Pawlenty: If the GOP doesn't change, it can not be a majority party

[IAMX 3,055]

The Republicans need to move on from the Reagan era. What was visionary in 1981 isn't so much anymore.

I suspect the changing demographics of this election will demand that they broaden their appeal. John McCain lost because people were tired of the same, stale old thinking - and went for Obama because he at least provided the appearance of something different.

And when do we finally "move on" from the FDR era?

I hope there's an "Obama era" of nationalized healthcare, massive DOD/NSA spending cuts, and a complete cutoff of spending and military presence in Iraq. Most of it rather unrealistic, but one can hope.

[Ban Hammer 14,714]

The Republicans need to move on from the Reagan era. What was visionary in 1981 isn't so much anymore.

I suspect the changing demographics of this election will demand that they broaden their appeal. John McCain lost because people were tired of the same, stale old thinking - and went for Obama because he at least provided the appearance of something different.

And when do we finally "move on" from the FDR era?

I hope there's an "Obama era" of nationalized healthcare, massive DOD/NSA spending cuts, and a complete cutoff of spending and military presence in Iraq. Most of it rather unrealistic, but one can hope.

great idea! let's not have any more of a clue about what's going on just like we did prior to 9/11

[Danno 1,228]

The Republicans need to move on from the Reagan era. What was visionary in 1981 isn't so much anymore.

I suspect the changing demographics of this election will demand that they broaden their appeal. John McCain lost because people were tired of the same, stale old thinking - and went for Obama because he at least provided the appearance of something different.

And when do we finally "move on" from the FDR era?

I hope there's an "Obama era" of nationalized healthcare, massive DOD/NSA spending cuts, and a complete cutoff of spending and military presence in Iraq. Most of it rather unrealistic, but one can hope.

Actually, I am hoping for the same things.

We need anther Jimmy Cahter era to bring about the next Reagan revolution.

There is only one sad point for me is watching the left take over in Washington is;

You have no idea how much pleasure it has been to listen to the left cry like babies for so long.

But ya know... all good things must come to an end and if we are going to steer this country into straight-up socialism.... I say let's get started!

[Heracles 417]

I hope there's an "Obama era" of nationalized healthcare, massive DOD/NSA spending cuts, and a complete cutoff of spending and military presence in Iraq. Most of it rather unrealistic, but one can hope.

No offense but all of those three ideas are not only illogical but moronic. Stick to what you do best, Marketing, and leave the serious issues to those who have a drop of common sense.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Tell me exactly what issues McCain could have supported that would have made the difference?

He could have stayed the John McCain that people outside of the GOP respected. Of course, then he wouldn't have been the GOP nominee.

[rebeccajo 14]

My guess is; where the GOP goes from here will depend on Obama.

If he is wildly successful.... they will be Democrat-lite.

If not, they might be real agents of Change.

Either way it is an uphill battle as A)more and more people are getting hooked on "Social Crack".

B) the traditional base demographics in numbers are declining (as mentioned above).

If the Days of "Ask not what your country can do for you.." are really over... then we will become two parties competing as agents of "give-aways"

as we fade away.

There's a difference, Danno, between 'give aways' and taking care of the citizenry.

The people of a nation are its infrastructure. If they are too ill to work because they have no health care, then they pay no taxes. If they have no disposable income then they can't grind the gears of the economy. If their children cannot afford to go to university then we become a nation of idiots.

The economy doesn't start at the top and flow downward. When the GOP realizes that, and when they return to their fundamental philosophies, they may have a chance. Until then, they just look like the party of Big Oil and the Top 5% of wage earners. Contrary to popular belief, those folks can't make it without the rest of us.

Sooo. Let's explore this new Obama Doctrine "TAKING CARE OF THE CITIZENRY".

That would include Medical care (gotta be healthy to work.

K-12 education- this is just a starting point for creating an able citizenry (I like that word).

Collage- If you are not trained in a profession you cant produce.

Housing- Every person deserves... no, *has a right* to decent housing.

Food- We all must eat if we are to be healthy and (again) productive. Toilet paper included, if people need help whipping, Notify *Team Obama* he has a who Civil force in training to help.

Childcare- People cant go to school or work with out a nice and safe place for their kids to go.

Clothing- People have to be dressed, it's a basic need!

transportation- Not everyone lives on a bus-line. If people don't have dependable transpprtation

They are living like second class citizens... transportation is certainly a RIGHT!

INternet access- this is a new century, was was a novelty before is mandatory today.

Boy, I sure hope these secret economic schemes of Obama, work out... we will need a lot of taxes to pay for all this.

Woot! That's one heck of a list!

[Danno 1,228]

Tell me exactly what issues McCain could have supported that would have made the difference?

He could have stayed the John McCain that people outside of the GOP respected. Of course, then he wouldn't have been the GOP nominee.

Had he stayed the "Old John McCain" and got the nomination ... would you have voted for him or barack and why?

[Danno 1,228]

My guess is; where the GOP goes from here will depend on Obama.

If he is wildly successful.... they will be Democrat-lite.

If not, they might be real agents of Change.

