# Hope for the Republican Party of the future? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 11, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423 "2014-03-11T13:28:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/121 "2014-03-19T16:24:01Z")
Depends on how hardcore your libertarianism is. The young are definitely more libertarian than their elders. The existence of the Libertarian Party confuses people I think. They do not have a claim on what a true libertarian is anymore than John Ashcroft gets to decide who is patriotic. They are the most extreme libertarians, but to me, anyone who biases towards liberty and against statism is a libertarian. The young Republicans are pro-gay, pro-drug legalization, but still just as much anti-statist as the old guard. The difference is that by being pro-gay and pro-drug legalization, they are more consistent in their libertarianism. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/122 "2014-03-19T16:56:02Z")
My fellow Dopers, our duty is clear: we must bend every effort to advance **adaher** into a position that he may control the destiny of the Republican Party, and lead it to the bright future that dawns with the rise of libertarianism! A daunting task, you say? Yes, clearly. But can any of us imagine a prospect as radiant and wondrous? Ponder for a moment a unified Republican Party marching to elections armed with **adherian** talking points, so crisp, clear and cogent! If you will take but a moment to contemplate that possibility, I have little doubt that you will see that our duty is clear, for the good of the Republic! Unleash **adaher**! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/123 "2014-03-19T17:02:16Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Depends on how hardcore your libertarianism is. The young are definitely more libertarian than their elders. The existence of the Libertarian Party confuses people I think. They do not have a claim on what a true libertarian is anymore than John Ashcroft gets to decide who is patriotic. They are the most extreme libertarians, but to me, anyone who biases towards liberty and against statism is a libertarian. > > The young Republicans are pro-gay, pro-drug legalization, but still just as much anti-statist as the old guard. The difference is that by being pro-gay and pro-drug legalization, they are more consistent in their libertarianism. But, how do they feel about all the things government does for business that cost government money? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/124 "2014-03-19T17:10:39Z")
Depends. I personally hate corporate welfare and think it’s completely unnecessary at the federal level. At the state and local level, they will continue to try to get businesses to locate there with various incentives. The only way to stop this would be to use the federal interstate commerce power to ban such practices, which is an idea that would give most libertarians pause. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/125 "2014-03-19T18:25:42Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > The young Republicans are pro-gay, pro-drug legalization, but still just as much anti-statist What, \*both \*of them? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/126 "2014-03-19T18:27:25Z")
CPAC had no shortage of young Republicans. And in the last election(2013), college age kids voted Republican. Although it was a very small election. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/127 "2014-03-19T18:31:27Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > CPAC had no shortage of young Republicans. Inasmuch as it had a severe shortage of \*any \*Republicans _at all_, then yes, yes it did. > [@](#): > > And in the last election(2013), college age kids voted Republican. Priceless. > [@](#): > > Although it was a very small election. Yes, it certainly was. 😉 ---
**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:** [March 19, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/128 "2014-03-19T19:09:24Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > At a time when Republicans are doing worse among Asians, Latinos, and African-Americans, they’ve been steadily increasing their support among Jews. I think you’re being way too optimistic from a single data point. Especially when even that lone data point doesn’t support your argument. ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/129 "2014-03-19T19:17:39Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Democrats will never want to because Republicans will never want to. But the Democrats of today are less likely to support big new programs than the Democrats of 1980. Part of this is economic reality, but another party is political reality. They got a bit too enthusiastic in 2009 and they’ve been paying for it. I think it will be a long time before Democrats take that leap again. If they ever do. I still believe the GOP success in attacking the ACA is penny wise. The news now is that there are over 3 million more people insured than last year and that number is increasing. By the fall Dems will be able to point not only to the lies the GOP told about Obamacare and the vile nature of their decision to leave so many poor people uninsured by refusing to accept federal money to expand Medicare but to a successful program with millions more being covered. Given the evidence of a successful program that helps ensure basic human necessities to the point that it becomes part of the fabric of the nation I don’t see why Democrats would be put off by further exercises in governmental power on behalf of the American public. On the contrary, watching their opponents try to manage a flip-flop on the popular program for the general electorate while maintaining credibility with their delusional base who continue to hate it shouldn’t give the Democrats pause. It should encourage them to look to have the government help people more and create more political problems for GOP deadenders. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/130 "2014-03-19T20:04:43Z")
> [@2sense](#): > > I still believe the GOP success in attacking the ACA is penny wise. The news now is that there are over 3 million more people insured than last year and that number is increasing. By the fall Dems will be able to point not only to the lies the GOP told about Obamacare and the vile nature of their decision to leave so many poor people uninsured by refusing to accept federal money to expand Medicare but to a successful program with millions more being covered. > > Given the evidence of a successful program that helps ensure basic human necessities to the point that it becomes part of the fabric of the nation I don’t see why Democrats would be put off by further exercises in governmental power on behalf of the American public. On the contrary, watching their opponents try to manage a flip-flop on the popular program for the general electorate while maintaining credibility with their delusional base who continue to hate it shouldn’t give the Democrats pause. It should encourage them to look to have the government help people more and create more political problems for GOP deadenders. Doesn’t matter what’s good about ACA or who benefits - what matters is who votes based on those facts. