Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    Athos's Avatar
    Athos Posts: 1,108, Reputation: 55
    Ultra Member
     
    #1

    Feb 18, 2016, 07:12 AM
    The Republican Party - What Happened?
    Am I the only ex-Republican who feels the GOP has sunk to an impossibly low standard with one looney-tune after another vying for thr presidential nomination?

    What in the world happened to this once respectable party that stood for good conservative principles? From starting wars to crashing economies to putting politics ahead of the good of the nation and the rest, I wonder if we are witnessing the death knell of a once great political organization.
    catonsville's Avatar
    catonsville Posts: 894, Reputation: 91
    Senior Member
     
    #2

    Feb 18, 2016, 09:07 AM
    I am still waiting for Congress to get up off their knees in the "Oral Office". You expect it from the Dems. But when the hell will the Repubs. standup?
    smoothy's Avatar
    smoothy Posts: 25,492, Reputation: 2853
    Uber Member
     
    #3

    Feb 18, 2016, 10:57 AM
    Consider the fact the Democrat party as two front runners an openly admitted Socialist running who is beating someone who thinks she is Evita and makes Richard Nixon look like an absolute saint.

    Haven't seen much to respect in the Democrat party for a lot of years... so there is plenty of that to go around. Not saying the Republicans have the best candidates possible right now... just that they are light years ahead of who the Democrat party is putting up for candidates. The Last Democrat I could actually respect was Joe Lieberman.
    ebaines's Avatar
    ebaines Posts: 12,131, Reputation: 1307
    Expert
     
    #4

    Feb 18, 2016, 12:10 PM
    What has happened in the Republican Party over the last 6 months have been a huge disappointment to me. I am lifelong Republican - and being from the northeast that means I am generally conservative on economic matters, a liberal on most social issues, and supportive of a strong military but cautious on military engagement. Obviously no one candidate precisely lines up with this, and really haven't since Ford. I usually sacrifice my views on social issues and side with the Republicans because of their more responsible fiscal stands. In years past I was happy to support Romney. McCain, Bush 43, Dole, Bush 41, Reagan and Ford. But this year has me flummoxed. Trump is a joke. Cruz is a jerk and so ultra-conservative on social issues I can't support him. Rubio has some good points but given a resume that is no stronger than Obama's was 8 years ago I don't think he's prepared, plus I don't like the way he has cut-and-run on immigration in the face of challenges from Cruz. Kasich is probably the best of the bunch - he's more realistic, though his support of a balanced budget amendment is short-sighted. Jeb! would be OK, but I don't think the country needs a third Bush. Given the way the polls are going I doubt Kasich will make it. Rubio might, and if so he'd get my vote in November. But if it's either Trump or Cruz I really think I'd have to go with Hillary in November. And if it turns out to be Sanders versus either Trump or Cruz ... I'll be staying home on election day enjoying a nice 12-year old scotch.
    catonsville's Avatar
    catonsville Posts: 894, Reputation: 91
    Senior Member
     
    #5

    Feb 18, 2016, 02:39 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by ebaines View Post
    What has happened in the Republican Party over the last 6 months have been a huge disappointment to me. I am lifelong Republican - and being from the northeast that means I am generally conservative on economic matters, a liberal on most social issues, and supportive of a strong military but cautious on military engagement. Obviously no one candidate precisely lines up with this, and really haven't since Ford. I usually sacrifice my views on social issues and side with the Republicans because of their more responsible fiscal stands. In years past I was happy to support Romney. McCain, Bush 43, Dole, Bush 41, Reagan and Ford. But this year has me flummoxed. Trump is a joke. Cruz is a jerk and so ultra-conservative on social issues I can't support him. Rubio has some good points but given a resume that is no stronger than Obama's was 8 years ago I don't think he's prepared, plus I don't like the way he has cut-and-run on immigration in the face of challenges from Cruz. Kasich is probably the best of the bunch - he's more realistic, though his support of a balanced budget amendment is short-sighted. Jeb! would be OK, but I don't think the country needs a third Bush. Given the way the polls are going I doubt Kasich will make it. Rubio might, and if so he'd get my vote in November. But if it's either Trump or Cruz I really think I'd have to go with Hillary in November. And if it turns out to be Sanders versus either Trump or Cruz I'm staying home on election day and will enjoy a nice 12-year old scotch.
    ebaines, with the little bit of time I have been on here, I have held your thoughts to be very interesting and upright but with the last 2 sentences of this post, I think you have flown off the rail. Per chance, I will consider that you may have already tapped into that bottle of Scotch.
    Catsmine's Avatar
    Catsmine Posts: 3,826, Reputation: 739
    Pest Control Expert
     
