So who is the next GOP candidate

[CJ]

Their base is already dwindling, and dying off. It's what they are going to have to do to appeal to young voters. The last 2 elections they've only alienated themselves.

^^ I ninja'ed that. The democrats get to set a false narrative. I see the GOP as the party of responsibility, and I see the Democrats as the party of irresponsibility. I think that needs to be the focus. The problem is many people want to be irresponsible, they advocate for it.

[Vertnut]

I'm assuming you're referring to his rebuttal to the state of the union, correct?

Yeah. To me, it was a "concession speech".

[cad424]

The problem with going more secular for the GOP is you lose a huge part of your base. But I agree with you, not staying on top of their message, and clarifying their stance is a huge problem. The democrats get to set the GOP's stance themselves. They tell women a bunch of BS, fake war on women, etc. and the GOP "takes the high road."

1 in 5 Americans identify themselves as either atheist or having no religious affiliation. The bible thumping doesn't work anymore.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. The GOP needs to make some changes that won't be popular but will have long term implications.

[CJ]

1 in 5 Americans identify themselves as either atheist or having no religious affiliation. The bible thumping doesn't work anymore.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. The GOP needs to make some changes that won't be popular but will have long term implications.

That's a very difficult choice. I think it's far more complicated than some make it seem. I am not a religious person at all. However, I do feel that religion has a benefit of preventing moral decay. Which is a huge problem with the country.

[cad424]

That's a very difficult choice. I think it's far more complicated than some make it seem. I am not a religious person at all. However, I do feel that religion has a benefit of preventing moral decay. Which is a huge problem with the country.

I feel the same way. I don't think I need to keep stating my opinion ad nauseum though.

I'm scared. I worry for my kids and the future of the country in general. We can't afford the spending but we'll keep doing it.

[46Tbird]

The Republicans will never again have a presidency or senate majority until they take a step back from threatening abortion and start advocating birth control measures. And even though most women abhor abortion, they also don't like the idea of "old white men" telling them what they can't do.

Every day this country becomes less religious and more sexually liberal, and a majority of voters don't want to hear their representatives going on about morality.

I'm just repeating what I'm hearing from a bunch of women I know that are generally conservative but won't vote for Republicans. Something is going to have to change in the GOP to get their candidates elected.

[CJ]

The Republicans will never again have a presidency or senate majority until they take a step back from threatening abortion and start advocating birth control measures. And even though most women abhor abortion, they also don't like the idea of "old white men" telling them what they can't do.

Every day this country becomes less religious and more sexually liberal, and a majority of voters don't want to hear their representatives going on about morality.

I'm just repeating what I'm hearing from a bunch of women I know that are generally conservative but won't vote for Republicans. Something is going to have to change in the GOP to get their candidates elected.

I don't necessarily disagree with what you're saying, but I feel it's more of a narrative problem than anything else. Women voters are important, but from my understanding they are far outweighed be the evangelical vote. You dump them, get the women, and come up 4% worse than before.

[bcoop]

^^ I ninja'ed that. The democrats get to set a false narrative. I see the GOP as the party of responsibility, and I see the Democrats as the party of irresponsibility. I think that needs to be the focus. The problem is many people want to be irresponsible, they advocate for it.

Oh I agree there. And yes, they do advocate irresponsibility and a lack of leadership.

That's a very difficult choice. I think it's far more complicated than some make it seem. I am not a religious person at all. However, I do feel that religion has a benefit of preventing moral decay. Which is a huge problem with the country.

I don't believe in God. But I'm not a militant atheist either. I volunteer quite a bit feeding the homeless, and it just so happens to be at a church. Unlike many others, on this board even, I dont take it to hateful levels when religion is discussed. I have no issue with "One Nation under God", or. "In God we trust". I also agree that it helps prevent moral decay. I'm not saying they need to let religion go completely. But it needs to cease being a centerpiece of their identity politically.

[CJ]

I don't believe in God. But I'm not a militant atheist either. I volunteer quite a bit feeding the homeless, and it just so happens to be at a church. Unlike many others, on this board even, I dont take it to hateful levels when religion is discussed. I have no issue with "One Nation under God", or. "In God we trust". I also agree that it helps prevent moral decay. I'm not saying they need to let religion go completely. But it needs to cease being a centerpiece of their identity politically.

I also recoil when I hear the bible beating, but it doesn't bother me too much, because I understand the place of religion in our society. I think it is a shame the place we find ourselves today. The moral decay of our society has perpetuated this lack of responsibility. I'm not sure if you can recover that without religion. Part of what made this country what it is would be the very people some advocate to abandon.

[jw33]

And that is why they need to keep the Huckabee and Santorum types in the party, just turn their volume down. But it's not like the evangelicals are going to outright disappear either. The current message can stay intact to a large degree if they will just present it better.

[CJ]

And that is why they need to keep the Huckabee and Santorum types in the party, just turn their volume down. But it's not like the evangelicals are going to outright disappear either. The current message can stay intact to a large degree if they will just present it better.

That's kind of what I'm saying. Huckbee isn't hardline enough for me fiscally. And I don't see his preacher status helping at all. I really liked Santorum. He was a conservative for sure, but I think the problem is you can be religious, but don't overstep the bounds by spending too much time preaching and letting the left collect soundbites to destroy you with.

I firmly believe if Reagan ran again, he would win without question. I just struggle with weather or not the current run of candidates are just poor communicators, or if Reagan was just extraordinary.

Ron Paul was excellent fiscally but rendered himself irrelevant with foreign policy. Anytime a liberal can easily make a case that you're dangerous on foreign policy, of all things, you've got a problem.

[32valves_of_pleasure]

i'm not sure why reagan is put on a high pedestal. senile old man in his second term, iran contra and star wars (lol).

romney could have won if he played his cards right and swayed some of those swing voters, or gotten some people out of the house to vote. i think he and obama were both too focused on attacking each other, and at the end of the day the incumbent is hard to unseat.

[SMEGMA STENCH]

Ryan, Rubio, Rand Paul

not rino enough

The gop only wants people who will play ball with the democrats

[CJ]

i'm not sure why reagan is put on a high pedestal. senile old man in his second term, iran contra and star wars (lol).

romney could have won if he played his cards right and swayed some of those swing voters, or gotten some people out of the house to vote. i think he and obama were both too focused on attacking each other, and at the end of the day the incumbent is hard to unseat.

Star wars was one of the reasons the US won the cold war, it helped bankrupt the Russians. Please do your homework.

[Geor!]

i'm not sure why reagan is put on a high pedestal. senile old man in his second term, iran contra and star wars (lol).

romney could have won if he played his cards right and swayed some of those swing voters, or gotten some people out of the house to vote. i think he and obama were both too focused on attacking each other, and at the end of the day the incumbent is hard to unseat.

Star wars still exists, you do realize that, don't you?