Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Romney supporter here: First, congratulations. I underestimated the strength of the Obama ground game, as well as wishfully thought there was enough conservatism left in the country to grind this one out. Apparently not. Mock away, I am prepared to take my lumps on principle.

My view is that this result spells the end of the Republican coalition for good. There are two views, about evenly divided. One argues that to win, Republicans need to be more like Dems. This may be true, and good for professional Rep pols, but in my view Reps would have to become so much like Dems to execute this strategy, what is the point? Also, the Dems will persuade "centrist" Republicans that immigration amnesty gives them a change to appeal to the Latino vote. That may be sufficient to save a "Republican" party; it is lights out for conservatives if that happens however.

The conservative right wing will split with the centrist types on these and other issues, but will never have enough votes to win nationally. The real action will be the fight between the left-centrists and the progressives in the Democratic party. I place my bet on the progressives: politics is all they care about, they want it more, and long-term they are just better at it.

Conservatives will fight a rear-guard action to delay the leftward drift of US politics, but it baked into the cake now. The demographic headwinds are too strong. I certainly hope that I am wrong about the consequences of the changes in policy that will be forthcoming, but I don't think I am.

Most thoughtful conservatives, I believe, are going to turn their backs on politics, and focus on community, family, and connecting with like-minded folk. I am extremely concerned about the path this country is now committed to, and will be planning accordingly. For better or worse, this country will now be what your side makes of it. Act responsibly.

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. While I understand that you have concerns based on your values, there are many of us who will welcome a leftward turn in American politics with open, eager arms. Our country has been pulled so far to the right that a centrist like Obama has been labeled a socialist (which no doubt makes true socialists roll their eyes and laugh). If a leftward lurch can bring us back to the middle, then I say huzzah! Most Americans lean fiscally conservative and socially moderate or liberal. Your party sealed its fate by crawling into bed with the evangelical social-issues obsessed fringe that left moderates like me with no real choice. Now they need to give them the boot and get reacquainted with basic common sense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Romney supporter here: First, congratulations. I underestimated the strength of the Obama ground game, as well as wishfully thought there was enough conservatism left in the country to grind this one out. Apparently not. Mock away, I am prepared to take my lumps on principle.

My view is that this result spells the end of the Republican coalition for good. There are two views, about evenly divided. One argues that to win, Republicans need to be more like Dems. This may be true, and good for professional Rep pols, but in my view Reps would have to become so much like Dems to execute this strategy, what is the point? Also, the Dems will persuade "centrist" Republicans that immigration amnesty gives them a change to appeal to the Latino vote. That may be sufficient to save a "Republican" party; it is lights out for conservatives if that happens however.

The conservative right wing will split with the centrist types on these and other issues, but will never have enough votes to win nationally. The real action will be the fight between the left-centrists and the progressives in the Democratic party. I place my bet on the progressives: politics is all they care about, they want it more, and long-term they are just better at it.

Conservatives will fight a rear-guard action to delay the leftward drift of US politics, but it baked into the cake now. The demographic headwinds are too strong. I certainly hope that I am wrong about the consequences of the changes in policy that will be forthcoming, but I don't think I am.

Most thoughtful conservatives, I believe, are going to turn their backs on politics, and focus on community, family, and connecting with like-minded folk. I am extremely concerned about the path this country is now committed to, and will be planning accordingly. For better or worse, this country will now be what your side makes of it. Act responsibly.

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. While I understand that you have concerns based on your values, there are many of us who will welcome a leftward turn in American politics with open, eager arms. Our country has been pulled so far to the right that a centrist like Obama has been labeled a socialist (which no doubt makes true socialists roll their eyes and laugh). If a leftward lurch can bring us back to the middle, then I say huzzah! Most Americans lean fiscally conservative and socially moderate or liberal. Your party sealed its fate by crawling into bed with the evangelical social-issues obsessed fringe that left moderates like me with no real choice. Now they need to give them the boot and get reacquainted with basic common sense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your very thoughtful tone but I think you are mistaken that there is some kind of inevitable leftward shift in the country due to demographics. I think that the Latino community would have been a natural constituency for the Republican Party and can still be one. Family values? Hard work? Freedom for small businesses from regulation? Protection for religious values? Encouraging individual initiative? These all could appeal deeply to Latino voters but instead the Republican Party paid obeisance to short-sighted white anxiety about immigration that bordered on xenophobia. The Republicans could still shift course and become relevant but they have to start thinking about the future and embracing it rather than longing for some unattainable past that never really existed in that form to begin with.

