Whoever would have guessed it? The permanent Republican majority lives.
For a few years now it has been a joke - Rove and Mehlman talking about a Republican movement so strong that the Democrats simply couldn't take it down. But in 2004, after Bush's reelection it wasn't a joke. Republicans were making inroads with Hispanics and African-Americans. Democrats were demoralized and defeated.
But then it all imploded. Iraq imploded. Faith and trust in Bush imploded. Republicans imploded. People started talking about a permanent Democratic majority. No more.
What is happening in the Democratic party right now threatens to destroy it for the foreseeable future. Andrew Sullivan summarizes tonight's data:
what is striking in the exit polls is the polarization on three lines: gender, race and age. It was dead even with men; but a massive advantage for Clinton among women. The racial difference is obvious as well. But what really leaps out is age. Obama lost every cohort over 40; Clinton lost every cohort under 40. Race also affects the generations in turn: 67 percent of whites over 60 voted for Clinton - a massive 24 point advantage.
This death match will march on and on through the remaining primaries. The polarization will grow. And when one of them "wins" the nomination they will have won the right to preside over a party divided against itself- young against old, black against white, rich against poor.
Then they will lose - badly - to John McCain and the Democratic infighting will only continue. It will take a decade - more? - for the party to recover and in the meanwhile that once mocked dream of a permanent Republican majority will have been resurrected. Amazing.
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David, this time capsule is fascinating.
I just watched Obama's inauguration today. Profound, thrilling, uplifting and moving. And I just watched Bush fly out of D.C. for the last time on a helicopter. (Dubya, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.)
Democratic president. Democratic Senate. Democratic House of Representatives.
David, excactly who is this 'Karl Rove' person of whom you speak?
Epic fail.
David, I've got to give you credit for not burying this curiously obsolete and woefully inaccurate political time-capsule like the rotting corpse it has become.
As of today Rush Limbaugh appears to be inheriting the mantle of Republican Party Leadership. Whoo-boy. If the intellectual future of the Republican Party is going to be represented by an pompous, overweight, drug-addled multi-millionaire entertainer whose main schtick rests in making up 'facts' and issuing smart-ass insults against people who don't think like him, well the GOP can look forward to a very long period of wandering in the wilderness, indeed.
Wow. This should be entertaining to watch.
Check back with us regarding that 'Permanent Republican Majority' in another 8 years, why dontcha?
This is one of those articles that come back to haunt the author for decades. Mr. Kuo could not have been less accurate in his predictions. This man was obviously deep in denial, hoping he could simply click his heels three times and wake from his nightmare. Don't hold your breath.
The Republican party is facing a cruel reality, registering it's lowest public approval numbers in GOP history. The idea of a 'permanent republican majority' was fatally flawed from inception, as it conflicts with the basic tenets of democracy. Still, it was the intent of many in the party to accomplish just that. Sad, but true.
Thank gawd you can't predict the future any better than you can write!
Jokes on you eh?
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