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/131 "2014-03-19T21:26:11Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I question whether the Republicans are actually the opposition party, given that they control the House and a majority of states. True. They’re still nucking futz. > [@](#): > > I’m not sure what that means. The party acts crazier, but the ideology is unchanged from the Reagan years aside from liberalizing a little on social issues. The tactics are what’s changed. And you don’t think thats a meaningful difference? I happen to think how you achieve your goals makes a difference. Republicans used to as well. > [@](#): > > [http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2013/images/11/05/va.gov.exit.polls.1120p.110513.v2.final[1].copy.pdf](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2013/images/11/05/va.gov.exit.polls.1120p.110513.v2.final%5B1%5D.copy.pdf) > > Cooch won 18-24 year olds and then 50 and over. Which solidifies the theory about how young people’s voting habits are set a little: Obama’s 2008 youth who were 18-24 are now 23-27(and the 25-39 cohort went big for McCauliffe). But the people who were between 13-19 when Obama took office aren’t nearly as inclined to vote Democrat. Of course this is only one election, we’ll know more in 2014. But I do not believe that a party is likely to die out generationally. I don’t think that’s possible, and I don’t think it’s precedented. ROFL, I suspect that the small cohort of 18-24 year olds that voted in 2013 were largely gun owning male Virginians from south and west of Richmond. > [@adaher](#): > > At a time when Republicans are doing worse among Asians, Latinos, and African-Americans, they’ve been steadily increasing their support among Jews. I don’t know how much of this is Obama’s perceived sympathy for the Palestinians and the notion that Jews are now part of the establishment and how much of it is a shift in the political views of Jews. Jews have a lot of canaries in the coal mine with them so a some of them aren’t particularly concerned about things an older generation of jews might have been concerned about. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/132 "2014-03-19T21:38:16Z")
It could just be Obama. I think Clinton might win record Jewish support given how popular her husband was among the Jewish community. As for the youth vote, we’ll see in 2014. A poll a few months back showed that a majority of young voters would recall Obama if they could: > **[CBS News - Breaking news, 24/7 live streaming news & top stories](https://www.cbsnews.com/)** > > Watch CBS News live and get the latest, breaking news headlines of the day for national news and world news today. And even in 2012, before the NSA scandal and the ACA problems, Obama won 3 million fewer young voters than he did in 2008. The young are definitely souring on him. The only question is whether the GOP can capitalize on that or whether they’ll just be non-voters. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/133 "2014-03-19T22:12:18Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It could just be Obama. I think Clinton might win record Jewish support given how popular her husband was among the Jewish community. > > As for the youth vote, we’ll see in 2014. A poll a few months back showed that a majority of young voters would recall Obama if they could: > > [CBS News | Breaking news, top stories & today's latest headlines](http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/12/04/poll-52-percent-of-voters-under-age-of-25-would-recall-obama/) > > And even in 2012, before the NSA scandal and the ACA problems, Obama won 3 million fewer young voters than he did in 2008. The young are definitely souring on him. The only question is whether the GOP can capitalize on that or whether they’ll just be non-voters. Talk about cherry picking… how long did it take you to find that one obscure poll that considers “52% of 18-24 year olds” a majority of young voters? And how can you use these tiny data points to say something sweeping like “the young are definitely souring on him” with a straight face? Are you saying that his 2016 chances are not looking so good? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/134 "2014-03-19T22:52:01Z")
Because his job approval numbers show that the people he’s losing most are the youth. > **[Millennials Losing Faith In Obama And Obamacare, Poll Finds](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/millennials-obama-poll_n_4385174)** > > Millennials Losing Faith In Obama And Obamacare, Poll Finds But just look at any recent approval poll. He’s now at 40-45% among the young just like everyone else. They are no longer his firewall. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/135 "2014-03-19T23:21:58Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Because his job approval numbers show that the people he’s losing most are the youth. > > [Millennials Losing Faith In Obama And Obamacare, Poll Finds | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/04/millennials-obama-poll_n_4385174.html) > > But just look at any recent approval poll. He’s now at 40-45% among the young just like everyone else. They are no longer his firewall. You’re just pulling things at random (from almost half a year ago) to support some vague “Obama is bad” point. In today’s world, fewer and fewer want to repeal the ACA, and the enrollment (and other) statistics are improving. I look forward to seeing how you blow off the next report that shows the ACA is actually helping lots of people. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/136 "2014-03-20T00:30:07Z")
I’m sure those ACA poll numbers will go up any day now. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2014, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/137 "2014-03-20T01:19:14Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > As for the youth vote, we’ll see in 2014. A poll a few months back showed that a majority of young voters would recall Obama if they could: > > And even in 2012, before the NSA scandal and the ACA problems, Obama won 3 million fewer young voters than he did in 2008. The young are definitely souring on him. The only question is whether the GOP can capitalize on that or whether they’ll just be non-voters. That same poll said 52% of young voters would also recall all members of Congress. To the extent this poll reflects anything it’s disillusionment rather than a shift to the right. As for the drop in 2012, I think it reflects the fact that some voters in 2008 were voting against the then-current Bush administration. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/138 "2014-03-20T01:41:12Z")
No, you’re right it’s not a shift to the right. And one party’s loss is not necessarily the other party’s gain. But it does create an opportunity. At the very least, it means that Democrats will continue to have turnout problems. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/139 "2014-03-20T13:20:42Z")
Hoping the other guys screw up so badly that even your guys look good by comparison is, well, not an optimal strategy. But good luck with it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2014, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423/140 "2014-03-20T13:37:54Z")
Far from it, I’m saying the GOP needs to capitalize on the youth vote leaving the Democrats. Rand Paul has the best chance of doing that. And he’s about the only guy actually trying to reach out to Democratic voters. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hope-for-the-republican-party-of-the-future/683423.md?page=8)