What is your advice to the GOP?

[Joe Biden 2020]

The 2012 election exposed major problems within the Grand Ole' Party, nobody disputes that.  Be subjective in your advice, and put aside your partisan advice and give the Republican Party advice  on how they can stay relevant in 2016 and future elections.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

When will the GOP realize that they will not win over blacks and Latinos by putting a token on the bottom of the ticket? Minority voters can look through the wrapping easily, and they can still tell that the gift inside is unchanged. Policy positions have to change (or at the very least, make sure that the Joe Arpaios and Paul Brouns and Todd Akins and Louie Gohmerts of the party either shut up or get out).

The GOP will not actually win a plurality/majority of the Latino vote until a landslide election in a few decades. At that point, many white Latinos will have integrated to the point where pandering to them is as useless as specifically pandering to Italians in New York or Poles in Pennsylvania, and will vote more in a way that working-class whites did in the middle of the 20th century (chances are the generally poorer nonwhite Latinos will still remain Democratic). However, if their strategy is to actually sit and wait until Latinos are no longer seen as a "race", they shouldn't expect to win many elections in the near future.

What would actually help them win over some of the Latino community in 2016 and 2020 would be to move towards the "compassionate conservative" model of George W. Bush (and Jeb). They obviously won't (and don't have to) drop fiscal conservatism; what needs to change is tone and moderation. They could be the party that opens up discussion on education reform. And like the Tories in Canada, they could remains socially conservative, but instead of a personhood amendment or defunding Planned Parenthood, that social conservatism could be retooled into "American values" (family, hard work, etc). That would help with Latinos, but probably cause major gains with Asian voters (who are generally conservative, but not in a way that the current GOP represents).

[HagridOfTheDeep]

We need a messenger who knows that being conservative isn't the same as being severe.

[bballrox4717]

While 2016 is winnable short term for them if they face a weak Democratic candidate, long term they need to nominate who is fully in line with the Tea Party's view and let them get destroyed Goldwater/McGovern/Mondale style, so that some hardline conservatives can realize that their polices actually need to shift in line with where the country is going. They then need to identify an issue that they can use win over disaffected Democratic voters; I think civil liberties such as being anti-SOPA/PIPA, Patriot Act, NDAA, legalization of marijuana would be great ways to win over liberals while staying on message that big-government is bad for them. They need young voters and shifting libertarian is good way to grab a good amount, especially with the way technology is developing right now. Privacy is going to be a big issue in the future.

Its tough for Republicans right now; the only reason they have a solid hold on the House is due to gerrymandering, and demographics have turned the tides against them since Bush. There really isn't a way to win with the rhetoric that's going on right now in the party; they go moderate and the base doesn't go out and vote, and most independents will be turned off by Tea Partiers unless the Democrats really screw up badly.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

They need to focus on fiscal conservationism.  The real kind where deficits matter, not the phoney Grover Norquist kind where high spending is fine so long as taxes are low.  It's something America is in the mood for and that neither party is offering right now.

[Maxwell]

Don't think that Mitt Romney lost because he wasn't conservative enough, because thats not true. Pick someone who, at least, believes in some kind of principles, and isn't just parroting.

[CountryRoads]

Dear GOP,


Grow up. Nominate Sensible Conservatives who aren't insane, or fake about their beliefs. Also, don't nominate some moderate pansy and make him look conservative (Romney).

[sg0508]

Fix your nomination process and the primary process.  Oh yeah, stop nominating the Angles, O'Donnells, Bucks, Akins and Mourdocks.  Eventually, that's what the rest of the party is projected to look like.

Then, you have Jim DeMint who makes comments that women or single women (whatever it was) shouldn't teach in public schools.

The party is stuck in 1900.

[Frodo]

When will the GOP realize that they will not win over blacks and Latinos by putting a token on the bottom of the ticket? Minority voters can look through the wrapping easily, and they can still tell that the gift inside is unchanged. Policy positions have to change (or at the very least, make sure that the Joe Arpaios and Paul Brouns and Todd Akins and Louie Gohmerts of the party either shut up or get out).

The GOP will not actually win a plurality/majority of the Latino vote until a landslide election in a few decades. At that point, many white Latinos will have integrated to the point where pandering to them is as useless as specifically pandering to Italians in New York or Poles in Pennsylvania, and will vote more in a way that working-class whites did in the middle of the 20th century (chances are the generally poorer nonwhite Latinos will still remain Democratic). However, if their strategy is to actually sit and wait until Latinos are no longer seen as a "race", they shouldn't expect to win many elections in the near future.

What would actually help them win over some of the Latino community in 2016 and 2020 would be to move towards the "compassionate conservative" model of George W. Bush (and Jeb). They obviously won't (and don't have to) drop fiscal conservatism; what needs to change is tone and moderation. They could be the party that opens up discussion on education reform. And like the Tories in Canada, they could remains socially conservative, but instead of a personhood amendment or defunding Planned Parenthood, that social conservatism could be retooled into "American values" (family, hard work, etc). That would help with Latinos, but probably cause major gains with Asian voters (who are generally conservative, but not in a way that the current GOP represents).

^^^^^

This -also, the GOP has to (genuinely) accept that Obamacare is here to stay, and to stop trying to either repeal or undermine it.  We are going to have a health care system based on the Bismarck model (of which Obamacare is simply the precursor), and the best thing the GOP can do in coming years and decades is to ensure that it is cost-effective as well as innovative.  We all want the best health care system in the world, and I would love it if the GOP helped make it happen.  

