Mexican-Americans were well aware that while Mayor of San Diego, he and his wife were found to have in their employ an undocumented housekeeper. Some white voters were aware that Wilson, as a Senator from California, had lobbied to have those who'd done 90 days farm work included in the 1986 amnesty bill. Forty percent ended up getting green cards through this provision, though the bill was intended to allow longstanding residents who had established stable community ties to legalize their status.

It had the effect of causing Latinos to band together since white folks couldn't tell who was legal and who wasn't. I remember the tension in the run-up to the election. It also encouraged many Mexican nationals who had green cards to become US citizens to guarantee their right of abode in America. Finally, Prop 197, which denied services including schooling to illegal aliens, passed; although it was thrown out as un-constitutional. But the damage to the Republican Party in California has never been repaired.

elect a Whig in 2012

Fifty-four Forty or Fight!

I understand your plight and offer my full sympathies. I was struck by your closing comments in which you mention your core principles. But the only thing I hear Republicans utter is to "lower taxes" for the rich. Is there anythin else of note?

I have contended for some time now that openly aknowledging that one is a Republican is tantamount to publicly professing to have a mental illness. What sane person can have lived through the last 8 years and still belong to the GOP? Current rethugs are mentally and emotionally unbalanced. I really think it is that simple.

The author failed to mention the Achilles heel of all good Dems and that is national security. If Obama screws up national security for one minute, the repubs are back in power for the next 25 years. Why do you think Obama is hedging his bets on torture, Gitmo and Afghanistan? Because he cannot afford to appear lame on defensive matters (a la Jimmy Carter).

warmongers, racists, fiscal conservatives, social conservatives, and gun nuts. And these groups - outside of a few southern states - don't have a lot in common.

Fiscal conservatives tend to be college educated and well off. Social conservatives (aka religious nuts) are too dumb to think beyond what the Bible tells them. Warmongers don't care about any of the other crap as long we we're fighting some other country that threatens our existence.

It's going to get harder and harder to find a candidate that all of these groups can agree on. And once you find that candidate, they will be so unappealing to the rest of the country that 40% of the electorate is going to be a ceiling for them.

they care, deeply.

pun intended, I suppose. The GOP's problems are not one of ethnicity, although their tone-deaf actions in regard to the same certainly aren't helping.

It's your party's views on many issues that put them far behind. It isn't just your base that is too "old" - it's your ideas.

The GOP runs on a social platform that is largely at odds with the trending demographics of today and the future. You run a platform based on blatant hatred of gays and lesbians- you excoriate us at every turn- and yet, gays and lesbians are slowly being acknowledged as upright and contributing- dare I say "normal" - members of society. Not the shadowy, society collapsing demons you've made us out to be for over thirty years.

Your views on women's rights are non-existent beyond a outmoded, chauvinistic archetype that no longer exists, and hasn't existed in this country for nearly a half of a century.

Your views on economics have been proven time and again to be wrong- wrong for the working people of this country and wrong for a sustainable economy. People across party lines are waking up to the fact that funneling all of the money upward into the pockets of the wealthy- where it STAYS- is not a successful way to plan for the economic future and health of our nation.

And speaking of health- most Americans favor a comprehensive heath care package that would cover every citizen, regardless- even if it means slightly higher taxes. Something your party has branded as "evil Socialism" (yet another dusty and outmoded phrase) and has fought tooth and nail against in the interests of the top 1% income bracket.

And don't get me started on your party's jingoism, lust for war and violence, total disgregard for the law upon which our nation is FOUNDED and exists solely by, your contempt for working Americans and their rights, your desire to spy, lie, and deny.

And the list goes on.

Mr. Greener, it is not just that your party is old- It is completely out of touch.

Colin Powell. Couple that with the spending and deficits the Democrat will run up in the next couple of years, and you may want to re-run the demographics. Politics is about competence.....right now the repubs have none, but they don't need to, they're not in charge anymore. From what I see, the dems are already showing they are no different. That's sad.

"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."

Please be so kind as to enumerate any Republican principles that might actually help the country. Principles that might make someone who is not ignorant, hateful, cowardly, bigoted, and/or fanatically religious proud to be associated with them. Or at least not ashamed and disgusted. Yes, there used to be some principles, once upon a time, but those seem to have been discarded.

With all the pandering and brainwashing that Republicans have done to/for various core groups -- the religious fundamentalists, the bigots, the cowards -- in order to further the power of and protection of the wealthy people and corporations, it is unclear that your party has any principles at all aside from "might makes right." The lockstep approach that most Republican politicians are forced into makes it clear that the party does not value thought, just obedience. To my mind, your party has become the showpiece for all the un-American principles that are ugly and disgusting. During the Bush years, you all warped and damaged America, and I can only hope that we can get it back. Your party set some nasty things in motion and it is, frankly, going to be difficult for those now in power to relinquish all that you all seized by stealth. Power does that to people. With luck, we the People, we the voters, can force the issue with the Democrats, but the Republican party seems resistant to any concern for the People.

What has been seen cannot be unseen. And We the People have seen what the Republican Party is. We have seen through the smoke, the mirrors; we have heard the lies and know them to be lies. It's clear. Your party stands exposed. You cannot be trusted. While you are wondering how to bring voters back, also wonder how to make a known liar be believed. Tricks will not work.