re: #112 iceweasel

Notice that the Dems didn’t start winning elections until 2006. They had to purge the Nader people, and start looking at why they were losing elections, instead of whining about stolen elections and an unfair media.

You can’t win unless you grab independents, moderates, and the centre.

You can’t win by purging everyone but the extremist elements.

But that’s what the GOP is currently doing. They say everyone is a RINO, and they’re crying that they only lost because of the media— stupid voters— any excuse other than reality: You lose an election because the electorate wanted the other guy.

The GOP has to purge the extremist elements and forge a philosophy that attracts moderates, independents, and people in the centre. If they really endorse fiscal conservatism, a lot of people who are Democrats would vote for them too.

I’ve seen polling and pollsters that supports almost any position on way R’s lost the 2008 election (including some that contend that the only reason the R’s even had a remote chance was because of Palin). I’ll give you my opinion - since the pollsters don’t agree with each other anyway why not.

I hold that the die was cast for the 2008 election long before the candidates were even selected. I believe little had to do with the factionism and other criteria you cite. I believe much more had to do with a war that had exhausted a nation as well as Rs not distinguishing themselves from D’s as fiscal conservatives (which you do cite). These two things alone gave D’s sufficient advantage to win almost any match-up at that time.

The other stuff….. minor beans.

Restoring a R majority will have more to do with how well those in office vote and how well they sell/evangalize fiscally conservative solutions to the economy and prosperity. Trumping all of this is how the economy actually performs. Barring a catastrophic-like world or 9/11 type event, if the economy is recovering pretty well in 2010/2012, the Dems will retain a majority and Obama will be re-elected. It’s that simple to me.