# 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:** 87
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1721 "2013-07-23T20:24:11Z")
Stevenson was smart. Nixon was cunning. ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1722 "2013-07-23T20:25:49Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Stevenson was smart. Nixon was cunning. Kennedy was good as well. Not sure about the others. Todays successful politicians win with Charisma, not intelligence. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1723 "2013-07-23T20:29:33Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > Kennedy was good as well. Not sure about the others. > > Todays successful politicians win with Charisma, not intelligence. o/`Celebrated heads of state, Or specially great communicators! Did they have brains or knowledge? Don’t make me laugh! They were POPULAR! Please! It’s all about popular. It’s not about aptitude, It’s the way you’re viewed, So it’s very shrewd to be, Very very popular like ME! o/` ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1724 "2013-07-23T20:31:39Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > o/`Celebrated heads of state, > Or specially great communicators! > Did they have brains or knowledge? > Don’t make me laugh! > > They were POPULAR! > Please! > It’s all about popular. > It’s not about aptitude, > It’s the way you’re viewed, > So it’s very shrewd to be, > Very very popular > like ME! o/` Charisma is the best vote getter. See Reagan Kennedy had Charisma, Intelligence, and balls of titanium. He was the real deal. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1725 "2013-07-23T22:27:18Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > Charisma is the best vote getter. See Reagan > > Kennedy had Charisma, Intelligence, and balls of titanium. He was the real deal. Ok- how about the Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores for the last several Presidents (D&D, of course)? I’ll start: Kennedy: I 16, W 13, C 18 LBJ: I 15, W 13, C 13 Nixon: I 17, W 10, C 11 Ford: I 12, W 11, C 11 Carter: I 14, W 15, C 12 Reagan: I 13, W 13, C 18 Bush I: I 15, W 14, C 11 Clinton: I 17, W 12, C 18 Bush II: I 11, W 11, C 13 Obama: I 17, W 15, C 17 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1726 "2013-07-23T22:42:48Z")
And the Testicular Titanium Ratio? ---
**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:** [July 23, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1727 "2013-07-23T23:20:47Z")
Kennedy, Reagan, and Nixon - 18 (+2 on hit die) Obama, Johnson, 16 (+1 on hit die) Bush I, Clinton - 15 (even) All others\* 13 or less (-1 or -2 on hit die) \*I frankly don’t give credit to Bush II - OTOH Cheney had 16-17 balls so net even for the administration. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1728 "2013-07-24T01:16:00Z")
Clearly Dubya’s CHA score should be much higher than 13. After all, not everyone uses CHA as the dump stat. ---
**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:** [July 24, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1729 "2013-07-24T02:36:41Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Sort of, and, yes, pretty much entirely and exclusively, but, actually and more specifically, it’s more of a [Tea Party](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=697328) concern. Hasn’t that become something of a distinction without a difference? As exhibit A, I present[Tea Party Set to Primary That Incorrigible Librul, Mitch McConnell.](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-22/mconnell-draws-primary-opponent-as-tea-party-splinters.html) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1730 "2013-07-24T16:45:34Z")
Yes, McConnell has been giving in to the dirty librul socialists _waaaay_ too much, hasn’t he? ---
**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:** [July 25, 2013, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1731 "2013-07-25T05:15:25Z")
They actually call him a liberal! For the tl / dnr crowd: > [@](#): > > “Senator McConnell’s progressive, liberal voting record, his absolute iron-fisted rule over the Republican Party in Kentucky, and his willingness to roll over and cede power to President Obama and the liberals in Washington prove that he is no friend to the American people or the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Scott Hofstra, a spokesman for the United Kentucky Tea Party, a coalition of local groups One could easily mistake this guy for a political stand up comedian. But getting back to race, one of their grievances is that McConnell voted for immigration reform. So I guess that means he’s gotta go and be replaced with someone who will insult Latinos repeatedly- or more likely, replaced by the Democratic party candidate 😃 In this case it appears the GOP is not learning why they lost. The only thing likely to teach them is a vacation on Whig Island, and probably not even that. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1732 "2013-07-26T06:50:21Z")
