The Toughest Question of All...

Is it possible?

Dare I ask the question: Could the Republicans Win Again?

This is a tough question but there is a plethora of evidence out there
that seems to suggest that that scenario is not as impossible as it might seem now…

First, we must acknowledge that the Republicans are remarkably resilient.

The politicians know that Bush is way off track, that he is pursuing a ‘no-win’ strategy but they also know that among Republicans, he is still popular.

75% of Republicans still believe that he is doing a good job in office.

50% of them believe that Saddam was in cahoots with bin Laden to produce 9/11.

This despite all the evidence to the contrary.

This is a very strong base to start with. That’s why the ten white men in blue suits did not seek to separate themselves from the Bush juggernaut last night. They know that they cannot win and afford to demonstrate their own independence, such as it might be, without risking the base.

Last night, everyone on the dais was anxious to show that he was a conservative.

The odd-ball in all of this is that even the conservatives don’t know what a conservative is. The criteria has changed since the days of “Ronnie” and to date, definitions seem to vary all over the lot.

This is not to presuppose that the conservatives are not able to show remarkable unity when it comes to selecting some one to lead the flock.

Right now, that person has not yet emerged.

The conservatives are not getting all weepy-eyed about any of the choices to date.

Consider them still looking.

The key will as it has before lay at the door of the right wing, not the conservatives associated with Reagan but the religious right swept up by Bush Jr. when he declared his independence from his father.

It should be very clear that the Reaganites are a different breed from the political right.

For now, they are split.

Half of the fundamentalists feel that Bush let them down; the other half, still think he’s the greatest thing since white bread.

Does this mean it’s okay for democrats to approach party-building in the same languorous way as before.

Of course not.

The Republicans are very capable of finding common ground—at least long enough for an election.

And as we’ve learned, with the support of fundamentalists and those stringers, they are almost there already.

A gloomy thought to be sure.

But also a wake up call for democrats who persist in thinking that they have all the time in the world.

If the Republicans rally behind a candidate, watch out!

The good news is that it won’t get much beyond the big cities and states and it will be all over by the end of January considering the line up for Primaries.

Therefore, we cannot afford to waste a minute. We do not have all the time in the world—especially when you consider that another Republican win would mean exactly more of the same if last night was any barometer…

And that would be the kiss of death for democracy.

Les Aaron
The Armchair Curmudgeon

Author of “A Blueprint for Winning: Taking Back the White House—08!”

The Committee for Positive Change
www.lesaaron.blogspot.com