Here's part two of the party politics conversation - and there's lots more Aspen video going up all the time over at our Ideas Festival page.
« What Prequels? | Main | Happy (Belated) 4th » The Table At Aspen (III)04 Jul 2008 10:08 am Comments (18)
So when do we get the guest blog post from Steve Sailer where he bemoans the "loss" of the "great race-warrior" Jesse Helms? 
This is for Helms, Dumbya Bush, and all of the unapologetic Repiglicans who have spent the past decade disgracing the country: http://www.barrycrimmins.com/index.php?page=news&display=1185
Hispanics are the new blacks instead of being the new Jews. Asians are the new Jews. If you think about it, the problem with for the Republicans, there are no new groups that will vote like middle class whites. Instead of talking about the political parties, it would be more relevant to talk about what the U.S. will be like as a one party state.
Political dominance by the Democrats is only possible if the MSM continues to be sufficiently powerful. The Republicans generally have the better ideas and policies. I also believe that the public is becoming more aware of this fact. If nothing else, Barack Obama seems to agree with me! He is sounding more Republican by the hour.
No post on Helms yet? Still fighting back the tears?
David Thomson wrote: "The Republicans generally have the better ideas and policies. I also believe that the public is becoming more aware of this fact. If nothing else, Barack Obama seems to agree with me! He is sounding more Republican by the hour." Comment: --Uh, you bet. And the Armenians are big fans of Turkey.
DT writes: "Political dominance by the Democrats is only possible if the MSM continues to be sufficiently powerful. The Republicans generally have the better ideas and policies. I also believe that the public is becoming more aware of this fact." I think you have the DTs. Repiglican policies are unpopular across the board, from torture to warrantless wiretapping to endless war to doing nothing on health care to endless deficit spending and outsourcing jobs to China and India. This country is worse off in every way than it was in January of 2001 and that's why the Repiglicans suffered at the polls in 2006 and will again in 2008. I hope you wake up the morning after Election Day and throw up in your mouth at what the voters have done to your incompetent, treacherous party.
I'll say it - Helms was a great American. "Douthat the Hack," you're an imbecile. Semper Fi Ferrell
Ferrell, you're "semper fucked." Jesse Helms was a racist bag of shit, just like you and your mom.
I vaguely recall when the comments on Ross's blog were worth reading. Oh well, one with Nineveh and Tyre, and all that.
Thanks for the thought, pithlord, and good job of pimping your blog. I'll go chew on a piece of straw now, and leave internet comment to Ivy and near-Ivy league arts and science majors who say in 2000 words what can and should be expressed in 200.
Ferrell whimpers: "I'll go chew on a piece of straw now, and leave internet comment to Ivy and near-Ivy league arts and science majors who say in 2000 words what can and should be expressed in 200." It's "Ivy League," Ferrell, and you're not inferior because you never made it there. You're inferior because you want to be. I made it myself, and I'm always succinct. Eat a dick and suffer while the voters rip your heart out in November. You deserve worse, but it will do.
Superdestroyer, I agree that the GOP is in a real bind, though I don't see it disappearing. While there are no longer enough conservative whites for the GOP to win elections like they did in 1984, 1988, and 1994, they will remain a significant block and will have a regional base in the South. The problem is that other groups, whatever their differences, have been unwilling to ally themselves with conservative whites. And, any effort by the GOP to attract them is usually seen as a completely cynical move which is not successful and depresses the GOP base. The best parallel may be the Conservative Party of Canada. Despite having everything going for them (dynamic leader, a long term ruling party which was tired, corrupt, and led by the lackluster #2 guy), Canadian voters barely gave them a minority government. The Conservatives have a strong base in Alberta and there are still enough conservative voters in Canada to keep them around. So, I think the GOP will still be around and may, with a "perfect storm" be able to eke out a rare presidential win.
Repiglicans! Bushpigs! Harrumph!
Kardon, comparing the U.S. to a parlimentarian system is wrong. For a political party to be relevant in the U.S. it needs to be a national party. Since the Republicans have no chance of wining in any state north of North Carolina now and cannot win on the West coast, it is hard to call the Republicans a national party. In the longer term, no ambitious person who wants to go into politics will become a Republican. Why join a party that cannot win and cannot affect policy? A more interesting question is what will happen when the Democratic Party is the only relevant party and the former Republicans start voting the Democratic Primary.
Superdestroyer - as to your last question, I'd say, something will fill that void, and it will probably still be called "Republican." We like our two parties. The parties have changed (compare JFK to some contemporary GOPers on the big issues) and will continue to evolve but Republicans aren't going anywhere, they're just figuring out that the current formula doesn't work. MoeLarry - Yglesias has sold a couple hundred books and needs your help. Why don't you forgo a dimebag or two this week and head down to the local Borders? It's a bit corporate there, and doesn't have that patchouli oil scent of the one you hang out in to read Atlantic blogs, but it's got a good selection.
Ferrell, Americans do not really like two parties. Most Americans live in an area where one party or the other dominates. There are over 100 Democratic Congressmen running for reelection unopposed. As the demographic changes occur in the U.S. there will be many more districts that a conservative will not be able to win. You are assuming that there are blocs and groups that currently vote Democratic that will start voting Republican. That is an assumption that every demographic trend indicates will not happen. Ask yourself what is more happen, that the Republicans become competative in California or that the rest of the U. S. become like California.
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And more ugly muthafuckas in between.
Are you all somebody's evil twin?
Posted by Douthat the Hack | July 4, 2008 10:17 AM