By Fareed Zakaria, CNN
The Republicans have a powerful case to make in the general election: The economy remains bad; the recovery is weak; unemployment is very high. Republican candidates for president could make the argument that Barack Obama has been in charge of this economy for three years and that the slow economy is his responsibility.
They could also make the argument that Obama’s vision of the role of government in the economy is wrong - that their approach would be much more friendly to the private sector and to business.
These are all very plausible arguments and, as an experienced businessman, Mitt Romney is the perfect candidate to make them.
But I see a demographic problem for the Republicans. They are alienating too many large groups to be viable - at least in the long run. A recent Pew poll shows Obama with an 18-point advantage over Mitt Romney with women because of the recent discussions about contraception and abortion. Polls show Latinos supporting President Obama 6-to-1 over Mitt Romney. African Americans poll something like 9-to-1 in Obama’s favor.
So if you lose blacks, women, Latinos (and Republicans have probably already lost Arab and Muslim Americas), what are you left with? You can’t win a general election with the angry, white, male vote. That’s clearly a core vote for the Republican Party but it’s not going to be enough.
Serious people within the Republican Party like Jeb Bush have made this point repeatedly. Yet the dynamics of the Republican Party are driving it in that direction.
Part of the reason for this is that the party is increasingly a Southern party reflecting the region’s concerns and passions. It is also, increasingly, a party run by the grassroots and not by the establishment. So maybe this is an unstoppable phenomenon, but when you look at long-term demographics, it’s tough to see how you construct a majority adopting this policy.
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What’s more clear with Employment report is that when it comes to joblessness, having a college degree is more important than ever that is why we need the help of High Speed Universities now
Ron Paul 2012
That is a bumper sticker, not an argument.
Ron Paul? Is that all you have to say? have you no argument? no position? No wonder he is dead last.
Ross Perot 1992
A meaningless driveby comment.
Ron Paul 1812
Paul has plenty of arguments that are available to look up. Or do you actually use the comments section of a news website to gather information on candidates?
If so, LOLOLOL
Ron Paul George and Ringo
However, when you factor in all of new state voter id laws (GOP initiated, which will disproportionally affect minorities, the poor and the elderly), the GOP might not have to care. Low voter turnout combined with disproportionate minority, poor, and elderly voter disqualification could be enough for them to carry the day.
Add to that the declining literacy rate and the rampant stupidity that manifests itself every day on Fox News. There is a good reason why Republicans want to defund education programs: the less critical thinking the public does, the more votes they get.
Voter ID laws have actually shown improvements in voter turnout of minority groups.
Why are democrats so affended vy voter Id laws ?
I couldn't even get a local casino frequent player club account without photo id.
Please explain to me why minorities and the elderly can get out to vote but can't get out once every four years and get a government ID. I'm an independent – but I will say this is as bad as calling the Tea Party racists. The push-back on voter ID laws is simple – the left is afraid of losing the illegal vote. If you can get out to the polls – you can get an ID. If you're not a citizen – you can't vote. P.S. With regards to racism – look at 9 out of 10 blacks voting for Obama (Colin Powell, whom I've always admired, unfortunately leading the racist charge).
Greeny Meany, the reason Ds get upset is because there is absolutely no evidence of widespread voter fraud. And the laws that are being enacted by Republican governors are aimed at stifling the very groups that tend to vote democratic. And often they do not have driver's licenses or the proper photo ID to qualify. We've never required this in our history. Why now when there is no evidence there is a problem? Simple: try to dampen the vote of Democrats.
I'm sorry, but I'm a minority, I've been voting since I was 19, and not once could I go into a voting booth without showing my ID. Now I'm not convinced of all the accusations of rampant voter fraud, but I see no problem with requiring that someone has identification before they do the most important function of a citizen in a democracy. you don't see massive protests over having'g to get a driver's license, so I don't understand what the problem is about voting. You can make reasonable arguments that these laws are being rushed through for political reasons, and an unfortunate side effect may be disenfranchisement, but I feel the basic premise of the law is sound.
God willing...
Some of these Voter ID laws are being shot down in the courts - as they should be. It remains to be seen how many of them will be in place in November. As for actual demographics, the tea-baggers have only one - white people. At least I am one middle aged white male that has not been taken in by their garbage.
Balanced99
Please explain to me why minorities and the elderly can get out to vote but can't get out once every four years and get a government ID. I'm an independent – but I will say this is as bad as calling the Tea Party racists. The push-back on voter ID laws is simple – the left is afraid of losing the illegal vote. If you can get out to the polls – you can get an ID. If you're
Gezellig
Sorry about the previous post. It was due to an interface problem.
@Balanced99
"The push-back on voter ID laws is simple – the left is afraid of losing the illegal vote." I am not sure what you mean by the illegal vote. Are you talking about illegal immigrants? They would not appear on the voter registration rolls anyway; so how is not having an ID at the polls leading to that? You also said "If you can get out to the polls – you can get an ID." But what if you can't get to the polls due to disability, and vote absentee?
The bottom line is that absent of any evidence of a real problem of voter fraud, what is the purpose of these laws other than to suppress minority voting?
To address just about every ignorant person defending voter ID's consider this. There has been no proof showing rampant voter fraud therefore voter ID's are a solution to a problem that does not exist. This makes Voter ID"s a poll tax. Also considering that in some parts of the US indoor plumbing and electricity are not available, how do you expect those people to get ID's when they can't get electricity?
Absolute nonesense
Maybe just maybe the demographics you state are just a bunch of minoritry Racist.Hate the white guy.You think you can add abunch of minorities together to get a majority your nuts.Not all are sheep and judge people by the color of their skin
Watching CNN as much as I do ( I'm retired) I dont believe what I am hearing/seeing IE Talking Heads to Talking Points Playing vertual WAR GAME ( SCAREY) . Unconfirmed reporting same old Iphone pics over and over- I am just a little old Canadian Man by the sea. Uneducated but with life experiences and these accounts fuel hate...I look forward to your blogs and interviews you tend to explain without DRAMA Thank u very much and GOD BLESS US ALL
You misread the report. "High speed universities" will not create jobs for their graduates except for a few faculty members / admins / support staff. We have too many unemployed and heavily indebted college graduates NOW.
Mitt Romney looks like the clear favourite to clinch the Republican ticket and contest with Obama for the White House in the fall. However,some for the rhetoric they he and his rivals have been sprouting will scare away potential voters:they talk about going harder on Iran to the point of going to war;the contraceptive issue as fore-mentioned and to top it off,Romney is the wealthiest man to contest for the presidency!. If i remember correctly,there was an Occupy protest that was aimed towards the 1% of America that controlled the economy. How will he promote himself as in tune with the general populace when he was an active member of the affluent business class?!!
I could ask the same question about President Obama. He is definitely in the 1%.
Obama, who has the likes of Warren Buffet as one of his allies and supporters in the tax arena IS a part of the "1%," but also a part of the 1% who has declared loud and clear that tax codes need to change to more fairly tax ALL people.
Being a part of the 1% is no shame to anyone. Being an arrogant "I got mine and I'm KEEPING IT 1%" is the problem.
Maybe you meant Obama belongs to the 1% of those who are realistic and pragmatic!
How about 0% fed tax, thats fair. Ron Paul 2012
Ben, yes! Back to our villages and farms. No more federal government. Smoke on.
All of the presidential candidates Republican and Democrat are in the 1%.
Sure, I'll go with that for sake of argument – but how does it, in any way, alter the fact the GOP is alienating the voting blocks it needs? They won't see Obama as just a 1%, or the Messiah – it will be because the GOP has failed to evolve.
He is NOT cgeck before you open your big gap!!!
Of course you are "Surfer George". What have you earned, worked for, taken risks, created? Nothing? Thought so.
I own my company I stared from scratch and employ one hundred people. Why should I give up what I sweated for?
To Ron, no one is asking you to give up anything. The whole revenue side is out of balance. Taxes are apparently the lowest they have been in 60 years. If the 99% don't have enough money how are they going to purchase your products or do you just cater to the 1%?
Obama may be in the 1%, but Romney is in the 0.01%. You can't even compare the wealth between the two.
Surfer – So its not ok to make money AND keep it?!? I have to give it to someone else who didnt work as hard? Why cant they make their own money? Pretty sad comment. Also, if Buffet and Obama are the good 1% why dont they write a check each year for the difference they feel they should pay? I mean, if they really feel that wealth re-distribution is important....
@ Surfer George,
It's kind of hard to talk about the 1% being so selfish at the expense of all others when you consider that they pay more than 36% of federal income taxes.
Even if President Obama is part of the 1 percent, he still does not have Romney's wealth! Try something else, bud!
Interesting tidbit. Time magazine a few months back showed the richest presidents. In today's dollars, Romney would be #3, behind Kennedy and George Washington!
Yeah, but Washington's wealth was in Land and Slaves, not in off-shore tax-sheltered accounts. Properties needed to be sold off by his adopted son to settle his debts. Add to that, when his adopted grand-son passed away, his son-in-law, Robert E. Lee (yeah, that one) had to sell off even more, including selling some of the slaves to their manumitted relatives to continue paying the debts. That is why at that point (1858) only the Arlington property remained. Mt. Vernon had to be sold.
If memory serves, George Washington also spent eight years selflessly leading a ragtag bunch of would-be soldiers. Eight years away from his plantation and family. Eight years when, if he was paid at all, it wasn't much. Eight years of his life in harm's way. How does that compare to Mr. Romney?
Yeah, Mitt went to France when he had the opportunity to serve the country he professes he loves so much. Now, of course, he's a chicken-hawk.
I haven't seen any of Romney's five sons step up to defend our country either. No wonder he is so gung ho on going to war with Iran. Like so many other chickenhawks, he is plenty willing to let others fight for his freedom. I'm a vet with a son currently on active duty and yes, I realize President Obama did not serve but I believe he has done a great job as commander in chief.
Washington also wanted to be called 'His High Mightiness' before others settled on 'President'. True Story.
Ron Paul 2012 Take time "Check him Out"
0% taxes. How would that work?
Wouldn't vote for him – man's looney tunes!
Ron Paul is an educated man, that does not fair well in the Republican party.
He's already been checked out and he doesn't check out so it's time for him and his followers to check out.
Ron Paul 1712.
There's been more than enough time to check him out – decades now, and he's still a racist loon with a handful of good ideas sprinkled in with his bat-sh|t crazy racist anarchistic no-gov't survival of the riches policies. We all checked him out, which is why he's remains in last place.
"There's been more than enough time to check him out – decades now, and he's still a racist loon with a handful of good ideas sprinkled in with his bat-sh|t crazy racist anarchistic no-gov't survival of the riches policies. We all checked him out, which is why he's remains in last place."
I guess by "checking him out" you mean "listened to a bunch of talking heads" or "jumped to blatant hyperbole".
I say hyperbole because : "anarchistic no-gov't survival of the riches policies" is completely out of touch with what his policies are stated as and what libertarians are all about.
If you honestly think the policies of Ron Paul will bring about any good, you have not analyzed what they will actually bring about. Libertarian ideals do not work in the 21st century, maybe during the days where America was an isolationist agrarian country, but not in the high speed world of the 21st century. What Paul neglects as well as his cult following is that the policies he advocates are out of date and have not been applicable in over a hundred years.
"I guess by "checking him out" you mean "listened to a bunch of talking heads" or "jumped to blatant hyperbole".
I say hyperbole because : "anarchistic no-gov't survival of the riches policies" is completely out of touch with what his policies are stated as and what libertarians are all about."
The above statement is based on the assumption that the statements by many of us about Ron Paul come without researching his positions. I'd counter that many of us HAVE RESEARCHED him and wouldn't classify the characterizations as hyperbole, but rather fairly accurate reflections of the positions he indicates he supports. In fact, I think it would be VERY accurate to classify his policies as directly resulting in "survival of the richest" – our observations of most Paul supports is that you believe his recomendations would work as he claims from a fairly naive misinterpretation of human nature. The Libertarian position is basically un-regulated free market, sue if you are injured – in the real world that results in "survival of the richest" because they have the most resources and ability to manipulate such a system to their advantage. Some people think that's great because they feel like they feel like that leaves them in charge of their own destiny. Unfortunately, you don't realize what portion of the America doesn't really want to be in charge of their own destiny – I think that is why many Libertarians don't understand they will (for the forseable future at least) never be more than a minority within the electorate – when push comes to shove people on average don't actually want significant personal responsibility. They want to be safe, secure, and protected.
Incidentally, I find it ironic to classify arguments against Paul as "hyperbole" when the very results he promises are a perfect "free-market nirvana." (There is no such thing, therefore his promises are by definition exageration for effect i.e. "hyperbole.")
How do you pay for the military without taxes? Or are you saying we don't need the military?
Romney is stuck trying to be a conservative and still appeal to independents. Without the independent vote, it's all over – Obama wins easily. Conservatives will need to decide if they want to back a Reagan republican (who was actually not as conservative as you would think) like Romney or let Obama win a second term. My guess is the conservatives go down with the ship, refusing to vote for that "non-Christian Liberal" Romney.
Yes, all of the candidates are millionaires on both sides. Romney is the most charitable candidate. The only one who comes close to the percentage of income Romeny donates is Obama but unlike Obama, Romney didn't wait until he was running for office to start giving these large percentages of income. Romeny donates through his church and donates large amounts to other sources as well. He has a higher rate of donations than average for millionaires making over 10 million.
I've never understood classifying giving to the Church of LDS or any other church as charitable giving without analyzing where that money goes – some portion of it goes to what nobody would be able to argue is "charitable outreach" and some portion of that goes to very selfish support of the associated organization and/or recruitment. The nobility of that last bit is very much in the eye of the beholder. Maybe I'm just irredeemably biased, but it is very hard for me to count a dollar of a "charitable" donation that isn't benefiting someone less fortunate as "charitable." Of course the fact that he makes a well above average effort is respectable. (Of course the portion of his income that is discretionary is also way, way above average too).
thanks for making this point, probity. I love it how everybody screams about how selfish and cruel conservatives are until someone makes the point that Republican candidates donate more of their money to charity than the Democrats. They seem to be only concerned with being generous about taxpayer's money.
