It seems to me that much of the success of the Republican party in recent years has been due to their “big tent” policy. Which in practice means that the Republicans have done a very clever job of co-opting the extreme right, giving lip service to the most reactionary factions in the US whle keeping the loyalty of the center-right.
What liberals need then, is the right-wing equivalent of a Ralph Nader, or a somewhat more credible Patrick Buchanan to appear. A splinter party to serve as America’s trash can for the Fundie theocrats, abortion clinic bombers, isolationists, militia groups, neonazis, and all other adherents of right-wing positions that 90% of Americans would never vote for. A sort of “with enemies like this, who needs friends?” strategy.
Hopefully, we could recreate something like Teddy Roosevelt’s Bull Moose party and split the Republican vote. All we need is a well planned “front” group to pursuade the Loony Right to stop voting Republican, and the Dems will rule again!
(This post contains at least 50% sarcasm by volume)
That’s basically what Perot did in 1992. People that weakly supported Bush I switched over to Perot, he went a little wacky for a few weeks (is he in or out?) and some of those then switched over to Clinton (having already adjusted to not being pro-Bush).
The Republicans of course absolutely hated this so they went all out in destroying the Reform party. Which they more than successfully achieved in 2000.
I disagree with the OP and “big tents” and such. The GOP has gone completely over-the-edge on neo-conservatism. You have to agree with the neo-cons on all issues or else. They don’t care about moderates except as potential future conservatives.
E.g., a leading candidate for statewide office here is “soft” on abortion. I.e., it should be allowed in cases like rape, incest, etc. The entire state GOP infrastructure is out to get him, despite being their best candidate for winning in the fall.
Haven’t they been doing it to themselves? First the liberal Republicans, then the moderates, and now anyone who isn’t a hard line right-winger? (Arlen Specter comes to mind, although I’m not a big fan of his, anyway).
While your post is >=50% sarcasm, reality may already be doing what you describe. I don’t think it’s at all unlikely that the next “major” political movement will come to the right of the Republican Party – and to the left of the Democrats. That’s not a prediction, mind you. I’m just saying I wouldn’t be surprised.
Isn’t this neglecting the fact that if the real wackos were split from the Republican party that many centrist Democrats or apartisans would begin voting Republican as their platform moved closer to center?