[SpardaSon21]

Well no, the Dems aren't moving to the center.  They just want everyone to think that.  Taking over private institutions like the Obama Administration has done is a very left-wing act.  The amount of government control Obama wants over the economy is a very left-wing notion.  Obama is extremely left-wing man, and he got elected because he portrayed himself as a centrist.  What people are and what they are perceived to be are often two different things.

[Blue Lion]

What private institutions are run by the government now?

[karajorma]

If I'm not mistaken the Brits did this in the 90's with Blair's New Labour? The Conservative party went further and further right, with Labour embracing more centrist ideas.

You're mistaken. New Labour was never centrist.

The moved all the way to the right wing.

The Lib Dems are the most left wing main party, and they're solidly centrist.

[Scotty]

Technically, Chrysler (?, need a source check on that.  I know it's an auto company) is de-facto run by Obama.  The bailout allowed him to fire the CEO and basically take control until it gets better .

[Blue Lion]

Technically, Chrysler (?, need a source check on that.  I know it's an auto company) is de-facto run by Obama.  The bailout allowed him to fire the CEO and basically take control until it gets better .

No CEO of any car company was fired by the President. He doesn't have that power.

Wagoner, the CEO of GM, resigned.

GM is still an independent company. The government does not make it's decisions.

[Solatar]

If I'm not mistaken the Brits did this in the 90's with Blair's New Labour? The Conservative party went further and further right, with Labour embracing more centrist ideas.

You're mistaken. New Labour was never centrist.

The moved all the way to the right wing.

The Lib Dems are the most left wing main party, and they're solidly centrist.

I stand corrected. In my mind New Labour always seemed "centrist", but that was because I was comparing them to Thatcher (not her government...just her). They embraced many of her ideas, but didn't go quite so far to the right.

I guess the problem with that situation and my mind is that when EVERYBODY is to the right of center, or on the center, do you start calling "left" and "right" relative to where everybody's at?

[karajorma]

Labour are still more left wing than the Tories (although even that is starting to change, if the tories lose the next election I wouldn't be surprised if they simply shift to the left) but they are pretty far to the right. #

This page has a pretty good explanation of their positions (and their test is pretty interesting too). In fact I think it's about time to post it again.

[Blue Lion]

"While 54% of Americans overall say that President Obama has clearly explained his policies, just 25% say that Republican leaders in Congress have clearly explained why they oppose his approach. Even among Republicans themselves, as many say their party’s leaders have failed to clearly articulate their position (42%) as say they have explained themselves clearly (41%).'

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1184/partisanship-back-obama-economic-confidence-high-gop-image-low

Even Republicans don't know what they're doing. "Not Obama" is not a plan.

[SpardaSon21]

Which is the biggest problem the GOP is facing.  They have no idea of how to get their message out, or even a message.  The only conservative of note that is sending a message is *GASP* Rush Limbaugh.

[Nuclear1]

The only conservative of note that is sending a message is *GASP* Rush Limbaugh.

Unfortunately.

That man paints a very very bad face for the GOP.  If any moderate or sensible Republicans had the balls to stand up to that fat lard, then that party might be able to get back on track.  Sadly, even the RNC Chairman's afraid of him.  Limbaugh essentially runs the Party, which might very well be one of the factors that are grinding it into the dirt.

[Blue Lion]

Michael Steele wasn't all that great when he ran for Governor here in Maryland. We were all shocked when they gave him the spot.

[SpardaSon21]

I am of the opinion that if it wasn't for Rush holding the GOP together by acting as a bastion of conservatism, it would have fallen by the wayside long ago.  Rush is the GOP's voice because no-one else has the testicles to do it.

[Nuclear1]

I am of the opinion that if it wasn't for Rush holding the GOP together by acting as a bastion of conservatism, it would have fallen by the wayside long ago.  Rush is the GOP's voice because no-one else has the testicles to do it.

Be that as it may, it still stands that Limbaugh essentially doesn't seek compromise or even bipartisanship in Congress.  He wants all GOP, all conservatism, or nothing at all.  That's the exact opposite of what the GOP needs right now.  People are turned off from the conservative moment because of pundits like Limbaugh.  If he's the sole bastion of conservatism and unity the GOP has, then that party as a respectable force is done for.  This is the guy who told moderate Republicans to "get out" if they didn't stop reaching across the aisle.  He managed to turn Obama's rescue of the Maersk Alabama's captain into a racial and religious issue, essentially not making him any better than the birth certificate crowd. 

If he's the only hope the GOP has, then his party isn't going to last the entirety of Obama's administration.

[IceFire]

Well no, the Dems aren't moving to the center.  They just want everyone to think that.  Taking over private institutions like the Obama Administration has done is a very left-wing act.  The amount of government control Obama wants over the economy is a very left-wing notion.  Obama is extremely left-wing man, and he got elected because he portrayed himself as a centrist.  What people are and what they are perceived to be are often two different things.

Obama is still somewhat of a centrist by Canadian political standards.  It all depends on your perspective.  The weird part for Canadians is that our right wing parties still have more in common with the US Democrats than they do with the Republicans.

[SpardaSon21]

Well Nuclear, we will have to agree to disagree.  You see the Republican Party's problem as they will listen to Rush and not compromise with Obama, and I see it as they will allow Obama to dictate their policy because they are scared of speaking out against a popular president.

[Nuclear1]

Well Nuclear, we will have to agree to disagree.  You see the Republican Party's problem as they will listen to Rush and not compromise with Obama, and I see it as they will allow Obama to dictate their policy because they are scared of speaking out against a popular president.

They should feel free to speak out when policy disagrees, but there's too much of the Republican Party simply refusing to work with Obama or the Democratic majority at all.  That's simply unproductive and it turns moderates and independents off.

The GOP has nearly collapsed thanks to listening to extreme right pundits such as Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck, and continuing to do so and push their platform further right in a country that already hates that concept isn't doing them any good.

What the GOP really needs to do is:
1) Give up support for the Religious Right and make them form their own party
2) Return to true conservatism--minimal spending and small government.  Essentially give up the principals of the Bush Administration
3) Get a party leadership with the charisma and authority to clearly state the GOP's position

If those don't happen, I don't see the GOP surviving for very long.

[Solatar]

1) Give up support for the Religious Right and make them form their own party
2) Return to true conservatism--minimal spending and small government.  Essentially give up the principals of the Bush Administration
3) Get a party leadership with the charisma and authority to clearly state the GOP's position

Now THAT'S a party I'd join up with. As it is now I label myself a conservative (although pretty close to the center) but refuse to be associated with the Republican party...The way they're acting right now there's really nowhere for me to go but independent.

EDIT: ...anyone else getting Ann Coulter Google ads? 

[Blue Lion]

Yes. Like in the other threads I was getting Christian Singles ads.

[Scotty]

I just got a Newt Gingrich newletter ad .

[Mongoose]

I see one about Alzheimer's...wonder what that says.