Probity: That is what a lawyer would say to get his client off. The whole truth is that Mitt Romney has lived his life to make as much money as possible at the expense of others less fortunate than he is. You can say that is the capitalist way, but life should be a balance between giving and taking. When you put him on that scales, he looks like one of the biggest takers in America. And if he is elected President, he will be in a position to skew the system even more towards his rich friends.
That is why I support Ron Paul; he is the peace candidate. The neoconservatives will have none of that.
Ron Paul is the isolationist candidate. Isolationist and peace are not necessarily the same thing.
The 1% starts at $350,000 and up. People at that income level are not the problem. Those making $1,000,000 a year or more are not being taxed properly.
advise to the republican candidates: "everything you say CAN and WILL be used agains you!
Amen
Further advice to the Republican Candidates. You know all those super PACs backing you? If any of you happen to find yourselves in the unlikely position of being President Elect on the morning of November 7, you can be sure the creators and donors to those organizations will be lined up outside of wherever you are with their hands out waiting for positions and contracts (especially as it has been ruled that Government Contractors can donate to these organizations, too). Thank you Justices Roberts, Alito, Scalia, Thomas and Kennedy for Peoples United.
Reminds me a lot of public sector labor unions.
You mean like George Soros, Warren Buffet and the SEIU have been at the White House door for the last 3 years ?
Instict of the voters will be the decider in this presidential election. Much can happen between now and then.
I don't trust anyones instinct if they can't spell.
"anyone's"
Or punctuate.
Remember the Twilight Zone episode where the guy wanted to make all evil people two feet tall, and in the end HE was two feet tall?
Carol – play nice now. Some of us don't have your spelling ability and don't have time for spell checker.
Oops! lol
While I love conservative values, this party has been anti-Hispanic, anti-gay/lesbian, and now... anti-women. This party cannot survive like this.
They don't have a valid case to make.
The GOP ran the country via W/Bush.
They failed absolutely and miserably.
This is why we must now endure their various points of inane distraction (birthers, anti birth controllers, etc..)
How about we discuss how the GOP's ideology of trickle down economics, and warfare state militarism have failed America instead?
Agree, its their own negativity will set them back
As a friend of mine told me years ago, "Where there's death, there's hope!"
The Republican party is NOT anti-women just because they don't feel that the gov't should pay for contraceptives. Good grief – is everyone drinking stupid these days?
Right on bro, and they shouldn't pay for your high blood pressure pills as well. Fend for yourself.
Government paying for contraception is not the issue. The issue is insurers paying for contraception.
You should be more careful about calling people stupid when you don't understand the issue yourself.
Big D - Romney has said publicly and repeatedly he will kill Planned Parenthood. That's pure anti-woman. He would support outlawing abortion. That's anti-woman. He would let every employer decide and every insurer decide what to cover and what not to cover for women's health. Also, please remember - this isn't about the government paying for anything. I am not sure where that comes from out there besides irresponsible and inflammatory rhetoric. This isn't about big or small government - it's an obvious pattern meant to downgrade women's power and role in civilized society. And I agree – you should watch who you call stupid.
Where is the cry from the anti contraception crowd to stop payment for vasectomies? The ONLY reason for a vasectomy is birth control and if they are so hung up on that and not anti woman, they MUST be against insurance paying for them. Hypocritical, that is what the GOP is. Oh, year, they are not in favor of banning vasectomies because most in the GOP who are making laws are men. No conflict of interest there.
Says the guy who has drank so much stupid, stupid offered him stock. You may think birth control is only to stop women from getting pregnant but that's because you are an uneducated slob who has no concern for the pain a menstrual cycle causes some women, or the hormone imbalance in their bodies getting regulated by that same medicine. Nor would you understand that having compassion for the women around you would make life easier for you. To bad you are a slob. I bet you aren't married or if you are your wife is well beaten and your daughters wear overalls and straw hats. PIG.
Don't forget the Republican sponsored bills at the state level to require women to be violated with an ultrasonic wand. See Virginia, Arizona, and Idaho for example.
You're right. They gotta breed somehow.
EXCUE MY SP. IAM NOT EDUCATED. THE REPUKES COULD CARE LESS ABOUT ANYBODY BUT THEIR SELVES. GEORGE, DICKY LIED US INTO DESTRUCION OF LOST OF SOLDIERS, LOST OF RESPECT FROM OTHER COUNTRYS. AND LOST OF BILLIONS DOLLARS. HALIBURTON BOYS GET FILTHY RICH. THESE TWO GUYS ARE THE WAR CRIME MAGOTS. NOT THAT POOR SOLIDER WHO WENT CRAZY IN AFGAHASTAN! AND OBAMA IS DOING A GOOD JOB IN A LEFT BAD SITUATION. REPIKES MIND THE STORE NOT PEOPLES RIGHTS. OBAMA 4 MORE FOR SURE
I'd really like to know–what are these "conservative values?" And who decides?
Stupid question. Rush decides.
Joe, you sure got that right.
The country needs the GOP to reclaim itself from Rush, Fox, and Glenn and to restore its sanity. When you have true conservatives trashed as RINOs, failing extremist "purity" tests, and losing primaries because they aren't making outrageously hateful and utterly impractical statements, it is time to move forward. GOP voters, however, refuse to budge.
It is Democratic party that portray conservatives as Anti-Hispanic. Enforcing laws of the country is not an anti-Hispanic measure. If Americans sneak into Mexico in large numbers that country also may take measures to stop it. Anti Americanism is the basic of liberals.
Again, it is Democratic party and the feminists/lesbians picture that conservatives are against women. Everyone has God given rights, but asking the government to pay for their family planning may not be right.
African Americans think that Democrats like them. It is not true. Democrats have not taken any sound step to improve them.
What part of expecting women to pay for their own contraceptives as men buy condoms is ANTI-WOMEN?????
The Democrats have jumped on the anti-women sheepdip as a self-made bandwagon to hammer the GOP because , after all, Obama can't run on his RECORD, can he! And I am a woman!
Obama won't survive the fall out from intelligent Americans with his NDAA law. No matter HOW he spins it whining that he didn't agree with it – he still SIGNED it and it makes America a Dictatorship!
Funny how you splutter into your lattes about the "anti-women" myth - but totally ignore the "Anti-AMERICAN NDAA truth!!!!!! Are all Democrats terminally dishonest?
Men should pay for their own Viagra then. If the guys can't get it up, the women won't need birth control, right?
All joking aside, if Viagra and similar drugs are covered by health insurance, then birth control should as well.
You mean The NDAA that all but 7 Senators voted for? The one that the President signs every year because it contains military spending and benefits for the next year? The one that the President never rights? If he would have refused to sign, you intellectually dishonest turds would be whining that "Obummer/Nobama" hates and disrespects out servicemen. Knock it off with your paranoid fearmongering rhetoric. The only people who take your kind seriously are other idiots like yourself.
Fox news is responsible for alientating everyone except angry white males à lá Sean Hannity, O'Reilly, Beck and the likes.
But wouldn't it be wonderful to see the GOP, say Santorum, Romney or Gingrich, take control of the Whitehouse. What a marvel. They would find enemies in statist China, the islamic middle East, Secular socialist Europe not to mention the usual enemies of Russia and a number of Latin American countries. America will never have had so many enemies. Perhaps this time they will stand up and say. Fark orf!! I hope so.
Yes they will bring us.....War without end – Amen!
I have to say I would love to see one of the idiot group take office that when when martial law breaks out in this country because of the riots and massive looting that will be caused after the tards cause another war we we go even more into debt and are starving. When that all happens I have a lot of republicans that we would like to meet. Now mind you I live in redneck georgia with nothing but republicans in the area. Martial law equals the death of a lot of ignorant trash that needed to be discarded a long time ago.
Excuse me, Obama and his Justice department are the ones targeting American citizens, not republicans.
You couldn't HAVE any more enemies!!!!!!!! So your post is meaningless.
Rick Santorum and the Republican candidates need to quit following the advice of the crowd of angry white dudes, who surround them. They needs to listen more to independent women and minorities, who have suffered in the past from much of the rhetoric that they have presenting in their campaigns. They should quit preaching the message of the website AngryWhiteDude.com.
Rick Santorum and the Republican candidates need to quit following the advice of the crowd of angry white dudes, who surround them....
_________________________________________________________________________________________
The Rush Limbaugh tribe.
It's really their party now. They've chased everyone else away. Only after national elections when an Clinton or even Obama defeats them – is there any remorse.
But ultimately defeat, just fuels their rage, and off we go again.....off the deep end from the far right.
(I hear these guys at airport terminals around the country – raging about Obama = end of times, most of them are actually
doing well – and certainly better now than 3 years ago, but they don't care – they simply can't stand having Obama as their President which 'ruins' everything, in their primitive tribal way of thinking, anway )
Santorum, Romeny and Gingrich are themselves – angry white men. They're leading those crouds – to defeat!
And Obama, the angry black man? Eric Holder? Their buddies Farrakhan and Wright? If ther's any anger here its coming from tyhe leftists in the room, not the right.
See you flushed one of them out into the open w/ your comment, strangerq. It's not hard. They snap at the bait easlly. I hear there ain't no limit on em either. Go on cast again. Maybe you'll catch a yelllow striped Teabagger next.
But then they would be Democrats!
NO WAY!
Aw come on George you know you want to you're just afraid to have a conscience. It's OK. We won't tell anyone Big George crossed over. Hell, I bet your ancestors a few generations back were Democrats. Ain't no shame in coming back into the family fold.
How long will the Republican Party remain unified before split?
Not tool long now. Just wait until the Melitias and Brownshirts get involved.
Republicans have pandered to the most vocal of their party because they fear them. Mitt Romney is maybe not a bad guy, but unless he breaks away from the freak show and begins to act honest and presidential, he's heading for a humiliating defeat in the election, like his father before him. You can't win an election by catering to 20% of the voters.
Too true. Anyone who has been in the GOP for more than 20 years is now considered a RINO because we actually believe in small government and letting people live their lives as they see fit without government regulation. We believe we should pay for the programs we need and not charge them to our children. We don't believe in going to war, especially un-declared wars, just because we don't agree with the way another country is run. We don't believe anyone should be forced to live by the Bible, Koran, or any other religious views if they don't want to. Until the GOP gets back to its roots, it will continue to lose support.
Sarah Palin single handedly alienated everybody with an IQ over 68. But she's so mavericky and everything!
Yeah for some reason STUPID is the New Mavericky.
That is the grand total of the equation as to why America is falling back in world position. Stupid HAS become the new majority. God help us all.
Is Mavrickyness a word? Sarah done gave a shout out so prove her Maverickyness. Ron Paul shows his Mavrickyness too. Mmm, Hmm, I sure do like the sound of these two words. Mavricky and Mavrickness? Anyone for Urban dictionary?
While not necessarily a demographic, groups like OWS and unions probably aren't gonna largely support the GOP eother.
Who really cares about OWS?
OWS is onlly good for dopers and boozers!
OWS is only good for dopers and boozers!
I care because unlike you even if you don't like the idea of something educating your self about what is going on in the world versus quotin puppet republicans you get to find out the truth instead of rumors like the idiot before me.
It's not the demographics, it's the GOP platform of corporate ballwashing, religious extremism and nutwad hatelaws that will sink them.
You got it right
Liberals,especially the President has created an impression that being rich is bad. Ask Chinese. After long years of underdevelopment, China has forgotten communism/socialism. Liberals try,at least with words to embrace communism/socialism.
Most of our Universities are the birth place of Liberalism. They are the reason for our poor education. All that Liberals do is the destroy family. Without sound families children cannot be nurtured or educated.
as an alumni of NCSU, you have just proven to me that Chapel Hill is full of crap. Thank you, Michael from Chapel Hill, I am however going out on a limb and assuming due to your poor grammer, you don't go to UNC or are a foreign exchange student from China.
GOP = Gone Obsolete Party!
Thats right!
GOOD!! goodbye GOP. Can't say I will miss you.
Old, angry, white and stupid is no way to go through life, my friend. But if you are all of the above, there is is a very , very good chance you are a Republican.
Well said.
The biggest problem the GOP has is it is the GOP=Greedy Old Pigs
All you "real" conservatives who think conservative refers to fiscal responsibility, and not legislating morality, come check out the Modern Whig Party. http://www.modernwhig.org There you can have "republican" views on spending without feeling like a dirty bigot who hates women.
here's a demographic you can't spin, 70% of the country thinks Obama is taking us down the wrong path. Who are the 30% who agree with him? Golman Sachs, Teachers Unions, Auto Unions, and the Wall Street Bankers who got a bail out from Obama. The other 70% got nothing.
oh really? you can't spin a contrived assessment without sources? that truly boggles the mind.
So in your warped, twisted mind, Obama has been a perfect president and his policies have all been a huge success and our country has never been better. You must be part of the group who Eric Holder talked about brain washing.
what i'm saying is that your argument holds about as much water as "did you know that 80% of statistics are made up on the spot?" you obviously can't read between the lines, nor can you be trusted to make decisions regarding what is good for yourself, let alone others. you're a troll, plain and simple. using lies to substantiate your position, tsk tsk. not very adult sir.
That's brilliant; so in your fantasy world, all of Obama's support comes from the diametrically opposed liberal unions and conservative Wall Street.
In other words, if YOU don't like them, they must support Obama.
I would put forth Voter Fraud as well.
Where does his PAC money come from?
Another right wing re-spin of history. Goldman Sachs and the banks were bailed out by Bush in 2008. President Obama rescued the auto industry, with the help of the union which made major concessions on salaries and benefits to help the companies survive and return to profitability. Can you tell us what concessions President Bush extracted from Wall Street bankers for saving their companies from the disaster they engineered? Are you aware that the auto industry rescue loans amounted to less than 10% of what we gave Wall Street? The facts are easy to find; you just have to want to.
