Is it possible to de-value and de-legitimize an entire political Party??

[kentuck]

If so, could we start with the Republican Party?

They have proved themselves to be unable to govern our country. They cause more harm than good. They have little concern for the people of the country, except for the wealthy class.

They are a threat to our national security. They have proven that they could care less if the last election was stolen. They don't seem to care that Russia was deeply involved.

Of course, it is not impossible for entire political Parties to disappear. Remember the Whigs? Republicans have shown no reason they should continue to exist as a political Party.

[vi5]

1. I sometimes feel that's what Republicans did to Democrats....

...the decades of insults and questioning patriotism, and making the words most associated with that party (progressive, liberal) so toxic that even most of the members of that party try to distance themselves from them.

The degree to which they've caused the media to cower at the slightest bit of criticism of Republicans, thus forcing them to find "other sides" and "equally as bad" perspectives.

There's a reason (there's a few reasons, not all of them favorable to Bernie, but one of them) that someone like Bernie, who ultimately doesn't hold any different positions than most Democrats gained the traction he did was because he was unapologetic about them and unapologetic about being and calling himself a progressive.

I see this even at the local levels where all signs for Republicans proudly list "REPUBLICAN" and have the elephant and don't in a million years tout anything other than their conservatism for conservative voters, while most of the Democratic signs I see don't mention the party, don't have the symbol, and far too often brag about the candidate "working together" or "for all citizens" or "the middle".

Even in the throes of racism and misogyny and bigotry and homophobia and every other vile thing the Republican party has gotten up to, all of this still happens and exists and it makes it seem like the Democratic party has more to be ashamed of. And it drives me bonkers.

And this isn't even getting into issues such as public education and unions and others that too many Democrats even in high postions of power, seem to feel compelled to distance themself from our traditional position on which makes it seem as though Republicans have "won" on those issues. And in some ways they have.

[kentuck]

2. Very thoughtful comments.

And true.

It would be nice if all these young students that have been protesting became Democrats. But, I don't see that happening.

More likely, they will become "anti-political" and not embrace either Party. They see the present problems of society as created by both political Parties, in my opinion.

Democrats will need to work very hard to get these young voters. It will not happen automatically.

[vi5]

4. I've been saying that for the past few weeks...

...I can very easily see this same group of engaged, active, and on most issues liberal young voters being just as demanding and up front and strong-willed (as they should be) when the Democratic party is back in charge of things, and them being dismissed or condescended to by many in our party because they don't understand "bipartisanism" or need "civics lessons" or whatever the reasoning is that they can't deliver on what is needed.

They're not going to settle for the "wink-wink" nudges and "We're really with you, but we just need to say all this bipartisan, centrist stuff to the media" and they shouldn't.

After what they've seen Trump and the Republicans do they are not going to accept that a president "doesn't have that kind of power" or that we need 99 votes in the Senate to get anything done otherwise we just have to shrug our shoulders and accept it.

I'm hopeful this latest wave of activism is going to be enough to kick our party in the ass to get back to being proud Democrats and Progressives, but the old man and the cynic in me and the student of recent history in me leads me to believe otherwise.

[kentuck]

5. I hear you.

I think they may be more inclined to follow politics of a different stripe? I hope I am wrong.

[vi5]

6. I think they'll go Democrat in 2018....

...and then I think they'll see what that gets them.

If all it gets them are excuses and more of the same, then I don't think they'll stick with us. If it gets them "Well, we want better gun laws, but we can't get West Virginians mad at Joe Manchin so sorry about that." then they won't stick with us And I can't say I'll blame them.

I'm a middle aged man who has been a staunch, party line, primary voting, everything from dog-catcher to President voting, donating, canvasing, envelope stuff Democrat since 1986 and I've reached near the end of my cynical rope as to what our party can and/or is willing to do. I'll never not vote Democrat but then again I've got a lot more time and blood sweat and tears invested in this party than they do.

And I won't blame them for wanting something more than "It could be worse if the other guys were charge."

[kentuck]

7. I hope they give the Democratic Party a chance.

Also, I hope the Party takes advantage of it.

[FarCenter]

3. It happened to the Whigs

[hack89]

9. The Whig party fractured over slavery

hard to see what will fracture the Republican party.

[FarCenter]

12. Lots of Whigs left to form the Know Nothing Party. I could see that again.

[hack89]

13. Except there are no geographic or ideological fractures in the Republican party

though Know Nothing is a fine descriptor for most Republicans.

[FarCenter]

15. There's a huge cleavage between the Tea Party types and the big-business globalists

It's just that the Democratic Party can't exploit it without endangering its own cleavage between the economic progressives and its own foreign policy elite.

[brooklynite]

8. And what problem would this solve?

The conservative voters who support the Republican Party would still be there; whatever Party they gravitated to would eventually encompass the same principles.

[kentuck]

10. They would have to change...

Just as the Whigs had to change to become the Republican Party.

I do not think they would encompass the same principles. It would be suicidal.

[hack89]

14. The Whigs split into two seperate factions over slavery.

not comparable to today's situation.

[hack89]

11. No.

the voters and the views they support will not change regardless of what party label is place on them. All you would do is make the US even more polarized and hyper-partisan.

You could replace the word Republican with Democrat in you OP, post it on a conservative site, and it will be applauded. Republicans accuse us of the same things we accuse them.

[RainCaster]

16. Trump is doing such a great job on his own

He will destroy the GOP singlehandedly.
GOP = Government Of Putin