# 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:** 123
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2441 "2014-01-24T15:37:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Besides which, the Republicans do have a major demographics problem, and if they don’t do anything to address that demographics problem, there will come a time when they really will find it impossible to win. That time may come when they no longer have a plausible presidential candidate from the remaining sane & responsible wing of the party, such as it is anymore. They’ve gone through McCain and Romney in the search for the elusive Electability Factor, Christie is no longer the Great White Hope - so who’s left? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2442 "2014-01-24T15:51:05Z")
Mitt! Tanned, rested, and ready! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2443 "2014-01-24T15:55:23Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Mitt! Tanned, rested, and ready! Not TRADITIONALLY tanned. They had to use a spray-on (probably the same brand Boehner uses) because synthskin doesn’t absorb UV. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2444 "2014-01-24T15:57:14Z")
Yeah, it was a spray-on, and it was only[that once on Univision.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/20/mitt-romney-dyed-face-brown-fake-tan-univision_n_1900707.html) And they forgot to do his hands. Truly an epic episode in the history of electoral pandering. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2445 "2014-01-24T16:01:34Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > That time may come when they no longer have a plausible presidential candidate from the remaining sane & responsible wing of the party, such as it is anymore. They’ve gone through McCain and Romney in the search for the elusive Electability Factor, Christie is no longer the Great White Hope - so who’s left? I’m guessing the pressure on Jeb Bush to run is going to intensify. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2446 "2014-01-24T16:38:13Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’m guessing the pressure on Jeb Bush to run is going to intensify. Go for it, Jeb! I’ve got the campaign ads ready to roll: \*\*\*Under the first President Bush we had a war in the Middle East, a national recession and a pay-out to the banking sector of $100 billion. Under the second President Bush we had two wars in the Middle East, a global recession and a pay-out to the banking sector of $700 billion. Can America really afford a third “President Bush”?\*\*\* Throw in some ominous “Obamaville” style music and images and away you go. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2447 "2014-01-24T17:45:45Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Go for it, Jeb! I’ve got the campaign ads ready to roll: > > \*\*\*Under the first President Bush we had a war in the Middle East, a national recession and a pay-out to the banking sector of $100 billion. > > Under the second President Bush we had two wars in the Middle East, a global recession and a pay-out to the banking sector of $700 billion. > > Can America really afford a third “President Bush”?\*\*\* > > Throw in some ominous “Obamaville” style music and images and away you go. You need to be ready to get that to the DNC and OFA if he ever declares. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2448 "2014-01-24T18:08:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Besides which, the Republicans do have a major demographics problem, and if they don’t do anything to address that demographics problem, there will come a time when they really will find it impossible to win. > > But note the qualifiers in my statement: First, there will come a time when demographics make Republican wins impossible, but that time has not yet come. And second, this depends on the Republicans not doing anything to address their demographic problems. Now, the current Republican party doesn’t seem to be making any efforts in that direction, but it’s sheerest folly to rely on your opponents to continue to make a mistake. And besides which, we also want to win elections right now, not just in the indeterminate future. So, while Democrats should certainly be happy about the demographic trends, we shouldn’t rely entirely upon them. A close reading of the thread makes it clear that the vast majority of people clearly differentiate the upcoming presidential races from the upcoming midterm elections, both far into the future. Not adahar, though. If 2014 is mentioned it engenders a jab about demographics and if 2016 is mentioned it’s a jab about Congress. Meanwhile, he conflates the two in all his posts so we can’t be sure which he’s referring to. Not much of a technique, but since it’s all he has he rides it into the ground. Posts like yours are reality-based so they must be ignored, twisted, or demagogued. It’s going to be a long slog. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2449 "2014-01-24T18:45:18Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’m guessing the pressure on Jeb Bush to run is going to intensify. It would neutralize the nepotism charges the GOP would lay against HRC, at least. Beyond that, it’s hard to see how “We’re nominating the \*smart \*one this time” is going to help them any. Even if it’s true. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2450 "2014-01-24T18:51:27Z")
Here’s why I’m thinking Jeb. The traditional GOP powers, the bankers, industrialists, and such, run what Chris Matthews calls the Eastern Conference of the Republican Party. They were going to coronate Christie. Until the shit hit the fan, that is. Now they need someone, anyone, who isn’t batshit crazy. There’s plenty of guys vying for the Western Conference (Rubio, Paul, Cruz) but they were supposed to split the batshit vote while Christie waltzed to the nomination. For lack of a viable alternative, they simply have to draft Jeb. So it will be Bush v Clinton Part Deux- the 2nd son vs. the spouse. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2451 "2014-01-24T19:01:32Z")