Joshua, Bush signed the bail out. After he left office, he stated he would do it again. Also, who said Obama is hated by 70% of Americans? Provide a link please. Why are you spreading lies?
http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/03/news/economy/house_friday_bailout/index.htm
Joshua – now there's one of those angry guys right there – mad as hell because that's what makes him feel good – makes up facts as he goes along too.
Actually Josh, your timeline is pretty far off. The Wall Street bankers got their bailout in September-October 2008–from the Bush Administration. Obama was in the Senate at the time, was running for president, but had not yet even been elected.
70% of people that believe joshua believe in unicorns too.
Whee!! Making up statistics is fun!!!
With an approval rating of above 48% that makes your numbers a lie and falsified. Try again troll.
Trolololololololol.
Its okay Joshua, your method of hiding from the truth works for ostriches too.
Oh come on Zakaria! Do you really think that the liberal women that you have been talking to were ever going to vote for a republican anyway?? When you engage in a discussion with liberal wacko women such as Soledad Obrien you will get the same anti GOP hate spewing. Engage the average woman with an average intelligence level and you will see that they have figured out that this contraception issue is something invented by the far left radicals to deflect the discussion away from the issues that matter such as Obama's failed economic and energy policies.
So Stephen, all those laws restriciting access to contraception that are being introduced in the Congress and in state legislatures around the country are inventions of the liberals? And Limbaughs's coments were also planted? Who knew the Republican party was now made up of puppets whose strings are being pulled by Democrats.
Please don't wow them with facts and commonsense. This isn't a matter of whats good for our country anymore; its about "my team won, it sucks to be you"
What exactly has the GOP done, since co-governing the United States Stephen? Oh BTW Stephen, we are no longer losing 700,000 jobs a month like we were under Bush. Also, here's another link to you and your ilk from all progressives:
STOP SPENDING. (Notice the 4th graph below) Bush spend like running water.
Stephen, YOU are part of the angry, white male that will quickly marginalized....if you haven't been already. Grow up. You are already irrelevant.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/07/28/us/charting-the-american-debt-crisis.html
Uh, sorry, Stephen, engage the average woman and she's mightily concerned if not downright anger and, believe me, because I'm one of them and know many others, even very conservative woman, she's NOT blaming the Democrats and will not vote Republican if this continues.
Demographics are important only to the Black and Jewish groups. The rest of us will support the candidate we think is best suited to get us out of this economic quagmire.Romney has to make a convincing case. If not , Obama will take him to the cleaners.
Look everyone!!! Zakaria caught another angry white man!! Cast again, Zakaria! Maybe you found a whole nest of them. They bite at anything and put up a fight too! Yeeehaww this is fun! I think you caught a yellow stripped Teabagger!
"The Republican Party’s demographics problem" aka the GOP hates 99% of all Americans
I would wager that the "women" vote for the GOP in a general election will end up being far less then even these numbers suggest. Especially if the candidate is Santorum. This is the price you pay, when your agenda is to lead only your base and not a Nation
The Bigger problem for Republicans is getting their unfettered message to US voters without the spin of liberal commentators, biased "journalists", and news outlets who are blatantly campaigning for Obama.
What makes you think Fox News, the Murdoch empire, Hannity, Limbaugh, Beck, et al are Liberals? The truth is, this notion of a "liberal" media is a crock. The most well known and vocal "commentators" and "journalists" are CONSERVATIVE.
Awww...don't burst his bubble. He doesn't really have much left with the way the GOP is alienating the independents.
Al Qaeda and Bin Laden wanted to put out a video commemorating the 9-11 attacks. Which Major news outlet did they decide would be the most present them in the most favorable light of their viewpoint ? FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, PBS
They wanted to send it to everyone but FOX. Think about that for a while.
YankeeSkeptic thinks that it's okay for Fox News to advocate for the racist, radical, far right extremists, but liberal journalists get thrown off the air if they make a political donation to a Democratic candidate. Wow. YankeeSkeptic you don't know anything about what you're talking about.
Awww. How sad. It's the overplayed and worn out conservative victim card. See, it's got a corner that wore off and has vitriol stains on it.
As a former Republican, I'm saddened by the way the party has stopped speaking for the country. It now speaks for "angry white extremists", and preaches to all others about how they are not worthy. To lead a country, a party needs to be willing to work with the many different parts of it, but today's Republicans want nothing to do with those who do not espouse the values of the "angry white extremists". So sad and so ineffectual.
No one fixed the bix rent in the big tent.
Some of us "angry white guys" are angry at the Republicans and strongly support Obama. Some of us strongly support women's rights and thir abilities and right to make decisions about their own bodies. Some of us do not forget that Obama's attempts to strengthen the economy have been fought at every turn by Republicans that would rather see our economy get worse so that they can blame President Obama. Some of us understand that all of the attempts to discredit the President and attack his birth certificate are simply racism. Some of us will never vote for a Republican ever, and some of us vote in every election. Here is hoping the Republicans lose big and the country can get away from the angry bigots that call themselves the conservative base.
Yes! Times 2! For me, the sad thing, is that I could imaging voting for the more liberal Republican party of my youth. PS: "liberal" is NOT a cuss word meaning naive and wasteful.
You toss about the "Angry White Guy" label, but in reality it is liberals that are "Angry". Read your posts here maybe it is time for some self reflection time.
That's funny, when I read all the cllective comments on this board, all I see are angry conservatives. It kind of makes me giggle – I'm a happy liberal!
Funny thing, when I look at core GOP storngholds of voters I see nice, family-freindly communities with low crime rates, wonderful performing public schools and strong property vlaues. When I look at strongholds of Democratic voters such as inner city communities in places like Chicago, LA, New Orleans, Detroit, Memphis I see communities with rampant cime rates, high unwed pregnancy rates, failing public schools and blight. But hey, they all vote Democrat in the hoods!
Not if we can disenfranchise minority and poor people by restricting how and where they can vote. Come on white dudes, don't get discouraged. All the money is on our side.
"I see" - therein lies your problem - perception.
Your view of the core of the Republican Party is different from that of Conservative columnist George Will. He sees it as older, less educated and scared to death of the change being created by the demographic shift in America, which they can't stop. You can also add to that the majority in the poorest states in the country, hardly the site of prosperous low crime and happy homes.
Screw George will. Don't read him or follow him. Where I live in the south, the cities with majority Democratic voters are in terrible shape. They sufer from high rates of teen pregnancy and unwed births, failing public schools, terrible crime problems and horrible elected leadership (run by Democrats elected to office in other words). The suburbs and other cities in the state which are made up of majority GOP voters are full of families with kids, good public schools, low crime and full-time employed tax-apying citizens of all races. Exaplin it to me, will you smart guy?
"Scew George Will" – ha ha ha! That's the reality of the "modern" Conservative movement. "Screw" the smartest and most rational person who ever identified himself as a Conservative (a tie with Buckley?). Yep, TruthHurts would rather be a redneck tea-partier whose "idealogy" consists of "if'n I don't like it, some dang liberal is to blame."
Truthhurts, you're a moron. The republican strongholds are in the South and Midwest, and have some of the highest rates of poverty, illiteracy, and drug addicition this country has ever seen. Check your facts before you shoot your mouth off!
Truth only hurts if you pull it out of your rear sideways!
OK smart guy, I challenge you to lookat the 5 American citeis with highest violent crime rates and tell me how they vote. Don't look too hard. You might not like what you find!
Governor of LA – Jindall – R
Governeor of TN – Haslan – R
Governeor of MI – Snyder – R
Got nothing to do with state Governors. It has everything to do with local elected officials and the people who elect them. And besides, only in the past couple of years have those states had a GOP governor. They have been dominated by Democrats for decades! Grow up and get real or one day you will wake up and allaround you will resemble Somalia!
You must not have been to SC, NC, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and so on... you know all the states that are Republican strongholds that are also bottom of the barrel in education, crime rates, infant mortality, obesity, literacy rates, hate crimes, highway conditions... the list is so long it is ridiculous long. Here is SC we have an area known as the Corridor of Shame because its jobless rates are so high, and education is so poorly funded. You must be blind, or just choose to be obtuse if you really think the majority of Republican strongholds are paradigms of stong and sophisticated communities.
Tea Party means nothing to me. You have me wrong. You need to understand that it is the local Democratic strongholds that keep those states down – the cities that have turned so terribly wrong over the past 20 years. You need to dig firther than just repeating the usual Liberal rhetoric. You start comparing communities which strongly vote GOP to communities that storngly vote Democrat and you will find yourself on the losing end of civility and finding places that one wants to raise their children in. Bank on it!
Hum, let's see. The states where the GOP does well in tend to be the lowest income states, states where there educational systems are the weakest, above average divorce rates and unwanted pregnancy rates, among other things. Now those are things to certainly be proud of.
Freedom and personal responsibility over overpriced apartments and over crowed cities anyday.
Look closely at the poorest states. They're generally Republican, except for Texas (and if not for oil, they'd be included). They also tend to be the most socially conservative and evangelical, not that that's necessarily bad, but it is resistant to change and alternative views.
Although I disagree with your narrow views in general, the easiest way to counter this argument is by mentioning causation. Even assuming your "facts" are true, you assume that a community electing a government controlled by Democrats causes deterioration of the neighborhood. Vice versa concerning Republican control causing "safe" communities. But you have wrongly identified the cause-effect relationship.
Neighborhood safety, crime rates, and similar issues are much too complex to reduce to simple one cause one event relationships. But for your backwards argument to make any sense, D's communities would have needed to originate safely, enjoying nice standards and controlled by R's, only to be destroyed upon later election of Dem's. again, vice versa for Republican neighborhoods. Although people make good points above and below, causation is the best way to put an end to this nonsense.
I live in Princeton NJ and I clearly see your point...
(The top 5 best performing school systems are all solidly blue, while the bottom are all solidly red. The ongoing Republican attacks on science makes sure that 90% of serious scientists would never vote for red, but who cares about data.)
I moved from a blue state to a red state where private schools are affordable. It is cheaper for me to send my kids to school in a red state than pay the crazy high taxes in a blue state for a sub-par public education vs a private school where I have more say in my child's education.
Of course that is what you'll see. it is the greatest lie ever told, that Democrats help minorities / poor. They have done NOTHING in 60 years to help, other than make them (minorities / poor) dependent upon Gov't. How people keep falling for that same lie again and again is simply beyond me. Liberals are way too entranced by "feel good" stuff, to ever look at the issue pragmatically. If they could ever pull their heads out, they would see how Democrats have conspired to create and maintain the lower economic class, simply to attempt to build thier voting base.
You know there's medication for schizophrenia right?
What seems to be left out of analyses like these is the huge increase in corporate money being injected into the system. The so-called "Tea Party" is funded by the founders of the John Birch Society, and has the same policies. Gingrich is only still in the race because of a sugar-daddy backer.\, enabled by the new loopholes.
As Abramoff has pointed out, around 100 Congressmen are "owned". I wish Fareed would address that sometime, instead of a traditional demographics analysis.
"You can’t win a general election with the angry, white, male vote."
Smartest thing Zakaria ever said. Pandering to a minority core group gets you lots of applause at rallies, but not much else.
Really? What kind of election results did you see in 2008? I must have seen something else b/c minorities played a massive role in the landslide victory of the president. Minority doesn't actually mean a smaller # of people, it referres to the fringe groups not in status quo control of society. ie. Angry white conservative traditionalists clinging to a bygone era and scare sh!$tless they're losing it. Once you threaten that, they play the old protect your women and children family values card to gain the upper hand. If you don't know anything about American history, look up what happend in the south after the Federal govenment pulled out and stopped officailly protecting minorities. Jim Crow mean anything to you? How about Pogram?
It isn’t conservative values that should be faulted but rather the use of “conservative” as a camouflage for catering to the interests of “the few” (1%), while taking the majority (99%) for granted and insultingly thinking people can simply be conned, manipulated and used as “pawns”, that needs to be rejected. Just observing the completely arrogant, stubborn and irresponsible performances of Boehner, McConnell, Cantor, Ryan,,, the disgusting offering of “puppet” candidates like Cain, Perry, Bachmann, Santorum, Gingrich,,, the aggressive, intimidating efforts of Norquist, Cheney, Rove, SuperPacs and others and the bazaar antics of Limbaugh, Palin, Beck, Hannity,,, tells the real story and leaves no doubt. They are constantly pushing this country towards being a two-class society where the powerful, influential and extremely wealthy compete in having it all, while the majority, including the total middle-class, are left ignored and struggling. If the voters naively accept that as “conservative” and allow the return to “more of the same”, Bush-Cheney style, it will be completely ridiculous and totally self-defeating as a continuing catastrophe for the majority. Our problems aren’t from “big government” being focused on the people but rather are the direct result of politicians neglecting their responsibilities to totally focus on catering to “the money” for their support.
First, "Obama made the recession worse"
Later, "Obama isn't improving the economy fast enough."
Next, "Obama is improving the economy too quickly.
Fareed – Spot on! I use to claim myself as republican. I left the party for Independent status during the Bush administration because the party is pandering to a smaller group further on the right. Now I will say I am a southern white christian. I guess I'm just not angry enough. Or maybe my problem is that I am not God Fearing enough....or that my wife is Hispanic....Not sure what my problem is. But until they come to reason, return to a moderate, fiscal conservative platform that leaves God out of government and recognizes that you cannot balance the budget with lower taxes and cutting all federal expenses but increasing defense budgets to no end...
Zarkaria forgot to mention – they are even anti-rebpulblican. They hate rhions. Hard to see what will attract anything beyond their base – such bubble heads!
I am a 60 year old angry white male. Further, I was raised in the South and spent 30 years in the military. I am in great financial shape, have good health, a loving wife and two beautiful children. So why, you might ask, am I angry. Well, I am angry because of what I see the politicians doing to this country. They are destroying it. But mostly, it is the Republicans who are destroying it. Their ideas about governance and the role and purpose of government are flat out wrong. Capitalism is great, but capitalism needs rules and rule-enforcers if it is to be kept from running off the rails, as in the recent financial meltdown, and it society is to be protecting from the kind of harm that results when private gain (i.e., maximized corporate profits) takes precedence over preventing public harm (e.g., ill health from pollution, etc.).