    #6

    Feb 18, 2016, 02:57 PM
    I style myself as a Classic Liberal, more concerned with individuals' liberty than government remedies for ANYTHING. I dropped out of the Republican Party when in the 2012 Convention a floor vote was deemed a no when it was clearly a yes. The only "small government" platform with even a chance of being heard, even as small as it is, is the Libertarians. You might find a lot of formerly liberal republicans over here. (Electioneering warning) Vote for Liberty.
    classyT's Avatar
    classyT Posts: 1,562, Reputation: 214
    Ultra Member
     
    #7

    Feb 24, 2016, 06:30 PM
    Yep!! Smoothy.... Seriously, I don't like Donald Trump and I don't want him to get the nomination but for the love of all that is HOLY... he beats what the Dems got running. Smh
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
    Uber Member
     
    #8

    Feb 24, 2016, 09:03 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by classyT View Post
    Yep!! Smoothy.... Seriously, I don't like Donald Trump and I don't want him to get the nomination but for the love of all that is HOLY... he beats what the Dems got running. Smh
    Kasich or Carson won't get it. If Cruz loses TX and Rubio loses FL, it is all over. Hail the Don. Maybe Hilary will try and run from jail but I bet her "friends" will take the sword for her. Dems need more centrist candidates to balance the socialists currently running. Oh, and to think, Hilary was a Republican once. I just early voted today in the GA primary. When I saw the poll worker place my data sheet over onto a pile of other forms, I asked, "is that from the early voting? She replied, yes, but that is just from today, we have NEVER had turnout like this".
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
    Expert
     
    #9

    Feb 24, 2016, 10:27 PM
    I see the real issue as the polarization of the parties, along with particular issues that divide.

    A very conservative candidate on money, foreign affairs but was pro abortion gets attacked because of the pro abortion stance by the pro life.

    In the same light, the pro gay candidate although great in all other areas would not be popular by a segment of the party.

    But on the same light, I doubt if someone like Ronald Reagan with his beliefs could even get the nomination today, because of the demands for every issue to be exactly the way each person believes.

    The Republican side gives the elections away, because they divide and often that "third candidate" will take enough votes away.

    The Democrats focus on making their voters feel like a victim of something race, sex, big business or something and promise the cure for it, though government. The government here in China plays that same game.
    ebaines's Avatar
    ebaines Posts: 12,131, Reputation: 1307
    Expert
     
    #10

    Feb 25, 2016, 06:40 AM
    The funny thing about this is that the most conservative Republican candidates - Cruz, Perry, Carson, Rubio - all get thrashed by a guy who isn't conservative at all. If any "normal" Republican politician had stances that were pro-abortion, pro-gun control, in favor of aggressive use of eminent domain for private business deals, and anti-trade they would be thrown out on their ear. It seems to me that an awful lot of the people voting in the primaries are voting for a guy who will tear up the status quo, and they really don't care what replaces the status quo as long as it's something else. It's like being frustrated with your PC not working well, so you take a sledge hammer to it in hopes that will fix things.

    I've read some pundits who think that if Trump wins the nomination it might be a good thing for Republicans long term, as he would get thrashed in the general election, and like after Goldwater in '64 it would pull the GOP back to a more rational place. The problem with that analysis is that since Trump is not a conservative the right wingers would argue that the problem with the GOP is that it's not conservative enough (as they always do). Actually I think if Cruz were to win the nomination (which he won't) it would have that effect, but not if Trump wins.

    I see the same on the Dems side with the surprising support for an avowed socialist. The difference is that their crazy guy won't win the nomination.

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Who forms the core of the republican party? [ 3 Answers ]

Which of the following form the core of the Republican party? a. anglo protestants b. hispanic catholics c. anglo mormons d. hispanic protestants e. anglo catholics

Change party affiliation California dem. To republican [ 1 Answers ]

How do I change from dem. To repub.

Rebuilding The Republican Party [ 25 Answers ]

The Republican party lost so badly because they have betrayed their traditional small-government conservatism. They need to return to the Eisenhower era Republicans who were fiscally responsible, socially moderate and multilateral on foreign policy. The party is now controlled by big-government...

Rush Limbaugh - The Head of the Republican Party [ 60 Answers ]

Hello: Snicker, snicker. Ha, ha ha. BWA HA HA HA. Yoweee! Seriously, now. LMFAO! excon

James Cramer - The Head of the Republican Party [ 14 Answers ]

Hello: Snicker, snicker. Ha, ha ha. BWA HA HA HA. Yoweee! Seriously, now. LMFAO! excon NOT!!! "CNBC “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer says if he’s on the administration’s enemies list he’s in good company because President Obama’s agenda “is crushing nest eggs around the country.”


View more questions Search