So many things in life turn out to be counterintuitive

[Fumesucker]

I recall the absolute euphoria on the part of the left and triumphalism on the right in the US at the fall of the Soviet Union, the many discussions of what would be done with the "Peace Dividend", some seemed to think it was the "End of History".

Looking at it from the other end of the binoculars though a decent argument can be made that the implosion of the Soviets as a remotely credible alternative to the West allowed the 1% to stop worrying about what the 99% might do if pushed too hard and the velvet glove came off the capitalist invisible golden fist. It didn't take the Peace Dividend long at all to disappear into everlasting war on terror.

So many on DU seem to be cheering the demise of the Republican party, even though I substantially loathe everything Republicans stand for there's a little something in the back of my head that cautions about being careful what I wish for because I might get it.

All that money and power currently sloshing around in the Republican party isn't going away, it will inevitably find expression somewhere and if the Republicans aren't a valid outlet for that expression then some other outlet will be the lucky recipient.

[graham4anything]

1. I am for an 80-20 in agenda by Presidents being forward. Not the demise of a name.

Don't like Bush? Don't elect Jeb.

But I will send a lifeline out to any who wishes to join in moving forward.

[Fumesucker]

2. English?

Do you speak it?

[graham4anything]

3. The Beatles,Elvis were mainstream. So were the Clash after their first million seller.

LBJ and Lincoln rendered the extremists obsolete.

It's not the party name, its the extremists.

Wallace and David Duke after all, prime members of the JOhn Birch Society were democrats.
Ron and Rand Paul after all, akin to the two above, are republicans.
Extremists in their thinking as are all of the tea party.

Vote to render the extremists on all side obsolete at the poling both, then things can move forward like they always did.

Nothing wrong with the mainstream.

After all, so were the Beatles, Elvis and the Clash. (Both Elvis Presley and Costello).

One doesn't need to have 80 in one party. One can though have 80 regularly in congressional votes by 2016, 2018, and 2020
(and redistrict the correct way in 2020 after the 2020 census.

[Fumesucker]

6. I hear Linda Ronstadt is looking for a guitar player

[graham4anything]

9. Linda Ronstadt will vote for Hillary in 2016.

all Zappa ever looked for was acceptance and sales.
What could be more mainstream than looking to being in the rock and roll hall of fame?

So I guess we agree!

[Egalitarian Thug]

5. ..

[xchrom]

4. Despite the 'word salad' participatants you have attracted-

You are correct.

The Koch bros, & other 'well meaning' wealthy 'citizens' aren't going to give up trying to influence the population from the ground up.

Plus - look how readily people have turned to right wing popular parties in Europe.
A unique American version of that can certainly spring up here - think libertarian - that crosses ethnic divides.

Don't ever count on people NOT being Stoopid.

[TheKentuckian]

7. The transition is well underway, probably closer to finished than starting.

The country club meets over here and the "other team" will pretty much be the bigots, dumbass, and the phony religious.

I almost think they are putting in extra effort to tank the brand to make it super offensive so it can't be flipped to the non-corporate, anti-authoritarian party.

[Art_from_Ark]

8. I think that news of the "demise of the Republican Party"

is greatly exaggerated. They control the US House of Representatives (and will quite possibly retain it next year ), as well as most governorships and statehouses, as well as having enough members in the Senate to effectively block nearly anything that resembles progressive legislation.