Our country is founded on the notions of personal rights, endowed by the Creator (however you envision the Creator to be), that precede and are superior to any establishment of government or act thererof, and on the idea that government should be "Of the People, By the People and For the People." Republicans/Conservatives reject those notions and think that rights are granted by the government and are subject to the whims of the government and the majority and that government should be "Of the People, By the Elite, For the benefit of the Elite."
Zakaria said that "The Republicans have a powerful case to make in the general election: The economy remains bad; the recovery is weak; unemployment is very high. Republican candidates for president could make the argument that Barack Obama has been in charge of this economy for three years and that the slow economy is his responsibility.
They could also make the argument that Obama’s vision of the role of government in the economy is wrong – that their approach would be much more friendly to the private sector and to business."
Actually, the Republicans have no case to make as it is their policies and philosophies that created the current situtation. The Republicans cannot saddle the President with full responsibility for the current economy as they not only created the problem, they have fought tooth and nail against everything ha has done to try to correct the problem. Finally, as to the idea that the Republicans answers are better, that is laughable.
So that is why this angry, 60 year old white Southern veteran will be voting against every Republican candidate for as long as it takes for the Repubican party to come to its senses. I won't be voting FOR the Democrats, for whom I have no love, as much as I will be voting AGAINST the insanity of the modern Republican party.
Just Saying...
Perhaps if that is the true view of Conservative, perhaps there is more in common between liberals and conservatives than what is currently seen. Amen.
There is no need for liberal trolls here, this is already a liberal website. But I have to give you an A for your effort, you almost had me til you said "just sayin"
Excellent thoughts – seems to be the Republicans need to retain their conservative principles w/o becomin retro – Cain, Bachmann type of candidates are not going to work they a Jeb Bush type. Someone who wont alienate so much of the country.
I have a feeling YOUR sentiments expressed here represent a HUGE demographic in itself!
Just sayin'? You ain't 60! Oh, and since your so well off financially, please give me the amount of money I require to make my lifestyle on a par with yours. THAT'S what is happening and you've got blinders on.
This analysis is downright silly. Let's set the record straight 1) talking about the "...angry, white, male vote..." is so patronizing and untrue, basically elitist . Just being white is being angry, what's next we are going to create a situation like in ex- Rhodesia, or even South Africa? This anti white sentiment that pervades the elitist media is absurd and dangerous.
For the record Fareed, and yes including Hispanics according to last 2010 Census – we can all check – whites account for 77% of the population. So this boohoo demographics issue is bunk. 2) the Hispanic vote is NOT as decisive as the liberal pundits like to tout it because at the end of the day it is still as far as actual Hispanic registered to vote and very small percentage of the total numbers of voters. When you talk about 50 million Hispanics not all are citizens by a long shot, easily 10 million are here illegally and million others are non citizens residing here legally. Hispanic politics is dangerous for this country because it divides our country and stigmatizes the Hispanic population.
77% of the population may be white, but not let's deduct the women from that group, and that is who Zakaria was speaking of. Women tend to vote Democratic anyway. The Republicans are just making it easier.
Fareed, you forget that Apartheid was quite capable of running a country and winning elections, even though it was supported by a minorty of the population. The solution is quite simple: while still retaining political control, disenfranchise the majority. You can do this through elections fraud; gerrymandering, which is perfectly legal; or by disenfranchising elements of the majority– you can't be as blatant in the US to have a poll tax anymore, but you can always intimidate voters away with voter ID laws allegedly aimed at tamping down on non-existent fraud. The GOP made its intentions clear in its fraudulent pursuit of ACORN, whose main offense was apparently registering and encouraging minorities to vote.
Once its opposition is effectively disenfranchised, the GOP can and likely would rule with impunity: a nation of robber-barons, Jim Crow, and Jesus– and even greater disparity of wealth and corruption.
The issue with ACORN was that they 'falsified' voters.
The Southern "conservative" vote was packaged by George Wallace and taken over by Ronald Reagan when he visited Philadelphia MS in 1979. It has taken 40 years for them to move to the back of the Republican bus. Now they're about to
be set adrift in their own little hate-filled craft.
Good riddance, y'all.
JoeT – here is how illegals commit election Fraud, you want to know? You get yourself a valid drivers license with your green card or any acceptable ID real or fake and you register to vote as well. done! iand it's done every day.
I am appalled at this fact and yes I am ready to bet my house on the fact that UNTOLD numbers of illegals and actual Legal residents have actual voted in our elections. Check out what is happening in Denver Colorado where it looks like 4,500 people getting their drivers license with Green Card also registered to vote! If you are US Citizen you DO NOT have a green card. I know mine was taken away that day when I took the Oath of Citizenship!
We need strict Voter IDs in thsi country and teh notion that minorities are disenfranchised is a lie. What they never need ID in their everyday life? Again this is bunk. You know it, we all know it.
Peace!
In a Justice Department investigation of voter fraud following the 2006 elections, only 86 cases of voter fraud were confirmed nationally.
"only 86". That's a far cry from none, and shows that it does happen. How widespread it is can't be determined from just one investigation.
Joe shoots he scores!!!!
That number is based on what they could find. If the fraud is good, how will investigators catch it?
@mgrey, so the argument is that since they can't find it, it must be there??
@Ali – 86 cases nationally is some ridiculously small percentage that it is essentially zero. There are better places to focus our legislative attentions that don't disenfranchise voters.
Source
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/washington/12fraud.html?pagewanted=all
I thoroughly enjoy Zakaria. He has an excellent spirit of deliverance about him. Keep going Fareed. Watch out though. You are swimming around in an ocean of ignorance on all sides and a few off the internet.
Zakaria = muslim Nancy Grace
"Part of the reason for this is that the party is increasingly a Southern party reflecting the region’s concerns and passions."
Which are apparently anti-intellectualism, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and jingoism, amongst others.
I really hope the GOP picks their true conservative this time around to demonstrate how little support it has.
Don't give the republicans the answers Fareed! Let them keep sinking deeper into their narrow bigoted views. It's just too bad we can't take the best philosophies from both sides and bring them together in a discussion, rather than watch both sides get more and more polar.
**Down with the Superpac's!**
The GOP has been radicalized to a point that it is fast becoming irrelevant. The party that claims smaller government is increasingly singling out segments of the population for intrusive government policy, which, in effect, is removing our rights. Conservatism has morphed into a radical beast that will consume the GOP. The polarization of the party is very apparent in the way the primary is being run. Kick the bums out in Nov. and with it, their radical agenda!!
they ARE the Christian Taliban..... they hate our way of life
I'm a conservative atheist....but thanks for the bigotry and stereotyping! VERY liberal of you...
irrelevant like in 2010 when the Democrats lost Ted Kennedy's seat, the NY governorship and lost the House of Representatives? It's your view and the Democrat view that the federal government should control every aspect of our lives no matter how much debt you run up that is irrelevent.
I think it's safe to say Santorum wrapped it up nicely with his statements about Puerto Ricans adopting english. It may be what a lot of Americans think, but it's a horrible political move. Rush handed President Obama the women vote, Santorum handed him the Latino vote. Hopefully after the Republicans finish their campaigning for President Obama, he'll dump the massive amounts a cash left over into a good charity.
Joe
http://www.waiting4departure.com
While other Americans think "E Pluribus Unum"
*Muslim America[n]s
Someone missed the absent "n" when editing this! Just FYI
It was deliberate. CNN is almost as bad as MSNBC, they think we're already like Europe.
Nice try Fareed. Again, you are just a parrot of the left. There is so much baggage you all have, the White House, with the spending and deficit ....and fundamentally thinking that government creates jobs, not business, that you will all melt away in November.
Just can't wait to laugh at you people. Say what you want know, be delusional. But I will be laughing in November. And I will remind you too.
I am a Mexican- American Republican voter for over 30 years now, however this coming election I will not vote for either candidate. I am pro-family and anti-abortion in every way. The Democrats are not pro-family and the Republicans are anti-immigrants. They do not want any kind of immigration reform soon. I cannot support either of these Party's values!! I know many latinos that feel the same as I do on this subject.
u should be voting for santorum as he represents the reason u r antiabortion....
your ancestors were massacred by his beliefs.... Mayan heritage nixed for a bible.
Democrats are not pro-abortion, they just don't want government to force you to do what others say is right and prohibit you from doing what other people say is wrong. It's called liberty.
"gmr"
My wife is from Central America, born there. Her parents came here LEGALLY, the hard way 40 years ago. Her parents, her sisters and brothers, all Latin, all support tightening the borders and against illegal immigration. Isn't that interesting?
Why should they have to have waited and worked hard, did it legally only to see others do it breaking the law and not following the rules like they did.
You have been here 30 years? Did you come illegally? Is this why You support illegals?
You are mistaken and in a sad lot. Why have any laws in anything if there are double standards and shortcuts for cheaters.
I take it your wife's family will be voting for Obama, since he's beefed up the number of border patrols since coming into office, increased the number of deportations, and reduced (w/ help of a crappy economy from W) the rate of illegal immgration.
Joe T, you may interested to know that Obama's proposed budget would cut funds to Border Patrol, as well as gut programs such as 287g through which local communities turned over to ICE many of the deportees Obama has claimed credit for. It's an old, old trick–say you support something, even pass laws to enable it, but then don't provide funds for it.
Republicans aren't anti-immigrant. They are anti illegal immigrant. Huge difference.
It's hilarious, because a lot of these comments represent people on the left. Delusional thinking thatbthey are in the majority. People – you are gona get steamrolled, lol. It's Reagan vs. Carter on steroids, once the Republican nominee is confirmed. Have your fun while you can now, blab away....then in Novemeber you will all crawl back into your holes, like before.
that's because these liberal fool lefties think CNN represents a majority of americans. when in fact it's not even the most watched news channel.
Exactly, they r all in a bubble. And come November that bubble bursts. Then we have clean up Obama's mess.
That would explain why you all are so dumb and misinformed.
Proof Link: http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/local_news/water_cooler/poll-finds-that-fox-news-viewers-know-least-about-news,-most-uninformed
Proof Link #2:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2011/11/21/fox-news-viewers-uninformed-npr-listeners-not-poll-suggests/
perhaps the GOP should start promising millions in tax payer funded handouts like Obama.
They are, but only for the richest 1%.
Oh yeah...LOOK at all of those republican voters in the red states taking a handout.... DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOU BABBLE AND SPREAD LIES
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/03/11/red-states-are-the-real-welfare-states/
They have gone so far fight, to please their jesus base, they have damaged the brand. So badly, that their only palatable candidate – Romney – will be unelectable. Keep 'quoting' god and hating women, and see where that will get you.
And these guys just can't help themselves – normal politicians promise anything, but don't go too far off course. At least until after the election – when their true motives can come out and they can try to out-holy Reagan and force Americans back into church. THEIR church!
EVERY group Zakaria mentions WANTS SOMETHING FOR FREE....that is why they love Democrats...they think government money comes from magical "lollipop" trees and not from our pocket. A reality the republicans realize.
Oh yeah...LOOK at all of those republican voters in the red states taking a handout.... DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOU BABBLE AND SPREAD LIES
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/03/11/red-states-are-the-real-welfare-states/
Part of the problem is although the Republicans tend to favor the rich, the Democrats and media potray them as racist.
The Democrats are portrayed as the party with a program for every need. Although both parties are after the same thing control of our lives. They just go at it at the oposite directions.
And that "program for every need", made this the richest, most prosperous country in the world. It occurred after WWII – that some of us fought in. Everyone had a stake in this country. The GOP ONLY wants to tax the hardworking people of this country...and give the milk away to the rich. After Reagan got in office, those tax breaks dropped significantly, and the country turned for the worse and has never recovered. He raised taxes 11 times because his trickle down Reaganomics crushed the economy. We are no longer a loving country; we are a country where we hate each other. We are no longer "our brother's keeper's". We are "get the hell outta my way, I'm want this, that and everything else" Lest I remind you, Greed is God's #2 sin. God abhors Greed.
It's the SPENDING stu pid!
things are getting better and have been getting better..... 3 years is a reasonable time to recover from the 8 years downward spiraling the previous dolt did....
nothing like invading the #2 oil producing country for no reason at all instead of staying on target OSAMA..... thanks to this ignorance OPEC has absolutely no reason to meet and talk about CUTTING production to increase oil prices cuz the previous dolt did it for them..... oh wait?! we forgot all about OPEC didnt we... thanks bush
Exactly Zakaria. I have been saying this for a while now. Blacks + Latins + Gays + Women + Arabs + Muslim + Atheists + biracial couples and all other "perceived minorities" just happen to add up to more than Bible loving racists.
It is actually extremely disturbing to see these folks taking a message of love and compassion and transforming it into a weapon of hate
I am an angry white man, aged 60 to boot. But I'm angry at the GOP specifically, because it is GOP policies that created our current problems and prevent their correction. Not to mention that they put forth a slate of circus freaks for the 2012 elections.
Actually, 'annoyed' is a better word than 'angry.' I had the brains to register Independent 36 years ago, so the antics of the GOP, while a personal affront to my common sense, are, to me, at least not generally traitorous.
Well, the way I see it is that GOP has given up representing the people.
They never did. Some people are JUST NOW waking up to see that.
Zakaria should be careful with terms like "angry white male" vote. It can be seen in a negative light, especially since he is of the "non-angry white male....howbeit, arab" vote.
And here is where the whole system goes wrong. A President has no business trying to appeal to each demographic because each demographic has no business trying to appeal to the President to change the country in their favor. Every demographic should be voting on what is best for the COUNTRY, not what is best for each demographic. This is how the Federal government became so large. People started thinking that they should have things the way they want them and the President should be the one to give it to them.
Thank you, Dr. Obvious.
