The presumption that the US Republican Party is falling apart is simply preposterous. The GOP just held the presidency for 8 years, capping off a GOP stronghold that has run for decades. Because they simply lose one election doesnt mean they are going to become a regional player and lose any national interest. As w/ any loss, the organization should be analyzed, recommendations for changes carefully considered, and then changes to move the party forward implemented.
When the GOP formed as a result of opposition to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the national party system didnt have the power and reach it has today. The GOP started small at the local level and worked it's way up to the national level. Because of the power, reach, and the "show me the money NOW" philosophy, the thought of a new startup party gaining prominence in the US political scene is slim. In addition, during that era elections were being lost 70-30, while today AT MOST an election may be lost 55-45; the GOP still has a firm grasp on the American political scene.
The reason the thought of this regular political cylce perhaps turning into an all out collapse of the GOP also has to do a lot w/ the talking heads of today. Even 10 years ago, the media didnt play nearly the role it does in politics. But today, while the country is basically split pretty evenly, the media clearly leans to the left, therefore giving the left a much louder voice.
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I have been a Democrat since my sophomore year in high school (1968-69), and on the most basic, selfish, level I would love the Democrats to run everything. That would probably not be so great for the nation, though, because one-party rule, like monopoly, is almost always a very bad thing in the end. I don't think we need to fear one-party, rule, though. The Republican party has much inherent strengh, and they will inevitably come back.
ReplyDeleteWhat would Aldrich say about why parties are replaced? What in the modern era could spur that kind of change?
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