I have seen no reason to believe that this is anything other than wishful thinking.

Then George W. Bush (and his brother Jeb) were engaging in wishful thinking. They were both successful in winning the Latino vote (check the data) and Bush was on his way to solidifying it through comprehensive immigration reform. Guess who scuttled that.

As I recall correctly, Bush pulled out all the stops to try make that happen and picked up 40% of the Latino vote in Texas. I think that is the ceiling, based on the data. Adding a bunch of people you are going to lose 60/40 at best is not a recipe for victory.

And where do you think that percentage would have gone if Bush had not been prevented by Republicans for pushing for immigration reform?

Okay then, just leave the Latinos to the Democrats. If y'all aren't even going to try to adjust to changing circumstances, then maybe you don't really deserve to govern this country.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your very thoughtful tone but I think you are mistaken that there is some kind of inevitable leftward shift in the country due to demographics. I think that the Latino community would have been a natural constituency for the Republican Party and can still be one. Family values? Hard work? Freedom for small businesses from regulation? Protection for religious values? Encouraging individual initiative? These all could appeal deeply to Latino voters but instead the Republican Party paid obeisance to short-sighted white anxiety about immigration that bordered on xenophobia. The Republicans could still shift course and become relevant but they have to start thinking about the future and embracing it rather than longing for some unattainable past that never really existed in that form to begin with.

I have seen no reason to believe that this is anything other than wishful thinking.

Then George W. Bush (and his brother Jeb) were engaging in wishful thinking. They were both successful in winning the Latino vote (check the data) and Bush was on his way to solidifying it through comprehensive immigration reform. Guess who scuttled that.

As I recall correctly, Bush pulled out all the stops to try make that happen and picked up 40% of the Latino vote in Texas. I think that is the ceiling, based on the data. Adding a bunch of people you are going to lose 60/40 at best is not a recipe for victory.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Most thoughtful conservatives, I believe, are going to turn their backs on politics, and focus on community, family, and connecting with like-minded folk. I am extremely concerned about the path this country is now committed to, and will be planning accordingly. For better or worse, this country will now be what your side makes of it. Act responsibly.

I completely agree with these statements. I'm in the same boat as this poster and this is exactly how I feel. I'm deeply concerned about where we are going as a country, don't feel there is much I can do about it, but need to take care of my family and our community. That's what I will do going forward.

Wow. When Bush got into office, I never said to myself - I'll just abandon my country and only take care of my family. Have the gonads to fight, pps!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your very thoughtful tone but I think you are mistaken that there is some kind of inevitable leftward shift in the country due to demographics. I think that the Latino community would have been a natural constituency for the Republican Party and can still be one. Family values? Hard work? Freedom for small businesses from regulation? Protection for religious values? Encouraging individual initiative? These all could appeal deeply to Latino voters but instead the Republican Party paid obeisance to short-sighted white anxiety about immigration that bordered on xenophobia. The Republicans could still shift course and become relevant but they have to start thinking about the future and embracing it rather than longing for some unattainable past that never really existed in that form to begin with.

I have seen no reason to believe that this is anything other than wishful thinking.

Then George W. Bush (and his brother Jeb) were engaging in wishful thinking. They were both successful in winning the Latino vote (check the data) and Bush was on his way to solidifying it through comprehensive immigration reform. Guess who scuttled that.

As I recall correctly, Bush pulled out all the stops to try make that happen and picked up 40% of the Latino vote in Texas. I think that is the ceiling, based on the data. Adding a bunch of people you are going to lose 60/40 at best is not a recipe for victory.

