Is this the end for the Republican Party?

[cigarnv]

I feel that we have lacked a 2 party system for the last 12 years and it is good for the country to regain some balance. I also have hope that the next 2 years will be productive given the Dem's need to make progress on key issues and GB's focus on leaving a legacy that will be favorable. I sense the greatest issue for the Dem's will not be GB or the Rep's, but rather the far left Dem leadership dealing with the newly elected Dem's who appear to be far more moderate. It will be most interesting will be to see if Madam Speaker can leave her way left San Francisco based leanings and effectively lead the Dem caucus which will require her to lean towards the center.

[harwellplant]

many times pundits and observers make the remark that the american public prefers a split between the parties in the executive and legislative branches. while the phenomenon does present itself with some degree of consistency, it is improper to characterize the occurence in that way.

in application, politics is played differently on presidential levels as it is on more localized, representative levels. thus, many voters who do not vote straight party ticket will select an idealogical candidate for president who espouses a "vision" they prefer, but then vote for a house member or senator who is more closely in tuned with real issues on the ground in their individual counties and states.

as for this year's cycle? the republicans couldn't catch a break. i don't necessarily agree that the democratic landslide was a slap at bush, as bush himself remains relatively popular at the local level. rather, a lack-luster administration coupled with a seeming inability to acheive anything "substantial" with the congress took a great deal of the glow away from the party. of course, scandal always hurts, especially when it came to the republicans in the form of moral defect, when the party has acheived much success as the party of moral and ethical behavior.

are the republicans dead? no more than the democrats were 8 years ago which, after this week, looks pretty alive.

[CWS]

» As you can see that NEVER will a Independant win. They dont even give them

» a chance, not even on debates. So they dont even recognize the,

»

» I could go into my thoughts of the boulshit politics, but that could

» take a LONG time

Actually, Joe Lieberman ran as an independent in Conn after losing in the primary and won. It will be interesting to see if he really acts like an independent as he says he will. The end of the Republican party...No just a vacation till the dems run out of money again;-)

[Freefallguy]

Missed this thread the first time around… forgive the late post.

The Olliphant’s got kicked, but with Pelosi running around like a woman with her hair on fire, it should prove the demise of Hillary in ’08. None the less, it will be a fun watching the Dems fix things.

It could be worse. I own a beach house in Nicaragua and Ortega was just elected there, again, with only 37% of the vote. I called my caretaker, the house is ok, but there are now six of my closest neighbors living in it.

[broozer]

» I know that counting is still going on in Virginia but it appears

» Republican control of both houses is likely to be gone.

»

» With 18 months until the next election can the Republican Party rebuild?

» Do they need Rudy Giuliani to have any chance of doing so?

»

» I have always been fascinated by US politics and how a party spends the

» last two years of its term fighting for re-election.

i didn't know there was a difference in the parties anymore. :-D

bruce

[Mel]

» brace yourselves for do nothing governement.....

It's about time. We have to many fricken laws on us already.

[new2habano]

As someone who lives in New York I can say without hesitation that Rudolph Guiliani would be the worst choice for President of the United States. Before you guys who love him start ranting, I have been a New Yorker all of my life, when he was mayor he divided the city, EVERYBODY hated him including the NYPD. He was in a deep depression, he had moved his mistress into Gracie Mansion where his wife and children resided, then when word got out, he had to move in with a homosexual couple in their apartment. September 11th saved his political career, he went from a ZERO to a HERO overnight. So PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE RUDY don't run, you may have these people fooled who don't know you but I do.