RockyIce, I think with the changing demographics and the GOP going to be on the losing side of issues, it will go more towards the center and the moderate-to-liberal wing will be revived. Some Republicans fail to see that wing can win in blue states. When the GOP wins only the South and nothing else, something has to give in. The GOP is only in the beginning of the wilderness years. I knew after Obama got elected the wilderness years would begin. I think 2020 would be a great Republican year.
I see the GOP easing up on gay marriage, drug legalization, abortion and affirmative action. Someone had written an essay once how moderates, liberals and pragmatic conservatives were really what the Republican Party was about. It will come with the younger generation of GOP politicians.
I can't see how the GOP can remain conservative for the next 10-50 years despite conservatives have had more power in the GOP since 1912 (and 1964). Not to mention all the growing demographics are more liberal and don't have a good image of conservatives (or the GOP for that matter) at all. There must also be a new base of voters, the GOP base is shrinking. The extremists will be hopefully marginalized by 2016.
But it's just my opinion, not really facts to back it up, but from studying patterns.
the country is more conservative then liberal
frankly the way for republicans to win is to focus on social issues especially in the minority communities. If they don't do that they will be extinct in a few years because demographically. Blacks and Hispanics will be to numerous for the GOP to ever win. Giving in a bit on immigration and focusing on primarily on social issues in minority areas especially gay marriage and abortion will help them win enough in the minority communities to become a viable party for quite a while. Giving up on gay marriage is idiotic gays vote over 90% democrat even when the Republican is just as EVIL on gay marriage .(look at gay areas and it's obvious despite the lies in the polls)
personally I find it pathetic liberal democrats always dictate the Republicans viability and it almost never works when the Republicans follow their suicidal advise.
Opposition to gay marriage isn't a winning issue in minority communities either. Blacks have swung heavily in favor of it since Obama's endorsement, and blacks under 30 are as likely as whites to support it.
Let's see what happens in Maryland first before making this claim. Experience has taught us that most of the opposition within the Democratic Party to gay marriage has been from racial/ethnic minorities. And given that Maryland has the largest proportion of blacks of any state outside the Deep South, it will be a test case on whether blacks have truly changed their minds on the issue. I have yet to be convinced of it.