I'm an elderly, angry white male, a war veteran and unemployed. I have no desire to turn the country back over to the people who drove it to ruin in order to feed the rich every penny they possibly could. I back my President, Barack Obama, with every fiber of my being.
Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive. Thanks, Mr. Obama.
Fareed, you are confusing your wishful thinking and reality. But I understand that you believe, and to a degree is true, that your pontifications may actually influence people's thinking. That may be true but only to a certain point, and that may not suffice to see what your views prevail. But anyway, you are a shrewd man an couch your effort to influence in appearance of objectivity, a quality you don't posses. Bless you Fareed, as Nancy would put it.
To add to what I said above, I also don't believe that he should lump all women into one category. In fact, many women view it as pro-woman to warn women of the negative consequences that abortion and some contraception could have on their bodies. My point is, not all women think alike. I am certain that he wouldn't appreciate me using the arab-female stereotype and saying that all arab women must be ultra-conservative and eagerly submissive. This is a free-thinking country. That said, women and white men are free to be happy, conservative or anything else that may go against the cultural "norm" that is set by CNN and other prominent media outlets. (FYI – I don't consider myself to be "white", "angry" or conservative.)
Civil War 2 ... Oh boy...
Are these "angry white males the same as those who turn to their guns and religion when unemployed, Fareed? And in just what superior group do you belong?
GOP/Tea Party are drawn to the lowest common denominator. They feed off of the ideology that the mouth pieces of the party have been brainwashing their base with. This ideology doesn't work and is already shown to be useless and is only geared to one small segment of the population. In their desperation they are now turning their attention to pushing emotional buttons like abortion, birth control, religious freedom, all of which have nothing to do with solving problems that we face in this country but appeal to their base. Instead of focusing on the real issues they believe that using this tactic will help them in the election. Unfortunately for them, we still have educated people with common sense in this country who actually check the facts and use logic to understand problems and the solutions. The GOP/Tea Party have abandoned common sense and logic and have gone so to speak, to the dark side.
Sorry but Paul and the Libertarians are headed to the dust bin of history. Romney and Santorum are not better options only they are headed to the unemployment line.
Love it. You need to copy paste this every 5-10 minutes. You have my permission. LOL
"They could also make the argument that Obama’s vision of the role of government in the economy is wrong – that their approach would be much more friendly to the private sector and to business"
If the government doesn't protect the environment, who will?
"You can’t win a general election with the angry, white, male vote."
That would be racist if applied to any other group. But it is Ok to attack white males as stupid and angry.
That almost makes me angry.
Totally agree....
He didn't say stupid. You're inferring stupid. But deep down you must also recognize that such intransigence in light of what the Republicans are doing is a bit daft.
Zakaria said – Assad will fall withint 6 months – Wrong! Iran is not building nukes – Wrong! Anything that this muslim says is to destroy America from within.
Racist much? I can name someone who's bringing America down even more than FZ.
Wow, now it's racist to call a Muslim a Muslim? I can't keep up with this PC BS!
I believe that Fareed owes women and white men an apology. He stereotypes and lack of knowledge of these two groups are utterly disgusting and prejudice! I agree with many of the tones that are represented above. CNN, I strongly request that Mr. Zakaria be taught some culture-sensitivity courses. Afterall, there aren't many "angry white men" (not that I am angry) who are going to be willing to be dictated by "pompous arab men", especially in America.
Maybe he should replace 'angry' with 'ignorant'. Fareed's not Arab - he's Indian, a minority Muslim in a majority Hindu country. Big difference! We're talking over 1200 miles separating the two places. Get an education.
Actually, that population came from the Arab world; hence, he is Arab. Get an education.
How can the Republicans make the two initial arguments without tanking their argument with how the Congress has said NO to everything the President tried to do? And dragging out seemingly traditional votes? Much "could" have been accomplished if they voted to compromise and see what happens...if they did, and the economy still lagged, or things got worse THEN they could make the argument that the economy "belongs" to Obama...but right now, I hope that America sees that the Republicans OWN the economy – their 8 years initiated the fall, and their 3 years of obstructionism has failed to allow it to climb back as quickly as it could!
Republican tools on this blog forget that the GOP is in charge of the House...therefore....
THEY CO-GOVERN WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES...
REPUBLICAN VOTERS ARE SUCH DUNCES......Obama hasn't done anything because the GOP hasn't done anything!!!
DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Democratic Party is the Party of Government. It cares not a whit about individuals and individual freedom and responsibility. It just lobbies for more and more and more Nanny State power.
Fareed, please tell that to your sponsor Obama when you next visit him for your talking points. You are trying to get a fatcat government position by being an Obama shill, no question about it.
Yeah, things like creating a new presidential cabinet, and agencies like the TSA happened under the Democrats! The GOP wants Big Government in our bedrooms,and truant officers to make sure we keep the Sabbath.
Joe T –
Don't forget the fact George Bush made (read: expanded) government bigger when he created the DHS! Bob just got bodyslammed
http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/11/22/374434/fox-news-viewers-misinformed-study-jon-stewart/
You forgot an important component of the GOP – The RACISTS. The REAL Determinant Factor in an American election is MOTIVATION. And Unfortunately the RACIST Vote is One of the Most MOTIVATED in this Election. It combines the HATRED of a Black President with the FEAR of a Growing Hispanic Population. It is NO ACCIDENT that in the 2008 election the RED STATES were almost ALL former SLAVE Holding or SLAVERY Supporting States during the LAST War Between the States.
Agree - take any state south of the Missouri Compromise line - they will all (maybe not Florida) be red in November.
When that "growing HIspanic population" is largely due to lying, cheating line jumping illegal aliens, Americans have every right to be "afraid". Afraid, because Obama, like Bush, is willing to ignore the laws of this country for his own racist aims–electing a new people. Afraid, because this Administration is continuing and expanding on the policy of Bush to drive down wages by letting illegal aliens keep jobs, meanwhile expecting the American taxpayer to subsidize them with healthcare, educations, welfare, and the child tax credit. It's no accident that as a result of illegal immigration and births to illegal aliens, the number of Hispanic children living in poverty now exceeds the number of non Hispanic White kids who do.
"Serious people within the Republican Party like Jeb Bush have made this point repeatedly."
"Serious people...like Jeb Bush"
hahahahahahhaha
The demographic problem mainly stems from the fact that democrats are able to trick the minority demographics (Latinos and Blacks) into thinking that their party will fight for them, while falsely claiming that Republicans will let them rot. It's no surprise that more intelligent Blacks and Latinos tend to vote Republican as they can overcome the fancy language of the democrats.
The issue for Republicans will be in convincing these people what the Democrats are really up to and that they are not really better off, and in many cases they are worse off, by voting for Democrats.
Women are different, because many of them feel the need to support a party, who supports women making poor choices and not having the responsibility to face the consequences of their actions. I support contraception, but abortion is not contraception.
Yeah, those democrats, tricking those naive minority elements to vote for their best interests instead of for the wealthy elite's, corporations, and Southern Baptist Convention's interests!
Every hear of "40 acres and a mule"? Blacks ain't goin for the crap BS lies that the GOP indoctrinates onto other folks. Nether are Latinos. Republicans have shown nothing but explosive hatred towards Blacks. Have you never googled "Tea Party racists". You should. Had you done that, you would've never made that comical post.
Leftists maintain this racial hatred only because it empowers them and strings along the otherwise uneduted minorities into believing this crap. Leftists are hateful of American values. They use the blacks and other minorities to get their own way and keep them ignorant of reality. Nobody hates blacks in the GOP. this is another Democrat lie – we have all just gotten used to them to the point where it has become a matter of course. Leftists in this nation and all others crease this garbage because they can't win by telling the truth.
Here's another link: Fox News is for the Less Informed
http://gawker.com/5861733/poll-fox-news-viewers-less-informed-than-those-who-read-no-news
Zakaria is just a liberal left propoganda machine for the Democrats and Obama
...........................And what is Fox News? A perpetual, propaganda machine used to indoctrinate the misinformed to make them more misinformed.
Here is the damning piece that Zakaria forgot...and LOOK!! It's from a republican source!!!! Say it isn't so!!
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/political_commentary/commentary_by_alan_i_abramowitz/the_incredible_shrinking_republican_base
Zakaria is the Iranian stooge.
And yet, here you are, reading his site.
The only reason Rebublicans are seen as "alienating large blocs of voters" is because of MSM propaganda.The media has always believed that if they say something loud enough and enough times, they can make it the true
WRONG NORRIS!!
How about this:
http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/04/gop_member_sends_email_depicting_obama_family_as_apes.html
Or this:
http://www.inquisitr.com/170437/tea-party-obama-family-assassination/
Or this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/20/tea-party-protests-nier-f_n_507116.html
Or this:
http://www.salon.com/2010/03/20/tea_party_racism/
For liberal women to go out and have uncontrolled recreational se x and then asking their employer or their school to pay for their birth control is like me going out and buying a very big SUV that guzzles gasoline and then asking my employer or school to pay for my gas because I can't afford to drive it. Rediculous huh!
hey Medicaid and Medicare cover Viagra get rid of that too then. There is nothing wrong with insurance companies covering that stuff in my opinion. It's preventive medicine.
I am a Republican, and you know what? Comments like that do not help our cause and help stupid opinions like Zakaria's.
That's why I am voting for Romney, and not dimwits like Santorum or your other Bacmann/Palin types.
now that I think of it lets get rid of high blood pressure medicine too since people are making bad food choices. Or how about anti smoking medicine it was their choice to smoke. This were all people's poor choices
@rabbit"Perhaps if that is the true view of Conservative, perhaps there is more in common between liberals and conservatives than what is currently seen. Amen." Spot On!
In regard to, "as an experienced businessman, Mitt Romney is the perfect candidate to make them": what business has Romney actually run, not counting venture capitalism/takeovers as a suitable proving ground for truly running a business? And how did he differentiate himself from all the businessmen the world over that ran the economy off a cliff? Seriously, how am I supposed to trust what businessman to not put greed before good, again?
This is the kind of business he's run Mikey (the second link is ESPECIALLY damning)
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/01/01/396199/worker-laid-off-under-bain-capital-romney-didnt-care-about-the-workers-put-profit-over-people/
http://thinkprogress.org/progress-report/romney-job-killer/
Who loves Romney?
- Conservatives don't: "Not conservative enough"
- Evangelicals don't: "The guy's a Mormon!"
- Liberals don't: "He too 1%"
- Women don't: "The Republicans are at War with us!"
- Hispanics don't: "Republicans HATE Hispanics"
- Blacks don't: "He's a REPUBLICAN...DUH!"
- Young don't: "He's too stiff. He's like my Dad!"
- Unions don't: "He laid off thousands..and stole their pensions..the rat!"
- VFW don't: "The guy HID in France during Vietnam!"
BUT....
- The top 1% DOES: "Hey..He'll cancel the 15% Capital Gains tax...GREAT!"
You forgot
Christians:Don't: He's a Mormon
Ugh...unfortunately, you are correct on all counts.
I'm neither a registered Republican or Democrat but Independent and smart enough to know that when one comes to a fork in the road that everything is a matter of chance on which path one takes going into the unknown.
" You can’t win a general election with the angry, white, male vote. "
Zakaria, you are a racist! And you have no idea whether white men are angry, sad, happy, disheartened, disillusioned or how any man, regardless of color may feel. Why must you always paint white men as "angry". I'm a pretty happy guy!
Because just appealing to the angry white men (aka Tea Party) and no one else, just isn't enough to win an election. Did you not understand that?
There are many women who support the Tea Party. The Tea Party is about government fiscal responsibility. I'm not sure how people don't understand that. It would be interesting if CNN showed the 'real' faces off people who agree with the Tea Party.
The real reason why Democrats don't like republicans at all.
http://www.rense.com/general37/char.htm
Republicans are anti-American and are trying their hardest to destroy this country.
Does anybody like this Zakaria's article? He is just an a– kisser of Comrade Obama's administration.
Regardless of whether you support his positions or not, I'm sick of people who aren't able to recognize they are speaking about PRESIDENT Obama. President Bush was a disaster, but I never referred to him as anti-American, even though his policies said otherwise, and were a disaster for hard-working Americans.
Read Comrade Obama's books, you might change your mind.
The debt under Obama is much higher than Bush. How is Obama not a disaster?
The real reason why Democrats don't like republicans at all.
http://www.rense.com/general37/char.htm
Republicans are anti-American and are trying their hardest to destroy this country. What republicans are doing and are trying to do, is reprehensible and downright sickening...especially to those of us who have shed our blood for Glory! A Fascist society is unacceptable!
mm, yeah Freedom = Facist, I see your point.
Stop throwing Fasisim around. Even Wikipedia has the definition down
"Fascists advocate a state-directed, regulated economy that is dedicated to the nation; the use and primacy of regulated private property and private enterprise contingent upon service to the nation or state, the use of state enterprise where private enterprise is failing ..." – Wikipedia
Now, who does that reflect in the mirror ?
Republicans.
For Republicans America is a platform for individual fulfillment. But here's the catch: the Individual is defined in the narrowest possible terms. Any notion of the "The Public Good" is seen as "Socialism" (socialism being anything the government does for the non-wealthy). The Free Market will fix New Orleans levees. The Free Market will effectively control the amount of derivative based risk Wall Street will take. The Free Market will get us off imported oil(rather than spending decades making terrorists stronger). The Free Market will keep our rivers clean. The Free Market will make healthcare more efficient. The Free Market won't bribe Washington in order to increase it's profit margin. We don't need to worry about "The Public Good", individual selfishness driven by short term profit is a utopian reflex.
But the world doesn't work that way. Selfishness harms society....tears it apart....destroys the world economy....spills millions of barrels of oil in the Gulf of Mexico.....tears a hole in the ozone...creates a garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean twice the size of Texas...melts the North Polar ice cap.....creates massive deficits by giving huge tax breaks to the wealthy....
But the Republicans celebrate this selfishness. It is their core value. For them greed is good.