[Person Man]

You know, the "we aren't conservative enough" really looks like what the communists were saying about "not implementing communism 100%" 20 years ago. This and the entire definition of insanity, "doing the same thing and expecting different results". Not that they have to give up on being Republican, but they need to be more pro-small Government and less pro-big Business and Special Interest. 
 

[Ronnie]

They need to become more pragmatic on immigration and social issues if they want to be competitive with the changing demographics.  They also need to distance themselves from the tea-party, or else they will continue to nominate candidates like Akin and Mourdock.

And stop being corrupt pieces of sh**t in congress.  AND STOP BAILING OUT PRIVATE COMPANIES.

That is all.

[opebo]

Go all hispanic all the time.  Get rid of all party leaders and replace them with hispanics.   Don't show any more whitefaces on TV - just hispanics.  Don't bother with blacks, they'll never be taken in by your nonsense.  You might throw in some Asians.  But just hide whitey.

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

My advice? Nominate Chris Christie.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Then, you have Jim DeMint who makes comments that women or single women (whatever it was) shouldn't teach in public schools.

It was gays and unwed mothers he thought shouldn't teach in public schools as they set a bad moral example.

[The Mikado]

The GOP isn't in nearly as bad a shape as a lot of people think it is.

[Frodo]

The GOP isn't in nearly as bad a shape as a lot of people think it is.

It isn't now, but if they keep on their current path, they will be. 

[opebo]

The GOP isn't in nearly as bad a shape as a lot of people think it is.

This is terrible news for the rest of us, if so.

[Franzl]

Talk about rape as much as possible.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Scrub vigorously. Use bleach.

[Indy Texas]

Realize that a strict interpretation of the Constitution is what allowed anyone who wasn't a white male to be more or less treated like crap for the first 150 years of our republic.

Don't be surprised if black people don't agree when GOP pols say they want to go back to the days of the Founding Fathers. It wasn't such a good time for them.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Run to the Democrats left on at least some issues. They certainly left plenty of room to their left.

[pbrower2a]

The 2012 election exposed major problems within the Grand Ole' Party, nobody disputes that.  Be subjective in your advice, and put aside your partisan advice and give the Republican Party advice  on how they can stay relevant in 2016 and future elections.

1. Quit sniping at President Obama. Liberals did that to Ronald Reagan, and that did not help them in 1992.

2. Quit pandering to superstition and pseudoscience. That is how the Republicans did so badly among Asians and Latinos who respect education as the only viable means out of poverty. Schoolteachers vote, too, and they form the largest professional bloc in America.

3. Don't rely upon private-sector experience for Presidential nominees. Cain and Trump were unmitigated disasters as candidates, and questionable practices in business made a mess of Mitt Romney.

4. If you are to rely upon big-money special interests, then play down the connection to right-wing ideology. "Suffer for my greed and things will be better for you in 20 years for it" offends too many sensibilities.

5. Dump the Islam-bashing. It is as scummy as Jew-baiting. Only in America could Jews and Muslims vote alike. People are getting wise to bigotry of any kind as a non-solution.

6. If you are to attack Obamacare with "repeal and replace", then make sure to have a clear and better replacement.

7. Recognize that Dubya was a lousy President no longer relevant to the future except as an easy caricature for Democrats against many Republicans. Democrats could exploit Herbert Hoover for years.

8. Abandon the pretense that Americans want a bucolic image of America.


   


 

[milhouse24]

To win future elections, they need to be more Hispanic friendly.  Plain and simple.

[politicus]

To win future elections, they need to be more Hispanic friendly.  Plain and simple.

And simplistic.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

I've tried to write a post for this thread several times and found doing so very difficult - the GOP have really gotten themselves into a bind.  Here are my several suggestions:

One, have a series of private, off the books, heart-to-heart meetings and explain to their billionaire backers quietly, in very private one-on-one conversations, that while the GOP is happy for their money and their support, and is equally happy to keep being bought, the quid-pro-quo is going to be less blatantly obvious from here on out. The 1% may hear the GOP saying some nasty things about them from time to time, and the whole conservative billionaire sugar-daddies showering money on their favorites shtick has got to stop. The GOP will stay pro-business, but will stop being so transparent about it.

Two, make it very clear to the misogynists, the anti-science nutbars, and the other crazies on the fringe that while they're welcome to keep voting Republican, they need to be neither seen nor heard, and that if they stick their heads up nationally they will be unceremoniously denounced and booted post-haste. If that costs the party a seat now and then, or even a presidential election in 2016, that's a price that needs to be paid.

Three, along with the above, graciously concede on abortion, without ever coming right out and admitting that's whats happening. Certainly, continue to fight for laws banning late-term abortions (which are mostly illegal anyway), but otherwise call it a day. Make it clear that the Republican party supports every individuals right to make their own choices. Visibly put party time and effort into supporting adoption, prenatal care, and similar unquestionably good works. Lead by example, and forget about banning abortion via onerous and offensive legislation.

Four, figure out which other voting blocks to grab and drive hard for them. I'd suggest going for civil libertarians and anti-war activists. With the wingnuts muzzled, there's no longer any inherent contradiction between the party platform and individual rights, and the government has certainly done plenty in the last 12 years that's worthy of criticism on that front. And while anti-war may seem an odd fit for modern Republicans, they can always play the "suppressing piracy" and "protecting commerce" cards. They're not advocating weakness or large defense industry cuts, but they're done with military adventurism. The military should only be used for protecting and strengthening America's economy. Obama has done an excellent job demonstrating how far the "anti-war" position can be stretched.


I don't know if the above suggestions are achieveable, but without something like them, I think the Republicans are headed for permanent minor party status or even a split. But, even in the darkest days ahead, Republicans can rejoice in the realization that Obama has been a massively successful moderate Republican president.