That shrinking segment is in part a result of the the unchecked illegal immigration that the democrats embrace to grow their base. Anyone who advocates legal immigration and border security, not giving amnesty to those who have come here against the law and ahead of those waiting years to legally do so, or disagree with the first black president are automatically labeled as racist. As for he ID laws, close to 70% have been polled to support them. That includes a large number of democrats. Labeling the republican party as racist is another tool of division used by the democrats to vilify their opposition. This is the only strategy when for a party that has lowered income, increased poverty, overseen the worst recovery in history.

13:15, but that's the point, it is history. The Democratic Party has plenty of warts as well as some beauty marks. For better or worse, the party moves forward with a fair degree of breadth and diversity. We are not the party who passed SB 1070 in AZ, we are not the party who created voter ID laws to ensure our candidate wins as in PA, we are not the party who purged voters only to discover that the one purged non-citizen voter was a white male who voted for Republicans as in FL (will totally suck if Romney loses FL by one vote). Some of these voter "integrity" problems have existed for years - the GOP was simply oblivious to it until they began to lose elections.

Republicans have had numerous opportunities to court new Americans. Unfortutnately for them, they have embraced a platform that appeals to an ever shrinking segment of the electorate: dying white folks.

The truth of history hurts, huh?

PP back again. Regarding this:

I know plenty of racist southern democrats, like the ones who opposed civil rights

Those shitbags are all Republicans now.

What are some examples of how the republican party "caters" to racists and bigots?

"In the deposition, released to the press yesterday, Greer mentioned a December 2009 meeting with party officials. “I was upset because the political consultants and staff were talking about voter suppression and keeping blacks from voting,” he said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He also said party officials discussed how “minority outreach programs were not fit for the Republican Party,” according to the AP."

http://www.salon.com/2012/07/27/fla_republican_we_suppressed_black_votes/

I know plenty of racist blue collar union democrats. I know plenty of racist southern democrats, like t he ones who opposed civil rights. I even knew a KKK democrat senator from West Virginia. What are some examples of how the republican party "caters" to racists and bigots? Is it because they cry foul when 16 million illegal immigrants break the law and squat in this country? They will never cut into the black vote when Obama is running regardless of the platform. Let face that reality.

Dem here.

I dont think the party (GOP) needs to turn its back on the most conservative aspect of their base anymore than we as dems need to do the same with the most liberal. I think that the extreme's on both of our sides make the loudest noise and while I find it annoying sometimes because Im not some ultra lefty, it is what it is.

The primary issue with the GOP to me is the slice of the extreme block of the party who are the racists, bigots, anti-gay etc. Again, Im speaking of a slice of the party. In any event, the party caters to them way too much as if their numbers are larger than what they really are.

Lastly, the party's overall view and sentiments on the poor or most needy needs a big reality check. Romney's 47% remarks highlights how backward thinking the party see the poor and needy. This was true before the comments and they only confirmed this sentiment.

If you lay out conservative issues and ideas and not attach a name of someone to them, people can be drawn to the message. Whoever works on "marketing" this message alienates a large block of people with their subliminal racism, incorrect representation on the poor, and other groups.

As a black man for example, the party can easily cut into the 90% of blacks who vote democrat if they didnnt spend their time catering and sucking up to the racist elements of the party. They will never get 50% or anything like that but cutting that number down to 80% can mean a huge difference.

Anonymous wrote:I think Mitt Romney wants to be president for at least two genuine reasons: 1) His father couldn't, so he wants to complete his father's dream and 2) he really thinks he can bring business sense to government. I am not sure 1 is a good enough reason and I am not sure he can accomplish 2.

I was leaning to Romney before the conventions, now I am leaning toward Obama. It won't really matter, since I live in MD, but I am truly in the unsure, if not undecided, camp.

I wish one of these parties could put a fiscally conservative, socially liberal candidate. I am learning to look back at Bill Clinton with fondness.

