You pull your polls, I'll pull mine.

What they ALL show is that, as the Old Guard unavoidably (and, thankfully) gives way to the New, attitudes about gay marriage will change, as surely as the sun will rise in the east tomorrow.

Like I said, irrespective of your opinion, that dog ain't gonna hunt for much longer. The last two elections proved it, but I guess you're bound and determined to stick with yesterday's news (and your old biases).

Bill Greener writes an interesting yet all too familiar article decrying the statistics that repeatedly and painfully reveal pitifully low support for the GOP from minority voters, mainly Hispanics but certainly Blacks to a slightly lesser degree. Bill and the rest of the Grand Old Party can’t put their collective finger on the problem although Bill does allude to the fact that perhaps the Republican Party is too Caucasian. That was a good guess, Bill. You left off “rich, straight” Caucasian, but the point is still well made.

I did, however, pick up a hint of anxiety when you mentioned that John McCain was somehow railroaded by the mainstream (liberal?) media that overwhelmingly backed Obama. Yes, the media was more supportive of the Democrats this time around but what did you expect would happen after the Elephants named their choice for vice prez the “Pit Bull for Jesus” (my endearing term for Ms. Palin) who generated as much bad press and scathing political cartoons as the nearly fatal George Bush administration you all were attempting to distance yourselves from?

You folks also have a mantra that complains that the main stream media is torpedoing the GOP at every turn. Have you ever taken time to look at your own media? The ultra conservative talk show hosts have become the mouthpieces of the Republican Party. Utilizing the immigration problem that you mentioned in your article, when one of the radio shock jocks embarks upon a diatribe against illegal immigrants, he is always talking about Hispanic immigrants, exclusively. He uses such a broad brush that he paints every Hispanic living in America as a low-life, scum sucking invader bent on destroying American values as well as consuming the entire Social Security fund. Those south of the border should all be (notice the “all” in there, Bill) rounded up and sent packing back to the third world country that they snuck out of. And you wonder why the GOP wasn’t invited to participate in the “Virgin Mary of Guadalupe” procession in San Antonio this year? If you want to include more diverse people in your Party, you’ll need to be more inclusive in your propaganda. I think you’re correct about that Caucasian thing you talk about and you should try to accept some peoples other than just Whites. Listening to Republican radio, one comes away with the notion that you desperately want the minority vote but not a minority neighbor. But then old habits are damned hard to break, aren’t they, Bill.

As a final thought, I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t say that the Republican Party should act much more like a political party than a mega-church. When I step into the voting booth, I am looking for a leader who can solve some of our nation’s economic, educational, security, healthcare, etc. problems with real world, fact based, and innovative solutions directed at real problems by people who are qualified professionals. I don’t want or need you to save my soul; I need you to run the country for everyone and not just the rich, straight white guy. By the way, I’m a average, gay white guy and I don’t think my economic troubles (which in my case are manageable) nor those of my fellow Americans regardless of ethnicity, religion or sexual identity, will go away if we stop all abortions, get rid of all Hispanics (they’re all illegal according to right wing Republican talk radio), get all the welfare mothers and dead-beat dads (again Republican talk radio code word for Blacks and/or poor folks of any color) off the doles and round up all the homosexuals and send them to the French Riviera (I ain’t going to no friggin’ leper colony)! Yep, that’s inclusion as defined by the New GOP; give me your vote but stay out of my neighborhood! If it works, you all will be some lucky dudes that’s for sure!

It's always delightful to find true believers who refuse to change.

It's equally delightful to read the ravings of republicans who smugly think that they are in charge.

And, just as lovely is reading articles written by members of the party of responsibility who take no responsibility for their failures but always have someone else to blame. (It's still that darn liberal media that's to blame...)

You are riding not just a tired horse, but a now dead one.

there are none so blind as those who refuse to see....

And, by the way, I refuse to believe that the GOP is dead. They thought the democratic party was dead, remember? The GOP is far from death and we must remain alert for signs of a resurgence.

Hack each other to bits with machetes a-la Rwanda. And I am cheering.

"Let it be said that the weakening and eventual downfall of America came by allowing illegal foreigners and their ilk the right to vote."

Damn right! If we let the Irish, and the Italians, and the Jews in, those rascals in Tammany Hall will use them to win elections. Real Americans will pay the price. And the eventual American downfall will be inevitable!

Not only is the GOP too old & too white, the whole article shows one example after another of why the GOP cannot win. You did, however, neglect to mention bigotry & self righteousness.

As always, the GOP looks outward to find the source of their discontent & dis-ease. It will not be found there. The article illuminates the GOP's total disrespect for the American voter. Voters will no longer be HERDED.

The GOP retains the mind-set of the old southern plantation owner.

"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."

The answer is that the GOP cannot. The GOP needs to re-evaluate it's basic principles. That is where the problem lies. The age has passed for slapping on a shiny new package design with "New & Improved" on the label. Today's voter, no matter their race or ethnicity, demand a new & improved product. The current GOP product is toxic to itself.

Buh-bye GOP.