Ten Reasons Why the Republicans are Toast in ‘08
IGÇÖve always been a political bug.-á A couple of years ago, when I was still a Pastor, I took a large step back from political activism and IGÇÖm more convinced today that doing so was a wise decision than IGÇÖve ever been.-á That doesnGÇÖt mean IGÇÖm not still interested or donGÇÖt have opinions.-á It does mean that with a limited number of days in oneGÇÖs life, I donGÇÖt think spending a significant portion of them on politics is a wise choice considering the needs of this life and the things that will still matter in 1,000 years.
IGÇÖm asked all the time who I think our next President is going to be and I really donGÇÖt have to think about it long.-á I believe Hillary Clinton is going to be our next President.-á ThatGÇÖs not something about which IGÇÖm particularly happy, but neither does it mean that IGÇÖm going to slide into some sort of draconian morass of grief and hopelessness if IGÇÖm correct.-á I thought it was silly to hear the liberals say GÇ£IGÇÖm moving to Canada if Bush gets re-electedGÇ¥ -áand I think itGÇÖs equally ridiculous when I hear my conservative friends say that same thing about a Hillary Presidency.
But just for fun, allow me to put on my prognosticatorGÇÖs hat and tell you why I think weGÇÖll have our first female President in a little more than fifteen months.
Top Ten Reasons the Republicans are ToastGǪ..
[drum roll, pleaseGǪ.]
1.-á-á-á-á-á-á The best argument IGÇÖm hearing for Republican hope is that if Hillary gets nominated itGÇÖll stir up the base.
Sorry, pundits, but youGÇÖre out of touch again.-á The American population has a short memory and a shorter attention span.-á If the best argument the Republicans make for voting with them is that GÇ£Our candidate ainGÇÖt HillaryGÇ¥ then youGÇÖre smoking and inhaling some of President ClintonGÇÖs leftover cigars and they arenGÇÖt stuffed with tobacky.-á-á (Well maybe, whacky tobackyGǪ)-á Hillary is doing a masterful job of rehabilitating her image and the American population is falling for it.-á There is a major shift going on and people are giving her a second look.
2.-á-á-á-á-á-á Republican candidates are duds
LetGÇÖs face it.-á The Republican candidates are B-O-R-I-N-G.-á Fred Thompson has the energy level of a-átree sloth.-á Romney was elected the governor of Ted KennedyGÇÖs home state GÇô need we say more?-á (But if you want me to say more, IGÇÖm suspicious of guys that belong to cults that have special magical underwear you have to wear.)-á McCain GÇô cGÇÖmonGǪheGÇÖs just a cranky old geezer.-á-á Brownback has the charisma of a pet rock.-á HuckabeeGǪwhile I may like his positions, he-áis too small-time for todayGÇÖs political field.-á Giuliani is to real Republican conservatives as was Robert Casey to liberal Democrats.-á Ron Paul reminds me of a cult leader replete with a robotic sycophant base who apparently keep small shrines for him in their living rooms.-á Duncan who????-á If this is the best the Republicans have to offer, they are in really, REALLY bad shape.-á Collectively they are as inspiring as listening to Ben Stein read GÇ£War and PeaceGÇ¥. -á
3.-á-á-á-á-á-á TheyGÇÖve abandoned their conservative evangelical base
Can you imagine the Democrats treating their loyal base of African-Americans, labor unions or ACLU members the way the Republicans routinely treat the evangelical base that has put them in the White House six of the last eight elections?-á The Republicans consistently act embarrassed to be associated with the 40% of the electorate that considers themselves GÇ£evangelical/religious rightGÇ¥ types.-á TheyGÇÖve bought into the liberal hype of the mainstream media and inside-the-beltway pundits that say that they have to be GÇ£broaderGÇ¥ in order to be electable.-á Does anyone remember what happened to compromising, tax-raising Bush the elder or Bob GÇ£ViagraGÇ¥ Dole when they decided that GÇ£broaderGÇ¥ was GÇ£better?GÇ¥-á The evangelical base of the Republicans are totally ready to sit out this election.-á Totally.-á The way they can insure it is to put a pro-abortion candidate at the top of the ticket.-á The Republicans can’t win without strong support from the Religious Right, now matter what the media thinks.
