Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

global1

(25,961 posts)
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:02 PM Jul 2013

Are Repugs Days Numbered? - They Are Doing Everything Possible To Piss Off Major Voting Blocs......

Women, LGBT, Minorities, Poor, Students, Workers, the Middle Class, etc. In many states the situation is worse (Wisconsin, North Carolina to name a few).

Is it just a matter of time when we have a voters revolt and the Repugs won't be able to win an election anywhere?

I don't understand the Repugs strategy. Their constituency appears to be dwindling.

Do they think that they can continue to get by on dirty tricks, gerrymandering, political gamesmanship?

How do they continue to hold on to the power that they seem to have right now? Can't people see through the likes of a Mitch McConnell or John Boehner? Do the Teabaggers hold so much power that we can't get anything done?



29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Are Repugs Days Numbered? - They Are Doing Everything Possible To Piss Off Major Voting Blocs...... (Original Post) global1 Jul 2013 OP
In answer to the question about dirty tricks, gerrymandering etc truebluegreen Jul 2013 #1
Are they pissing off corporations? KansDem Jul 2013 #2
I Know That Corporations Are People According To SCOTUS But..... global1 Jul 2013 #5
Recent trends show corporations are "advising" employees on how to vote KansDem Jul 2013 #24
I think rethugs are deliberately pissing off major voting blocs meow2u3 Jul 2013 #3
They aren't going anywhere. MrSlayer Jul 2013 #4
Don't You Envision A Revolt In These States By Voters?...... global1 Jul 2013 #7
No, I don't. MrSlayer Jul 2013 #8
All Those Voter Bloc's I Mention In My OP.... global1 Jul 2013 #9
Gerrymandering, voter suppression, turnout. MrSlayer Jul 2013 #23
don't forget people who lost loved ones to gun violence hollysmom Jul 2013 #6
The pigs control PA: US House, Governor, State House and Senate and 1 US Senate seat. AlinPA Jul 2013 #10
This is the current peak of social extremist power. mick063 Jul 2013 #11
Yes but the Democrats are not exactly doing much to grab most of these groups davidn3600 Jul 2013 #12
I always thought their anal retentivenesss would do them in. lpbk2713 Jul 2013 #13
days numbered?--shit in wisconsin they run everything dembotoz Jul 2013 #14
Michigan is gone too. Not a lot of hope for 2014 but will fight fight fight. catbyte Jul 2013 #17
Are you not watching the fight over expanding Health Care? Motown_Johnny Jul 2013 #18
Yes it does seem irrational as a long-term strategy Populist_Prole Jul 2013 #15
Nope. If their days are numbered, it is Graham's Number LadyHawkAZ Jul 2013 #16
Yes, the demographics are undeniable. Motown_Johnny Jul 2013 #19
IT doesn't seem like it miked62916 Jul 2013 #20
last gasp of counter-revolutionaries RainDog Jul 2013 #21
The Grumpy Oldguy Party is on the bus to Palookaville. Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2013 #22
bullshit. they're taking over the country, state by state. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #25
Not my state. Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2013 #27
'state by state' HiPointDem Jul 2013 #29
they are taking over the country, state by state. ALEC. open your eyes. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #26
I don't think they're very worried about it. HooptieWagon Jul 2013 #28

global1

(25,961 posts)
5. I Know That Corporations Are People According To SCOTUS But.....
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:11 PM
Jul 2013

a corporation might have money - but it is the people that work in the corporations that vote. These people are made up of the voting blocs I mentioned in my OP. The Repugs are pissing them all off - and I don't care how much money the Corps may have - it is the people that will vote - not the corporation.

So I guess I don't see a corporation as a 'major, major voting block'.

KansDem

(28,498 posts)
24. Recent trends show corporations are "advising" employees on how to vote
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 03:16 PM
Jul 2013
Can Employers Tell Their Workers How to Vote?

A flurry of emails from CEOs telling workers how to vote in November has raised a troubling question: Can a company legally tell workers how to vote?

For the most part, the answer is yes.

Election regulators and corporate lawyers say no federal election law specifically prevents employers from telling workers they could lose their jobs if they vote for a certain candidate.

The issue has come into public view after Westgate CEO David Siegel sent an email to his 7, 000 workers saying that if President Obama is elected "I will have no choice but to reduce the size of this company." (Read more: CEO to Workers: You'll Likely Be Fired If Obama Wins )

The news was followed with a missive from the Koch brothers to their 45, 000 workers at Georgia Pacific that they could "suffer the consequences, including higher gasoline prices, runaway inflation, and other ills" if they voted for candidates not supported by Koch-owned companies or its political fund-raising arm.

--more--
http://www.cnbc.com/id/49421240


And with the recent revelations of spying on American citizens, who knows if a CEO will eventually be able to see how his/her employees voted. The "threat" of doing so may scare some into voting the way the CEO wants...

meow2u3

(24,937 posts)
3. I think rethugs are deliberately pissing off major voting blocs
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:08 PM
Jul 2013

because their scheme is to disenfranchise these voting blocs, especially those who tend to vote Democratic.

