When will the Republican Party moderate to survive ?

[steve2470]

Only curious. Fine with me if they go extinct. Note: "Other" category since I know this poll is flawed.

Moderate = move a bit to the left to attract more "independents" and some "Reagan Democrats".

10 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Never, it will go extinct
	6 (60%)
	In 5 years
	0 (0%)
	In 10 years
	0 (0%)
	In 15 years
	0 (0%)
	Other (see my post)
	4 (40%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[yourout]

1. They already have moderated.....they changed their name to Democrat.

[polichick]

17. Shhhhh...

A lot of people are trying not to notice that.

[cyberswede]

2. They won't moderate, but they'll survive anyway.

I think the expectation that the Rs will fall apart is exaggerated. Whether it's a plentiful supply of RW whackjobs or gerrymandering, they won't just go away.

[BlueStreak]

3. Sad but true. Nobody holds them accountable.

They are allowed to moderate during election season and they go batshit crazy the day the election is over, with no consequences whatsoever. They can play this game a good long time, especially considering that most Dems are unwilling to call them out consistently.

[PeteSelman]

4. Never. They don't have to.

They change the rules to stay in power and the moderates are called Democrats now.

If anyone is going extinct it's labor representing congress people, people they used to call Democrats.

[Jamaal510]

5. Probably not anytime soon,

if ever. As most of us can see, moderates in the GOP are becoming few and far between, so it'll be tough for them to gain influence again if they do find a way to.
As much as I love seeing the Republicans lose elections, part of me wishes that they would go ahead and move back to where they used to be (ideally during the Eisenhower days). A healthy democracy needs more than one sane major party. By today's Republicans being so right-wing, it really doesn't do us much good in the long-run, considering that they'll still be able to at least win seats in Congress and win governorships for a while. With them moving so far to the right, it not only moves the conversation rightward, but the two major parties are also about the farthest apart they've ever been, making it near impossible for any meaningful legislation to get passed in D.C. anymore.

[Warpy]

6. No, once Reagan handed them over to the worst people in the country,

the John Birchers and the religious crazies, the die was cast. The Birchers supply them with money and the religious nuts supply them with votes and they're terrified of cutting either of them loose.

The reason there are so many independents in this country now is because the party left all the old line, decent but wrong Republicans many years ago.

When the end comes, it will be sudden. The party will then sputter on for a few years as a local party.

[steve2470]

7. Neo-Nazis have to hide somewhere too :) nt

[doc03]

8. They will after the 2016 primaries, maybe it will work this

time if they find the right candidate.

[Mnemosyne]

9. When will hell freeze? nt

[Generic Brad]

10. If they are poised to take the Senate and retain the House, why should they moderate?

I understand the numbers work against them in a general presidential election, but they seem to do just fine with the other two pillars of power. It is hard to trumpet their demise when they voting trends for the midterms are in their favor.

[flying rabbit]

11. ^ This^

[workinclasszero]

12. They can't moderate

Because the religious right fascists and racists are in charge. They will never change their hateful ways cause "god" (ayn rand rethug god) is on their side.

For all the hero worship they give to rayguns, he wouldn't stand a chance in today's teabag party. Too lib LOLZ!

Any hint of moderation and hate radio is all over republicans raising large sums to defeat the commie/socialists who think average Americans should have healthcare, social security and living wage jobs.

[steve2470]

13. excellent points nt

[bemildred]

14. Like the other guys said, they can't.

They will fracture, and the Libertarian fraction will move left on social issues while trying to maintain the "free market" and neolib economics IMHO.

I expect the Democrats will fracture too, but maybe not so soon.

It's back to the 70s again.

[blkmusclmachine]

15. Never, but it won't go "extinct." The DC DEMS won't let it.

[JoePhilly]

16. They ultimately go extinct.

Their voters tend to be older, white, rural.

Which means they'll hold on to House seats the longest and there are plenty of rural districts. Over time, they won't be able to win Senate seats, but again, they'll old on to more rural states. They are almost done at the Federal level. Should have been done after Clinton.

The big money interests will help drag it out though.

[CANDO]

18. They will never go extinct, but...

As long as they have their wing nut media bubble to keep the base at a simmer just below a raging boil, they will have a party and will have power. No moderation as long as they have the carnival barkers pushing the hatred, and that doesn't seem to ever abate.

[AlinPA]

19. They are favored to win the Senate and keep the House. They control a lot of Governors' seats and

state legislatures/senates. It looks like they are surviving without changing, in fact they are crazier than ever.

[Rozlee]

20. They're being kept in power by voter apathy.

And the control of the media by the corporate plutocracy. Demographics will eventually come into play as the pre-segregationist base of the GOP start to keel over in the next ten to fifteen years and the millennials take the reins. But, they're not as reliable a voting bloc as the GOP base has been. Demagoguery always fires up people to get to the polls and Republicans have always been able to be whipped into a frenzy over a variety of hot button issues from guns to God to czars.