm
Shoulda been “What is it that makes me lie and make crap up?”- Joe Mama
I dunno Joe. Sounds like a personal problem to me.
Stevie Ray
January 3rd, 2013
2:19 pm
Thulsa Doom
January 3rd, 2013
2:10 pm
What exactly are DEMS and heathens telling you to do?
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
2:20 pm
jm,
He missed many votes.
Attack him con.
Christian Conservative
January 3rd, 2013
2:20 pm
DannyX:
Its a moot point Danny. I don’t have to answer to you… My sins are mine and mine alone… And its between me and GOD… I think you must have real psychological issues to ask someone a question like that and expect an answer…