I agree with 1) as his reason - I think its purely a matter of personal ambition. Sadly this shows in his campaign. He wants to win so badly (just for the sake of winning) that he does whatever his consultants and the party big wigs tell him to do. Also, he cannot possibly be stupid enough to think that he can run the govt the way he ran Bain.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line is that it is not Romney's fault that Obama is one of the most disciplined folks in the business. That is probably a combo of his temperment and his upbringing. Sadly, I think many Republicans bought the meme that Obama only made it to the White House because he wasn't sufficiently "vetted," that they could've run Flat Stanley against him and kicked Obama's ass. It is a long way to election day. Anything can happen. My money is on Obama because I think he is tested - I don't think Romney has ever had it so tough before because he clearly seems unsteady and unready to be president.

He may be disciplined, but that's not enough to win an election with 8+% unemployment after nearly 4 years. The problem is deeper than a superior tactician, and we need to understand this.

Because the world will blame Romney's inadequacies and credit Obama's execution. And they will miss the real issue: The Republican party is holding onto a failed electoral strategy. It must build a new coalition around original principles or become a minority party.

I don't know if this is one of the things you're referring to but they sure blew it around the Hispanic vote. Bush tried to reach out to the Hispanic community who would have been a great fit with the Republicans. But the folks who got hysterical about illegal immigration completely destroyed his outreach effort and turned many Hispanics off on the Republican party for years to come. Not that I care because I completely disagree with the Republicans but I'm still in awe of how completely they managed to blow this opportunity.

Sometimes I actually feel sorry for Romney b/c he is such a bad candidate. Then I remember that it is hard to be a candidate and harder to be President. You have to be extremely disciplined. That's why so many people fail at it. I truly do not understand why he wants to be President. I get that he wants to fix the economy, but you still have to have an insane inner passion to do it and I just don't see that from him. I seriously have no idea what he stands for. In my heart, I think that he is a fiscal conservative, but moderate socially. That would never fly so he would spend four years convincing conservatives that he is more conservative then they are.

20:21, I give you that. I still think Republicans, some because they are racist and others because they are incensed that they lost the White House, "misunderestimate" the president every day - that is part of their failed electoral strategy. Maybe not all, but a significant factor.

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line is that it is not Romney's fault that Obama is one of the most disciplined folks in the business. That is probably a combo of his temperment and his upbringing. Sadly, I think many Republicans bought the meme that Obama only made it to the White House because he wasn't sufficiently "vetted," that they could've run Flat Stanley against him and kicked Obama's ass. It is a long way to election day. Anything can happen. My money is on Obama because I think he is tested - I don't think Romney has ever had it so tough before because he clearly seems unsteady and unready to be president.

He may be disciplined, but that's not enough to win an election with 8+% unemployment after nearly 4 years. The problem is deeper than a superior tactician, and we need to understand this.

Because the world will blame Romney's inadequacies and credit Obama's execution. And they will miss the real issue: The Republican party is holding onto a failed electoral strategy. It must build a new coalition around original principles or become a minority party.

Anonymous wrote:I think Mitt Romney wants to be president for at least two genuine reasons: 1) His father couldn't, so he wants to complete his father's dream and 2) he really thinks he can bring business sense to government. I am not sure 1 is a good enough reason and I am not sure he can accomplish 2.

I was leaning to Romney before the conventions, now I am leaning toward Obama. It won't really matter, since I live in MD, but I am truly in the unsure, if not undecided, camp.

I wish one of these parties could put a fiscally conservative, socially liberal candidate. I am learning to look back at Bill Clinton with fondness.

This is me too! I m fiscal conservative, but I could never vote on someone that is pro-life and has his personal religion dictate his policies and rhetoric.

The bottom line is that it is not Romney's fault that Obama is one of the most disciplined folks in the business. That is probably a combo of his temperment and his upbringing. Sadly, I think many Republicans bought the meme that Obama only made it to the White House because he wasn't sufficiently "vetted," that they could've run Flat Stanley against him and kicked Obama's ass. It is a long way to election day. Anything can happen. My money is on Obama because I think he is tested - I don't think Romney has ever had it so tough before because he clearly seems unsteady and unready to be president.

Anonymous wrote:It's not Romneys fault Obama ate a dog.

And yet Obama is kicking his ass. I wonder why?