Either way it is an uphill battle as A)more and more people are getting hooked on "Social Crack".

B) the traditional base demographics in numbers are declining (as mentioned above).

If the Days of "Ask not what your country can do for you.." are really over... then we will become two parties competing as agents of "give-aways"

as we fade away.

There's a difference, Danno, between 'give aways' and taking care of the citizenry.

The people of a nation are its infrastructure. If they are too ill to work because they have no health care, then they pay no taxes. If they have no disposable income then they can't grind the gears of the economy. If their children cannot afford to go to university then we become a nation of idiots.

The economy doesn't start at the top and flow downward. When the GOP realizes that, and when they return to their fundamental philosophies, they may have a chance. Until then, they just look like the party of Big Oil and the Top 5% of wage earners. Contrary to popular belief, those folks can't make it without the rest of us.

Sooo. Let's explore this new Obama Doctrine "TAKING CARE OF THE CITIZENRY".

That would include Medical care (gotta be healthy to work.

K-12 education- this is just a starting point for creating an able citizenry (I like that word).

Collage- If you are not trained in a profession you cant produce.

Housing- Every person deserves... no, *has a right* to decent housing.

Food- We all must eat if we are to be healthy and (again) productive. Toilet paper included, if people need help whipping, Notify *Team Obama* he has a who Civil force in training to help.

Childcare- People cant go to school or work with out a nice and safe place for their kids to go.

Clothing- People have to be dressed, it's a basic need!

transportation- Not everyone lives on a bus-line. If people don't have dependable transpprtation

They are living like second class citizens... transportation is certainly a RIGHT!

INternet access- this is a new century, was was a novelty before is mandatory today.

Boy, I sure hope these secret economic schemes of Obama, work out... we will need a lot of taxes to pay for all this.

Woot! That's one heck of a list!

Yeah I know but I was trying to "Think Liberal".. it actually felt GOOD!

Kinda Like I was Santa Clause, handing out Presents to all the Citizenry.

The only Bummer was having to "take" the money from other citizenry to buy all those goodies, but oh'well.

[rebeccajo 14]

Yeah I know but I was trying to "Think Liberal".. it actually felt GOOD!

Kinda Like I was Santa Clause, handing out Presents to all the Citizenry.

The only Bummer was having to "take" the money from other citizenry to buy all those goodies, but oh'well.

Let's play Tax Trivia!

Name the US President who proposed a constitutional amendment in an address to Congress to allow federal income taxes on individuals and an excise tax "upon the privilege of doing business as an artificial entity and of freedom from a general partnership liability enjoyed by those who own the stock".

Name his party affiliation for bonus points.

[IAMX 3,055]

The Republicans need to move on from the Reagan era. What was visionary in 1981 isn't so much anymore.

I suspect the changing demographics of this election will demand that they broaden their appeal. John McCain lost because people were tired of the same, stale old thinking - and went for Obama because he at least provided the appearance of something different.

And when do we finally "move on" from the FDR era?

I hope there's an "Obama era" of nationalized healthcare, massive DOD/NSA spending cuts, and a complete cutoff of spending and military presence in Iraq. Most of it rather unrealistic, but one can hope.

great idea! let's not have any more of a clue about what's going on just like we did prior to 9/11

Strangely, we DID have a clue about 9/11 prior to 9/11. It was ignored. The solution = spend more on incompetence? Maybe to a genius like Aficionado, who has no idea how this government is run.

My guess is; where the GOP goes from here will depend on Obama.

If he is wildly successful.... they will be Democrat-lite.

If not, they might be real agents of Change.

Either way it is an uphill battle as A)more and more people are getting hooked on "Social Crack".

B) the traditional base demographics in numbers are declining (as mentioned above).

If the Days of "Ask not what your country can do for you.." are really over... then we will become two parties competing as agents of "give-aways"

as we fade away.

There's a difference, Danno, between 'give aways' and taking care of the citizenry.

The people of a nation are its infrastructure. If they are too ill to work because they have no health care, then they pay no taxes. If they have no disposable income then they can't grind the gears of the economy. If their children cannot afford to go to university then we become a nation of idiots.

The economy doesn't start at the top and flow downward. When the GOP realizes that, and when they return to their fundamental philosophies, they may have a chance. Until then, they just look like the party of Big Oil and the Top 5% of wage earners. Contrary to popular belief, those folks can't make it without the rest of us.

Sooo. Let's explore this new Obama Doctrine "TAKING CARE OF THE CITIZENRY".

That would include Medical care (gotta be healthy to work.

K-12 education- this is just a starting point for creating an able citizenry (I like that word).

Collage- If you are not trained in a profession you cant produce.

Housing- Every person deserves... no, *has a right* to decent housing.

Food- We all must eat if we are to be healthy and (again) productive. Toilet paper included, if people need help whipping, Notify *Team Obama* he has a who Civil force in training to help.

Childcare- People cant go to school or work with out a nice and safe place for their kids to go.

Clothing- People have to be dressed, it's a basic need!

transportation- Not everyone lives on a bus-line. If people don't have dependable transpprtation

They are living like second class citizens... transportation is certainly a RIGHT!

