re: #200 iceweasel

re: #175 Pianobuff

The repubs did hang themselves, to a large extent. And in some ways, the Dems could have run anyone and that person would have a huge advantage purely because he or she didn’t have an R behind them. Iraq and the economy mattered hugely.

But as was pointed out above, the Dems also won big in 2006, and this didn’t all just happen because people in general didn’t like Repubs anymore. A lot of people on the left were working on the Democratic Party to change it and their tactics.

I don’t think the current GOP strategy of pandering to their most extremist members is a winning one.

You make some good points, but I’d also point out that a very large if not the dominant theme in elections for Dems since 2006 has been running against George Bush, not other R candidates, not R ideology but GWB. If I remember, in early 2006 is when his popularity dropped to the low 30s. I mean it’s a great strategy - so good that it’s still somewhat in effect today. Dem strategists basic theme for any candidate was to run against GWB and little else. So while you say it didn’t all just happen because people in general didn’t like Repubs anymore, I’d argue that much of it did happen because people (the voters that could swing the election) didn’t like Bush anymore - doesn’t make me feel great to say it but that’s what it is.

I’d also say it was a much bigger factor than D thinning of ranks.