Crumbling

Finally, a good story in the NY Times this morning about the desperate situation facing the GOP. And finally, judging from various stories (here, here and here) it appears as if the GOP is realizing their fantasy world is crumbling.

One thing I'm noticing, though, is that Republicans still aren't getting the picture as to what is ailing them. I think they are beginning to figure out that Bush is unpopular. Not only unpopular, but so unpopular and so disliked that he is something to run away from.

Representative Tom Davis, Republican of Virginia and former leader of his party’s Congressional campaign committee, issued a dire warning that the Republican Party had been severely damaged, in no small part because of its identification with President Bush. Mr. Davis said that, unless Republican candidates changed course, they could lose 20 seats in the House and 6 in the Senate.

Republicans also seem to be understanding that they need a change in strategy as evidenced by the new right wing website The Next Right that I mentioned the other day. And also by Hanson's list of how to move the Party forward. But like my buddy Kent mentioned yesterday and like I've been reading all morning, Republicans still think that the biggest reason why they are losing is because Democrats are stealing their issues. It's just not true.

Here's Kent yesterday:

"Funny how Dem candidates campaign like Republicans. Pro-gun, pro-life. Nary a difference between the Dem and the Repub.

Same thing in Louisiana."

Here's NRCC Chairman Tom Cole:

"Following the meeting, Cole maintained a cool demeanor, telling reporters, “People are concerned.” Cole attributed the loss to the challenge of running against Democrats who are running as Republicans, adding that while Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is an important asset, he alone cannot save the party."

And here's the Chairman of the NRC:

“We can’t let the Democrats take our issues. We can’t let them pretend to be conservatives and co-opt the middle and win these elections. We have to get the attention of our incumbents and candidates and make sure they understand this.”

There just isn't any validity to any of this and something I call wishful thinking on the part of Republicans. They are insisting that their stance on the issues are so correct that the Dems are winning with them. But they aren't. The Dems are winning on their own merit. And until the GOP realizes this and decides to move the Party into the 21st century, they will continue to lose. Now, I'm no GOP strategist by any means. And I hope they continue to think that the Dems are stealing their issues. My point is that the press runs with the story that the Dems have become Republicans to win elections, and that's what I want to avoid.

Like I've always said, Republicans do not have a monopoly on conservatism. In fact they have done a lousy job of governing as conservatives. There is nothing to suggest that the recent Republican controlled congress, which was just thrown from power in 2006, did anything to resemble a conservative government. Likewise for President Bush. If their governance is to be judged on a conservative scale it would be laughable to give them high marks.

The only item Republicans could possibly highlight to use as conservative credentials would be Bush's tax cuts, which could easily be rebutted to prove fiscal irresponsibility during a time of war.

The Democrats who won in 2006 did so with an overwhelming progressive agenda. Sure some were pro life and some were pro gun. But those are not Republican-owned issues. They never have been. In addition, the three Dems who won in three very Republican districts this year have been overwhelmingly progressive. All three are in favor of the CHIP expansion. All three are in favor of getting out of Iraq sooner rather than later. All three are very pro union. All three are against Bush's and the GOP's efforts to privatize Social Security. And all three are in support of stem cell research. None of that suggests the Dems are winning by running as Republicans.

If the Dems want to continue picking up seats and continue beating Republicans in what used to be considered very safe districts, the DNC and its supporters must get out onto the talk shows and airwaves, and time and time again repeat that these Dems are winning with their own issues and winning by running against the most unpopular president in modern history. That's the only way to guarantee the GOP Fantasy World will continue to crumble around them.

*Update:

We can scratch gay marriage from the list of conservative issues. Super tough guy and the conservative Republican governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger issues statement today saying that he respects California's Supreme Court decision striking down a ban on gay marriage. Also adding that he does not support a state constitutional ban either. Effectively making himself in support of gay marriage at least in policy terms.

We have Republicans going around saying that Democrats are winning with Republican issues but what are those issues. It's pretty much down to guns and abortion. Essentially what Republicans want people to believe is the only way to win is to run as a conservative. Because in their Fantasy World there is no way you can have progressive stances and be considered mainstream. However, in the reality based community the public is much more progressive than Fox News and Limbaugh want people to believe.

If you say that being opposed to gay marriage, which a lot of Democrats are, is a conservative issue then how in the world can you have a conservative Republican governor of the largest state in the Union going against your platform?