Pawlenty: If the GOP doesn't change, it can not be a majority party

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Mr. Pawlenty kicked off the [Republican Governors Association] conference with a somewhat gloomy appraisal of where things stand for the Republican Party.

"We cannot be a majority governing party when we essentially cannot compete in the Northeast, we are losing our ability to compete in Great Lakes States, we cannot compete on the West Coast, we are increasingly in danger of competing in the Mid-Atlantic States, and the Democrats are now winning some of the Western States,” he said. “That is not a formula for being a majority governing party in this nation.”

"And similarly we cannot compete, and prevail, as a majority governing party if we have a significant deficit, as we do, with women, where we have a large deficit with Hispanics, where we have a large deficit with African-American voters, where we have a large deficit with people of modest incomes and modest financial circumstances,” he said. “Those are not factors that make up a formula for success going forward.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/us/politics/13govs.html

[rocks 494]

"And similarly we cannot compete, and prevail, as a majority governing party if we have a significant deficit, as we do, with women, where we have a large deficit with Hispanics, where we have a large deficit with African-American voters, where we have a large deficit with people of modest incomes and modest financial circumstances,” he said. “Those are not factors that make up a formula for success going forward.”

if only someone had told mccain this before.

[msu17 0]

It's a simple fix. Just go back to the principles the Republican part was founded on they'll be fine. But right now it's all about pandering to the far religious right and helping out big business rather than small business.

[Danno 1,228]

"And similarly we cannot compete, and prevail, as a majority governing party if we have a significant deficit, as we do, with women, where we have a large deficit with Hispanics, where we have a large deficit with African-American voters, where we have a large deficit with people of modest incomes and modest financial circumstances,” he said. “Those are not factors that make up a formula for success going forward.”

if only someone had told mccain this before.

The folly of your point was made on Nov 4

No Republican has stuck his neck out farther than McCain for Hispanics, he crossed his party (and pissed-off many not in his party) by pushing immigration reform.

What did it get him on election day? 2 to 1 they went for the "other team".

Tell me exactly what issues McCain could have supported that would have made the difference?

[Danno 1,228]

It's a simple fix. Just go back to the principles the Republican part was founded on they'll be fine. But right now it's all about pandering to the far religious right and helping out big business rather than small business.

You obviously have no idea how big the so-called Religious Right is.

Would you suggest the Democrats could dismiss a demographic as large as the Female vote?

[rocks 494]

"And similarly we cannot compete, and prevail, as a majority governing party if we have a significant deficit, as we do, with women, where we have a large deficit with Hispanics, where we have a large deficit with African-American voters, where we have a large deficit with people of modest incomes and modest financial circumstances,” he said. “Those are not factors that make up a formula for success going forward.”

if only someone had told mccain this before.

The folly of your point was made on Nov 4

No Republican has stuck his neck out farther than McCain for Hispanics, he crossed his party (and pissed-off many not in his party) by pushing immigration reform.

What did it get him on election day? 2 to 1 they went for the "other team".

Tell me exactly what issues McCain could have supported that would have made the difference?

uhh lol? first off it would have been good if he hadn't have selected a poorly educated woman with the thought that all women are stupid so surely they will vote republican if he has her on board. that was just insulting and a very bad move, that was clear from the start.

[rebeccajo 14]

"And similarly we cannot compete, and prevail, as a majority governing party if we have a significant deficit, as we do, with women, where we have a large deficit with Hispanics, where we have a large deficit with African-American voters, where we have a large deficit with people of modest incomes and modest financial circumstances,” he said. “Those are not factors that make up a formula for success going forward.”

if only someone had told mccain this before.

The folly of your point was made on Nov 4

No Republican has stuck his neck out farther than McCain for Hispanics, he crossed his party (and pissed-off many not in his party) by pushing immigration reform.

What did it get him on election day? 2 to 1 they went for the "other team".

Tell me exactly what issues McCain could have supported that would have made the difference?

Well, for starters, her could have treated women like they have a brain by choosing a running mate that had one.

[Danno 1,228]

My guess is; where the GOP goes from here will depend on Obama.

If he is wildly successful.... they will be Democrat-lite.

If not, they might be real agents of Change.

Either way it is an uphill battle as A)more and more people are getting hooked on "Social Crack".

B) the traditional base demographics in numbers are declining (as mentioned above).

If the Days of "Ask not what your country can do for you.." are really over... then we will become two parties competing as agents of "give-aways"

as we fade away.

[rebeccajo 14]

My guess is; where the GOP goes from here will depend on Obama.

If he is wildly successful.... they will be Democrat-lite.

If not, they might be real agents of Change.

Either way it is an uphill battle as A)more and more people are getting hooked on "Social Crack".

