...did an extraordilarily vulnerable President win both the electoral and popular vote (by all indications, anyway)? Unemployment a tick under 8%, an immense deficit, you name it.

 

Old papa has seen his share of elections. While I'm not by any stretch the most informed or educated about this stuff; here are a few random thoughts (and I haven't looked at that 400+ post "election discussion thread"):

 

Candidate Romney was the best of a bad lot. In all probability he is the last presidential candidate of his generation (approaching Medicare-eligible age in 2016).

 

VP nominee Ryan didn't help. He couldn't deliver his home state to the ticket. While seniors supported R/R 55-44 over O/B; it wasn't quite enough (at this point in time) to overcome Medicare anxiety in Florida. I may yet be proven wrong, but as soon as the VP choice was made I said that Florida would go to O/B. Side note - many of the young guns on the right side of the aisle evidently are waiting four more years.

 

The Obama campaign was very, very efficient. Outspent by close to $200 million; nevertheless community organizing carried the day. They got their voters out. Maybe the most important factor in the election.

 

The 47% speech was crippling. It became a tough sell for Candidate Romney to brand himself as a man of the people - an image problem he was already fighting.

 

This country is becoming more diverse; not less - a truth that the Republican party needs to embrace. To wit,

 

- Candidate Romney torpedoed any chance at salvaging the Latino/Hispanic vote during the primaries. If you're in that demographic, which would you choose - Dream Act or Get Out?

 

- Evidently the gender gap widened significantly to the tune of something like 55-44. No longer is the submissive missus (Randy - is that Ephesians?) blindly obedient to master hubby. While there is legitimate argument for/against "reproductive rights", the Republican party/Candidate Romney is obviously on the wrong side with respect to contraception rights and wage equity. The fact that the Republicans had Neanderthals like Todd Akin being branded as party poster boys just exacerbated the problem.

 

I was very surprised to see Catholics 50-48 for the President. Whether this is a Mormon backlash, a "cafeteria catholic" phenomenon; I have no idea.

 

 

Bottom line; this was a sitting president ripe for the taking and it didn't happen.

Truth.

Why?? Because we have become a nation of sheep that would rather let the government take care of us than take care of ourselves.

Why?? Because we have become a nation of sheep that would rather let the government take care of us than take care of ourselves.

 

To be honest, the GOP needs to re-evaluate it's campaigning models on this one.

All good points Papa..

 

Romney shot himself in the foot majorly with the 47% comment.

 

His tax plan was not very clear either.

 

The republicans have not represented well since GW.

To be honest, the GOP needs to re-evaluate it's campaigning models on this one.

 

Couldn't agree more.

I think it's much more than the 47% comment or any other single moment. The hard truth is America as I know it is dead. Traditional values are no longer an important issue. The economy is no longer an issue, individual liberties are no longer an issue. All that matters is, what can you give me. Not what can I earn but what can you give me. Look Romney was correct, it was a poor political moment but he was correct. 47% of the population was going to vote for Obama no matter.

 

Last night was a sobering night for me. I realized that white, Christians are a minority in the country and that really bothers me. I've heard many times that in my lifetime it would become illegal in this country for a pastor to preach against things like homosexuality. I never believed it but I do now.

To be honest, the GOP needs to re-evaluate it's campaigning models on this one.

 

Which leads me to an observation. If I'm running a campaign for either side in 2016 and I have half a billion dollars to play with; I put the lion's share in the battleground states.

I think it's much more than the 47% comment or any other single moment. The hard truth is America as I know it is dead. Traditional values are no longer an important issue. The economy is no longer an issue, individual liberties are no longer an issue. All that matters is, what can you give me. Not what can I earn but what can you give me. Look Romney was correct, it was a poor political moment but he was correct. 47% of the population was going to vote for Obama no matter.

 

Last night was a sobering night for me. I realized that white, Christians are a minority in the country and that really bothers me. I've heard many times that in my lifetime it would become illegal in this country for a pastor to preach against things like homosexuality. I never believed it but I do now.

 

MC, the world is changing.

 

Under President Clinton; it was considered a major accomplishment (well, I guess that depends on where you stand on the issue) to enact "Don't ask, don't tell". You know - if you're homosexual, you can serve as long as you lie about your lifestyle.

 

Last night two states (Maryland and Maine) passed same-sex marriage and the country's first openly gay Senator was elected (Wisconsin).

I think it's much more than the 47% comment or any other single moment. The hard truth is America as I know it is dead. Traditional values are no longer an important issue. The economy is no longer an issue, individual liberties are no longer an issue. All that matters is, what can you give me. Not what can I earn but what can you give me. Look Romney was correct, it was a poor political moment but he was correct. 47% of the population was going to vote for Obama no matter.

 

Last night was a sobering night for me. I realized that white, Christians are a minority in the country and that really bothers me. I've heard many times that in my lifetime it would become illegal in this country for a pastor to preach against things like homosexuality. I never believed it but I do now.

 

Classic overreaction.

I read that the President won 40% of the white vote (43% in 2008) and won 80% of the non-white vote(same as 2008).

To be honest, the GOP needs to re-evaluate it's campaigning models on this one.

Agreed! They need a legitimate brand change. They cannot win with the demographics and a toxic primary that throws them to the far right.

 

I see that they will go one of 2 ways, either a tea party takeover and gridlock, or a tea party third party, leaving republicans the ability to reinvent themselves.

Edited November 7, 201213 yr by SportsGuy41017

Republicans hurt their cause because party leadership have an Elitist attitude. So when you make a comment about 47% of Americans are basically useless it doesn’t help that perception.

I will G. W. Bush credit when he spoke to America he made you feel he understood all Americans.

Elections is like recruiting, you have to build connections and Currently Republicans can’t with what they served up as candidates the last 2 times.

I will G. W. Bush credit when he spoke to America he made you feel he understood all Americans.

Elections is like recruiting, you have to build connections and Currently Republicans can’t with what they served up as candidates the last 2 times.

Agreed! I also heard last night that Romney will more than likely be the last of his generation in the party to run for president. Not sure if that was on here on TV.

The Republicans have marginalized themselves away from the demographics. They lost the Black vote in 1964. They are losing the Hispanic and other minorities in similar fashion today in the way they choose to attack immigration. Many women will never vote Republican because of Right to Life. Don't attack me for that statement. I am just telling you the facts. As they keep pushing these voters away, the party becomes more conservative and moves further away from the general electorate. This race was really much closer than many expected back in early summer and that is because of the past four years. But Romney had to go conservative to win the nomination and that cost him those independent votes he needed to win.