From a macro level, what is the GOP's "platform" now?

[sg0508]

With the Supreme Court's decision yesterday, the party has officially lost the battle concerning traditional marriage. It was a battle that clearly, Karl Rove and Co. used as a fear tactic in George Bush's narrow re-election in '04 (and I voted for the GOP ticket that year).  Now, 11 years later, they've lost.  You didn't hear as much about it in '08 given the economic issues we faced (and still face in our future), and Romney stayed away from the issue as best as he could in '12, but lost because of the "top 1% smirk" and lack of appeal to minorities. 

As such, what is the party's platform now, or do they not even have one? It almost seems as if the Democratic Party of the 80s, completely lost as they were back then has become the GOP now.

[RFayette]

I think the GOP is best seen as the coalitions that support it rather than as a platform.

So we have:
-Gun manufacturers and 2nd amendment rights activists/supporters
-Anti-abortion groups
-"Low tax" groups (CAGW, Americans for Tax Reform, etc.)
-The religious right in general (this will now be mainly religious freedom issues now that gay marriage is legal)
-Anything having to do with fossil fuel energy (coal, oil, natural gas)
-National security hawks
-Farming, ranching, mining; this is what I call the "Sagebrush Rebellion" group

These are the 7.  Most every GOP voter is part of at least 1 of these groups.

[Crumpets]

I think the GOP is best seen as the coalitions that support it rather than as a platform.

So we have:
-Gun manufacturers and 2nd amendment rights activists/supporters
-Anti-abortion groups
-"Low tax" groups (CAGW, Americans for Tax Reform, etc.)
-The religious right in general (this will now be mainly religious freedom issues now that gay marriage is legal)
-Anything having to do with fossil fuel energy (coal, oil, natural gas)
-National security hawks

These are the 6 big ones, though I'm sure there are others.

I agree with this, and I'd add rural laborers as a seventh, especially ranchers, farmers, and nowadays even miners.

[RRProgressive]

Hate and stupidity.

[Mehmentum]

In a lot of ways the Democrats are the same, a coalition of several interlinked voting blocks.

-African Americans
-Latinos
-White Progressives
-Unions
-SJWs

There isn't anything necessitating that being pro-choice makes you an economic progressive.  That believing in gun control means that you think that immigration is a good thing.  Or that supporting gay marriage means that you believe global warming is caused by humans.  Nevertheless, the Democratic party can gather a winning coalition based on this platform.  You'll find that most people in the coalition are truly passionate about a few of these issues, but will agree on most of them.

[heatmaster]

Not to be toxic or disagreeable.

[RRProgressive]

Not to be toxic or disagreeable.

LOL. Are you a joke? Have your head gaskets overheated?

[eric82oslo]

An 8th one is racists in the South of course, especially in the Deep South. Never underestimate a good racist.

[Xing]

"Obama sucks." It worked in '10 and '14, so why not '16?

[dudeabides]

"Obama sucks." It worked in '10 and '14, so why not '16?

The fact of the matter is, between signing unconstitutional executive orders, new rules and regulations, Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, propping up the welfare state, giving corporate handouts to Democratic donors, ignoring the 1st amendment, and conducting a reckless and weak foreign policy, President Obama will go down in history as a President who projected great promise in 2008, but failed to deliver. His incompetence will be noted in the history books, as will his corruption and dishonesty.

I would urge Republicans, however, to not only fight to reverse his agenda, but to implement a new agenda to promote economic growth and a strong national defense.

For example, clearly we need to repeal Obamacare. It's costing jobs, it's a tax increase, and millions of Americans have lost their health care because of it's implementation. But, saying we are going to repeal it is not good enough, there are still folks who are living paycheck to paycheck who can't afford health care.

[pbrower2a]

Add efforts to eviscerate, if not outlaw, labor unions.
Anti-feminism
Opposition to reproductive rights
Opposition to any environmental challenge to profit maximization
Marginalization of science

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Add efforts to eviscerate, if not outlaw, labor unions.
Anti-feminism
Opposition to reproductive rights
Opposition to any environmental challenge to profit maximization
Marginalization of science

Can confirm. Will not vote for any candidate that does not maximize profit.

The GOP is stupid, but your bias is showing.

The fact of the matter is, between signing unconstitutional executive orders, new rules and regulations, Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, propping up the welfare state, giving corporate handouts to Democratic donors, ignoring the 1st amendment, and conducting a reckless and weak foreign policy, President Obama will go down in history as a President who projected great promise in 2008, but failed to deliver. His incompetence will be noted in the history books, as will his corruption and dishonesty.

I would urge Republicans, however, to not only fight to reverse his agenda, but to implement a new agenda to promote economic growth and a strong national defense.

Congrats, you stupid out-stupid'ed pbrower. Corrupt? What is one shred of corruption in this perfect administration? Obama is one of the greatest leaders in American history and he managed to do it while basically being forced to cooperate with several radicals in Congress who failed to give him the respect he commanded. No dishonesty in the administration.

