The RealHawkeye is correct, I hope the Republicans see what happened. Federalism is the answer. It allows everyone to have their own little places to stay, with their own little prerogatives, and best of all, it makes everyone responsible to
pay and live with their decisions. Such is the
essence of original Conservative values. Conservative values are actually much more Libertarian than you would believe.
The Republicans misinterpreted their electorate. They saw their voters coming from "God's Country" and thought they were ignorat rednecks that really cared about whats happening in San Francisco. They don't. They could care less if the San Franciscans marry boy-boy or not as long as they aren't forced to. As long as their communities aren't forced to accept it.
For too long our country has operated under the principle of the Federal government supreme in all things. And that attitude has infiltrated all portions of American life, and beliefs. There were supposed to be 50 laboratories in government instead of one all power government deciding what everyone was going to do.
The handfull of issues that are undoubtdetly federal the Republicans messed up. Border security and the war. Yes, many Conservatives are upset with the War in Iraq. Many are rah-rah. But ultimately none of us want the US there 20 years from now. Bush's stances, and his ignorant explanations for them made Americans cringe, liberal and conservative.
cbsbyte doesn't get it. Liberals only won in places that Liberals have taken. Connecticut and northern Virginia are now liberal. Simple as that. Other than that, Conservatives either stayed away from the polls, or voted Democrat or Libertarian. Can you blame us considering what we have been offered?
Meanwhile, many Republican pundits and experts still don't get it.
This could turn out just fine. It could. Atleast now, there
might be gridlock. (I ain't holdin' my breath seeing as how we are talking about Bush).
But let us see here. You have a South that is increasingly a different place than the North. You have the Western states becoming (due to California exodus, and illegal immigrants) more polarized but roughly 50-50. And all sides hate each other.
The Liberals are convinced the Conservatives wish to place them in a Christian Shari'a, and the Conservatives think that the Liberals want them to subsidize things they look at as a violation of G-d's will.
Moderates get in office in a variety of battleground states, but only because they are able to effect the very small percentage of independent moderates that swing. Meanwhile the left and right each become more extreme, and desperate.
You think this is over? The Democrats will alienate their base if the moderates go with the Republicans, and they will vote Green or fail to show at the polls.
PS.
Something to ponder. During the last civil war, the North and the South had several intractible issues, which they were willing to shoot each other over. And in the West, you had states more or less in a civil war within themselves amongst those who had just moved in from either the north or the south.
Now you have a North and South with several issues which are like big wedges dividing them, and bitterly divided Western states which are getting closer to 50/50 splits largely made up of new folks from the other states. Dangerous storm clouds on the horizon? Do you see them, or is my tin foil hat just on too tight?