Anonymous wrote:Romney supporter here: First, congratulations. I underestimated the strength of the Obama ground game, as well as wishfully thought there was enough conservatism left in the country to grind this one out. Apparently not. Mock away, I am prepared to take my lumps on principle.

My view is that this result spells the end of the Republican coalition for good. There are two views, about evenly divided. One argues that to win, Republicans need to be more like Dems. This may be true, and good for professional Rep pols, but in my view Reps would have to become so much like Dems to execute this strategy, what is the point? Also, the Dems will persuade "centrist" Republicans that immigration amnesty gives them a change to appeal to the Latino vote. That may be sufficient to save a "Republican" party; it is lights out for conservatives if that happens however.

The conservative right wing will split with the centrist types on these and other issues, but will never have enough votes to win nationally. The real action will be the fight between the left-centrists and the progressives in the Democratic party. I place my bet on the progressives: politics is all they care about, they want it more, and long-term they are just better at it.

Conservatives will fight a rear-guard action to delay the leftward drift of US politics, but it baked into the cake now. The demographic headwinds are too strong. I certainly hope that I am wrong about the consequences of the changes in policy that will be forthcoming, but I don't think I am.

Most thoughtful conservatives, I believe, are going to turn their backs on politics, and focus on community, family, and connecting with like-minded folk. I am extremely concerned about the path this country is now committed to, and will be planning accordingly. For better or worse, this country will now be what your side makes of it. Act responsibly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your very thoughtful tone but I think you are mistaken that there is some kind of inevitable leftward shift in the country due to demographics. I think that the Latino community would have been a natural constituency for the Republican Party and can still be one. Family values? Hard work? Freedom for small businesses from regulation? Protection for religious values? Encouraging individual initiative? These all could appeal deeply to Latino voters but instead the Republican Party paid obeisance to short-sighted white anxiety about immigration that bordered on xenophobia. The Republicans could still shift course and become relevant but they have to start thinking about the future and embracing it rather than longing for some unattainable past that never really existed in that form to begin with.

I have seen no reason to believe that this is anything other than wishful thinking.

Then George W. Bush (and his brother Jeb) were engaging in wishful thinking. They were both successful in winning the Latino vote (check the data) and Bush was on his way to solidifying it through comprehensive immigration reform. Guess who scuttled that.

Anonymous wrote:

Most thoughtful conservatives, I believe, are going to turn their backs on politics, and focus on community, family, and connecting with like-minded folk. I am extremely concerned about the path this country is now committed to, and will be planning accordingly. For better or worse, this country will now be what your side makes of it. Act responsibly.

I completely agree with these statements. I'm in the same boat as this poster and this is exactly how I feel. I'm deeply concerned about where we are going as a country, don't feel there is much I can do about it, but need to take care of my family and our community. That's what I will do going forward.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your very thoughtful tone but I think you are mistaken that there is some kind of inevitable leftward shift in the country due to demographics. I think that the Latino community would have been a natural constituency for the Republican Party and can still be one. Family values? Hard work? Freedom for small businesses from regulation? Protection for religious values? Encouraging individual initiative? These all could appeal deeply to Latino voters but instead the Republican Party paid obeisance to short-sighted white anxiety about immigration that bordered on xenophobia. The Republicans could still shift course and become relevant but they have to start thinking about the future and embracing it rather than longing for some unattainable past that never really existed in that form to begin with.

I have seen no reason to believe that this is anything other than wishful thinking.

Anonymous wrote:Based upon the Republican responses on this spread---they will respond with denial.

How any Republican thinks that the reason they lost isn't due to alienating women, independents and moderate Republicans is complete insanity!

Most thoughtful conservatives, I believe, are going to turn their backs on politics, and focus on community, family, and connecting with like-minded folk. I am extremely concerned about the path this country is now committed to, and will be planning accordingly. For better or worse, this country will now be what your side makes of it. Act responsibly.