Any regrets?

Venus04d

Ever since the Tea Party explosion, the Republican platform has moved harshly to an extremist right. Do you think they would hav beaten Obama if they had appealed more to moderates?

EllaHella

Yes.  And Slate does a great job tapping into my tired brain and spelling out why.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/the_big_idea/2012/11/why_romney_lost_he_couldn_t_separate_himself_from_the_republican_party_s.html

 

 

MrsGoodkat

I do think he may have won.

justAphase

Most definitely. Romney was catering way too much to the extremel right. He should have stuck with how moderate he was before this election started. 

justAphase

But also, many extreme conservatives are unwilling to budge even just a little bit. I hate to bring up my dad again but he's the only tea partier I know for reference, but he made a comment about hearing that the GOP needs to adjust, he got all pissy and said it's the American people who need to adjust. I imagine he's not the only stubborn member of the tea party. 

MidwestGidget

In general I think the Democratic party has become more centrist and the Republican part more right-wing. Both Clinton and Obama were not "out there" at least to what the left ideologues would have wanted.But the fact that Obama is "the most liberal president of all time" according to Fox just tells it all.

I think the Republican "base" is hurting their party. When you have primaries and have to appeal to the base, they're having a much harder time moving to get anybody else for the general election. It's not just Romney-Akin and Mourdock blew sure things.

Whereas the Democratic base isn't as hard leaning to the left (why tons of the left is disappointed in what Obama has done) and it's not hard to pick up ideas in the middle as "theirs."

Venus04d

justAphase:

But also, many extreme conservatives are unwilling to budge even just a little bit. I hate to bring up my dad again but he's the only tea partier I know for reference, but he made a comment about hearing that the GOP needs to adjust, he got all pissy and said it's the American people who need to adjust. I imagine he's not the only stubborn member of the tea party. 

If they don't adjust. I don't think they'll ever win again.

White, Christian males are now forever outnumbered. Cater only to them and you will lose every time. 

CinemaGoddess

I didn't read the Slate article yet, but this is just my view on things.

The various state/local elections last night showed that the people of this country are leaning more left when it comes to social issues.  Marijuana legalized, gay marriage passing, the first openly gay Senator elected, Akin and Murdock defeated, etc. 

The Republican Party's platform of social conservativism does not fit with what the rest of the country, obviously, feels.

They need to get away from the extreme right.  Far far away. 

missymo

While the extreme, religious right once bolstered the Republicans to victory, it would appear the changing demographics of the USA have now made them an albatross. I wholeheartedly agree that the Republican Party must cut them loose or risk becoming obsolete. 

On a similar note, anyone think congress will approve Puerto Rico's desire for statehood?  

LuckyDad

I feel like Obama's win was a combination of changing demographics, a strong Obama ground game, an economy that is slowly moving in the right direction and a relative weakness of the Republican field. A stronger Republican candidate probably would have beaten Obama, but they didn't have any especially strong candidates. Even John Huntsman probably doesn't have the charisma to have beaten Obama.

The GOP does need to re-evaluate their stance on social issues. I think the 2012 Senate races taught us once and for all that not supporting abortion for rape and incest is political suicide.

CinemaGoddess

I also hope that the Republicans take note that having a semi-moderate candidate with a more conservative running mate is not a good combination.   Since they did this in both 2008 and 2012 and were defeated both times. 

CoffeeBeen

I'm hoping that the changing demographics/political views of the country lead to a real third party.  I think that if the democrats had had an equally weak candidate then the electorate may have broken into three - but with half the nation behind Barack, I can see why Mitt thought he had to keep the base and try for the moderates. 

Perhaps with no 2016 incumbent, the vote will be more fragmented and there will be more room for diversity?

twatley

I'm so glad you guys are having this conversation because I was trying to find a place to add my thoughts on this.

The Republican party needs to spend the next four years looking for a better candidate that is more centered. They need to stop courting the religious right, because they already have their vote, and they need to start trying to appeal to the moderate Democrats. They need to stop discounting the western states as a bunch of hippies. They also need to forget the words "gay" and "abortion" completely.