Ditto
Your assessment of Republicans is incorrect. Most people vote republican because they believe in individual responsibility and freedom. In addition, conservatives believe in economic responsibility.
Obama has just 'borrowed' his way through his presidency. As a person that has had to downsize my home and spending, I expect the president to do the same. I don't care what party you're from. If you can't reduce the debt and increase government efficiency, you're not qualified for the job.
Except for the individual liberty to determine how many children to have in your family and which God, if any, to pray to.
I'm a white male and I can't imagine voting for a Republican. So their problems are even deeper than demographics.
The Republican recipe of "cut taxes and increase government spending" worked in 1980 when taxes where high (67% at the top) and debt was low. That recipe did **not** work in 2000 when taxes where low (37.5% at the top) and debt was high. And that recipe would NOT work in 2012, when taxes are even lower and debt is even higher.
The Republican party is in trouble mostly because their economic storyline is based on 1980...and it's 2012.
Republicans have worked hard for the past 32 years to make the economy bad, the recovery weak and unemployment very high. They are willing to sacrifice America on the altar of their grasping, desperate, craving lust for power.
We can only work as hard as possible and hopefully prevent them dismembering America to corporate greed.
Fareed is right on about alienation. If the GOP is only about the right, they will lose this election. Romney's big mistake is letting the other candidates push him to the right. They have probably waited too long to find a moderate that can beat President Obama. I wish they hadn't.
I did what a lot of WOMEN in my area did. I went to the polls on Super Tuesday and voted in the Republican primary. I don't support any of them and won't be voting for them in the general election. I'll vote for Obama. I voted because I live in a red state. My vote in November will be for Obama but my State will go to the GOP. I voted for the most obnoxious one running, and they still had dismal voter turn-out. They don't value me, so I'm helping to give them an obstacle to overcome...their own candidate!!
So you don't mind that Obama has increase the national debt in <4 years at a faster rate than Bush did in 8 years? You don't mind that health care costs are actually increasing? You don't mind that the economy is not improving?
Well, that's not true. Unpaid wars, unfunded Medicare Part D, and Wallstreet bailout (TARP) were much more expensive than the ARRA.
Then you are not an American, you are by contrast a traitor to America. You no longer participate in a fair voting process. You should have you voting rights stripped for life.
None of us participate in a fair voting process, you fascist. It's called gerrymandering.
You voted for Sanitarium, huh?
What this article should be about is the growing dependent class and how this will doom the country. If anyone in their right mind believes that the democrats are going to solve this spending problem then their absolutely crazy. Have fun riding the debt train off the cliff because that's where you and the country are headed. The country does not need either party to fix this because both parties brought us here. We need true conservatives and Ron Paul is the only one that has talked about the single largest issue facing the country, and it's called SPENDING! All you a– h's want to win a conversation over contraceptions... It's pure politics while the country burns... I'm preparing because in 15 or so years... we will be facing a doomsday. Most of Americans are fools, so they're going to get what's coming to them.
I agree with you regarding spending. You would think that the mortage crisis would have taught people that debt and borrowing is not the answer. If you 'borrow', you technically don't own anything. Our country is now lost. The US is no longer an economic super-power. All great empires fall at somepoint. It seems like the majority of Americans are ok with that.
The Republican candidates are in total disarray. But, we have not seen anything yet.
Right now, each of them, in their desperate rush to destroy the others or to seem more conservative than the others, are adopting positions that end up alienating entire groups. If (and that's a big IF) they end up with a single candidate, he will have the embarrassing and difficult job of back-pedaling enough to ingratiate himself with those groups, but not too much so as to alienate his base. He is in a lose-lose situation, but it's one that the Republicans deserve. This has been nothing but nasty, desperate politics at its best. Plus, Republicans seem to be evolving by going back in time. Has anyone told them that the future is in the other direction?
Having said that, there are many months left from now until November. In politics, that's an eternity and anything can happen. These are crazy times.
Looking at the Republican party, you can easily discern it's a party for old white me. Everyone else is excluded.
There are many republican/conservative women. Women understand money, spending, and how to budget. Free birth control doesn't help with a family's declining home value and decreased disposable income. The birth control debate only detracts from the economy. Women aren't 'struggling' to pay for birth control. They are struggle to keep up with their mortgage payments and filling their car with gas each day.
Look again at who runs the DNC. Lots of old white people and lots of old white money !
Hah! It is finally becoming clear to the mainstream media that the GOP is alienating everyone! It is also becoming VERY clear that the "Moral Majority" is neither, and that the rest of our wonderful nation does not have much in common with the overly religious, WILLFULLY ignorant, racist, bigoted, and generally repulsive southern voters! We are watching a major political party commit slow suicide. It will be interesting to see who, or what, takes the GOPs place after they implode!
Describing the Republican party voters as "angry, white, male voters" is racist and offensive – Zakaria should stop doing this. Also, referring to someone else's point of view as "angry" is a cheap way to try to silence them rather than objectively making a counterargument.
I agree. There are many 'conservative' women. Also, I know of many black and hispanic republicans.
Wow, you even have a black friend? Awesome, so did W.
This article is insulting to women. As a woman and 'CFO' of my family, birth control costs aren't a big concern for me and my family. Taxes, increasing gas, grocery, education, and healthcare costs, a poor and non-competative job market, and declining homes values are my concern as a woman with a family who works, pays the bills, and manages the mortgage. Women (as CFO's of their families) have had to learn to tighten the budget to offset a poor job market and rising costs in order to stay afloat. If we are scraping by and managing our budgets without incurring more debt, shouldn't a president be held to the same standard?
This article insults women. We are not stupid and can see the the economy is clearly not going in the right direction. I'm going to vote for who ever can manage the economy and the country's mounting debt. So far, Obama has failed in this resepct.
Judging by the percentages of Hispanics and Blacks that vote for Democrats no matter what, I think it's safe to say that slavery is alive and well, the new masters are now called liberals. No need for whips and chains when it's the brain that is shackled.
That is exactly their game plan. Even Eric Holder was talking about "Brain Washing" in a recent speech on gun control. This administration is full of control freaks and pseudo marxists. I don't know about you but this rat is already abandoning ship.
Also, I'm insulted when the President says that drilling wouldn't lower gas prices. If anyone has taken basic high school economics, they would understand that if you increase supply, costs go down. I guesst the education system in America is so bad that people 18+ don't understand basic economics and can be easily fooled.
Do I wish that his 'green' energy policies and investment work? Of course I do. But the reality is the Volt is a bust and Solyndra was a bad investment.
He probably just says that because it's true. The amount of additional supply would be negligible and quickly surpassed by consumption from the entire world..
So do you think Obama should continue with is 'failing' green energy policies?
Mr. Zakaria –
SHHHHHHHHH !!
Also, no they probably can't win on the "Angry White Male" vote – I'm an "Angry White Male" (a 28 year old independent centrist) and I'm voting for Obama. I'm still angry about the Bush years, and everything the Republican candidates, Congressional leaders and pundits have said in the interim has only ensured I stay angry (at them). I seriously doubt I'm alone.
Its ironic how the Republicans of today have become the Democrats of the 1860s. I'd love to see a new Lincoln, but for now I'll settle for Obama.
Your full of something and its not Independant spirit
Hey Zakaria rather than be a shill for the GOP why don't you try and write an unbiased story. CNN is becoming the Foux news light. If CNN is not writing propaganda for Israel they are writing it for the GOP. What happened to equal time and fair news reporting on both sides... gone with the days of commerical News.
Republicans are disenfranchising everyone. Their ideology no longer makes sense. People don't trust them or believed them.
Is there no level that Zakari wont sink too? I'm a latino and all of my friends are latino – no one I know is going to vote for Obama! My church is completely up in arms over his recent action requiring all of us to pay for someone elses birth control, regaurdless of our beleives. Obama is destroying religous freedom and the media loves him for it.
Obama is just destroying freedom period.
I agree. I don't like how the author 'generalizes' conservatives as 'white males'. There are plenty of conservative women, blacks, and hispanics.
Sounds like everyone in your church got lied to.
JoeT; You realize that many hispanic are Catholics/Christians. If you don't agree with a church, that's ok, but you shouldn't insult people religious beliefs.
The far right's penchant for RINO hunting has clearly taken it's toll and screwed up the party.
Yet another air-cover hack job article by the left to get Obama elected....its ok, were used to it. Women here in Fla, and latinos, are not big Obama supporters...trust me.
He forgot to add old. Younger voters are Dems too. They attack education, the middle class and unions yet vehemently support big corporations like oil. I honestly don't know what group of voters they stand for anymore
This is not true. Educated young femal voters aren't stupid. We know that education costs are increasing, but quality is decreasing.
If you take a 1st year state college Labor Union/Economics class, one of the first things you'll learn is that Unions are an antiquated labor format that can't compete in a global economy.
A basic level high school economics class will teach you that as supply increases, pricing goes dow n (Basic Law of Supply and Deman). That is why conservatives believe we need to drill.
I think it would be great if the Volt worked and Solyndra was successful, but these 'green' energy policies have recently failed. Do you want the president to keep putting more money into green energy as gas prices rise, or is it time to do something to get cost of living expenses for Americans within control?
"A basic level high school economics class will teach you that as supply increases, pricing goes dow n (Basic Law of Supply and Deman). That is why conservatives believe we need to drill. "
You don't seem to even have a basic understanding of that industry. I'm sure you have read this a hundred times, but as a conservative you will again choose to be ignorant. Oil companies are private companies. They can rip up and drill every inch of land in the US , it will not have anything to do with the price we pay for it. The simple logic of more in the market will bring down the prices does not apply to a limited resource like oil. As a matter of fact it can drive the costs higher. It's much more complicated than something you would learn from a high school economics class.
Lila: I disagree. Unrest in Middle East is driving up oil prices. This means that the market is worried about supply (i.e. supply and demand). It's really not more complicated than that.
Obama is 'borrowing' to put the US into further debt. If our country is in debt, we loose our country. People thought the mortgage crisis was 'complicated' because they didn't understand how an ARM worked or how to calculate NPV (Net Present Value) and interest rates. One doesn't need to understand the later to know that there is a limit to what you can borrow. Also, if you have a 'mortgage' you don't own your home. You own a 'liability'. Right now, our country is a 'liability'.
The "angry, White, male vote". What about the 'prejudice Black vote' (90+ %). Seriously, could Colin Powell have found a more moderate republican than John McCain?
Why not the call it the 'pander to Latino's' vote?
How about the 'Distracted Female' vote (really – no one is arguing about 'women's health' – it's about free birth control.
Groups looking at narrow, self sided interests pandered to by politicians while real issues are obscured – e.g. the economy, our debt.
This is another perfect case of how a far left wing hypocrite writes an ignorant one sided article. Frankly – he makes Limbaugh and Hannity look middle of the road. At least they attempt to disguise what they do as journalism.
But Mr Zakaria, it's not just these 'groups' that are being alienated from the GOP. You say, "These are all very plausible arguments and, as an experienced businessman, Mitt Romney is the perfect candidate to make them." But the arguments are ludicrous. The way you put it here it's as though what the GOP did to the economy under Bush doesn't count; that if they managed to saddle Obama with big enough problems then they have a "plausible" argument for coming back in and repeating those very same policies that led to the mess in the first place. They aren't offering anything new from what Bush foisted on us. They're just saying, "Obama didn't do enough to fix it so let us do it again."
I don't fit into any of the groups you say they are alienating. I'm a white middle class male raised in the church. But I'm not an idiot. They're alienating me because their 'plausible' argument, that you seem so comfortable with, is insane.
Randy, I think Fareed is playing devil's advocate, saying that if you exclude the women's group and the Latinos and African Americans, who are overwhelmingly leaning left (based on the statistics he quotes, not just an opinion here), then all you're left with, by and large, are 'angry white males'. He doesn't suggest all of them are rightwingers, but his point is that even if you put a major chunk of them into the GOP bag, it doesn't get them where they need to be. I do believe even the 'white male' vote will be split, and I'm sure Fareed understands that too.
I agree that he probably knows better. But that's why it's so frustrating when mainstream journalists repeat conventional 'wisdom' that is really just a Republican talking point that has gained traction through their copious propaganda networks. Zakaria seems to often lack an understanding of whether he's cutting through to some important truth or just further cementing a partisan lie. It may be inadvertent but it seems inexcusable in today's horrendous political climate.
Actually, Mitt Romney is the only candidate that has balanced a budget as a politaicl leader. No one else can claim this (not even Obama). Is Mitt the most charasmatic candidate...probably not. But when it's my money (and other tax payer money) at stake, I'm not looking for 'hollywood' charm. I want someone that can reduce spending while making goverment more efficient for the 'people'. Mitt's Resume is the only one that shows this qualification.
Can Obama borrow on credit to get by....Yes...He's good at that. But so are half the morons in America that are underwater due to credit card debt.
But none of Romney's ideas carry any weight. Any success he may have enjoyed in government came from actions that run completely counter to what he claims to be his ideology now. He doesn't seem required by his supporters to actually propose anything that makes any sense. It's all half of an idea without a view to how to do it or what the actual results would be. In the primaries, he's not offering anything besides what George W Bush already did in office.
Randy: The fact is Mitt ran his state with a surplus....a traditionally 'liberal' state. Can you give me an example of how Obama has successfully managed the national debt, other than borrowing and making it higher? Did Bush do a good job of managing the debt – nope. I'm not saying Bush was any better. Let's stop with the noise and look at 'resumes' of the candidates and the current president. Mitt really is the only one with experience in appropriate "fiscal management". I don't care what party your from or how 'cool' you are. If you can't manage TAX PAYERS money properly, you don't deserve to be in office.
It's not noise to say that the economy was crashing when Obama took office. Do we forget how the GOP candidate 'suspended' his campaign to return to Washington even as the crisis was in its early stages? Look at the numbers. We risked losing HUGE chunks of our economy and sliding into something like the Great Depression. It's obtuse to pretend now that there was some way Obama could magically pull us out of the tailspin that Bush's policies set us into. And yet he's done a pretty good job of it in the face of staunch obstruction from the GOP in Congress and on the airwaves.