If Obama failed to deliver, I can't begin to imagine how badly the GOP Congress has failed. Obama has been massive success after massive success despite the media's obsessive need to portray it as failure to rile up the racists.

Please elaborate on how we do not have a strong national defense. Do you want to replace secondary school with mandatory military training?

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Citation needed

[andrew_c]

Pro-war
Pro-guns
Pro-business
Anti-women
Anti-science
Anti-abortion
Anti-labor
Anti-immigration

[Famous Mortimer]

Low taxes.
Opposition to abortion.
Stupid people Solidarity.

Low taxes is enough of a platform though. The Democratic Party's platform is basically just "not as low taxes."

[eric82oslo]

Pro-war
Pro-guns
Pro-business
Anti-women
Anti-science
Anti-abortion
Anti-labor
Anti-immigration

We should also add:

Anti-blacks
Anti-Hispanics
Anti-Asians
Anti-gays/LGBTIQ
Anti-atheists
Ultrapro-Israel
Anti-muslim/Palestinians
Anti-student
Anti-poor
Pro-rich

[Blair]

"Obama sucks." It worked in '10 and '14, so why not '16?

The fact of the matter is, between signing unconstitutional executive orders, new rules and regulations, Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, propping up the welfare state, giving corporate handouts to Democratic donors, ignoring the 1st amendment, and conducting a reckless and weak foreign policy, President Obama will go down in history as a President who projected great promise in 2008, but failed to deliver. His incompetence will be noted in the history books, as will his corruption and dishonesty.

I would urge Republicans, however, to not only fight to reverse his agenda, but to implement a new agenda to promote economic growth and a strong national defense.

For example, clearly we need to repeal Obamacare. It's costing jobs, it's a tax increase, and millions of Americans have lost their health care because of it's implementation. But, saying we are going to repeal it is not good enough, there are still folks who are living paycheck to paycheck who can't afford health care.

Wait? He failed to deliver, but he's done all this bad stuff?

In the Obama presidency understand one thing: congress does not work. It's congress stupid!

1.)Obamacare-weakened by congress, Obama wanted a single payer system that would have been much more straight forward and much more effective. I'll go into Obamacare, but clearly taking away people's healthcare isn't going to attract votes.

2). Propping up the welfare bill? You mean like signing the GOP pushed through Farm Bill that cut 8 billion in food stamps. If you want to see a welfare state, please come to Europe. The workfare that you have in the US is not even close to a welfare state- I don't call making a single mum get a 2 hour bus ride to earn minimum wage is a welfare state. You want to tackle it-approve an increase in minimum wage that Obama supports, strengthen trade union rights, end right to work laws, expand infrastructure production and do something about the causes of welfare rather than just screaming big government.

3.) giving corporate handouts to Democratic donors? What, you mean like making your buddy the head of the FEMA like GWB did? Or pardoning a major donor on your last day? Or appointing the person who covered up the last Presidents crimes in Iran-contra to defense Secretary. I don't know any examples of Obama giving corporate handouts to donors, but if he did I'm sorry he's a politician in a system where lobbying works so well. Every single politician across the land does-that's why major banks give funding to both sides. Your rallying against the entire political system, surely socialist Obama would be better here?

4.) Ignoring the 1st amendment? Uhm what examples do you have for that? Seems like a rather broad charge, if anything Obama has had to bend over backwards in certain situations-he allowed a Hawaii style deal in regards to contraception.

5.) Reckless and Weak? Okay, Okay this one annoys me the most. Out of any Republican attack this is the most illogical, ill conceived and spineless attack. What's weak about it? Apologizing for America? Damn ing right a country should be an adult and accept that it's done stuff wrong-most other nations can do it why not the US! You've rigged elections in Italy, triggered a coup that ruined Iran in 1953, gave Saddam Hussein instructions on where to aim chemical weapons and put a bunch of warlords in command of Afghanistan. What's weak about his foreign policy? Launching Drone Strikes across the middle east, getting Bin Laden, getting involved in Libya? Please if the GOP had that track record you'd be calling him the next Ronald Reagan. Now onto reckless? How's he been reckless? His decision to A) Not bomb Iran, like the three amigos wanted B) Not bomb Syria, both show that he's not reckless, gun hoe or bat-crap crazy like some GOP members. His foreign policy has been driven by much bigger trends, like the Arab Spring and the growth of ISIL. As a President you can't simply control what happens, but I don't think the GOP have the answers. Oh wait bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran

6.) No, Congress failed to deliver. He tried to close down GITMO-got blocked at committee, and got defunded. Healthcare? The Blue dogs backed off, and almost sank it. Cuba? Congress defunded his embassy? I disagree that Obama failed to deliver-ask the 16 million people who've got health insurance, ask the factory workers in Michigan who've still got a job, ask the people who benefited from the Stimulus. Ask the the gay HIV victim who now has anti-viral care. I know gays and working class don't appeal to the GOP but Obama has been 10000x better than John Mccain would be.

