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The Spectacle Blog

Beginning of a New Democratic Era?

By Doug Bandow on 1.20.09 @ 2:25AM

After every big election victory of either Republicans or Democrats, analysts, columnists, and just plain folks have a tendency to dance on the grave the loser, proclaiming the permanent ascendency of the other party. And it never lasts. Indeed, sometimes the turnarounds are incredibly swift--Richard Nixon resigning just a couple years after his massive reelection victory, for instance. And the Bush debacle instead of the supposed permanent majority.

Nevertheless, the GOP appears to be in quite a hole. Next year should be good for Republicans on Capitol Hill as a mid-term election, but the Senate math looks bad and the numbers are being compounded by a rash of retirements. And the electoral college has gone from the supposed Republican "lock" to a Democratic one. Patrick Buchanan writes:

As President Barack Obama delivers his inaugural address to a nation filled with anticipation and hope, the vital signs of the loyal opposition appear worse than worrisome.

The new majority of 49 states and 60 percent of the nation Nixon cobbled together in 1972, that became the Reagan coalition of 49 states and 60 percent of the nation in 1984, is a faded memory. Demographically, philosophically and culturally, the party base has been shrinking since Bush I won his 40-state triumph over Michael Dukakis. Indeed, the Republican base is rapidly becoming a redoubt, a Fort Apache in Indian country.

There's no doubt that the GOP can rebound. But it would help to have quality national leadership. Mitch McConnell is the highest ranking elected Republican in the country and he ain't a winning public face for the party, whatever you think of his tactical legislative abilities. It appears the GOP is living out that ancient Chinese curse: may you live in interesting times.

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Jeremiah| 1.20.09 @ 11:19AM

Conservatives, be not afraid.

This is I, Jeremiah, unrepentant liberal and last of the good guys.

The Republican party has not always enjoyed the power Reagan led it to, and perhaps there are a few years ahead in which things seem more like they did before he came.

One thing seems for sure: the so-called Southern Strategy is finished. Race relations have sufficiently healed and blacks are moving into the middle class. We have a black president, making resentment-based identity politics seem strangely "quaint," to borrow a term.

There may still be "racists," but even here on these outposts little overt racism is tolerated or respected.

Republicans (or conservatives generally) will begin to win elections again when they begin to articulate their principles and ideas clearly. (Remember, for the last 8 years, Republicans have been led by a man who may have had a good heart, but he was disgracefully inarticulate.)

Conservatives will probably have to learn, too, to drop some of their resentments, just as liberals have sometimes had to do. Whining about the press is ignoble and foolish: Palin sounded like a lame and involuntary parody of Nixon as she complained about reporters in a recent interview.

Conservatives, lose your fear. Make your case. Don't complain, don't explain. You may not be entrusted with control of all three branches again for a while. It didn't work so well this last time. But conservatism and Republicans are not going to vanish.

ruth| 1.20.09 @ 2:45PM

Sure, Jeremiah, we'll also drop some of our resentments, just like some of you trailer trash democrats did when you mocked President Bush at the Inauguration Dais. No class to the very end.