Okay, JB2, you want a truthful answer? Here you go:
"...In fact, what was most notable was Powell's dire assessment of the state of the GOP: 'The party has moved even further to the right,' he said, adding that, 'over the last seven weeks, the approach of the Republican Party and Mr. McCain has become narrower and narrower.'
That's the key indictment, and the key problem, for the GOP. While the political world shifts towards independent voters -- who, by nature, are more about pragmatism than dogma -- the Republican Party remains unable to redefine itself back into a working majority. Watch the effect of Powell's endorsement Video
Is it still the party of Ronald Reagan? Or has it moved beyond Reagan's innate optimism and into a party that wants to build fences and demand ideological purity? Or can it come up with new ideas that could eventually provide some rejuvenation?
Truth is, after more than a decade of political dominance, the GOP is out of steam and on the verge of a civil war -- with factions splitting among the foreign-policy hardliners, the tax-cutters and the social conservatives."
My opinion?
The Republican Party is dividing, just like it did when Teddy Roosevelt ran for a second term. Teddy represented the "liberal" Republicans, which (back then) were the majority of the party. They were the "Lincoln Republicans" going back to our country's Civil War. But when Teddy ran, he split the party in two. Literally. Creating his own "Bull Moose Party" Those liberal Republicans jumped ship and went with Teddy. The rest (the real die-hard conservatives) stayed with incumbent Taft. And the Democrats voted for Wilson. Wilson won. Teddy came in second, and Taft came in THIRD. A huge embarrassment.
The party is splitting open again. I'm sure you'll see a lot of internal tension within the Republican Party over the next 4 years, assuming they do lose this time. Some will want to pull more toward the extreme right, and some moving further to the left, back to the party's original ideals (yes, they were NOT conservative at all).
So, where will they go, JB2?
I think we'll see them break away in the next decade and form a third party.
CNN link discussing this very subject...
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
