Is the GOP Self-Destructing?

[babylonsister]

It appears that way to me...

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/31/is_the_gop_self-destructing.html

January 31, 2012

Is the GOP Self-Destructing?


John Batchelor: "The traditional rationalization about intraparty smears is that it's too early to dismiss the GOP's chances; that it's healthy for the party to battle with mud-flinging; that all this will be forgiven in the heat of August when the party embraces the man who would be king. However, the recklessness of Gingrich's assault on Romney as Long John Silver, and the ruthlessness of the party's Romney chorus screeching at Gingrich as the Undead, all this does reinforce doubts already in place with the independent voters, as well as creating a YouTube bonanza of clips for the Obama re-elect ops in Chicago."

[liberal N proud]

1. Oh we sure hope so!

[Scuba]

2. There's lots of reasons to be optimistic, but they still have the deep pockets....

... and can create another tea party in a New York minute.

[RDANGELO]

3. They have been slowly doing that since the mid 90s.

The US has become more diverse culterally and religously and has become more comfortable with that as a whole. The tribal minded white base of the Republican Party is still in the mindset of the 70s. Unless the party throws them overboard or there is a split, The Republicans will start a disatvantage. If it wasn't for the state of the economy, they would be on the verge of extinction.

[TheMastersNemesis]

4. Don't Count On It

The GOP has more stamina than cockroaches. They always seem to find a way to not just survive but thrive. Of course the death of the GOP would be the best thing that could have ever happened to the US politically.

[Armin-A]

8. imagine if we had a left party vs a center-left party system

[AlinPA]

5. They control a lot of state houses, governorships, courts, US House, and the Senate with

their filibuster. No, they are not self-destructing. But lets hope people get out and vote for Democrats like they did in 2008.

[kemah]

6. Their agenda is destroying their brand.

The GOP agenda is out of touch with the common man that all they have left is to demonize Obama. On the issues they are dead in the water. The SOTU speech was received with a 90% approval rating.

[Ebadlun]

7. They seem to be losing control of their base, at least

Over in freeperland, all the talk anti-Romney, anti-Fox, anti-Beck.

Now, of course, how permanent this will be is another matter.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. I'm cautiously optimistic

and, may I say, not a moment too soon.......

Of course, I won't totally relax until Election Night when Barack Obama wins his second term as POTUS. The Democrats retaining the House and winning back control of the House will be icing on the cake.

[renie408]

10. I don't think the GOP will do as well with a really hot, long campaign.

One of the hallmarks of the true conservative is a dislike of change. It is asking a lot for them to go from ripping out each other's throats to voting for their opponent in two short months. If this campaign maintains this level of vitriol right up to the convention, I think that by that time there will be a lot of members of both camps who fill flatly HATE the other side. Another hallmark of conservatism is that they can run some pretty vicious negative attack ads and they like a good ad hominem diversion. If Newt and Mitt spend the next six months ripping each other to shreds in an effort to demonize the other guy to their base, they run the risk of being successful. They may create an atmosphere where, for some, either is perceived as negatively, or nearly, as Obama.

[bemildred]

11. Look, what has Gingrich ever touched that he did not fuck up?

When did he ever do what he said he was going to do? I can't think of a case. There may be one, or even two, but I can't think of even one. "Contract with America" my ass. He is a bigger windsock than Mitt, and that is a high bar to get over. I mean debacle is the way to think when Newt is playing.

[classof56]

12. You've summed it up nicely!

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. 'Long John Silver'?

A cook who leads a band of pirates trying to find treasure before the upper class people they mutiny against can? When has any attack by Gingirch on Romney had anything to do with Long John Silver?

[XemaSab]

14. I think the chickens are coming home to roost

and the party is fracturing along crazy/not crazy lines.

That being said, the dems aren't looking very healthy either.

[FrenchieCat]

15. That was what was said of the Republican party shortly after election 2008......

and see what that got us!

No, they aren't destructing, because the media will always be there to pick up the pieces.....
and they do this very well!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

16. I hope not ...

If the Republican party falls apart, then many of the homeless rightwing thugs will proclaim their Democraticness and join our party, pulling it right of center.

Long live the Republican party! It's an entertaining mosh pit.

[JoePhilly]

17. I think it is "Imploding" ...

It is collapsing in on itself and the craziest parts of its base.

Its like a black hole, sucking any rational Republican down into he crazy.