# GOP: You lost because Obama is a centrist; you won't win by tacking right **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 9, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488 "2012-11-09T15:37:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/41 "2012-11-09T22:52:54Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > At this point, I’m pretty sure the sane party for Republicans to come back to will not be called the Republican Party. > > The Whigs tore themselves apart over slavery. The GOP will tear itself apart over immigration, at least when a couple of the smarter Republicans decide to pander to the Catholic Hispanic vote and get thoroughly snubbed by the Republicans who think Sheriff Joe is on the right track. ‘Self-deportation’ is going to work about as well with the Hispanics as it did with the Irish, and… remember the Native American Party? Heh. Neither does anyone else. I don’t know. I think the Republicans are still caught up in Reagan love. He was so popular, they’re still trying to imitate him. But it’ll wear off eventually - either a new generation will rise up that didn’t have direct experience of Reagan (the Democrats are finally getting over their Kennedy fixation) or some new charismatic Republican will show up and the party will fall in behind him or her. I don’t see immigration as a major issue like slavery or abortion. It’s a major regional issue in the southwest but the rest of the nation doesn’t really get into it. People in Kansas or Ohio or Virginia don’t have the interest in the immigration issue that there is in Arizona or California or Texas. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/42 "2012-11-13T20:30:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I resemble this remark. I’m a moderate Republican who voted for Obama. As far as I’m concerned, the Democrats have been running better moderate candidates for the Presidency than the Republicans have for the last few decades. > > If Obama had actually been the kind of left-wing socialist that conservatives claimed he was, then I would have voted for McCain and Romney instead. > > I’m obviously not one of the people who wants to see the Republican Party disappear. I want the Republicans to come back to their senses and move back to the center and stop kowtowing to the conservative fringe. But, can it win anything without their votes? The “conservative fringe” is very numerous, after all – they are the [“Staunch Conservatives”](http://www.people-press.org/2011/05/04/typology-group-profiles/) in the Pew Political Typology – making up 9% of the adult population, 11% of registered voters – which makes them at least a third of the GOP’s base. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/43 "2012-11-13T21:06:34Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I don’t see immigration as a major issue like slavery or abortion. It’s a major regional issue in the southwest but the rest of the nation doesn’t really get into it. People in Kansas or Ohio or Virginia don’t have the interest in the immigration issue that there is in Arizona or California or Texas. How then do you explain Alabama’s tough immigration laws? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/44 "2012-11-13T21:29:31Z")
[quote=“Ravenman, post:6, topic:640488”] Of course it isn’t a euphemism. An elevator is just a box that goes up and down.[/QUOTE PLEASE tell me I’m not the only one here with a dirty mind?! ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/45 "2012-11-13T21:35:53Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > How then do you explain Alabama’s tough immigration laws? My guess would be a deep seated fear of living in a state where non-white people make up the majority. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/46 "2012-11-13T21:38:36Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > PLEASE tell me I’m not the only one here with a dirty mind?! Is that what the kids call a slut these days? An “elevator”? ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/47 "2012-11-13T21:41:43Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I was promised a toaster too when I converted to lesbianism. They told me it didn’t count because I’m a man. It’s like signing up for cable. You need a box. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/48 "2012-11-13T22:29:22Z")
But a toaster has a slot and it takes your bread. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/49 "2012-11-13T22:34:53Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > But a toaster has a slot and it takes your bread. Too easy to get burned, and if you don’t clean it out regularly it starts to smell. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/50 "2012-11-13T22:46:35Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > My guess would be a deep seated fear of living in a state where non-white people make up the majority. Haven’t African-Americans always been pretty near to a majority in Alabama? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/51 "2012-11-13T22:48:57Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > > [@Ravenman](#): > > > > Of course it isn’t a euphemism. An elevator is just a box that goes up and down. > > PLEASE tell me I’m not the only one here with a dirty mind?! Actually, you are. We’ve all been meaning to talk to you about that. Just having you around is disgusting to our decent and pious sensibilities. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/52 "2012-11-13T22:59:31Z")
