Organizing for America | Richard's Blog: Is the GOP Dead As A Coherent Political Force?

Is the GOP Dead As A Coherent Political Force?

By Ricardo - Feb 18th, 2009 at 9:11 am EST

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The GOP and the Beltway still underestimate President Obama. Some establishment types have great difficulty adapting to the new political order in Washington. These same types misread the writings on the wall during both the primaries and the election where they were out maneuvered by the then candidate Senator Obama, as he not only won the Democratic nomination but also totally defeated Senator John McCain , the GOP nominee.

The last week saw the GOP wade into pious self congratulation for their obstinate opposition to the signed stimulus legislation believing, as did the Beltway, that they had scored a major victory by denying the President his much vaunted bi-partisanship. The fact that the President still got what he sought; a stimulus legislation passed within 30 days of his taking office and that major GOP Governors including that of California seeking governmental assistance stood full-square with the President were totally oblivious to them. To the chagrin of the GOP, Beltway and in particular FOX News, the latest opinion polls seem to suggest that the American people are also full-square behind their President and had not read the script pushed haughtily by the Beltway and cable networks about a GOP victory in the tussle for bi-partisanship. The President’s approval ratings remain stratospheric, the Democratic Congress scores highly; in fact the highest they have scored to date and Representative Pelosi is more popular than the nearest GOP in either Houses of Congress.

Will the GOP grasp the new reality and muster opposition or just whine away in oblivion and irrelevance? That would be a shame because inasmuch as I support the President, I still believe in a strong but pragmatic opposition. That is not just good for American democracy but good for the President and a resurgent Democratic controlled Capitol. It would also signify once and for all that the GOP is now reformed and subscribe to proper and accountable government. That will not only be a testament sought by Americans but the wider World that we would never revert to what we just witnessed these past eight years.

The question though is simply will the GOP survive as a coherent political force in an Obama Presidency?

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GOOD QUESTION RICARDO... | Report to Admin

By SUE DUVALL SMITH from IndianaV.O.B. Feb 18th 2009 at 9:33 am EST (Updated Feb 18th 2009 at 9:33 am EST)

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE SURVIVAL OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED. LIKE THE PRESIDENT...AM ALL FOR UNITY BECAUSE THIS IS THE WAY THINGS SHOULD BE. IT WILL BE UNFORTUNATE FOR THIS COUNTRY IF WE CAN'T GET THERE. PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS SENT OUT THE INVITATIONS... IT IS UP TO THE GOP TO ANSWER. WITH FREEDOM OF SPEECH...IT'S THEIR OPTION...OH THE CHOICES WE MAKE................THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR SURVIVAL IN THIS COUNTRY. THANKS FOR A GREAT POST! HOPE THIS HELPS......

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By Taube Feb 19th 2009 at 2:47 am EST (Updated Feb 19th 2009 at 2:47 am EST)

the dilemma of our two-party system is that both parties fracture and regroup over time because both parties are uncomfortable coalitions.

rather than ask if the GOP can remain a coherent political, one might ask whether the Democrats will fracture, espceially if the liberal wing keeps ignoring the fiscal conservative Blue Dogs who give the Democrats their current majorities in both houses.

You can watch this nascent civil war in almost every committee hearing on C-Span3.

As to the stimulus bill, it would have more credibility if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had not added 8BIL USD in the final version for a high speed mag-lev train between Disneyland and Las Vegas. A questionable infrastructure project that was in neither version of the bill that had been voted on, leading to the question of what was the big hurry and what is actually stimulative.

Students of history may remember how fast Clinton lost his Democratic majorities. 2010 could be the year for real change in American politics.

Taube is right ! | Report to Admin

By z0rr0 Mar 4th 2009 at 10:01 pm EST (Updated Mar 4th 2009 at 10:01 pm EST)

I watch Pelosi going after her own agenda while publicly cheerleading for Obama. I watch Barney Frank make pious pronoucements on behalf of Main Street, while he has pocketed millions in donations from Wall Street. I won't even mention the cabinet candidate who had to withdraw for "lax observation of rules".

Which Party will fracture? It may very well have a simple answer - the one in power.

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