The gist of this sort of handwringing is that the Republican Party should be more like the Democratic Party. Which begs the question, what would be the point? If voters want a watered down version of liberalism they already have that option, in Democratic primaries, where you'll usually have a pick of liberal, more liberal and very liberal candidates. Knock yourselves out.

The GOP should stick to its conservative principles and if that means enduring even decades of lost elections, it's an acceptable price for integrity. Watering down the platform doesn't win anything worth having, since the watered down policies will only be what you already get from the Democrats. Mr. Greener's thesis is profoundly cynical because what he's saying is that winning trumps everything, even principles. With that kind of attitude, I think the sooner he leaves the party the better. If anything, the GOP should purge itself of the "moderates" that dilute its message. It should proudly stick to its principles and if that only means getting the votes of cranky old white men (like me, I'm 51 and very caucasian...) then so be it.

Finally, I must says that it's a sad commentary that only us white guys seem to appreciate the virtues of limited government, private enterprise, the rule of law, American exceptionalism and traditional social values. The GOP should continue to fly the flag for those principles on the off chance that one day, non-white and female voters will see the light.

I have read this article so many times I have lost count. The demographic alarm bells ring and the really smart people start talking about how to attract minorities...

The dangers to the GOP are multifaceted and have alot less to do about race then they do about principles. The GOP needs to find those first and maybe they will gain a little integrity.

Also articles like these use numbers for a static analysis, as if opinions and parties are based solely on the melanin content of ones skin. There are a few things that aren't going to Democrats way, like... California. Liberalism and all its ills will be on display for everyone to see. California will have enormous jobs losses in the public sector, and the message of liberals that does bind many a minority to them will be discredited. This is an opening for the GOP.

You came to power with a vision of government serving as an agent of a totalistic transfere of all means from the bottom to the top. You stole from the poor to underwrite the creation of an aristocracy that now rules by oligarchy. The bankrupting of the country was not an error it was the neoconservative strategy and it worked. You led a government sponsored coup against a frightened desperate nation and you brought us to fiscal, moral and political ruin as an objective. You installed a permanent regime of unlimited power under the rubric of intelligence services with the Patriot Act and its black hole budgets secret courts and torturers at secret detention centers.

It is clear to me that you no longer have any interest in holding elected office because along with that would come the last vestages of public visibility or accountability and you do not want it.

I believe that following a fullscale federal investigation of high crimes committed in office the entire assets of the GOP and its coorporate partners should following prosecution be seized and reimbursed to the US Treasury and a constitutional convention convened to reaffirm and ammend our founding documents to prevent any form of government secrecy or collusion with any business interest or religious institution what so ever in the future.

You are not the loosers you are the winners and for the protection of society most of you should be exiled from the US and fobidden to return.

I have read this article so many times I have lost count. The demographic alarm bells ring and the really smart people start talking about how to attract minorities...

The dangers to the GOP are multifaceted and have alot less to do about race then they do about principles. The GOP needs to find those first and maybe they will gain a little integrity.

Also articles like these use numbers for a static analysis, as if opinions and parties are based solely on the melanin content of ones skin. There are a few things that aren't going to Democrats way, like... California. Liberalism and all its ills will be on display for everyone to see. California will have enormous jobs losses in the public sector, and the message of liberals that does bind many a minority to them will be discredited. This is an opening for the GOP.

"I don't pretend to have some solution in a bottle that will change things for Republicans. I do know debates about whether conservatives or moderates need more of a voice in the party strike me as completely missing the point. 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."

How to remain true to "our basic principles" AND grow among "these key voter groups." ???

Why not "call a spade a spade." How do we preserve our loathing and contempt for these key voter groups (our basic principles) while baldly projecting all of it onto those very groups AND get their votes?

Give me a break.

I wonder if you are not a victim of that fallacy that to compromise is to compromise one’s conviction (see my previous post). Hence, your itch to purge the "moderates" is not principled, it is sacrificing any chance of politically influencing the course of history. Furthermore, your characterization of the choice of democratic primary candidates as “liberal, more liberal and very liberal” is to say the least somewhat beyond reality. By historical comparison, it is difficult to think of U.S. Representative Dan Boren (OK) as a liberal. Also, just go to townhall and you’ll see at least a lot of white women and an – admittedly small - minority of non-whites who espouse your values already.

But I’m happy to see that as a good conservative you are for defending the rule of law: May I invite you to join forces with other people, e.g. on Gleen Freenwald's Unclaimed Territory, defending the rule of law to shed light on the suspected law-breaking of Bush administration officials? No pre-judgement intended, just clearing things up!

If by American exceptionalism you mean the way each and every people is exceptional in its own way, I am with you; otherwise as a non-U.S. citizen, I beg to differ.