Post by elalacran on Feb 14, 2012 19:27:55 GMT -5
Answer: Certainly not. The 2012 presidential election may be written off as the candidates have marginalized themselves with losing issues, but there are plenty of state and local races where the GOP remains a force.
Follow up: Can a Republican candidate beat Obama in 2012?
Answer: Anything can happen. The president molesting a child in the Oval Office, a decision to invade Iran, a public assault between the president and first lady, rising unemployment, a new recession, anything of that magnitude could turn the race upside down.
Follow up: What can Republican candidates do to make for a tighter presidential race?
Answer: You do not bet against the percentages. The GOP has been doing exactly that. Most Republican issues are losing issues among voters as a whole nationwide. All the fuss about contraceptives is a case in point. Most Americans and most Catholics are fine with the president's announced policy. Yet GOP candidates spent time and energy attacking the president on that. That is only one example. It looks like Republicans have a death wish when it comes to winning the White House in 2012.
The GOP core are fighting a war that doesn't exist. Calling the president a socialist, vilifying liberals and calling Obama one, calling Obama a muslim or Muslim sympathizer! These are tickets to looneyville.
What can the GOP do? There are issues on which to attack Obama. The deficit for example. But when Republicans tackle that issue, they shoot themselves in the foot by opposing tax increases and especially tax increases on the rich. How smart is that? To court less than 5% of the population and risk alienating the other 95%? Stupid. Then when you have Romney doing that, it's disaster time.
The new healthcare law is another weak point. But of those who don't like that law, many are worried that the GOP will take it away instead of improving it. You court their votes by putting forth specific ways the law can be made better. Then you have to assure those opposing any healthcare law that there is a middle ground. Quite a balancing act, but if you are playing for all the marbles versus playing for some it has to be done.
Simplest course is to avoid saying something stupid, look and act presidential, and hope Obama trips.
Follow up: Can a Republican candidate beat Obama in 2012?
Answer: Anything can happen. The president molesting a child in the Oval Office, a decision to invade Iran, a public assault between the president and first lady, rising unemployment, a new recession, anything of that magnitude could turn the race upside down.
Follow up: What can Republican candidates do to make for a tighter presidential race?
Answer: You do not bet against the percentages. The GOP has been doing exactly that. Most Republican issues are losing issues among voters as a whole nationwide. All the fuss about contraceptives is a case in point. Most Americans and most Catholics are fine with the president's announced policy. Yet GOP candidates spent time and energy attacking the president on that. That is only one example. It looks like Republicans have a death wish when it comes to winning the White House in 2012.
The GOP core are fighting a war that doesn't exist. Calling the president a socialist, vilifying liberals and calling Obama one, calling Obama a muslim or Muslim sympathizer! These are tickets to looneyville.
What can the GOP do? There are issues on which to attack Obama. The deficit for example. But when Republicans tackle that issue, they shoot themselves in the foot by opposing tax increases and especially tax increases on the rich. How smart is that? To court less than 5% of the population and risk alienating the other 95%? Stupid. Then when you have Romney doing that, it's disaster time.
The new healthcare law is another weak point. But of those who don't like that law, many are worried that the GOP will take it away instead of improving it. You court their votes by putting forth specific ways the law can be made better. Then you have to assure those opposing any healthcare law that there is a middle ground. Quite a balancing act, but if you are playing for all the marbles versus playing for some it has to be done.
Simplest course is to avoid saying something stupid, look and act presidential, and hope Obama trips.