The Republican party has no one to blame but themselves. 

justAphase

twatley:

I'm so glad you guys are having this conversation because I was trying to find a place to add my thoughts on this.

The Republican party needs to spend the next four years looking for a better candidate that is more centered. They need to stop courting the religious right, because they already have their vote, and they need to start trying to appeal to the moderate Democrats. They need to stop discounting the western states as a bunch of hippies. They also need to forget the words "gay" and "abortion" completely.

The Republican party has no one to blame but themselves. 

This is true. Unfortunately, for a huge portion of Republicans, gay rights and abortion are extremely important issues that they don't want to push to the side. They're going to anger a lot of people if they cave in on those issues. So pretty much they're damned if they do, damned if they don't. Time for a third party!

twatley

justAphase:

twatley:

I'm so glad you guys are having this conversation because I was trying to find a place to add my thoughts on this.

The Republican party needs to spend the next four years looking for a better candidate that is more centered. They need to stop courting the religious right, because they already have their vote, and they need to start trying to appeal to the moderate Democrats. They need to stop discounting the western states as a bunch of hippies. They also need to forget the words "gay" and "abortion" completely.

The Republican party has no one to blame but themselves. 

This is true. Unfortunately, for a huge portion of Republicans, gay rights and abortion are extremely important issues that they don't want to push to the side. They're going to anger a lot of people if they cave in on those issues. So pretty much they're damned if they do, damned if they don't. Time for a third party!

I don't think they need to change their views, as much as they need to ignore the topics altogether, or give the classic "we'll see" mom-approach.

On abortion: I have no plans to change the federal abortion laws and would prefer that be handled on a state level instead. 

On gay marriage: I have no plans to change the federal same sex marriage laws and would prefer that be handled on a state level instead. 

justAphase

I agree, that should absolutely be what they do. But they're still going to anger the extreme evangelical right wingers who want a candidate who says he is going to make abortion illegal and keep gays from having the right to marry. It sucks, but it's true, I have many family members who feel this way. 

Obviously, the Republican party needs to stop catering to these people because it is only hurting their chances at winning. 

Venus04d

But if they were to stop courting the religious right, where the evangelicals go? To the democrats? Hell no. So they would each suck it up and vote for the republican or enter third party.

twatley

Venus04d:

But if they were to stop courting the religious right, where the evangelicals go? To the democrats? Hell no. So they would each suck it up and vote for the republican or enter third party.

Exactly. If they ignore the religious right, they still are not going to lose them. These people are not going to cast their votes for a evil liberal. 

BostonKisses2

Most likely.

Nechie122

I don't think Romney could have ever beaten Obama, for reasons I listed in the thread below. I'd also point out that many on the left already consider Obama a moderate on many issues, including healthcare reform and the compromise on the debt ceiling, so what would a centrist Republican have to offer that Obama doesn't?

That said, I do think Republicans need to take a harder look at changing demographics. I'm a Democrat, but I do give Bush credit for at least appointing a diverse cabinet, and for understanding that he needed to appeal not only to his base but also Latinos and the rust belt. Romney was just so out of touch with the face of America.

justAphase

twatley:

Venus04d:

But if they were to stop courting the religious right, where the evangelicals go? To the democrats? Hell no. So they would each suck it up and vote for the republican or enter third party.

Exactly. If they ignore the religious right, they still are not going to lose them. These people are not going to cast their votes for a evil liberal. 

Yeah, y'all are right about that.  

GeraldoRivera

twatley:

Venus04d:

But if they were to stop courting the religious right, where the evangelicals go? To the democrats? Hell no. So they would each suck it up and vote for the republican or enter third party.

Exactly. If they ignore the religious right, they still are not going to lose them. These people are not going to cast their votes for a evil liberal. 

No, but they'd just stay home instead. And the party needs that turnout. 

 

Elections aren't really about swaying people to your side. They're about getting people who agree with you to actually show up to vote.