4.-á-á-á-á-á-á Republicans have earned their reputation for being moral hypocrites
Sure Democrats have their drunks, their gay icons, their serial adulterers, their string of pecadillosGǪbut theyGÇÖve never claimed to be the party of GÇ£traditional valuesGÇ¥ and GÇ£morality.GÇ¥-á The Republicans have and then promptly trashed their reputations.-á Foley, Vitter, CraigGǪ.the list is long and sullied.-á Any claim to the moral high-ground was given away in instant message texts, brothels and airport bathrooms.-á When it comes to moral turpitude, a GÇ£tieGÇ¥ benefits the Dems.
5.-á-á-á-á-á-á RepublicanGÇÖs spending habits are not all that discernibly different than the DemocratGÇÖs
Nine trillion in debt.-á ThatGÇÖs rightGǪ.nine TRILLION.-á ItGÇÖs been the Republican failure from Reagan to Bush the YoungerGǪ.the complete and total inability to rein in government spending.-á The tax cuts always worked to stimulate the economy, but the corresponding follow-up of reducing government spending and entitlements always required more of a political price than they were willing to pay.-á As a result, the so-called GÇ£Smaller Government/Cutting WasteGÇ¥ plank of the Republican party was shown to have termites.
6.-á-á-á-á-á-á The war with Iraq
LetGÇÖs face it.-á It IS Vietnam d+¬j+á vu.-á Weapons of mass destruction that werenGÇÖt there.-á A civil war that is there.-á American boys are dying for Muslim extremists.-á ItGÇÖs a sad, sticky morass with no easy solutions.-á Fair or not, the Republicans are getting the blame for this war and with no end in sight, itGÇÖll be around to impact the next election for sure.
7.-á-á-á-á-á-á The GÇ£courtsGÇ¥ are a weak argument
One of the popular arguments for electing Republicans is the Supreme Court.-á Republicans have had their chance to select a solid conservative majority and what do we have?-á Souter?-á Kennedy?-á OGÇÖConner?-á At best, we have a 50/50 chance of getting a legitimate conservative on the bench under the best of times even when a Republican is in the White House.-á With a Democratic senate, hell-bent on putting up a litmus test on abortion, getting another Thomas, Scalia or Roberts confirmed is a long-shot at best.-á So whatGÇÖs the difference?
8.-á-á-á-á-á-á Failed to project an image of what they are GÇ£forGÇ¥, not simply GÇ£againstGÇ¥
Having given away their edge on moral issues, size of government, fiscal discipline and international relations, why is it again that conservatives are to vote for Republicans?-á Oh yeah, they arenGÇÖt Hillary and there might be a Supreme Court vacancy.-á Hardly inspiring rallying cries for a campaign.-á What are the Republicans going to do if they get the White House again?-á Reform Social Security?-á Yeah right.-á Stop abortion?-á Yeah, right again.-á Set good fiscal policy?-á Can anyone say GÇ£Ted StevensGÇ¥?-á They arenGÇÖt even giving the country a reason to vote for them.
9.-á-á-á-á-á-á Money, money, money
Follow the money.-á Republican coffers are low and itGÇÖs because no one wants to give money to a loser or worse yet, turncoats.-á The liberals and lefties are foaming at the bit in anticipation and they are writing checks likeGǪ.well, the federal government.-á Money follows power and opportunity.-á Guess whoGÇÖs ahead in that department right now.
10.-á-á The Demographics of a Clinton/Obama ticket
YepGǪ.IGÇÖm guessing itGÇÖll be Clinton/Obama.-á Think about the coalition that such a ticket will inspire.-á Democrats, liberals, African-Americans, Women/Feminists and anti-war activists.-á TheyGÇÖll take every state (easily) that Kerry won in GÇÿ04 and knock off a couple of more close ones.-á Republicans will win a handful of Southern and Western states with a couple of Midwestern states, but not a lot.-á The Dems will sweep the Northeast and left coast.-á TheyGÇÖll take out Colorado, the Northern tier and multiple Midwestern states.-á They have a chance in Florida, Virginia, North Carolina and a smattering of Southern states.-á They are simply unbeatable.
ItGÇÖs still early and a lot of things can change from a terrorist attack to a stock market crash.-á But I think most folks need to practice saying it.-á CGÇÖmonGǪ.altogether nowGǪ GÇ£President Hillary Clinton and the First HusbandGǪ.BillGÇ¥.-á
Can anyone make an argument that IGÇÖm not right?-á PLEASE?-á
