Amazingly, you said the following:

"The debate, for now, should begin and end with asking and answering how it is that we can remain true to our basic principles and grow among these key voter groups that are needed to win elections. Failure to do so can only lead to more defeats. "

I think the republicans of the last 20 years have shown us they have no valuable principles. Their only principle seems to be power-grubbing, and massive theft, oh, and jailing anyone who's different, and an excessive focus on vice (perhaps a freudian focus at that, considering how many turn out to be hypocrites on this issue).

Like several people here have said, you're far more reasonable than most republicans. They actually don't deserve having you in their party. A party that gives Limbaugh, Beck, Falwell, Krauthammer, Buchanan and the rest of the pile of idiots so much influence, deserves nothing but failure. A rational country would see to it. So, as I see things now, the only way you can gain votes is to trick more people into thinking your party actually offers anything of value, or get enough people by pandering to their worst traits, or the like. If you don't do a thorough housecleaning, and we do start electing more republicans, this country simply won't survive. I'm not entirely sure it will be able to recover now as it is.

--Ron

I'm kind of on the left politically.. but if we were to have a deep political conversation.. you'd find that I hold any number of conservative principles quite deeply, as well as any number of democratic principles.. So why am I calling myself "kind of on the left?"

The problem I have with the Republican party is.. Well I guess I regularly feel insulted by the party.. I don't feel respected. And I think if you fall outside of what seems to be the Republican target demographic, that this is a kind of common sentiment. My feeling is that what the Republican party has to do is start listening and caring about people outside of that group.

I'm not saying giving up core conservative principles here.. but it may mean giving up various prejudices.. It may mean accepting a little humility.. You know I don't remember the last time I saw a Republican on TV where I felt like he or she was listening to.. or learning anything.. from someone from the left.

One of the things I really like about Obama is he at least talks about listening to and learning from people on the right.. I don't know if people on the right feel like he's living up to that, but seeing how rarely I hear people on the right talking about listening to and learning from people on the left.. I have to give Obama the point. The point is maybe leadership, the values you put forward..

The other issue is.. political power and careers being more important then the good of America. I don't care who's in power, left or right, as much as I care about the well being of this country. When I see a politician, pundit, or anyone.. trying to manipulate the American people for there own purposes.. I find myself not liking that person.. doesn't matter if they are on the left or the right.. What I want is good policy.. which I think gets subverted by the political game. What I want is what is good for the whole of America, not just one demographic. If Republican can learn to speak to me in this kind of way, and do it better then Democrats, they'll have my vote. To my mind, the power of Obama was his ability to do just that.

...we get another Monday-load of conservative denial and condescension. "Black folks vote Democratic because they are too ignorant and easily-led" and "It's _so_ tiresome that African-Americans keep insisting that they have issues as valid as real white people do. We don't want to help solve those issues because they don't exist, so why don't AAmericans just take the hint--but vote for us anyway?"

Bill, my lad, as long as your party continues to belief that no one but rich white folks have valid intelligence, ambitions, and dreams, you guys will keep on losing. That patronizing, superiority-complex attitude is at the rotten heart of the GOP's problems and you all just keep refusing to admit it. So, you all just keep on keepin' on, dudes...

...to respin the class white male persecution complex. It's not the fault of your policies or ideology! The tides of demography have run against you! There is absolutely no, do you hear me, no need to examine what you advocate as a party and how you've chosen to lead this country! Just figure out how to trick those brown skinned people onto your side!

"Then, you have increased support for Obama and other Democrats from cities and close-in suburbs. So, in the major metropolitan areas -- where diversity is nearly a religion -- you have strong support for Obama from virtually every quarter. Guess what else is located in these urban locations? For starters, you have the major media outlets. Is it any wonder that coverage of the election took on the tone of Obama's election being a virtual certainty?"

Yeah, it's always that media, especially the 'urban' media that is so unfair to the GOP. It has been terrible these last eight years to watch the liberal media attack and have such disdain for the GOP. Oh, wait that was just the dream. The reality is that the urban locations are just as controlled by corporate media with an emphasis on the statusquo.

But the political debate has always been controlled by the two major parties. (Major seems like a redundant word in that last sentence.) Because no matter how much the GOP screws up life for the majority of Americans and citizens of other countries, the media are always there waiting for their opinions. The GOP and the democrats have assured that their voices are the only ones who get listened to. So relax Mr. Greener. No matter how badly your pathetic party stumbles and how much damage it does, it will unfortunately be around far longer than the marketplace of ideas really can afford to host it.