The actual election results will be rather boring and I don't expect any huge upsets.
But I'm curious to see how the exit polls reflect the increasing change in our demographics. I'm expecting an uptick in the Hispanic turnout, and also a sizable shift in how Democratic they vote. The Republicans have basically decided to let that demographic go, which would have huge repercussions.
Eventually the Republicans are going to have to make a huge play in order to stay competitive at the national level. If they don't, there's going to be an even more painful long adjustment while conservatives try to find a banner to stand behind that doesn't have the unfortunate problem of constantly spewing rhetoric that sounds like they hate gays, blacks, women, hispanics, etc.
Remember when the Progressive Party was so successful, they were able to pass prohibition and almost enacted a host of eugenic proposals? I'd like it if there was a conservative party that was there to say "maybe we'll regret that policy". Democracy works best when we have competition, which means appealing to all of America. Not just the ten percent still pining for the days when peeing in a bucket might stop civil rights.
But how can they do that if they can't even say "maybe we'll regret giving a bully pulpit to folks spewing sexist nonsense, while trying to discuss abortion or heatlhcare, or racist nonsense, while trying to discuss immigration or poverty"?
And more importantly, I worry that the Party of the Voting Rights Act could easily go through the same transformation as the Party of Lincoln. Plenty of people did not change their party affiliation when that switch happened, and ended up voting against their ideological beliefs. I hope not to become one of those mismatched partisans.
Credits & Style Info
Talk Politics. A place to discuss politics without egomaniacal mods
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 6/11/12 23:19 (UTC)But I'm curious to see how the exit polls reflect the increasing change in our demographics. I'm expecting an uptick in the Hispanic turnout, and also a sizable shift in how Democratic they vote. The Republicans have basically decided to let that demographic go, which would have huge repercussions.
Eventually the Republicans are going to have to make a huge play in order to stay competitive at the national level. If they don't, there's going to be an even more painful long adjustment while conservatives try to find a banner to stand behind that doesn't have the unfortunate problem of constantly spewing rhetoric that sounds like they hate gays, blacks, women, hispanics, etc.
Remember when the Progressive Party was so successful, they were able to pass prohibition and almost enacted a host of eugenic proposals? I'd like it if there was a conservative party that was there to say "maybe we'll regret that policy". Democracy works best when we have competition, which means appealing to all of America. Not just the ten percent still pining for the days when peeing in a bucket might stop civil rights.
But how can they do that if they can't even say "maybe we'll regret giving a bully pulpit to folks spewing sexist nonsense, while trying to discuss abortion or heatlhcare, or racist nonsense, while trying to discuss immigration or poverty"?
And more importantly, I worry that the Party of the Voting Rights Act could easily go through the same transformation as the Party of Lincoln. Plenty of people did not change their party affiliation when that switch happened, and ended up voting against their ideological beliefs. I hope not to become one of those mismatched partisans.