And, as George Will noted a few years back, there's less and less to defend. When was the last time the GOP legitimately pushed to dismantle a Great Society or New Deal program (to cut the sinew of government, as Goldwater once said)? Or repeal the 1968 gun law whose name eludes me right now? Or, for that matter, to shut down Cabinet departments? The reason the Democrats are losing power is that they've won most of their major battles by default and they haven't picked any new fights.

I'm not arguing that the GOP and Dems are no different, merely that they present the same public face on most issues of importance to traditional Democratic voting blocks. When some of the New Deal Democrats became Reagan Democrats, they changed the nature of the GOP.
A Steve | Email | Homepage | 02.28.05 - 8:52 pm | #

If only it were so...
The more I know about each major party, the more I want to wretch. The perfect political party consists of the best of both worlds. Imagine a party that promotes capitalism and individual responsibility while NOT trying to micro-manage the personal lives of the citizenry. Hey, I seem to recall such a party...but no, that party aloows itself to be characterized by lousy pot-heads.

Let me say: the war on drugs is the absolute worst expenditure of public largesse, second only to pentions for Congress. Having said that, the LP needs a warm shot of pragmatism. Unlees I'm way off, I imagine that a true majority of Americans would consider themselves "libertarian" if it were presented in a coherent fashion. Nah...who am I kiding?
Robert | Email | Homepage | 02.28.05 - 8:53 pm | #

The 1968 law was the Gun Control Act of 1968, which was itself an extension of the National Firearms act of 1934.

Being a gun owner, and a Clas III enthusiast, I know the law pretty well. It's very clearly unconsttutional, on more than jsut 2nd amendment grounds, as if it needed any more, but every time it has come up except US. v. Miller, the court has either denied cert, or found a reason not to rule (no standing, procedural error etc...). In Miller the defendant had died, and his lawyer didnt even bother to show up.

The three greatest direct threats to our liberty in this country have been the war on drugs, the war on guns, and the war on terror.

Oh and I'm writing a post about my politics right now. Its gonna push the "Code Culture" piece off to tomorrow.
Chris Byrne | Email | Homepage | 02.28.05 - 9:13 pm | #

I think the Kos/Moore people may not be the party...

But they are the face and the voice of the party.

Who are the face and voice of the Republicans? People like Giuliani, McCain, and Ahhnold.
Brad Warbiany | Email | Homepage | 02.28.05 - 9:20 pm | #

Nice post. The Democrats are in more trouble than you may realize...which is a good thing. Why? A lot of teachers and blacks now have realized that the Democrats don't benefit them and voted for Bush in 2004. I am a teacher and in my school, I would estimate that 3/4's of the teachers vote Republican.
Norrin The Hun | Email | Homepage | 03.01.05 - 7:38 pm | #

I really hope that the "death spin" decides to spin up, really soon.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 02.15.07 - 9:25 pm | #

Accidentally came across this post of yours and it's hilarious to read in retrospect. Who's stupid now? Could you possibly have had your head any deeper up your ass and been more wrong?

Why doesn't the Republican party jettison the Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity wing of their party? Perhaps because that is also THE Republican party. Good luck with that group.
ranndino | Email | Homepage | 04.06.09 - 10:27 am | #