I honestly believe our nation is moving toward a time where people will stop following identity politics in either direction and instead move back to the idea that we are voting for the thinking of the candidate, not the candidate's race or gender. When they do so, they will realize that the thinking of conservatives is far more sensible than that of liberals. True, we conservatives DO need to make sure that we have a big enough tent, and we need to marginalize those who would try to hang on to damaging racist views. However, when we see 93% of blacks voting for Obama, we easily infer that many are voting for his race and not necessarily for his ideas (especially considering the fact that numerous studies show blacks tend to be more conservative on average than whites!)

Ironically, the election of the nation's first black president (although I disagree profoundly with his politics) gives me hope that our nation is finding its way past racial politics and to idea-based politics. Now that African-Americans have reached their presidential milestone, perhaps they too will vote for ideas rather than race. Or will we need to suffer a similar outcome with women as well before that happens? Hopefully Americans will soon realize that it is more important to our future to vote for ideas than for identity!

Here's two steps the Dems have taken towards positive change since the election:

1. The current attempt at real healthcare reform - Dems are leading this attempt. Republicans are doing nothing but obstructing meaningful change.

2. Shifting our military strategy to Afghanistan and away from Iraq - something that the incompetent Bush administration should have done years ago.

Thanks for asking, you stupid asshole, now please go fuck yourself!

Very impressive big words. Get back to me when anything has been ACCOMPLISHED.

The problem with conservatism is that it is always wrong because it is always against change.

Look at the broad sweep of human history and you'll see that conservatives have always been against change, innovation and progress.

All true human progress comes from progressives, liberals and other risk takers. If we, as a species, had followed conservatives, we would still be living in caves, wondering where all the mammoths went.

Conservatism has never been a coherent political philosophy based on consistent principles. Instead it's always been a reactionary resistance reflex based on fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of change, fear of loss of status and privelege for certain interest groups. It has never had a true intellectual framework.

Even modern conservatism's greatest avatar, William F. Buckley summed it conservatism's impossiblist nature and inevitable failure with his famous maxim: "standing athwart the tide of history and yelling 'stop!'"

Good luck with that. But realists like me know that there's more to life than being afraid of change and people who don't look like you.

Thanks to Barack Obama, the Republican Party is very much alive and well. A new Rasmussen Poll just out has Mitt Romney and Barack Obama in a 45 to 45 tie in the election of 2012 if the election was held today. Sarah Palin is 6 points behind those numbers. If Barry Obummer keeps trying to throw our country into bankruptcy and can't even get a bill passed with a 60 vote majority in the Senate, he's cooked! This incompetent FOOL will be a failure because of his own party, the Blue Dog Dems who have enough brains to know that the Megalomaniac's spending spree is killing our economy and will lead to a massive, unsustainable debt for several generations to come. You can expect to lose, BIG TIME, in the mid-term election as well.

Hey, speaking of accomplishments, remind again of how Bush caught Bin Laden? ROFL

Fucking Republican fucktards talking about "accomplishments" after the massive fucking FAILURE of the last eight years is laugh out loud fucking funny!

Like I said, I'll take the flawed party that's actively working for real change over the failed party that's passively standing in the way of that change any day.

The party of no can go fuck itself.

LOL

Is that really the best the GOP has left to offer? Seriously?

To qoute the dear, departed Big Baby Jesus: "Nigga Please!"

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.

Many of the GOP's 'basic principles' are so far out of step with the worlds current realities that until that is addressed more defeats are likely.

Examples:

As one observes the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to become the next Supreme Court Justice, it is clear Republicans on the committee are determined to be respectful, even admiring of what it means for her to be nominated.

Seriously? (This part has already been pointed out plenty but I don't think we all can hammer home enough that you are far out of step with reality here.)

Another was when I watched Pat Beaucanon talk about Judge Sotomayor with Rachel Maddow. His near xenophobic tirade was bad enough but on top of it his facts were so wrong is scary. And what is even more scary is that I've seen so many posts about people talking of how they know of 'that guy' that they know who is just like Pat and his views.

And lastly, while a huge subject, is the media that the GOP endorses/uses. While everything that is the media is far from perfect the way that, to name the low hanging fruit, Fox News acts will in the long run hurt the GOP. Constantly spinning, if not out right distorting, what happens in the world is not the way to grow. Not in any way that reflects what Americas values are. Which is what the GOP keeps claiming to stand for. Right?

What grade are you in?

The Republican Party still represents the interests of the wealthy and powerful. Their contempt for women, the poor and the welfare of children and minorities is very apparent.

They sold out to the right-wing hypocrites and, for that reason alone, don't deserve to be in power.

They use the same tactic as Hitler: repeat a lie often enough and people will believe it. Unfortunately, many people do believe their brand of scare tactics, which is apparent in their efforts to delay and kill the health care reform bill. They tried the same thing with Medicare, which is a very successful program.