# Will The Republicans ever figure out why they lost? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 26, 2012, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224 "2012-12-26T21:33:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 107
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2121 "2013-08-10T12:02:23Z")
I’ve shopped at all three large warehouse clubs in the US (Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s.) I don’t go to any of them anymore as I just don’t get the value of the memberships that I have in the past. However, the only two in the market here are Sam’s Club and BJ’s. I decided after a couple trips that I didn’t really like BJ’s. Sam’s Club is okay, but there is the question of “If I don’t want to support WalMart, I shouldn’t be shopping at Sam’s”, and there are unfortunately no Costcos closer than West Springfield, MA which is about 90 min each way. (I’m a little surprised they haven’t decided to open a store in Albany.) And of course you pay a membership fee for Sam’s Club. As I said, I’ve let mine lapse, but it’s $45 a year for the basic membership, while it’s $55 at Costco. BJ’s splits the difference at $50. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2122 "2013-08-10T12:19:39Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Let’s also keep in mind who Costco exists for: not poor people. They didn’t even except food stamps until 2009, and their oh so concerned about the working class CEO said, “Generally we don’t have customers on food stamps”. That’s just stating a fact about their customer base. And Walmart doesn’t care about the working class either. It’s just a demographic to exploit on both sides of the sales counter. Did you know a “full-time” worker at Walmart is under 30 hours a week and pays 1/3 of heath care premiums(twice the nat’l average)? Until recently, it took two years to qualify for benefits where nearly any other job requires 3-6 months. Walmarts are now [hiring temps](http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/13/us-walmart-hires-temps-idUSBRE95C05820130613). > [@](#): > > The new hiring policy is to ensure “we are staffed appropriately,” when the stores are busiest and is not a cost-cutting move, said company spokesman David Tovar. Temporary workers, he said, are paid the same starting pay as other workers. If it’s not a cost-cutting move, how can temps be better at staffing a store when needed as opposed to regular staff? ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2123 "2013-08-10T17:10:37Z")
So, have we finally discovered the elusive definition of “liberals”? You’re either on food stamps like every good “real American” (and also pathologically opposed to the very concept of food stamps), or you are a latte-sipping, arugula munching liberal? Hallelujah, that question has been bugging me for a long time. “hopelessly poor” = “conservative” and everything else = “liberal”, which is really another word for “asshole”. Thanks, got it. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2124 "2013-08-10T18:23:17Z")
Can we please keep the poor, blameless arugula out of this debate? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2125 "2013-08-10T20:00:48Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Can we please keep the poor, blameless arugula out of this debate? Feh. I tried to like arugula, like a good little liberal, but it is simply too bitter for me. Seriously, other than its health benefits, what’s the allure of arugula? It tastes like pain. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2126 "2013-08-10T20:27:10Z")
You don’t eat it _yourself_, dumbass, you make _other_ people eat it. It’s good for them, it builds character… ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2127 "2013-08-10T21:28:35Z")
I think it is supposed to spruce up a mix of greens. Personally I prefer bok choy, but I consider myself a pragmatist rather then a liberal. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2128 "2013-08-10T22:06:30Z")
The last few posts in this thread perfectly sum up the SDMB. Seriously, name another place that would turn salad green preference into a metaphor for political stance. I dare you. Especially since the OP has LONG been answered (“no”) and this thread has devolved into “debunk adaher’s most recent factual error”. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2129 "2013-08-10T22:58:44Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Don’t need to. 110,000\>96,000. Costco has 107,200 full and part-time employees in the U.S. [Cite](http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=83830&p=irol-homeprofile) ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2130 "2013-08-11T03:21:23Z")
Meanwhile,while we’re discussing how bad the REpublicans did, the President’s approval rating dropped to 43.6%: [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president\_obama\_job\_approval-1044.html](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html) When will Democrats figure out why the public doesn’t approve of the President? ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2131 "2013-08-11T03:58:53Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > The last few posts in this thread perfectly sum up the SDMB. Seriously, name another place that would turn salad green preference into a metaphor for political stance. I dare you. Ha! I couldn’t make that up: [Arugula eating, volvo driving, sandal wearing, sushi eating… Liberals as defined by conservatives](http://threeapplez.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/arugula-eating-volvo-driving-sandal-wearing-sushi-eating-liberals-as-defined-by-conservatives///) [Only Liberals Eat Arugula](http://thestir.cafemom.com/food_party/113961/only_liberals_eat_arugula) [liberal policy: let them eat arugula](http://www.lavidalocavore.org/diary/1886/) [The Arugula Wars: Food as partisan politics](http://www.nwfoodnews.com/2009/11/02/the-arugula-wars-food-as-partisan-politics/) Google it, there is a lot more. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2132 "2013-08-11T04:05:41Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Meanwhile,while we’re discussing how bad the REpublicans did, the President’s approval rating dropped to 43.6%: > > [RealClearPolitics - President Obama Job Approval](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html) > > When will Democrats figure out why the public doesn’t approve of the President? Still better than [Congress.](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/congressional_job_approval-903.html) 15.7% ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2133 "2013-08-11T05:50:11Z")
> **[Are Seniors Souring on the Republican Party?](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/08/are-seniors-souring-on-the-republican-party/278550/)** > > The GOP has lost more support among voters over 65 than any other demographic group in recent months, according to a new poll. Offered without comment, gloating is unseemly. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2013, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2134 "2013-08-11T06:04:27Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Meanwhile,while we’re discussing how bad the REpublicans did, the President’s approval rating dropped to 43.6% But he doesn’t have to run faster than the bear. He only has to run faster than the other guy. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2135 "2013-08-11T07:04:17Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > You don’t eat it _yourself_, dumbass, you make _other_ people eat it. It’s good for them, it builds character… Sounds more RW than liberal . . . except that arugula doesn’t (so far as we know) feel pain when it dies . . . ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2136 "2013-08-11T08:08:11Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But he doesn’t have to run faster than the bear. He only has to run faster than the other guy. That’s if he wants to get reelected. He did that. Now he wants to get things done, but if he can’t get the public behind him, he has no shot. Republicans ignore him because it’s safe to ignore him. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2137 "2013-08-11T14:59:43Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > That’s if he wants to get reelected. He did that. Now he wants to get things done, but if he can’t get the public behind him, he has no shot. Republicans ignore him because it’s safe to ignore him. Yes, we remember how much the Republicans worked with him when his popularity was higher. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2138 "2013-08-11T15:15:41Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Republicans ignore him because it’s safe to ignore him. How’s that workin’ out for ya? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2139 "2013-08-11T15:21:28Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > How’s that workin’ out for ya? In their gerrymandered districts it’s working great! When the rest of the country votes, well, that’s the subject of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2140 "2013-08-11T16:48:39Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Republicans ignore him because it’s safe to ignore him. That **ain’t** gonna help Pubs in November 2014 or 2016. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224.md?page=106) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224.md?page=108)