Your welcome! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/53 "2012-11-13T22:59:45Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Haven’t African-Americans always been pretty near to a majority in Alabama? Assuming this isn’t a whoosh, no they haven’t and aren’t now. According to the [2011 census estimates](http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/01000.html) they make up 26.5% of the population in Alabama. There are [several states with a higher proportion](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States#Race_and_ethnicity) of African-Americans in the population - Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Maryland and South Carolina. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/54 "2012-11-13T23:00:54Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Too easy to get burned, and if you don’t clean it out regularly it starts to smell. Never put your dick in the [del]crazy[/del] toaster ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/55 "2012-11-14T02:13:52Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > I’m sure this is a joke thread. When we vote a guy back into office who … couldn’t garner a single vote for his own budget plan in either the House or the Senate, that kills any idea of doing so because he was a centrist. I just love this one. You conveniently leave out the fact that what was voted down was a bill that had been radically amended by Republicans, cutting 1950 pages out of the President’s budget, and eliminating essentially all specificity from it, then proposing THAT budget as the “president’s budget.” Naturally, everyone voted it down…what was submitted was a farce, and not anywhere even CLOSE to what the president’s budget actually was. The only thing they kept were the top line numbers. That’s it. And yet you claim the president isn’t working across the aisle? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/56 "2012-11-14T10:16:38Z")
> [@Jman](#): > > I just love this one. You conveniently leave out the fact that what was voted down was a bill that had been radically amended by Republicans, cutting 1950 pages out of the President’s budget, and eliminating essentially all specificity from it, then proposing THAT budget as the “president’s budget.” Naturally, everyone voted it down…what was submitted was a farce, and not anywhere even CLOSE to what the president’s budget actually was. The only thing they kept were the top line numbers. That’s it. > > And yet you claim the president isn’t working across the aisle? See OMG - this is what we are talking about. A ‘fact’ you gathered from the loonosphere you choose to immerse yourself in turned out to be grievously in error. It’s not even an arcane, obscure piece of knowledge. It’s what anyone who claims to be interested in national politics, let alone anyone who believes themselves knowledgeable enough to sound off about it should know. Yet you did not. Even worse, you do not have the sense of reality to think ‘what I am about to type simply makes no sense, I’d better check this out’. And that’s because, assuming you are not just plain dumb, you deliberately make yourself stupid by inhabiting a propaganda network alternate reality. And so you keep making a fool of yourself. For God’s sake take this election as a wake-up call to wise up. Turn off Fox News and Talk Radio, delete your loonosphere bookmarks and unlearn what you think you know. Otherwise you’re going to continue to be ‘surprised’ and ‘shocked’ and continue to build your already awesome reputation as one of the Board’s resident clowns. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/57 "2012-11-14T11:39:46Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > Yes, that’s right. Whatever you say. More hot milk? That blanket okay? Good. This is an example of why it doesn’t pay to argue conservative points, thoughts or ideologue around here. You get all the liberal late-night talk show host wanna-be folks around here who think this is an audition for the part of next news anchor on the John Daily show. Seriously, you guys can be real ass-jacks. It’s fun to watch if you have a sense of humor, but it can be frustrating if you’re trying to make an honest point and have a real debate. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/58 "2012-11-14T11:46:47Z")
:smack: > [@Uncommon\_Sense](#): > > This is an example of why it doesn’t pay to argue conservative points, thoughts or ideologue around here. > > You get all the liberal late-night talk show host wanna-be folks around here who think this is an audition for the part of next news anchor on the John Daily show. > > Seriously, you guys can be real ass-jacks. It’s fun to watch if you have a sense of humor, but it can be frustrating if you’re trying to make an honest point and have a real debate. As OMG has his own reality with his own made up facts he cannot be debated with. He’s shown that repeatedly. He’s not even here to debate in good faith, he’s here to witness. At this point I don’t even believe he is capable of debating. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/59 "2012-11-14T11:51:12Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > See OMG - this is what we are talking about. So, just go be clear. Obama offered up a completely “centrist liberal” budget and the 'pubs should have said, “Ah this is perfect!” and waived it through. The reason it needed 1950 pages of “editing” is proof that it was a budget that was not acceptable to both sides, not even close. Obama knew that and the dems knew that before it was submitted. Your being aloof if you claim otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488/60 "2012-11-14T11:53:11Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > :smack: > > As OMG has his own reality with his own made up facts he cannot be debated with. He’s shown that repeatedly. He’s not even here to debate in good faith, he’s here to witness. > > At this point I don’t even believe he is capable of debating. Oh, thanks for the update. I’ve been gone too long I guess. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gop-you-lost-because-obama-is-a-centrist-you-wont-win-by-tacking-right/640488.md?page=4)