Why do you think they're pushing all this voter suppression? to disenfranchise old, white, male, right-wing farts? I don't think so.

 

MrSlayer

(22,143 posts)
4. They aren't going anywhere.
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:10 PM
Jul 2013

They are entrenched in the state governments and they know they have the game rigged now so they don't give a fuck about offending anyone.

The money people have their backs and that's all that really matters.

global1

(25,961 posts)
7. Don't You Envision A Revolt In These States By Voters?......
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:13 PM
Jul 2013

Isn't it a matter of time for the states to go back to Blue? People all over this country are pissed.

 

MrSlayer

(22,143 posts)
8. No, I don't.
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:22 PM
Jul 2013

The bagger types LOVE this shit and will never vote for a Democrat. To have a revolt you have to have people in that party willing to go against them and there is no indication of that. The nutters just dig deeper, the policies can't be too right wing for them. They don't even know why they love these policies, all they know is that it pisses off the people that they hate. And nothing is better than that to them.

There will be no revolt, these people won't get it until it's far too late, if ever. And they'll still blame it on the "other" if they do. They're a cult now.

global1

(25,961 posts)
9. All Those Voter Bloc's I Mention In My OP....
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:25 PM
Jul 2013

seniors, students, minorities, poor, workers, middle class, LGBT, etc... surely they outnumber the Teabaggers and the Repug base. I don't know if I agree with you.

 

MrSlayer

(22,143 posts)
23. Gerrymandering, voter suppression, turnout.
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 03:01 PM
Jul 2013

They have the game rigged to have a nearly permanent majority in the House and not just on the federal level but also on the state level. Yeah, a lot of those groups are going be outraged but they're all penned up and put away in neat little compartments where they can't hurt the overall power structure.

It's not just the bagger base, it's all Republicans in general. They're not going to go against the party even if they're uncomfortable with some of the extreme positions. They have been trained and conditioned for years to consider every Democrat to be a communist and it takes a real shithead like a Todd Akin or a complete and utter moron like Christine O'Donnell to give them pause. And really, if Akin hadn't opened his stupid mouth he would have won easily.

And then there is voter suppression that is going to be coming down hard across the board to assist Republicans in statewide and national elections. They are already pulling out every stop to tamp down the votes of those they don't want to participate.

They aren't doing the crazy things they're doing because they're afraid of being swept out of power and they have to do it while they can. They're doing it because they know there are no repercussions for doing so, nor will there be.

I wish I could agree with your optimistic assessment but I see a bunch of people that play for keeps and are hellbent on taking and holding every bit of power they can by hook or by crook. And I see an electorate too stupid or too complacent to think for themselves or research issues.
You have to consider the penchant of people to vote against their own interests. They love doing it for the aforementioned reason of sticking it to the "liberal elite" that dare tell them what they need or what's good for them.

And finally there is the turnout issue. The Democrats traditionally do not come out for midterms while the Republicans come out the same for every election. We need the same enthusiasm we had for 2008 and 2012 but that's really hard to muster up because a) Obama isn't running again b) People in the party are really disillusioned with him and the party in general and c) all those extra people that came out simply to vote for him don't understand the importance of midterms.

We're going to need something miraculous to happen. The deck is stacked so hard against us.

It would be nice a nice start if the party leadership would stop appointing republicans to everything and pursuing Reaganesque policies. Start being Democrats again, make it a stark choice. And go from there.

AlinPA

(15,071 posts)
10. The pigs control PA: US House, Governor, State House and Senate and 1 US Senate seat.
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:27 PM
Jul 2013

The stupid teabaggers are in charge.

 

mick063

(2,424 posts)
11. This is the current peak of social extremist power.
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:28 PM
Jul 2013

It is all down hill for them from here.

The economic extremists will quickly discard them as the coup is nearly complete. Hedge fund managers, finance moguls, and corporate executives will now concentrate funding on the disarmament of the "Patriot" army they temporarily created (just in case). They never really cared about abortion anyway. Further, the Democratic party is sufficiently infiltrated.

I expect serious gun control legislation within the next 10 years. DU will jump for joy. Dept. of Homeland Security will place an order for another 1.6 billion bullets.

Warning: "Hyperbole" alert

 

davidn3600

(6,342 posts)
12. Yes but the Democrats are not exactly doing much to grab most of these groups
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:32 PM
Jul 2013

They are going to the Democrats because the GOP is pushing them away, not necessarily because they like us.

It could ultimately water down the Democrats. When the moderates get bigger, the far-left loses influence over the party.

lpbk2713

(43,201 posts)
13. I always thought their anal retentivenesss would do them in.
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:34 PM
Jul 2013



When push comes to shove they can't even get along with one another.

 

dembotoz

(16,922 posts)
14. days numbered?--shit in wisconsin they run everything
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:35 PM
Jul 2013

they are not going to go away

they will do their jim crow stuff
minimize our vote

days numbered????????

more concerned our days are numbered

 

Motown_Johnny

(22,308 posts)
18. Are you not watching the fight over expanding Health Care?
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 01:37 PM
Jul 2013

The (R)s in the Congress and abandoning Snyder and Snyder has been taking shots at them.

