There is an interesting article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the Midwest, and particularly states like Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, being the GOP's best chance to pick up voters and electoral votes going forward. Of course, none of these states has gone to the Republican candidate since 1988 (Minnesota since 1972), but from a demographic standpoint, there may be something to this. This part of the country is overwhelmingly white (save Detroit and Milwaukee) and rural (save the Twin Cities and the other two). These are demographics that are generally amenable to the GOP these days. The GOP could pretty easily get more voters in this part of the country.
The problem with the article is that it assumes a static level of support (or non-support) in the GOP amongst ethnic and racial minorities. If the GOP wants to survive long-term, they need to get serious about getting their message out to this newer audience. Of course, it would serve them better to start being believeable about fiscal responsibility again. But I digress. Here are the facts: America is getting less white. America is getting less Christian. As America becomes less homogeneous, it behooves the GOP to recognize this and start tailoring their platform accordingly. This does not mean they have to junk their values. Less government interference is a good thing. Less dependence on government is a good thing. Government living within its means is a good thing. This is a message that could have more universal appeal. There is nothing that says that all minorities have to be subservient to the Democratic party forever. But, if the GOP doesn't get serious about reaching out to all voters, the assumption in the article will remain true, and the GOP will be doomed....after all, Michigan, Iowa, and Minnesota are probably going to each lose one electoral vote after the 2010 census, and Wisconsin and Michigan lost one in 2000. Hitching your hopes to the South and Midwest won't win you that many more elections.
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You are going to find this comment snarky - well, I hope not, but you know already that I don't agree with you, right? So: Government living within its means? Are you referring to the Reagan Administration, or either of the Bush Administrations? In the former, our national debt quadrupled, and by the end of the latter two, we were/are in a recession. Color me skeptical!
Although I do agree with you that in order to wrest the bonds of subservience to the Democratic Party, from the wrists of the minority populations, that the GOP ought to re-adjust their propaganda to appeal to middle to lower class religious minorities as well as they've propagandized to middle to lower class religious white people.
There might be a snag in that plan, however, as minorities - and many people - are aware of who represents the political ideologies that support the advancement and quality of their livelihoods.
It may be easier to ensnare minorities on the point of religion, but I must think that you, Mike, cannot be completely comfortable with the large role that Conservative Christianity plays in the GOP. You seem to be more of a traditionalist.
Amanda,
Too much to untangle here, but one point worth remembering: Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush did not have the power of the purse. That role belongs to Congress. Congress was in Republican hands during the Bush administration, so you're half correct.
Watch what happens in the next 2-4 years, then get back to us.
Amanda - Propagandize...that is about as strong a word as my use of the word subservience to describe the stranglehold the Dems have on most minorities. You bet there is some snark...not that I mind, though. I like snark. I dish it out myself.
You did illustrate my point about the GOP being believable on fiscal conservatism again. In the mid 90s, when the GOP did control the purse strings, you will notice that we actually did get to a balanced budget...oh that's right, only Bill Clinton deserves any credit for that. But, the reality of the situation is that the GOP was in charge of Congress. That is when people believed the GOP was the party of fiscal responsibility, because they actually were. Mark is correct in that it is Congress that controls the purse strings. And, that dynamic is why Bush and the GOP have earned my wrath...they went the wrong way.
I have to go to work, but I may get back to this later.
usually those who are trying to tell the GOP how to save themselves after a big loss are really wanting the GOP to turn left.
"appeal to minorities" etc... really means adopt race based policies.
its no accident that this stuff usually occurs right after an election where the GOP has pissed all over itself by pandering like democrats, or building a record that makes it hard to tell the difference.
I read that the Bush Administration borrowed not only a page from, but most of Nixon's Playbook. What I read talked about how Nixon went to numerous Senators and House Members and he told them to go a long with he and Kissenger and allow them their way. If they did then they would be rewarded by money for their causes, States, and such as he would not stand in their way.
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