the future of the republican party?

[J. J.]

First,  the Democratic party has not won a majority since 1976.

Second, there is the a greater problem with the lefties in the Democratic party.  There was the Al Gore of 1988, who was substantially to the right of the Al Gore of 2000.  There were moderate Democrats like Joe Lieberman (2004) that didn't do nearly as well as John McCain (200).  The GOP has done a better job of keeping the extreme right, Bauer, Buchannan, and Gram, from getting the nomination that the Democrats have of getting the extreme left from playing a major role, e.g. John Kerry.

[J. J.]

If Republicans were playing to win comfortably in 2000, they might have stuck behind McCain.  What happened in the SC 2000 primary was the ugly side of the right wing coming out.  The same one that may very well prevent a Guliani run in 2008.  Going into 2000, did anyone really think GWB was going to beat McCain? GWB was the underdog.

I did.

[J. J.]

Amen, Clinton could never had been elected in 1992 without Perot

Well said

I do not agree.  If Perot had never run, perhaps.  Once he ran, and withdrew, that opened up the door for Clinton.  It changed the dynamics.

Had there never been a Perot candidacy, there might not have been a Clinton.

Since the 1952 election, however, only twice have Democrats every had a majority, more than half of the popular vote, at that was 16 years appart (1964, 1976); only once did the Democratic candidate for president win by 5% or more (1964).

Not getting a majority is not a problem.