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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