Romney's resume may seem impressive to you but the things he is proposing to do in office, what he promises to bring us, is pretty much the same things that Bush did.
You can claim to be making a rational argument here but you have to ignore too much of what happened in the past decade. Bush kept claiming that deregulation and cutting taxes to 'job creators' was going to stimulate the economy. It didn't. And it guaranteed the budget deficit. Some of his advisers openly advocated for this 'starve the beast' approach.
And, using the same kind of rhetoric and approach to foreign policy that Romney now espouses, Bush blew more borrowed money on the streets of Baghdad than Obama has managed to wrestle out of Congress and onto the streets of any American city.
Romney's 'plan' if one can piece it together just seems to be more of the magic numbers of already tried and already failed policies. All I'm seeing is more and more reason to hand Obama a real mandate so we can get into the 21st Century already.
Sorry Randy...You haven't convinced me. Numbers and data don't lie. I don't based my voting decisions on emotion, but fiscal facts. I wasn't impressed with Bush, but he's not running for office. I prefer to look forward. When you put Obama's economic policy's next to Romney's fiscal success as governor, I have to go with Romney.
Now if you're ok with credit spending (which most Amercian are), I can understand how you don't understand how to balance a budget. I just don't buy into the idea of running a country on debt. Anyone can do this. A good president sets a responsible example and runs the country with a balanced budet. If I can pay my mortage and have some savings, why shouldn't the president be held to the same standard.
Also – If a republican is the next president and he doesn't lower the debt, I will vote him out in 4 year too. I don't vote based on party, but on qualifications for the job.
Yes, good, you can pay your mortgage. But what if you were handed that mortgage in similar situation to Obama inheriting Bush's economic crash? It's easy to preach from your position but what if you were handed a mortgage on your 200 thousand dollar house for 20 million dollars? You keep claiming to cite the numbers as though that's what your argument is based on but you're ignoring too many inconvenient numbers to make that work. In order to balance the budget as he came into office, Obama would have had to let much of our economy and infrastructure completely crash. Good luck balancing the budget out of the next year's numbers. Without climbing back to prosperity, we'll never have a balanced budget.
But I appreciate the tone of debate here anyway, as most Republicans I try to talk to these days sound like some feverish nightmare from an old Hunter S Thomson story. Good to know some are at least willing to talk. I think any neutral person can at least read the points we're making and make up their own minds. Peace.
Randy; In my career, I've been handed many 'crappy' departments that are in disarray and overbudget. As a leader, I'm good at turning a business unit around without blaming the previous guy/gal. That is what makes a good leader. Obama was hired to borrow "MORE". He was hired to fix the economy and make some 'real change'. This is suppose to be the 'top mind' in our country. If he can't figure out how to fix spending without borrowing, then I say "NEXT". That's what happens in the 'real' world.
it is the electoral map Zak needs to be worried about and also Obama. probably will win but with a Rep house and senate. drill baby drill will be the motto and rightfully so. no other nation places natural resources off limits like the US. now hopefully it will be Clinton Redux
The world watches you Americans more than most of you think. We watch your elections closely and frankly the Republican party scares us. We have come to equate the angry white male vote with the Republican party. We have no issue with white males, just pandering to angry white males is a divisive strategy. Americans need unity, not division, not only for your own sakes but for the world. The entire Republican platform is borderline psychotic, if you ever said you wanted to abolish government regulated healthcare in Canada (or anywhere else) it would be political suicide, your career would be over. Unify Americans for everybodys sake please.
Speak for yourself....not all Canadians are like you. You and Fareed would probably have fun at a dinner together. You could stereotype about all sorts of people.
P.S. – We should probably unify ourselves before we tell the Americans what to do....Quebec, eh?
I'd love to have dinner with Fareed, what you call "elite" we call smart.
As a Canadian living in the US (with dual citizenship) I'm annoyed when Canadians judge the US just because they can get US cable. I've lived under high Canadian taxes and expensive socialized medicine. I'm honest in saying that I prefer my US private insurance to Canadian socialized medicine any day of the week. That is why I to live in the US.
When Canadians are sice with a rare cancer or some other difficult disease, they end up coming to the US for treatment (usually the Mayo clinic) and pay out of pocket anyway.
BTW: Do you even understand your own country? Canada is an extremely religious country. Catholic schools in Ontario are publically funded by tax payers and they have their own school board funded by tax payers. (Religious education in the US is privately funded). How does this account for separation of goverment and religion in Canada?
Also, when I lived in Canada, the government never paid for birth control. In addition, prescription medication in Canada has to be paid out of pocket or by employer private coverage. The governemnt doesn't pay for Rx medication in Canada. My parents are seniors in Canada and because they owned a business, they never got any benefits for medication. They pay for all of the medication out of pocket right now.
Zakari is exactly right.
Core republican values to enrich and increase power for middle aged, wealthy, white, christian males is taking a beating. I wonder why?
also Paul Ryan budget buster does not take on the military industrial complex or the medical industrial complex. I think we can get to the Swiss model but may all be moot given a Supreme Court ruling . oh well maybe the next step is to do haricuts on bond holders. now that would be a wake up call to the investor class
http://www.Hear-The-Truth.com
GOP is the party of the past. They are still living in the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Someone needs to explain the old farts that it is now 2012. The world has completely changed and will continue to keep changing. We have to adapt to new realities. Just pouring money for defense contractors to keep fighting new wars and bullying the world does not work any longer. We need our young people to get education to be able to compete with other nations to stay ahead. Building infrastructure to keep our nation efficient in business and transportation is extremely important, it is more important then giving tax breaks to millionaires. GOP will repeat what they did during the Bush/Cheney era to destroy our economy. It's a clear choice whether we should allow the people to rule us who are responsible for economic meltdown or the people who are trying to get us out of the depression.
Im under 40, and a Repub...there are LOTS of us...wait and see. There is no Dem party as its run by far left libs who are drunk on gay issues and have a disdain for america, and our traditions. FDR and LBJ are rolling in their graves. They love it that this country in turning into a "nanny" state! The left is in for a surprise my friend!
The GOP doesn't even have the angry white male vote tied up. I am a white man and I am angry at what the Tea Party-Limbaugh-GOP has done to democracy in the USA. I will be voting for President Obama and for any non-GOP candidate for Congress.
It's people like you who are what's great about America, I meet your type of angry white male more often than the ones on TV at repub events, we share the same views for the most part when I travel to the States, I salute you Sir
This man comes across as being very simple-minded and prejudice. I am a woman. I have had two abortions. I can no longer carry to term. Doctors believe that it is partially due to my past abortions. So when I MAN automatically assumes that I must be liberal and a democrat simply because they are pro-abortion, he proves himself to be a fool and truly unaware of women's needs and thought-process. I am not 100% against abortion; however, I do believe that abortion and contraception require some serious thought. After MUCH serious thought on the issue, I can no longer side with a candidiate solely because of where they stand on this issue. Does that make me less of a woman; or even worse, does that make me an "angry white man"???
Nobody ever said they are PRO abortion. Its woman's rights that were granted by the supreme court in the 1970's.
Allow me to clarify....by pro-abortion, I mean pro-abortion rights.
Nobody ever said they are PRO abortion. So that's your own damn fault for doing that to your body. The supreme court made the decision and you made a choice, just like all of the smokers in the country. Its deadly, yet people still do it. But Its the republican army that is so gung ho on packing the courts to repeal this and stop the advancement of gay rights.
Wow...you have some anger issues? You're right, it is my fault that I did that to my body. I would love to be able to educate other women on it. If somebody wants to pass laws, because they believe that they are doing it to protect women, then I get that. My point was simply that not all women are liberal. Furthermore, not all women who are against abortion are conservative. The author's views are too simple. That's all, nothing more. I don't intend to attack anyone's set of beliefs, liberal or conservative.
In addition, I believe that there are more liberals trying to pass dietary and smoking laws that restrict your liberty in those areas. With that said, your point is void.
Why is the only male that is represented in the picture a white skinhead that looks angry?
[typo, Fareed: Americas --> Americans]
But why give them (I refuse to say GOP because of the G) such wisdom?
Let the angry white males enjoy 'mutual acids' in the bar.
It makes them happy and the elections less risky.
But they have a solution......cut education...ban contraceptives...make more stupid people...more GOP voters. Pure genius!
It is the Liberals war against traditional family and paying for alternative life style that created a generation of under achievers.
The majority of the american polilation are women
The majority of college students are women.
The majority of the college graduate students are women.
The majority of the medical school students are women.
The majority of the law students are women. Etc, etc, etc.
Yet the republican party wants to alienate the female population by attacking them and requiring them to fight for basic human rights... Like birth control. This can't to a sensible strategic plan.
*population
Let them pay for it and get it not at the cost of others.
What are you, slow? Women are not asking for free contraceptives, they are simply asking that they be covered under the healthcare plans for which they are paying in full or in part depending their employers percentage of participation (Also, don't forget, employers who pay 50% or more of the cost of their employee healthcare plans receive a tax break for doing so.) Woman very reasonably expect full reproductive healthcare coverage (including for prescription contraceptives) as their reproductive systems are such a major part of their bodies and have a greater impact on their overall health than men's. The impact of reproduction on males amounts to little more than vigorous exercise every now and then compared to the impact of reproduction on females and it rarely results in any risk of death or major long-term or permanent damage to their health. If you really had any idea how heavily a woman's reproductive system impacts her body, you would not make such a stupid and flippant comment (unless you are a total j3rk).
Bob Dole 1988
I'm Bob Dole and Bob Dole approves of this message.
On the other hand why are the women in the pictured represented by a white woman, a black woman and an asian-hispanic looking woman who are all happy? CNN get a life.
Funniest part that you indeed can’t win a general election with the angry, white, male vote, but you can't keep USA from falling apart into third world country without angry, white, males... Go figure...
Majority of our fighting and Women and Men are white. It is no secret. Even the President chickened out while he could have been in the services. In quite a few minority churches preachers preach against enlisting because it is... man's army. Only those who do not go to church or those who know what they preach, go and enlist.
Where'd you get your numbers? The latest KKK meeting?
The fact that the majority ethnicity is also the majority in the military doesn't mean a higher percentage of whites serve. The opposite is true. 30% of the US population is considered 'minority' while 37% of the military are of that group. In other words, it's exactly the opposite of what you claim. Fewer whites by percentage serve in the military than minorities. Black people are about 13% of the US population while they make up 20% of our armed forces.
I'm sure that after reading this and (hopefully) looking up the Department of Defense numbers on it you'll correct your mistake and stop repeating those racist lies.
I was in a while ago, but noticed that blacks and Hispanics were disproportionately represented in the military– higher % in uniform than part of the general population.
Generally I agree with Fareed's take but this time I must disagree. The Reqpublican's do not have very many plausible points to make. It was their policies that tanked the economy – relying on the Bush tax cuts without cuts in government spending to pump artificial money into the economy and relying on a housing bubble to add yet more artificial money allowed them to put off a correction by hiding the underlying damage being wrought by business friendly policies that shifted too much work offshore and which thus caused a massive money drain to pay for imports. That is fundamentally what is wrong with our economy – too much consumption and not enough production. The Bush years exacerbated the problem whilst hiding it behind a monumental bubble.
That the Republicans are responding to the challenge by trying to pin their mess on Obama, while alienating woman voters (contraception), hispanic voters (immigration), black voters (food stamp president, birther issues, etc.), muslim voters (anti-muslim rhetoric), gay voters (marriage inequality), labor union voters (anti-labor rhetoric), and educated voters (what snobs) is more than a demographic problem, it is a party that has come off the rails and is now careening into the abyss of irrelevence.
After the election of 2012, I am going to predict that the GOP will crumble. This is a party that is setting itself up for a dramatic defeat. And the nasty tone of their rhetoric foretells how they will react to the defeat. Rather than internalizing what they did wrong, these are a people that will lash out – at everyone and everything they can. They will demonize Romney for being a weak imperfect candidate. They will attack Ron Paul for not playing to the party ideology. They will blame the liberal media for distorting the countries values. They will criticize Obama for making the economy look better than it really is. They will blame everyone but themselves for the historic defeat they are going to suffer.
And that will be the end of the Republican Party as we know it. The Reagan coalition that awkwardly bound religious extremists, fiscal conservatives, and the "I want my gun more than anything else" southern whites together will come to an end. A new collection of parties will emergy to represent these groups, but I don't see a new Republican Party emerging. That is where the demographics will bite – the values of the conservative movement are becoming part of the fringe and won't be a part of American fabric in the future.
how does Zakaria even have a forum...everything he writes or says is stupid
He looks kind of smart, especially when he wrinkles his forehead and starts talking very slowly.
You might as well be Beavis or Butthead critiquing Newton's calculus. Probably holding the book upside down too.
Right now Romney is doing what he needs to do to win the primary. He's a slick politician, so he will move to the center and tell independents and Latinos populist lies to get their vote after he wins the primary. At that point he doesn't have to worry about the extreme right.
Not worth commenting on this site, everyone has already drank the Obama kool-aid and therfore are oblivious to anything remotely related to questioning the man.
The Republicans don't have to prove anything... Obama has proved himself to be incompetent... he is with the economy, he is as a WORLD leader, he was with the oil spill... we need a President who can lead... and Obama can't... Remember anybody but Bush... we'll it's become anybody but Obama... and any intelligent American sees it.
Mr. Zakaria is at his usual game again he says " Republicans have probably already lost Arab and Muslim Americas"
Should that be a factor at all?
Shouldn't our focus be just on SAFEGUARDING AMERICA's SECURITY and NOT wooing any community that refuses to fully co-operate and uses America's own freedoms to prevent law enforcement from doing their job?
Wow. Voting in elections if you're Muslim is "refusing to fully co-operate?" Racism makes people say the darndest things.
I love the way you guys throw around the race card... you do realize that you continue to cheapin' it more and more every time you do it!
