Does anyone see the rift between in the Republican party widening to something else, perhaps a 3rd. party?
536946
Frankly, I wish that they would. Those bible thumping manic retards make us all look like a bunch of ignorant megalomaniacs. I think of myself as a conservative, and I believe in God, but I honestly don't care if other people don't. \n\nIn fact, I just had to send a couple packing off my front porch last night. Nothing like a 78 lb Rotty throwing himself against the screen door to discourage visitors. Heh heh heh.\n\nAnyway, I'd be glad to see the back end of those morons as they break off to form their own cult, pardon me, party- because it sucks that everyone associates those attention seeking lowlifes to all Republicans.
826193
Neither.\n\nSome will say Republican but all this does is show me how much Republicans have controlled it all the while it was going up.
633401
Great question.\n\nIt could do either...but your observation is wonderful as it DOES polarize the two parties.\n\nFor me it has made me look into the third parties.  I have found those who are on the left are just as messed up as those on the right. The blind leading the blind vs the deaf leading the deaf.\n\n\nYou get made at the left, as I do, since most of their posts are completely uninformed... leading to simple name calling.
970673
Amazing. I'm not the only one who recognizes this.\n\nThe world doesn't revolve around the Democrats and the Republicans: correct, however, there are several sects in the Democratic and Republican parties. They include, but are not limited to Moderate, Conservative, and Liberal Republicans; Moderate, Conservative and Liberal Democrats; as well as Liberal and Conservative Centrists, Independents, Anarchist, Libertarians, Reform and Green. The whole Liberal or Conservative thing is getting old.
703670
political party allegiance is slowly taking precedence over the issues. i believe they shovel whatever they can out in order to keep their job, thats what it essentially is, they are competing with one another for their jobs. some still have real convictions, but after the past election, having to deal with the crap the republicans pulled, i feel they have generally committed themselves to each other rather than the cause, so i declare myself an independent now, because my convictions are more important than my party allegiance. \n\nso, more yes than no, but im not going to agree with certainty either way.\n\n"you can fool all of the people some of the time; and you can fool some of the people all of the time; but you can't fool all of the people all of the time."\n-abraham lincoln
362558
I would LOVE to see a real opposition party. I don't think it's gonig to happen though. We'll be stuck with the same 2 choices we always have, corruption or corruption.\n\nI hope, but doubt, that the Democrats rediscover enough of their collective spine to actually put forth some workable ideas. If they do it'll be a change for a party that stands for so little these days. \n\nPeople say there are two Americas. I think there are at least three. \n\nOne is Bush's America: an combination of the extreme Christian "neo-conservatives," corporate interests, the growing national police state, and payola. \n\nAnother is the Democratic "left": lots of ideas, but not enough balls to make them happen. \n\nI suspect there's a third America: members of an increasingly radical middle that will become more obvious in the next few years, tolerant of those who are different and aware that the big problems of our times are being ignored -- or made worse -- by those in power today. \n\nThat third America needs a candidate. Or, maybe, a new party.
1073363
There are many, many third parties.
339645
Is there such a thing as Christian politics? Yes. And I think it's gone too far. I personally think that the Republican party has become a religious party. People are voting for republicans because they think republicans attend church more and are more faith based.\nMaking decisions based on faith without fully understanding a situation is dangerous in my opinion.
981708
The political process in this country has been locked down in favor of the two parties for a long time.  The road for a third party would be extremely difficult.  First, the democrats would have to fail miserably in the next couple of years for there to be any movement to a third party.  Then, the public would have to organize massively in their discontent around another grouping and put the weight of their numbers behind it.  If that were to happen, then a third party might be viable.  But not without great numbers of people supporting it.
724269
It wasn't that they sat out, but that they were fed up with the lack of success and results.  Additionally, the Republican party they once believed in has morphed to some moderate mish mash.  It was more about wanting to see SOMETHING done, instead of what that something is.
433768
There is a chance for a third party to become viable history has shown it.  Don't forget that the Republican party was a third party; the other two parties were Democratic Party and the Whigs.  \n\nUnfortunately, the current political structure and popular culture make it nearly impossible for this to happen.  One states regulate elections and political parties.  Secondly, most people who are part of third parties for my opinion has shown that they do not have a full understanding the nuances in the political process.  Lastly, people like to see things  in a bipolar fashion.
965367
depends on which republican
860679
I really think we will see a virtual stalemate for the next 2 years and I do not believe it will be because of the Republicans. Many of the Democrat leadership are beholding to the far left, but many of the newly elected Democrats are much more moderate. Personally I think what you will see is a lot of Democrat infighting, especially if the remaining Republicans stand up for traditional conservative principles. The one area where I am very worried is on the illegal immigration front. I think there is a definite chance that they will try to pass the Kennedy/McCain immigration bill from the Senate. The stumbling block before was the House, but that block has been removed and if it makes it to the President' desk he will sign it because it is exactly what he has wanted all along.
293460
Am I concerned?  Very much so.  The other day I saw Rudy Giuliani on TV talking about God in an evangelical church.  Rudy Giuliani!  I was sick to my stomach for about 5 minutes.  It was much easier to look at the pictures of the couple that got bit by bed bugs that they keep showing on TV.  \n\nDo I think it will happen?  No.  The Republican Party is going to lose much of its moderate base if they keep this crap up.  I think that mainstream America is beginning to wake up to the real issues and understand that fundamentalists shouldn't be legislating our morals.
812282
You probably would not expect to hear this from a Republican, but I think this may be a good thing for our party. Sometimes when ANY particular party has had success for several elections in a row in maintaining control of the House and Senate, they start pulling away from the middle, where the majority of Americans actually are. A wake up call such as this last election brings the party back into check, causing them to reassess their positions and moving more toward compromises to gain those borderline voters.\n\nI look to this event as being a catalyst to refocus the Republicans and have them more attuned to the will of the people so they will be stronger for 2008. Watch for moderate Republicans like McCain run for President.\n\nI see the Democrats as misinterpretting the will of the people thinking this is a hearty endorsement of their platform rather than a cry for change. They'll not have quite as strong a showing in 2008, and by 2012 control will revert back to the Republicans again. I predict an extreme left-winger to run for President. I don't think it'll be Hillary but she may be added to the ticket for VP.\n\nAs far as real change in the next 2 years, don't count on it. Bush is still in charge and although the Dems gained control, many of the seats they won were from moderate Dems like Lieberman, Casey, Webb, and Tester which will not support a retreat/defeat in Iraq.
935691
We definitely need choices other than the ones we have now, but the game's rigged to keep both in power. I honestly don't see much difference between Republicans and Democrats, as both are heavily influenced by big-money interests with their own agendas.\n\nOne thing keeping a third party from making a move nationally are the laws that decide who can appear on the ballot. These vary from state to state, and seem set up to make it hard as hell for anyone but the 2 parties to be represented.\n\nPeople need to see beyond stupid slogans, celebrity endorsements and snazzy advertising, and concentrate on what each candidate's really about. The voting record of all our representatives, local, state and federal, is available (usually online), as this is a public record. The info is there......
346720
The belief that things can only be one way: Our way is hardly unique to Republicans, it's a staple of modern American Political discourse in all parties.  Generally the more a party claims to be tolerant of other ideas, the less tolerant it actually is.  The concept of Compromise is completely alien to Congress these days.