The future of the Republican party & 2 party politics

Any political party that has managed to alienate the electorate the way the Republican Party has done is usually doomed.

History has shown that once a party becomes THIS unpopular, associated with failure to this degree, they are finished.  Either some metamorphosis occurs or some group more attuned to the electorate breaks off from the main party, leaving the original to fade away.

Our current two party system - and their lock on fundraising - makes it far harder for a NEW third party to arise, but it may still be possible for a schism to arise with a new party arising.

What are the possibilities after 2008? - presuming that the Democrats don't blow it (I'm becoming guardedly optimistic) and the Republicans ARE 'shown the door' in large numbers

Though McCain is pandering to the Religious Right, it seems that they are unhappy with him and the Republican Party in general.  They've been USED and maybe they're finally realizing it.  The Republicans promised them all kinds of things - abortion bans, anti-gay EVERYTHING, a truly CHRISTIAN nation - but failed to deliver.  Sure some bones were thrown their way but they've caught on.   Who was the guy in Bush's faith based initiatives office that wrote a book about it all?    Maybe this group coalesces around "the Right to Life Party" or something similar but they are fast becoming a marginal force, a liability.  Pandering to them means losing MORE voters in the middle that you need to get elected.

Like it or not - more and more Americans DISAGREE with the agenda being pushed by this group.  A lot of their supporters are simply dying off - with younger voters failing to embrace their 'values'. At the same time many Fundamentalist leaders are realizing that the Republicans have been BAD fot the country - and the world.  You have ministers embracing the fight on global warming and reaffirming a truly Christian compassion and caring for those in need - the antithesis of what we've seen from the Republican Party.

You have the hard core "Anti's" - call them the 'conservative Republicans'.

They are anti-big government, anti-spending, anti-regulation, anti-welfare, and gung ho on 'law and order' (anti-minority and anti-women as well).  There's a schism here - those that are anti-foreign involvement and want us OUT of all our overseas endeavors - the heirs to isolationism, and the anti-foreigners that think it's a good idea to show everyone who'd top dog in the world.  

Clearly the Bush Administration blew the 'big government, no debt' aspect of things.  The Libertarian types in this group - and even the John Birchers and others are actually pretty PRO-Constitution as well, 'anti-government-in-my-life' so to speak.  The Bush Administration has horrified this group.  They were worried about 'One World' liberals taking over - and got their worst nightmare from the Right instead.

A 'Reform' move in the Republican Party has a good shot at holding onto this core.  Think of Hagel - who has some ethics - and Specter - who doesn't.  They'll have to admit that 'mistakes were made' and deny Bush and much of what he wrought but stand a good chance of reviving as a strong minority presence.  That core base isn't going to change much.

The neocons have blown it - they're poison. You can write them off - even if remannts of their philosophy may hold on.  Their credibility is shot.

Then there's the few and far between heirs to the "Rockefeller wing" of the Republican party.  They actually hold the besst hope for a revival of the Party of Lincoln - though I'm not sure their party membership will see this.  Drop the 'law and order' meme and go with conservative economics and foreign policy with a humane approach to social welfare and reasonable government regulation and you may have something...... Embrace the fight against global warming and embrace REAL CHANGE.... 'Back to our roots'....... drop all the sexism and racism....  back to that Lincoln thing.    Go with REAL 'American Values' - like democracy, rule of law, fairness....... instead of flag pins.

That group might have a real future - except those it appeals to have already given up and gone to the Democratic Party.

The Democrats have to avoid the mistakes of every dominant party.  

REAL ethics and finance reform is needed in DC.  NO MORE SCANDALS.

TRANSPARENCY is needed.  Confess your sins and institute REAL CHANGE.

there's more but we all pretty much know the drill......

Any more thoughts on post 2008 politics?