# Why the republicans are destined to fail **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 4, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919 "2022-02-04T18:12:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/21 "2022-02-04T23:09:59Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > It was hyperbole then. 1/6 changed everything. I don’t blame the innocent for what the guilty do. If you want to talk about folks who broke the law on 1/6, I’d love to talk with you about locking them up — or sentencing them to hard labor — or shooting them in the face, or whatever. But I don’t hold what they did against _you_, because, as far as I know, you didn’t break any laws on 1/6; and I don’t hold what they did against anyone _else_ who — like I hope you were on 1/6, and like I was on 1/6 — have just kept right on being law-abiding citizens who pay our taxes and vote our consciences and thus and such. I thought that way before 1/6; why the heck wouldn’t I keep thinking that way after 1/6? ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/22 "2022-02-04T23:18:38Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > But I don’t hold what they did against _you_ , because, as far as I know, you didn’t break any laws on 1/6; and I don’t hold what they did against anyone _else_ who — like I hope you were on 1/6, and like I was on 1/6 — have just kept right on being law-abiding citizens who pay our taxes and vote our consciences and thus and such. What about the people – especially politicians of a certain party – who have equated the events of Jan. 6 with social protests or called them legitimate political discourse? Do you hold it against them? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/23 "2022-02-04T23:24:08Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > What about the people – especially politicians of a certain party – who have equated the events of Jan. 6 with social protests or called them legitimate political discourse? Do you hold it against them? Probably. (Is this where I, in turn, start asking whether you hold X or Y or Z against people — especially politicians — who broke no laws but didn’t take nearly as hard a line against lawbreaking as I’d like?) ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/24 "2022-02-04T23:37:07Z")
You could, but I’d probably have to answer on a case-by-case basis. Meanwhile, one of our two major political parties clearly believes that it’s okay to storm the nation’s capitol and attempt to kill senators if you dislike the outcome of an election, and I just wanted to clarify where you stood on the matter. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/25 "2022-02-04T23:40:31Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I’d probably have to answer on a case-by-case basis. > > Meanwhile, one of our two major political parties clearly believes that it’s okay to storm the nation’s capitol and attempt to kill senators if you dislike the outcome of an election, and I just wanted to clarify where you stood on the matter. Well, look, when next I get the chance to vote for one politician or another, I sure hope they’ll get asked whether they believe it’s okay to storm the nation’s capitol and attempt to so kill senators due to said dislike — and if said candidates clarify with a “no,” why then I’ll, uh, vote on a case-by-case basis. Are we done now? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/26 "2022-02-05T00:26:25Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Well, look, when next I get the chance to vote for one politician or another, I sure hope they’ll get asked whether they believe it’s okay to storm the nation’s capitol and attempt to so kill senators due to said dislike — and if said candidates clarify with a “no,” why then I’ll, uh, vote on a case-by-case basis. It’s pretty easy now. There are fewer Republicans than you can count on your fingers (in Congress at least) who’ve clearly said “no”. The others have kept quiet about it because they want to give a wink-wink “yes” to the base, without putting themselves in obvious jeopardy. Nobody is going to say “yes”. Even the most rabid Rs (Greene and Gaetz) instead tried to spin it into somehow blaming the Democrats, in their insanity. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/27 "2022-02-05T00:56:08Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I don’t blame the innocent for what the guilty do. All that is required for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing. The Republican Party is doing nothing. I hold all Republicans who are not speaking out against the Sedition Caucus responsible. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/28 "2022-02-05T02:47:23Z")
I have a hard time excusing political violence on behalf of the left while seeing the overreaction and hyperbole of the end of democracy when it’s for the so-called right. Political violence is either an acceptable tool to advance one’s agenda or it isn’t. The events of the summer and fall preceding the “insurrection” speak much louder than the words following it. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2022, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/29 "2022-02-05T03:14:46Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Political violence is either an acceptable tool to advance one’s agenda or it isn’t. It isn’t. But there’s a massive divide between the political violence of the left and the political violence of the right. The political violence of the right is real. There are Republican office holders who are condoning and encouraging political violence by their supporters. Donald Trump trying to overthrow the government via a violent insurrection is just the biggest example of this. The political violence on the left is mostly made up. Republicans find a crime that occurred and declare it’s part of the liberal agenda. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/30 "2022-02-05T03:50:55Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The political violence on the left is mostly made up. So the riots, burning, looting, vandalism, attacks on police, etc. are all made up? ---