[WRT abortion, they still haven’t learned.](http://www.thenation.com/blog/178062/spoiler-alert-gop-wont-budge-its-anti-choice-platform) [WRT immigration, likewise.](http://www.salon.com/2014/01/22/the_real_problem_with_the_american_right_aging_white_radicals/) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2452 "2014-01-24T19:05:18Z")
Hell, even WRT _rape_. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2453 "2014-01-24T19:08:34Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > No Pub is going to get any fresh traction by running **against** the ACA this year, **adaher.** Regarding which, see [here](http://www.salon.com/2014/01/24/the_rights_fantasy_is_shattered_why_obamacare_has_already_succeeded/). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2454 "2014-01-24T19:13:57Z")
[WRT women in general, they still haven’t learned.](http://www.salon.com/2014/01/24/will_the_last_republican_woman_turn_out_the_lights/) > [@](#): > > There are two reasons Republicans keep getting tripped up on these women’s issues. The first is, they’re the ones who have nothing else to talk about. They oppose pay equity and raising the minimum wage; most of them voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. They’ve relied on culture war issues for so long, in the absence of strong economic policies that can lure voters who aren’t wealthy, that these culture war themes have become their “Uncle Sugar,” bad for them, but reliable and familiar, so they keep going back. I should clarify: Bad for winning national elections, but great for raising money, as Huckabee’s grifting email shows. > > The other reason is: They really believe this garbage. Huckabee himself is on record that women should “submit graciously” to their husbands – so “controlling their libidos” means only having sex with their husbands, and only when he says so. Just this week, in his new memoir, New Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce wrote that he believes “the wife is to voluntarily submit, just as the husband is to lovingly lead and sacrifice.” Virginia State Sen. Dick Black doesn’t believe “marital rape” is a crime, opining “I don’t know how on earth you could validly get a conviction in a husband-wife rape when they’re living together, sleeping in the same bed, she’s in a nightie and so forth. There’s no injury, there’s no separation, or anything.” Black just dropped out of the running for a congressional vacancy, insisting he’d prefer to keep his state senate seat. > > So Republicans can dismiss their troubles with women as a “Todd Akin problem,” or a “Dick Black problem,” but they have a Republican problem: too many Republicans genuinely believe that women are the second sex, the fairer sex, the weaker sex. To reduce women to their libidos is the very definition of making them “sex objects,” but Mike Huckabee – and sadly, maybe even Michael Steele – can’t understand that. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2455 "2014-01-24T19:28:26Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’m guessing the pressure on Jeb Bush to run is going to intensify. [His own MOTHER thinks it’s a bad idea!](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/barbara-bush-again-throws-cold-water-on-jeb-bush-2016/) (To be fair, it’s less about is qualifications than the “dynasties” meme…) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2456 "2014-01-24T19:32:57Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > [His own MOTHER thinks it’s a bad idea!](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/barbara-bush-again-throws-cold-water-on-jeb-bush-2016/) (To be fair, it’s less about is qualifications than the “dynasties” meme…) Maybe, but she’ll have to submit to the will of her husband and let her boy run. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2457 "2014-01-24T19:58:53Z")
OTOH, [the RNC just passed a resolution against NSA surveillance.](http://www.thenation.com/blog/178083/guess-which-political-party-just-condemned-nsas-mass-surveillance-program) Maybe they’ve learned **something.** ---
**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:** [January 24, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2458 "2014-01-24T20:13:28Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > OTOH, [the RNC just passed a resolution against NSA surveillance.](http://www.thenation.com/blog/178083/guess-which-political-party-just-condemned-nsas-mass-surveillance-program) Maybe they’ve learned **something.** It’s more likely out of fear of getting caught doing something than concern for the privacy rights of the general population. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2459 "2014-01-24T20:29:32Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > It’s more likely out of fear of getting caught doing something than concern for the privacy rights of the general population. Whatevs. **Everyone** shares that fear anyway; that’s what “privacy rights” **means.** 😉 ---
**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:** [January 24, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/2460 "2014-01-24T20:36:07Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Whatevs. **Everyone** shares that fear anyway; that’s what “privacy rights” **means.** 😉 What I meant was if they thought they were immune from being spied on, they would have never passed that resolution or given the NSA a second thought. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224.md?page=122) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224.md?page=124)