B) the traditional base demographics in numbers are declining (as mentioned above).

If the Days of "Ask not what your country can do for you.." are really over... then we will become two parties competing as agents of "give-aways"

as we fade away.

There's a difference, Danno, between 'give aways' and taking care of the citizenry.

The people of a nation are its infrastructure. If they are too ill to work because they have no health care, then they pay no taxes. If they have no disposable income then they can't grind the gears of the economy. If their children cannot afford to go to university then we become a nation of idiots.

The economy doesn't start at the top and flow downward. When the GOP realizes that, and when they return to their fundamental philosophies, they may have a chance. Until then, they just look like the party of Big Oil and the Top 5% of wage earners. Contrary to popular belief, those folks can't make it without the rest of us.

[IAMX 3,055]

It's a simple fix. Just go back to the principles the Republican part was founded on they'll be fine. But right now it's all about pandering to the far religious right and helping out big business rather than small business.

Or better yet, reinstate the wise Rockefeller Republicans the neoconservatives ousted for more like-minded extremists.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

It's a simple fix. Just go back to the principles the Republican part was founded on they'll be fine. ....

Good point; it was the idea of "bipartisanship" (using Neville Chamberlain as the model) that got them into crisis in the first place.

Or better yet, reinstate the wise Rockefeller Republicans the neoconservatives ousted for more like-minded extremists.

Assuming you meant that sarkily...

It was the Rockefeller Republicans who CAUSED the crisis in GOP--so, getting rid of these will be the first step towards a solution.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The Republicans need to move on from the Reagan era. What was visionary in 1981 isn't so much anymore.

I suspect the changing demographics of this election will demand that they broaden their appeal. John McCain lost because people were tired of the same, stale old thinking - and went for Obama because he at least provided the appearance of something different.

[IAMX 3,055]

It's a simple fix. Just go back to the principles the Republican part was founded on they'll be fine. ....

Good point; it was the idea of "bipartisanship" (using Neville Chamberlain as the model) that got them into crisis in the first place.

Or better yet, reinstate the wise Rockefeller Republicans the neoconservatives ousted for more like-minded extremists.

Assuming you meant that sarkily...

It was the Rockefeller Republicans who CAUSED the crisis in GOP--so, getting rid of these will be the first step towards a solution.

Yeah, those damn moderate Rockefeller Republicans. Wait, there are none left. The last were chased out from the Senate, at least, after 2006.

[Danno 1,228]

My guess is; where the GOP goes from here will depend on Obama.

If he is wildly successful.... they will be Democrat-lite.

If not, they might be real agents of Change.

Either way it is an uphill battle as A)more and more people are getting hooked on "Social Crack".

B) the traditional base demographics in numbers are declining (as mentioned above).

If the Days of "Ask not what your country can do for you.." are really over... then we will become two parties competing as agents of "give-aways"

as we fade away.

There's a difference, Danno, between 'give aways' and taking care of the citizenry.

The people of a nation are its infrastructure. If they are too ill to work because they have no health care, then they pay no taxes. If they have no disposable income then they can't grind the gears of the economy. If their children cannot afford to go to university then we become a nation of idiots.

The economy doesn't start at the top and flow downward. When the GOP realizes that, and when they return to their fundamental philosophies, they may have a chance. Until then, they just look like the party of Big Oil and the Top 5% of wage earners. Contrary to popular belief, those folks can't make it without the rest of us.

Sooo. Let's explore this new Obama Doctrine "TAKING CARE OF THE CITIZENRY".

That would include Medical care (gotta be healthy to work.

K-12 education- this is just a starting point for creating an able citizenry (I like that word).

Collage- If you are not trained in a profession you cant produce.

Housing- Every person deserves... no, *has a right* to decent housing.

Food- We all must eat if we are to be healthy and (again) productive. Toilet paper included, if people need help whipping, Notify *Team Obama* he has a who Civil force in training to help.

Childcare- People cant go to school or work with out a nice and safe place for their kids to go.

Clothing- People have to be dressed, it's a basic need!

transportation- Not everyone lives on a bus-line. If people don't have dependable transpprtation

They are living like second class citizens... transportation is certainly a RIGHT!

INternet access- this is a new century, was was a novelty before is mandatory today.

Boy, I sure hope these secret economic schemes of Obama, work out... we will need a lot of taxes to pay for all this.

[Danno 1,228]

The Republicans need to move on from the Reagan era. What was visionary in 1981 isn't so much anymore.

I suspect the changing demographics of this election will demand that they broaden their appeal. John McCain lost because people were tired of the same, stale old thinking - and went for Obama because he at least provided the appearance of something different.

And when do we finally "move on" from the FDR era?