**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:** [February 5, 2022, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/31 "2022-02-05T04:55:24Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > > The political violence on the left is mostly made up. > > So the riots, burning, looting, vandalism, attacks on police, etc. are all made up? Leaving out half the words to create a misleading impression of what I said. How Republican. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The political violence on the left is mostly made up. Republicans find a crime that occurred and declare it’s part of the liberal agenda. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/32 "2022-02-05T05:00:03Z")
That’s just not true. The difference is that the left spent over a year excusing and promoting farcically named peaceful protests that resulted in billions of dollars of damage, 100s of assaults, sexual assaults, and fatalities. It doesn’t fit the narrative that the media like to portray so it’s downplayed and excused while the violence that the right engages in is overexaggerated. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/33 "2022-02-05T05:04:54Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > So the riots, burning, looting, vandalism, attacks on police, etc. are all made up? I don’t recall any left-wing politicians stirring up the crowd, aiming them at a target, and encouraging them to go to war. ---
**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:** [February 5, 2022, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/34 "2022-02-05T05:06:05Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > That’s just not true. The difference is that the left spent over a year excusing and promoting farcically named peaceful protests that resulted in billions of dollars of damage, 100s of assaults, sexual assaults, and fatalities. It doesn’t fit the narrative that the media like to portray so it’s downplayed and excused while the violence that the right engages in is overexaggerated. You’re making my argument for me. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/35 "2022-02-05T06:03:07Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > It doesn’t fit the narrative that the media like to portray so it’s downplayed and excused while the violence that the right engages in is overexaggerated. Overexaggerated? They invaded the capitol. Nothing since the War of 1812 has come even close to that. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/36 "2022-02-05T06:11:49Z")
You don’t recall Maxine Waters stirring up the crowd and aiming them at a target? “Let’s make sure we show up wherever we have to show up. And if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them. And you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere. We’ve got to get the children connected to their parents,” Waters said at the Wilshire Federal Building" [Maxine Waters encourages supporters to harass Trump administration officials | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/25/politics/maxine-waters-trump-officials/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/37 "2022-02-05T06:37:03Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > “Let’s make sure we show up wherever we have to show up. And if you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them. And you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere. We’ve got to get the children connected to their parents,” Waters said at the Wilshire Federal Building" So that’s a no. There is no violent rhetoric in there. No specific target. She didn’t say, “Go right now to this specific place and start war.” Creating a crowd, and telling people they’re not welcome, that’s literally encouraging people to engage in a peaceful protest. If you can’t tell the difference, no wonder you are so wrong about this stuff. ---
**Author:** ![robertmuler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robertmuler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robertmuler)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/38 "2022-02-05T16:20:31Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > …This is what people said in 2016, 2018 and 2020. > > And no doubt they’ll say in 2024, 2026 and 2028. You only have to be right once. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/39 "2022-02-05T17:26:44Z")
> [@Kimera757](#): > > It’s a bit like the Democrats have the better team, but the game is stacked against them and the other team is bizarrely more popular. The democrats have a better plan, but are paying chess without any pawns. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919/40 "2022-02-05T18:28:06Z")
Long term demographics heavily favor Democrats, especially since conservatives have embraced Trump and MAGA. Republicans will be forced to edge closer to the future middle in the decades to come and they’ll be around as long as election systems continue to favor the existing duopoly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-republicans-are-destined-to-fail/958919.md?page=3)