Public favors restrictions on abortion after 20 weeks by a 56-27 margin: > **[Majority of Americans favor restricting abortion at 20 weeks, according to...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2013/07/25/majority-of-americans-favor-restricting-abortion-at-20-weeks-according-to-new-post-abc-poll/)** > > A majority of Americans support imposing limits on abortions after the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Somehow I don’t think this is a losing issue for Republicans. The fact that the opposition to these laws won’t even talk about the law itself, but instead use euphemisms and slogans, says a lot. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2013, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1733 "2013-07-26T08:52:57Z")
Except that the problem isn’t just where they want to draw the line on abortion but all the other things the GOP are doing - restricting access, closing clinics, requiring intravaginal ultrasounds and forcing women to view those ultrasounds, and all in the name of “protecting women”. When we talk about the GOP’s “war on women” that’s the stuff we’re talking about, not the esoteric line of viability. The public opinion on those things is quite a different matter, and the fact that some people pretend they’re the same says a lot. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1734 "2013-07-26T09:29:37Z")
True, some of the things they come up with are bad stuff. Although Democrats still tend to focus on the stupid things Republicans say rather than the substance of the laws they are passing. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2013, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1735 "2013-07-26T10:44:26Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > True, some of the things they come up with are bad stuff. Although Democrats still tend to focus on the stupid things Republicans say rather than the substance of the laws they are passing. All the things **Gyrate** mentioned are the substance of the laws. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2013, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1736 "2013-07-26T10:53:06Z")
Forcing an object in a person’s oraface against their will is rape. The Republicans have passed bills in several states mandating trans-vaginal ultrasounds, which require shoving a device into a woman’s vagina, regardless of consent. That meets the definition of rape. Instead of balancing the state budget, or even passing a budget, the Republicans have passed bills that require the state-mandated rape of my wife, or my daughter, or my sister, or my female cousins, or my aunts, or my mother. This is not just stupid, it is not just offensive, it is not just a few bad apples. It is a majority of the Republican elected officials going out of their way to do something that is an outrage, even by modern standards of outrage fatigue. We are judging the Republicans on the substance of the laws they are passing. That substance is a turning the medical profession into statewide rape camps. Anti-abortion is one thing. The Republicans have repeatedly come out pro-rape. Not only in the odious mandatory ultrasound laws, but in the lies their major candidates have said about rape. You want a majority of voters to vote for you? Stop passing laws that rape half the voters. Another day, another example that the question in the OP is answered by not just “no”, but “Hell NO!” ---
**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:** [July 26, 2013, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1737 "2013-07-26T11:05:32Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Public favors restrictions on abortion after 20 weeks by a 56-27 margin: > > [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/07/25/majority-of-americans-favor-restricting-abortion-at-20-weeks-according-to-new-post-abc-poll/](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/07/25/majority-of-americans-favor-restricting-abortion-at-20-weeks-according-to-new-post-abc-poll/) > > Somehow I don’t think this is a losing issue for Republicans. The fact that the opposition to these laws won’t even talk about the law itself, but instead use euphemisms and slogans, says a lot. Totally wrong. > [@](#): > > **If it has to be one or the other, would you rather have abortions legal without restriction up to (20) weeks, or up to (24) weeks?** > > Up to 20 weeks 56% > > Up to 24 weeks 27% > > (VOL) Never legal 8 % > > (VOL) Fewer weeks 2% So 83 % favor without restrictions up to either 20 or24 weeks. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1738 "2013-07-26T11:09:52Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > All the things **Gyrate** mentioned are the substance of the laws. I’m not referring to Dopers, I’m referring to the political consultants who craft these messages. They just don’t tackle the policy aspects directly, probably precisely because many of these laws are popular. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1739 "2013-07-26T11:13:40Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Totally wrong. > So 83 % favor without restrictions up to either 20 or24 weeks. Up to 20 weeks. Not after. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2013, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224/1740 "2013-07-26T11:24:03Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Up to 20 weeks. Not after. Still a majority. And you characterized the 27 % as favoring restrictions after 20 weeks which is not true. The 27 % favor _without restrictions up to 24 weeks_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224.md?page=86) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-republicans-ever-figure-out-why-they-lost/645224.md?page=88)