The Republican Party as you know it is finished. The two-party system in the US as you know it is finished. It is better to be prepared for what comes next than to be taken by surprise.
This was already seen in Canada some years ago, phenomenally unpopular right wing leader who, despite obvious rottenness, was re-elected to a second term, so that there was no ambiguity to the guilt of the nation's electorate. Brian Mulroney. Progressive Conservatives.
Pathetic right wing candidate that followed, lost in landslide, and party lost massive numbers of seats. Semi-likable but pathetic right wing woman nominated. Kim Campbell. Oct. 25, 1993.
Here is what I see happening:
- Republican Party split in two
a. a semi-fringe right wing hard core evangelical culture issues party (gay marriage, abortion, rapture) bunch of mouth breathing morons led by Palin most likely, never getting more than 20% of the vote.
b. Old guard who can read and write and breathe through their nose Republicans form new party, probably named Constitution Party or something.
- Democratic landslide for Obama but HUGE challenge faced in changing political landscape, as a 2 party system changes into a 3 party system
The middle party I envision, and fear, would be a center right party, all set to steal the center and center right portions of the Democratic Party. Not just the crazy cocktail-slamming chain-smoking Clinton supporters who railed about "inadequate black men" and not just the "hard-working Americans, white Americans" of the Democratic party, but a huge chunk of people terrified of a perceived (not actual, of course), leftward tilt of the party in this election. It would include the intellectual Republicans, of the Buckley and even Reagan type, but also the right wing of the Democratic Party.
I fear we could see a three party system with the loony Reps being 20% (and potential kingmakers/extortionists), the center party taking 40% and the new Democrats only relying on about 30%, with 10% undecided floating around.
Assuming we are the new Democrats, what do we do in such a scenario? I think we need to start being ready NOW.
I am expressing this poorly, unfortunately, because I am a jerk. But I think the issue is a serious one, far more serious than myself.