What's next for GOP?
So, what's going to happen to the Republican party after this election? Democrats have won significant majorities in the senate and house along with the presidency. It seems like 1980, from which the Democrats didn't seem to recover until they expanded to the center with Clinton in '92.
I can think of three possibilities...
* Nothing! The Democratic sweep happened because of transient economic reasons. That various regressive ballot questions passed around the country, and that a convicted felon may well be winning back his senate seat, show that things haven't changed much. Republicans don't need to change a thing and they'll pick up some seats in 2 years, and be competitive for the presidency in 4.
* The Republicans will purge the so-called RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) from their party. They'll circle the wagons and concentrate on pushing their backwards social policies. There will be no room for people like Bill Weld or Christopher Shays.
* The Republicans will go the other way: concentrate on fiscal conservativism, and adopt a more "big tent" policy on social issues, in an attempt to pursue the middle of the electorate.
Worst-case for me is #1. If we elect Palin or Huckabee in 4 years, it might be even worse of a disaster than Bush '04. Even if they have access to the national stage for 6 months and lose, it will be a national embarrassment.
Perhaps it's just wishful thinking on my part, but I think #2 would be a disaster for them. Alas for them, the bigot population is declining all the time. I think this tack makes them a marginal party that can win some rural and southern states, but would consistently fail nationally. Dixiecrats 2.0. Bad for the GOP and bad for the country. Although, perhaps it would generate a "Rockefeller Republican" 3rd party which could be viable in the northeast and midwest.
I want it to be #3. Seems like the best situation right now is to have a left-of-center party in control, but unable to do anything too crazy because they are held in check by a sensible and strong minority party. Here their role is to say things like "But, we can't afford that!" and "This policy is well-intentioned but will not work!". They would not be saying things like "But, my bible tells me that this zygote is a human being!" or "Let's put the budget on the back burner while we address the pressing problem of atheist homosexuals who burn the US flag!". Should such a reasonable GOP gain seats or even the presidency in a few years, it would certainly not be a national calamity.
Am I naive in hoping for #3?