On Obamacare, did you miss the GOP panic after it almost got struck down? People want health insurance, it doesn't help the GOP if they're trying to cut it. Even worse they dont' even know what the alternative is. Heck Obamacare is what Mitt Romney proposed in Massachusetts, it's what Bob Dole favoured in 1996 and what Nixon wanted in 1972. I'd love you to see the NHS, then you'd see what real big government healthcare looks like! Obamacare is cutting the amount of peeople who have now access-18 million people more people now have coverage, poverty stricken citizens have access to HIV Drugs and housing. It's clearly a good idea to introduce something when your health service is worse than Cuba? Yes Cuba has a better healthcare system than the US, and thankfully Obama tried to do something rather than relying on the voodoo economics of the 'free market'.

Repealing Obamacare does not work, that's a fact.

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[HAnnA MArin County]

[TomC]

Small government!

That is, except when it comes to our big business friends, our neo-colonialization and anything we can interpret from scripture that tells others how to behave.

[RFayette]

My pastor today gave a sermon about the disunity growing in America (despite the PCUSA having liberal leadership, I learned that most of our local church members were disappointed this week, especially about same-sex marriage).  This thread really epitomizes that.  

What should be a simple discussion of the coalitions that make up a party turned into a partisan shouting fest, with pbrower and dudeabides showing how the two sides are now operating.

Why can't we just step back and describe things in more neutral terms?

The GOP is the party of miners (very recent addition), farmers, ranchers, conservative Protestants and Catholics, energy employees, low tax groups, pro-2nd amendment groups, and the anti-abortion movement.  This is pretty much indisputable.  We don't have to snipe at each other in every thread.    

[Rockefeller GOP]

Okay, I'll answer seriously instead of joining the red avatar circle jerk.

- Cutting inefficient spending (read: pork and welfare benefits)
- Tax cuts for all Americans and all businesses
- Less regulation

That'll pretty much be the campaign.

[CountryClassSF]

Okay, I'll answer seriously instead of joining the red avatar circle jerk.

- Cutting inefficient spending (read: pork and welfare benefits)
- Tax cuts for all Americans and all businesses
- Less regulation

That'll pretty much be the campaign.

So, essentially Romney and McCain on repeat, and hope it turns out differently.

[ElectionsGuy]

lol, this is cringeworthy and pathetic.

They'll continue their platform right now. That includes less taxes and regulations on businesses and people (more favoritism towards big business and rich citizens), a way to spend less or cut down on the welfare state, a policeman foreign policy, maintaining "traditional values" in the public, putting national security before civil liberties, and a protectionist immigration policy.

[Xing]

"Obama sucks." It worked in '10 and '14, so why not '16?

The fact of the matter is, between signing unconstitutional executive orders, new rules and regulations, Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, propping up the welfare state, giving corporate handouts to Democratic donors, ignoring the 1st amendment, and conducting a reckless and weak foreign policy, President Obama will go down in history as a President who projected great promise in 2008, but failed to deliver. His incompetence will be noted in the history books, as will his corruption and dishonesty.

I would urge Republicans, however, to not only fight to reverse his agenda, but to implement a new agenda to promote economic growth and a strong national defense.

For example, clearly we need to repeal Obamacare. It's costing jobs, it's a tax increase, and millions of Americans have lost their health care because of it's implementation. But, saying we are going to repeal it is not good enough, there are still folks who are living paycheck to paycheck who can't afford health care.

I'm sorry, but an executive order isn't unconstitutional just because some people don't like it. Ignoring the first amendment? How? I don't think Obamacare is perfect, but repealing it without coming up with different legislation to help the uninsured (or those whose insurance is unsatisfactory) is not a solution. Even though I don't agree with every foreign policy decision Obama has made, if you want a real reckless foreign policy, take a good look at the Bush administration. Obama will be remembered as a president who took over from one of the most incompetent presidents in history, and managed to turn things around, at least to some degree. Unemployment is down, the economy has recovered slowly, but still more quickly than initially expected, many millions who were previously uninsured now have insurance, and many undocumented immigrants who faced the possibility of being deported and separated from their families now know that there is some hope for them.

Has Obama been a perfect president/one of the best? No, but it seems we both agree that refuting Obama's policies will not be a winning strategy for Republicans. If they do propose their own solutions (and those "solutions" are not simply repealing policies from the Obama administration), they'll stand a much better chance of winning. However, this topic isn't titled "what should the GOP platform be?" It seems to me that Republican candidates right now are perfectly content being anti-Obama candidates, thus why I said that their platform is currently "Obama sucks."

[Rockefeller GOP]

Okay, I'll answer seriously instead of joining the red avatar circle jerk.

- Cutting inefficient spending (read: pork and welfare benefits)
- Tax cuts for all Americans and all businesses
- Less regulation

That'll pretty much be the campaign.

So, essentially Romney and McCain on repeat, and hope it turns out differently.

Yeah, we should totally take your position: copy Democrats' position on free trade and only talk about outdated social issues that no one agrees with us on.  Brilliant.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

Since same-sex marriage is now "the law of the land", I think it's pretty clear that Republicans will be pushing some variation of change the Constitution, or ignore the law.