INternet access- this is a new century, was was a novelty before is mandatory today.

Boy, I sure hope these secret economic schemes of Obama, work out... we will need a lot of taxes to pay for all this.

Woot! That's one heck of a list!

Yeah I know but I was trying to "Think Liberal".. it actually felt GOOD!

Kinda Like I was Santa Clause, handing out Presents to all the Citizenry.

The only Bummer was having to "take" the money from other citizenry to buy all those goodies, but oh'well.

Apparently you can't "think liberal" without slippery slopes. My advice: back to the drawing board.

[NickD 203]

Strangely, we DID have a clue about 9/11 prior to 9/11.

It was ignored.

The cure was yet another government agency, the DHS even putting the INS. And who are put in head of these agencies? Well the guys that helped the president get elected, what a screwed up system.

In frustration with some of the USCIS forms did a net search for the old INS, they were written in English. Millions of dollars were spend on all of our city and county owned airports with ten foot high chain link fences with barbed wire on the top, maybe with hope that terrorists would steal an ultralight and attempt to bounce it off the Sears Tower. Have no idea, but that money would have been much better spent and only a fraction of it to resurface the runways and update some of the 40 year old equipment.

Our police department was doubled in size issuing so many minor traffic violations, our city had to elect a judge. An attorney that I wouldn't trust to help me apply for a dog license was elected. Not sure where all the fine money is going, but certainly not helping ease the property tax burden.

Well we had a degree of corruption before, now getting out of hand, but it's for our security. Do we really need a full time armed guard in our SS office? Something else that was added. Maybe Bush is worried that somebody would steal his portrait hanging the on wall, but it is coming down soon. People that go in there are so old, can barely even walk. It's crazy, the whole world is crazy.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Tell me exactly what issues McCain could have supported that would have made the difference?

He could have stayed the John McCain that people outside of the GOP respected. Of course, then he wouldn't have been the GOP nominee.

Had he stayed the "Old John McCain" and got the nomination ... would you have voted for him or barack and why?

No, I still would have voted for Obama. There are, however, scores of swing voters that would have supported the McCain of 2000 but did not support the McCain of 2008. He had no chance. He had to chose between appeasing the fanatical religious nuts that make the most noise within the GOP or speak to the swing voters. To win the election, he would have had to appeal to both these groups and that is, quite simply, impossible. The more control the religious fanatics take of the GOP, the more that party is going to become meaningless.

[Ban Hammer 14,714]

Yeah I know but I was trying to "Think Liberal".. it actually felt GOOD!

Kinda Like I was Santa Clause, handing out Presents to all the Citizenry.

The only Bummer was having to "take" the money from other citizenry to buy all those goodies, but oh'well.

Let's play Tax Trivia!

Name the US President who proposed a constitutional amendment in an address to Congress to allow federal income taxes on individuals and an excise tax "upon the privilege of doing business as an artificial entity and of freedom from a general partnership liability enjoyed by those who own the stock".

Name his party affiliation for bonus points.

taft - republican.

[Danno 1,228]

Tell me exactly what issues McCain could have supported that would have made the difference?

He could have stayed the John McCain that people outside of the GOP respected. Of course, then he wouldn't have been the GOP nominee.

Had he stayed the "Old John McCain" and got the nomination ... would you have voted for him or barack and why?

No, I still would have voted for Obama. There are, however, scores of swing voters that would have supported the McCain of 2000 but did not support the McCain of 2008. He had no chance. He had to chose between appeasing the fanatical religious nuts that make the most noise within the GOP or speak to the swing voters. To win the election, he would have had to appeal to both these groups and that is, quite simply, impossible. The more control the religious fanatics take of the GOP, the more that party is going to become meaningless.

Thanks for liberal -logic.

1. you agree no matter how far to the center Mac went you still would not have voted for him.

thanks for making my point.

2. McCain never ran for the Presidency in 2000, he ran for the nomination, so we don't know what he might have done had he actually got off the ground in that race.

3. You claim he sided with the *Fanatics of the GOP* but if this was true he did a piss poor job

as he never once even mentioned Guns, God, Gays, Abortion, prayer in schools,

(or any other red-meat issue) in any debate.... Does that sound like someone

kissing Right-wing azz?

Wanna try again?

The Campaign is over and you are using old talking-points.

McCain has always been a moderate and will continue in that fashion.

[rebeccajo 14]

Yeah I know but I was trying to "Think Liberal".. it actually felt GOOD!

Kinda Like I was Santa Clause, handing out Presents to all the Citizenry.

The only Bummer was having to "take" the money from other citizenry to buy all those goodies, but oh'well.

Let's play Tax Trivia!

Name the US President who proposed a constitutional amendment in an address to Congress to allow federal income taxes on individuals and an excise tax "upon the privilege of doing business as an artificial entity and of freedom from a general partnership liability enjoyed by those who own the stock".

Name his party affiliation for bonus points.

taft - republican.

Well it took long enough for somebody to answer the question. B)