Will the Republican Party unite or disintegrate??

[kentuck]

Even if they are able to choose a Speaker, can they unite to govern as a majority? Or is their split permanent?

In 1972, the Vietnam War and the George McGovern-left of the Democratic Party split the Democrats in a very similar way that is happening to the Republicans right now. If not for Watergate and the Nixon resignation, Jimmy Carter probably would not have won in 1976? The Republicans would have probably kept the White House from 1968-1992. These fissures are not easy to repair.

It is difficult to see how the Republicans can repair their present divisions in time for the next presidential election. Their clown car of candidates only gets sillier with each passing day.

Which direction will the Republicans go?

[JNelson6563]

1. It appears to me

they are heading toward a cliff and picking up speed rapidly.

I can't believe it has taken this long.

Julie

[kentuck]

2. It does appear that way, Julie..

...to me also.

Just watching is somewhat of a guilty pleasure.

[JNelson6563]

4. What is life without a little guilty pleasure now & then?

[kentuck]

6. It is fun to watch.

I confess.

[hifiguy]

26. I agree.

The 'pigs created the teatalitarians just like Victor Frankenstein built his monster. And now the monster is tearing the castle down on top of their heads.

May they come to rest under hundreds of tons of rubble.

[C_U_L8R]

3. They don't have any uniters

They kicked all the reasonable ones out long ago.

[kentuck]

5. It does look very serious for them.

with Donald Trump and Ben Carson leading their Party.

[Agnosticsherbet]

7. Similar questions were raised about Republicans aftee 2008

And Democrats after 2004.

If it is all the same, I will wait a while before tap dancing.

[kentuck]

8. Also, the Goldwater election in '64 was described in a similar manner...

However, I think this is deeper than any of those fissures.

[DFW]

17. I agree, it is deeper

But so are the pockets of their sugar daddies this time.

They'll spend a billion dollars against us and not even notice the hole in their portfolio.

It doesn't even matter what their petty congressional squabbling produces. Their media is in robust financial health, and that's where our opposition will come from.

[Agnosticsherbet]

24. Whatever the depth of the fissures. They control more statehouses, Governors, and Congress.

I suspect Boehner will continue as leader, and I would not be surprised to discover he engineered the whole thing to show that no matter what the rabid freedom caucaus wants, they can't do shit.

When I can crap on the Republican Party's Grave, I wil believe it.

[Nay]

9. I always have hope that the GOP zombie corpse will finally die, but

past experience indicates the GOP will carry on somehow. It's hard to know what can deal the final blow if these clown candidates actually have a following.

[redstateblues]

10. The media starts this every few years.

as long as they control the House and the Senate they will unfortunately be around

[Gman]

12. But is it the real GOP or

A new party using the purchased structure of the GOP?. Purchased by the Kochs, et al. Has the GOP name and what it means been purchased and it is actually no longer the GOP?

[Gman]

11. Is it possible a new GOP style party

will emerge since the billionaires have in essence succeeded in their hostile takeover of the GOP? The problem with this is the moderate GOP followers have no party structure and would be third party status. Its arguable that the Kochs, et al are another party since they have the same or more influence as the GOP. Moderates have few places to go. They don't agree with Democrsts on all issues and are loath to vote for a Democrat. But right now their party is no longer their party.

[Agnosticsherbet]

25. Except for a short period of time 1817 - 1825 we have always hade two parties, left and right.

James Monroe ran unopposed in 1820. This was called "The Era of Good Feelings" becasue the Democratic Republican Party was that existed.

I would not be surprised to see the Teaparty (Freedom Caucaus) part ways with the Republican Party because they do have a legitimate complaint that the Republican Bussiness elites want their votes but do not enact what the Teapublians want (christina rule, end to social security and other programs, etc.)

The Teaparty is nothing more than the old John Birch Society, and the Republicans kicked them out of their party in the 50's. I don't think the have anyone with the balls or the intellectual heft to do that now, but they could if they wanted to.

If the Freedom Caucaus said Bye-Bye, Republians would still control congress, though with a smaller majority.

Of course, parties have died. (Federalist Part and Whigs prove that.) If they should break up, we would see a Conservativ Party of some time come into existance within an election cycle, though it might be two cycles before they could do much.

I don't think we should hold our collective breath. They may be incapable of winning the White House (maybe) but the way they have gerrymandered districits in Republican majority states, and the fact that Republican governors control wo counts the votes could prove, whatever is left of them could be dificult to beat.

[NutmegYankee]

27. Without the freedom caucus, nobody controls congress.

The Republicans wouldn't have the 218 needed for speaker and neither would the Democrats. The only good would be a new trend to force coalition style governments in the USA, which could yield real results.

[Agnosticsherbet]

30. Actually they need a majority of those in attendance to win. speaker.

If the Freedom Caucus got up and walked out in protest, they could hold an election.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/become-speaker-house/

If the Freedom Caucus became its own party, it would complicate voting, but they could still do it.

Boehner is Speaker until a new Speaker is elected. I would not be surprised if he engineered his whole fiasco himself to remain speaker.

[nruthie]

13. Republicans are like cockroaches.

They just keep crawling out from under the rocks..and they never die. They will be around forever, unfortunately.

[tabasco]

14. They have their hate, which will unite them.

They will find some charismatic psychopathic leader and all will be well with the fascist republicans.

[CanonRay]

18. "Chharismatic pychopathic leader" Plenty to choose from this go round.

Cruz? Trump? Rubio? Carson? They all fill the bill.

[tabasco]

20. Psychopathic, yes. Charismatic, no.

Just MHO.

[CanonRay]

23. That's because you see through the bullshit

Sadly, many don't.

[Yupster]

15. They will unite

because whatever their problems with each other are, the fear of Hillary Clinton in the White House will unite them.

Then after the election they'll start fighting again.

[iamthe99]

22. funny

I swear I didn't read your post before typing and posting mine.

[B Calm]

16. Thanks to the tea-bagger fraction I see them self destructing. You

add their alienation of the growing hispanic population and I see no future for the republican party.

[IDemo]

19. The imminent demise of the Republican Party has been reported on DU

hundreds if not thousands of times since I've been here.

I very strongly doubt that it will happen soon as much as everyone would like to see it.

[RKP5637]

29. Nope, it won't go away, it will morph and continue on IMO. n/t

[iamthe99]

21. The only way they would unite is if Hillary Clintons wins the nomination

If Senator Sanders was to win our nomination he would become POTUS

[RKP5637]

28. Trust me, you'll like it!