Will republicans unhappy with BushCo go Democratic or just stay put?

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[deadparrot]

1. They could simply stay home.

Or vote third party.

[NNadir]

9. This, obviously, would be enough. It is not the best option, but it's

enough.

I think the Bushista incompetence is raising some eyebrows on the right, big time. However it is unlikely that the Bushista family will simply surrender control of their party without struggle. Their immunity from prosecution and arrest is dependent on rigid party control.

Although we are a one party state, I note that in the last one party former superpower to lose control had a similar set of issues.

There was the Brezhnev-Chernenko wing that emphasized ideology over competence, and the Andropov-Gorbachev wing that focused on competence over ideology (although whether competence was achieved by the second wing is debatable, at least in Russia).

These wings struggled mightily, taking turns with the General Secretaryship.

This created an opening for the opposition, then personified by Yeltsin. One may argue about Yeltsin, but the fact is that he did what no one thought could be done - brought down the Soviet one party state.

I think the analogy has more than passing relevance to the situation in our Soviet Repuke state - state controlled media and all.

[PDittie]

2. Most of the ones I know who are peeling away

don't intend to vote in 2006. There's lots of time between now and then, but I believe that will be the case this time next year.

[yurbud]

3. a pox on both your houses is the best I've gotten from most

[yurbud]

4. I think a strong anti-corruption, anti-corporate greed campaign

might draw them out.

Most of the righties I talk to are pissed about outsourcing and trade agreements, but it doesn't affect their voting because Democrats are largely silent or on the corporate payroll.

This could also work for foreign policy. A Marine Corps general said the best way to prevent Iraq from becoming a terrorist haven is to make it a nation of HAVES, so recruiters wouldn't find anyone who finds blowing themselves up attractive.

[begin_within]

5. ..for them to stay home and not vote the R ticket obviously hurts the Rs

[lpbk2713]

6. If you're talking about 2008 .....

I think the majority of the disappointed repubs are sheep and will rely on the RNC's judgement to come up with a better candidate. Whether they would or not would remain to be seen.

[Qibing Zero]

7. Oh they'll stick around

For most of them, this isn't America going down the drain, this is just one little 'not so good' Repub president. Generally, the sentiment still seems to be 'America is invincible'.

[AlinPA]

8. As long as the republicans put up candidates that are bigoted, flag-

waving, hate-filled, gay bashing, evangelical gun nuts (plus tax cutters) they won't lose a vote.

[dkofos]

10. It depends on who's message they choose to believe

And yes it could be the Dems.

They just have to get the message

[AnnInLa]

11. Altho they are disappointed in "their guy"

right now, they will not abandon the Repuke Party. This country is divided right down the middle on almost every issue. The RW sees this as a WAR, and they won't become Dems just because they are disappointed in their pres...they will just go for a more conservative pres next time.

I did not realize that the Right felt they were in a war with the "librul establishment" until the 2000 election. I mean an absolute WAR. They may lose a few battles (Idiot-son nominating a moderate), but they are in the WAR for the long haul.

[Walt Starr]

12. There is a THIRD WAY!!!

Covertly sponsor some unknowns in a Third Party Movement that is anti-choice, anti-homosexual and vehemently (and primarily) anti-immigration.

It would drive a wedge so deep in the GOP they'd never recover!

Democrats would be able to take complete control.

[maine_raptor]

13. Damn, that was my thought too, Walt

Why not, GOP has done it before to Dems. (See Nader, 2004 election for further details.)

[PowerToThePeople]

14. Maybe Republicans who are not Nazis will start a splinter party.

edit-

Dang, I need to read before posting =)

[B Calm]

15. I think the ones who are happy with BushCo will stay home too..

They know they'll win with the help of their voting machines, so why bother..

[Finder]

16. The plan is to weed out the fundies....

from Congress--even if it means supporting dems. The Dems are being infiltrated with fundies too so politics will be quite interesting in 2006 and 2008.

[McCamy Taylor]

17. Stay home, I hope or else Diebold will vote for them.

[Egalitariat]

18. They'll go democratic if we run a Bill Clinton

I doubt any will, all of the sudden, go hard core lefty. But even if they stay home, it's good for us.

[Hamlette]

19. very few will come our way, would you?

As mad as I was at Clinton (mostly because he was too conservative for me) I never once thought of voting GOP. Not ever.

Maybe those who call themselves independent would switch.