Specter's Departure a Wake Up Call for GOP

[cal04]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/04/28/specters_departure_a_wake_up_c.html?hpid=topnews

By Dan Balz
How much more can the Republicans take? Demoralized, shrinking and seemingly lacking an agenda beyond the word "no," Republicans today saw their ranks further thinned with the stunning news that Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter is switching parties and will run for reelection in 2010 as a Democrat.

Specter is worried about his own survival -- and particularly a primary challenge from the right. Many in the GOP might say good riddance. After supporting President Obama's stimulus package, Specter was persona non grata in his own party. So it may be easy for some Republicans to conclude that they are better off without people like Arlen Specter.

But his defection is a reminder that the Republican Party continues to contract, especially outside the South, and that it appears increasingly less welcome to politicians and voters who do not consider themselves solidly conservative. Northeast Republicans have gone from an endangered species to a nearly extinct species. Republicans lost ground in the Rocky Mountains and the Midwest in the last two elections. That's no way to build a national party.

The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll shows the depth of the party's problems. Just 21 percent of those surveyed identified themselves as Republicans. That's the lowest since the fall of 1983, when just 19 percent identified themselves as Republicans. Party identification does fluctuate with events. But as a snapshot indicator, the latest figures highlight the impact of Obama's opening months on the Republican Party. From a high-water mark of 35 percent in the fall of 2003, Republicans have slid steadily to their present state of affairs. It's just not as cool to be a Republican as it once was.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. 35% a high point?

That doesn't sound too high to me, though I guess it is. But haven't more people said they were Democrats at different times in our history?

[Doctor_J]

2. Wake-up call? I doubt it

they'll continue their course of lying, slandering, smearing, and obstructing, like the person who thinks speaking loud English to a Mexican will make him understand. They have no message, no people, no hope.

RIPieces

[Demeter]

3. I Say Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

and let the delusional amuse themselves somewhere off the national stage.

[Skittles]

4. fuck 'em

I hope they go extinct