The party here is already splitting. I expect serious gains here in '14.


Populist_Prole

(5,364 posts)
15. Yes it does seem irrational as a long-term strategy
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 12:53 PM
Jul 2013

But as others have noted thus far, they really don't need "voters" as they believe they have sufficient critical mass to remain the dominant power by a fiat of sorts.

LadyHawkAZ

(6,199 posts)
16. Nope. If their days are numbered, it is Graham's Number
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 01:00 PM
Jul 2013

They can do exactly as they please, and will still win 2014 and probably 2016 easily. Their voters may be dwindling but they are party loyal. Democrats are not. It's not even a matter of whether they "think they can get by", they know they can.

Been keeping up with what's happening in Texas, NC, Wisconsin? Get used to that. Barring a miracle, it will be nationwide (again!) shortly.

 

Motown_Johnny

(22,308 posts)
19. Yes, the demographics are undeniable.
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 01:43 PM
Jul 2013

Ever since Rove and Shrub went with their "Deeper not Wider" approach to winning elections they have had their days numbered. It was foolish and will cost them dearly.


Here is something I posted about a year ago on this subject (things are even worse for them now) : http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002975365



The Future Of The Republican Party (Retroactively from 2010)

I think we need to hold out for eight more years. If we can keep their voter suppression and rigged voting machines in check for just eight more years we just might have a chance at breaking the back of the Republican party and finally moving this country forward in the direction it was intended to move in, toward equality and fairness for all it's citizens.



http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/aia2010031101/

^snip^




The increase in the nonwhite share of the electorate over the next decade will have major consequences for electoral competition. If the Democratic Party is able to maintain anything close to the overwhelming advantage among nonwhite voters that it enjoyed in 2008, Republican candidates will need to win a considerably larger share of the white vote than their party’s candidates did in 2008 or even 2004 in order to remain competitive in national elections. Under these circumstances, even a 60 percent share of the white vote would not be enough to give a Republican candidate a majority of the popular vote and the last Republican presidential candidate to win more than 60 percent of the white vote was Ronald Reagan in 1984.

An alternative path to victory for Republicans in future national elections would involve seeking to expand their Party’s support among nonwhite voters. By winning a larger share of the nonwhite vote, a Republican candidate could be elected with considerably less than 60 percent of the white vote. But this would require the GOP to move away from its conservative base and closer to the ideological center because nonwhite voters tend to be strong supporters of increased spending on social programs and activist government.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Along the same lines, 65 percent of nonwhite voters, including 64 percent of African-American voters and 73 percent of Hispanic voters, supported the creation of a single-payer health care system in the United States compared with only 15 percent of Republican primary voters. And given a choice between more government services with higher taxes and fewer government services with lower taxes, 67 percent of nonwhite voters, including 67 percent of African-American voters and 68 percent of Hispanic voters, chose more government services with higher taxes compared with only 25 percent of GOP primary voters.

 

miked62916

(51 posts)
20. IT doesn't seem like it
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 01:47 PM
Jul 2013

After all, the teabaggers still control many states these days. Plus, they have lots of money on their side.

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
21. last gasp of counter-revolutionaries
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 01:50 PM
Jul 2013

the cultural revolution of the 1960s has been played out in politics since that time.

the people under attack from Republicans are all groups that gained political and social capital over the decades since the powers-that-be came to fear the power of everyday Americans who were not willing to live in a world controlled by religious conservative white geezers telling us all what's for our own good.

the gerrymandering of the 2010 elections was intended to give Republicans power even when the majority of people in this nation disagree with their version of how the U.S. should work.

if they don't back off of their extreme right-wing positions, I don't know what will happen - because people aren't going to accept their view of the world by force - which is what they are doing now - they are, BY FORCE, trying to remove rights from women for health care services.

If they continue to deny rights to people, what I wonder is what people will do when their legislative options and the power of the vote has been taken away by gerrymandering.

It's impossible to know what sort of situations lie ahead, in terms of the electorate doing one thing or another in response, but it's certain that Republicans must now kowtow to the most right-wing extremist positions in this nation to be able to run for office in all but the most liberal parts of the nation.

Maybe Republicans will "take out" members of their own party through dirty tricks to save their entire franchise from extinction. This would be one of the best solutions, as far as the functioning of society goes. But who knows.

Maybe those Republicans who see that the cultural wars have been lost by the rabid christo-fascists will move to the democratic party, and the Republican party will, as some within it have advised, become a white nationalist party that will die off.

In which case, the opportunity for a more left wing party would emerge as the Democrats would have to be judged on economic policy and the white nationalists will have to move to economic populism to continue to have any political voice.


 

HooptieWagon

(17,064 posts)
28. I don't think they're very worried about it.
Sun Jul 7, 2013, 03:30 PM
Jul 2013

They still have corporate $. They still have the Talibornagain. They still have elderly whites. They still have the gullible. They still have the media. They still have gerrymandered districts. They now can add new Jim Crow laws.
I think they are going to double down on blocking voting by minorities and students, and more election shenanigans and dirty tricks.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Are Repugs Days Numbered?...