Republican does not have a demographic problem. CNN and Zakaria has been promoting minority previlige during the past decade, in their effort to secure minority viewership. CNN has been so obsessed with racial issues. Look at Zakaria, Anderson, the pretty Erin, all their daily jobs are to promoting social division in the US, making up, exaggerating racial discrimination, promoting minority previlige. However, all of CNN efforts only favor the Blacks. Where is CNN stance on the politically enforced cap on percentage of Asian college students? Because they are Asian, so they are limited to go to good universities, public or private? Because Blacks are not doing very weel in high school, so they are admited to colleges at the expense of other minorities. Should college admission especially private schools be solely based on merit, not ethnic background?
Amen! You got that right brother!
That is exactly what they are left with, angry, ignorant, extreme white men. Hmmm reminds me of the KKK party. Tea Party, Birther party, Klan party, what is the difference.
The Republican party has become a collection of special interest groups with little or nothing in common. The NRA, the evangelical Christian, big business, large military, small government, low taxes...these different groups often have conflicting interests and the republican party emphasizes these conflicts and divides their party.
GOPers are well aware which is why there are so many efforts to suppress the vote by limiting those that can vote (voter ID laws in particular). And GOPers don't have anything to say except lower taxes and historically low taxes did nothing to stop the meltdown under President Bush.
Mr. Zakaria says “Republicans have probably already lost Arab and Muslim AMERICAS”
Firstly is it Muslim Americans or Muslim America?
If it’s a DELIBERATE omission by Mr. Zakaria, he needs to know that America is a secular country and THERE’s NO NEED TO PANDER TO ANY RELIGIOUS GROUP and surely NOT a minority religion much against our dominant Christian ethos!
I say this being a Minority Hindu American myself.
The south being all white Republican won;t be accurate much longer. Keeping demographics in mind, the northeast and midwest will become more Republican and the west/south more liberal as time goes on. The red/blue map will be completely flopped in 15 years.
So, to recap... Democrat GOOD, Republican BAD. Who say's americans are stupid?
CNN does!
GOP says Americans are stupid... who else?
I agree completely with this assessment. The republican party is doomed in the long term. Likely what will happen is the democrats will have several rounds of major victories claiming both houses. The republican party will become such a minority party as to become irrelevant in any government decision. This will drive all moderate republicans into the democrats camp. As their numbers grow there will be an increasing party schism within the democrats for control of the leadership ulitmately resulting in a split which will dominate politics for decades. This will place increasing burden on the primary system which effectively will become the election. In states that don't allow non partisans to participate in the primary there will be a massive voter disenfranchisement until these people join The Party. By 2100 there will likely be no Republican party but a formal split of Liberal vs. Conservative Democrats.
Ah ya... right. Look at the polls dude! People have seen what liberalism is and they have rejected it... And CNN is doing everything in their power to ignore it!
now thats funny...well i think just the opposite will happen...latinos are slowly coming back to the GOP, and will be for good. The libs have destroyed the Dem party. Oh yea, get used to Marco Rubio...gonna hold a high office for many yrs to come
Jt, you are in the delusional bubble the leftys live in, hahaha. Wait till November, then we'll see. Unfortunitely, we will have to then clean up your poopy mess, like in the Jimmy Carter days. History will repeat itself again.
Then Jt, you and the rest, can crawl back to your hole and ponder how off base you are and maybe wake up and understand that it was the capitalist way which made America great. Maybe you will get a job and get off unemployment...actually work and produce something.
Move to Europe if you don't like America. It's a socialistic hotbed and look what's happening there now.
The Republicans out there are way higher than you think and you will learn soon.
See you back here in Novemeber, but then you won't come...
and BTW Zakaria...I vote GOP and I'm white....and I have zero apologies for being white!
...and what is your excuse for voting treason?
I'm expecting Romney to eventually get the nomination and then to up his pandering game to try to win back the voting demographics he's lost. I know, I know, it seems impossible to pander any more after getting the wrong artist to sing "sweet Home Alabama" in Alabama, talking about cheesy grits in the South, and complimenting the height of the trees in Michigan. But just you wait.
For one, he will likely nominate a Latino VP. Rubio is my guess for a top pick. I really think he'll want to get a high-ranking, conservative Latina for this post, but after the Sarah Palin debacle a few years ago, his campaign may be too shy to go that far. Another top pick might be an African-American woman for the post (Condi Rice?). Other possibles are Gov. Bobby Jindal and Rep. Alan West. Alan West would be a strong conservative to help lock in his base, but West had has issues with women too and he has poor impulse control. Bobby Jindal is a wild card but will probably be in the top 10. Make no mistake, to try to win back women and minorities, he will have to have high-ranking minorities and women standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
Then things will get *really* amusing. Romney will make speeches to African-American audiences and say he always liked soul food and loved "the Motown sound". He'll give speeches to female audiences and say he used to be a woman! Ok, maybe he won't go that far, but you get the idea. Grab your popcorn folks. It's gonna be a great show!
What a politician 'say's' during a campaign isn't as important as what he/she will 'do'. Romney can and has balanced a state budget into a surplus. Obama has never done this and neither have the other candidate. This is all that really matters at the end of the day.
If your country has no money, we can't have healthcare, a military, education, roads etc. We can't continue to borrow our way to success. Americans should have learned this by watching the mortgage crisis.
And how do you suppose you can know what a politician will DO if you're not basing it on what he SAYS?
I know Romney says one thing and then says another depending on whatever he thinks his audience wants to do.
I know Romney is wealthy and is out of touch with the poor and middle class and SAYS this every chance he tries to "be himself".
I know Romney proposes to balance the budget by giving himself and just rich buddies tax breaks (after paying just 14.9% effective tax rate himself) and by cutting the safety net for the poor he says he would fix.
I know he DID implement a healthcare in MA that (they now love) and he SAID it should be a model for the nation and yet now he SAYS he never said that and SAYS he will the ACA.
All we really know about Romney is that he wants to be POTUS and that he'll say whatever he has to to make that happen. But we know his actual plan is severely lacking. There is little or nothing in there that hasn't been tried before so the rest is wishful thinking.
In general I agree with this assessment, though I'm not sure I entirely agree that it is a party run by the grass roots. The influence in the party seems to be coming from a very odd coalition of true grassroots and rich special interests, and one can debate which side is really pulling the strings.
The interesting thing Zakaria is not pointing out, though, is that the fact that the GOP is hewing so close to the interests of the angry white males is not entirely accidental or coincidental. IMHO it is the increasing power of minorities and women in recent decades (Obama's election being a prime example) that has created a backlash among the class traditionally in power in this country. That backlash is currently what is driving the GOP (what is saddest to see is some women and minorities actually supporting that backlash because they do not understand that it is against them). One can see this as one of a series of movements to preserve the traditional power structure in this country: the rise of the Jim Crow laws and the ejection of blacks from the GOP following the Civil War, the rise of the KKK during the Great Depression, the attacks on the Civil Rights leaders in the 50s and 60s.
Mind you this is not to say that every Republican is motivated by bigotry or an interest in preserving the power of white males. Certainly that is not the case at all. But it is scary to see how openly many in the GOP associate themselves with these viewpoints and how careful GOP politicians today are today not to appear overly sympathetic to the interests of women and minorities.
They are going to get the majority of male while vote also. White males who Catholic, Jewish or below 40 will vote for Obama. The GOPwill only get the old white male protestant vote.
OMG! Mr. Zakaria is right on the money! The Republican Party is so Old South. I live in the south but my no one in my family, including the white males, subscribe to their nonsense. However, I am surrounded by a sea of idiots in the state that I reside in. Maybe it's time to move.
Yeah! to another country. The GOP wants smart, educated people (a.k.a "liberals") to move away so they can run their regime over the ignorants who voted for them.
It seems the Democrats are smarter than I thought. They pick a subject to be "for" knowing the Republicans (in a knee jerk reaction) will be "against". The recent contraceptive debate has the Republicans looking to be against women's rights.
Anyone who votes Republican is a M0R0N.
Actually it's been proven that they are more educated and successful in business then the average American.
Good Lord! Where did you get THAT statistic? The Enquirer?
Yes – not wanting your country to drown in debt and have your children live in a bankrupt nation is a true mark of stupidity!
that's "moran"
You would only spell it moran if you are a moron.
Republican also donate to more to charity than liberals.
Typical response from the right...just throw out some unbased stupid comment to get a response and I know, I fell for it. If you count paying your church for your sins, then maybe. The GOP is for war, spending, taking away our liberties and creating a church-state.
Hey Ohio... churches do more good for people across the world then ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION! And that includes your feed the world mentality of America.
...like chickens voting for Col. Saunders.
Do you know how he and EVERY OTHER liberal discredits themselves... he lumps all Republican support as ANGRY WHITE vote... Yes let's label every conservative as angry and white... So why don't we just say every liberal is a lazy bum who wants to feed off other people's money and doesn't want to work... NEITHER are true! And you and the liberals are the open tent party... ya open to anyone who believes what you believe...
PS: There are more white people on subsistence than black people. Liberals aren't FOR people on welfare, but most would agree that the richest society on earth should help out people that are down on thier luck and provide saftey nets. Under Clinton, a democrat, the laws were changed so no one, unless they are committing fraud, can stay on welfare for more than two years. Furthermore, if offered the same education to our children in the inner city and poor rural areas, as we do in the suburbs, we might not have the need for as much welfare. People on welfare as a percentage is at it's lowest point in decades.
Proportionally that is a false statement! Just found out that fact this morning... however it's not about color... it's about who desires to work hard and achieve... and that doesn't come with a race card.
Public education funding in poorer areas is the same as in 'rich' areas. The teachers are also paid the same and have the same qualifications. The real difference between a 'good' school and 'bad' school lies in the culture of the community and the parents. I grew up in a poor area, but my parents allows touted education as my #1 priority. No matter what the kids did around me, I focused on respecting my teacher, studied the content laid out in my classes. Everyone has access to free public education. If one fails or drops out it's because you choose to as an individual. Throwing more money into education is not the answer.
woo-hoo! Speak the truth mgrey! EVERYONE has opportunities in the America! Even the illegals! However people would rather complain about what they haven't been given rather then work hard for it themselves!
I wonder if Fareed would ever say that the Democrats are sustaining themselves with the vote of "angry" minorities or "angry" women. It would be just as wrong and inappropriate as Fareed's contention that the Republicans sustain themselves with the votes of "angry" white men. It almost seems as if he's implying that all white men are angry. Of course its perfectly alright to make a blanket characterization about white men – but if you did that to any other group – it would correctly be deemed racist.
That's not what he said at all.
Not all old white men are angry – that is the ones the GOP gets.
The rest vote Obama.
Judging by the number of voter prevention laws they are passing in the red states, I'd say they have written off the minority vote.
On top of that the GOP is attempting to kill Social security and Medicare.
The old used to vote GOP – not any more.
Do you know when the Democrats and liberals die off... when we have no more money to give out... we can't continue to hand out to everyone for everything... liberal = All Heart... No Brain... that day is coming, then how are the liberals going to continue to promise you utopia?
I'd much rather pursue the liberal utopia than the conservative dystopia.
No conservatives just believe that it's YOUR personal responsibility for success in life, whatever you believe that is. IF you screw up, then pay the price for that... if you work hard then you are rewarded for that. I know alot of people who have done well in the last 4 years... why? Because they haven't sat on the bench complaining about what they haven't been given... they went out and worked hard and have achieved it for themselves... that's America... not the land of the hand outs.
You are so ignorant, I don't know where to start. PS: The Democrats WELCOME the angry white women, angry latinos and angry african americans...they are all angry aboutt he racist masogynistic GOP establishment.
Do you know every time you throw that race card around it just continues to water down the real race issues that this country has faced... You obviously are under the age of 40 and have no clue to what you are talking about. Conservatives believe in equal opportunity for EVERYONE! And EVERYONE who is an American citizen has those opportunities... what are you going to say that some people come out of worst conditions... so what! People coming out of wealthy environments have been losers... and people coming out of poor environments have done great things. The conservatives believe that YOU make that choice! We are not going to carry you, we'll help you... but get off you A $$ and do it yourself!!!
I find it so incredibly telling that Zakaria uses the word Women to describe Women, the word Latino to describe Latinos, and the words African Americans to describe African Americans but absolutely can NOT resist adding the word ANGRY when describing "white" males....Very telling indeed...
Tcp, I believe the point he was making is that the core that is driving the GOP right now is not simply white males, but white males with an axe to grind (though admittedly he is not spelling that out).
I dont know anyone who's gonna vote for Obama....young or old, well to do or middle class, male or female...good luck to BO, he's gonna need it
I think the comment about the Republican Party being run by the grass roots and not the establishment is missing the point. Isn't a democratic approach the best way to achieve both short term and long term goals? The real issue is that the drive to the right on many social issues is keeping the independents away and shrinking the base. If the party wants to be a party of the majority, it needs to broaden it's base, and I think that was your main point. You just missed it at the end with that disconnected comment.
"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
-Benjamin Franklin
"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion.
The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is
wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts
they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions,
it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ...
And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not
warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of
resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as
to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost
in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from
time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
It is its natural manure." – Thomas Jefferson
I voted for Obama and am still remain his strong supporter.
But having said that even as a minority Hindu Indian myself, I am aghast at Obama's minority pandering policies. With the likes of Mr. Zakaria as Obama's advisors, I am increasingly concerned about Obama's policies.
a) Firstly his internal policies of dividing Americans on the basis of race.
b) Against our only true ally in the ME – Israel in their fight for self defense against the “so-called” Palestinians.
c) Against Iran allowing them to continue developing nuclear capability while opposing their quest for nuclear weapons ....which will only be a step away
d) With Jihadist Pakistan allowing them to stockpile their self declared ISLAMIC BOMBS at a rate faster than any other country, and continue exporting terror
I am increasingly skeptical that an Obama with NO MORE ELECTIONS TO FIGHT may actually be more inclined to implement the Islamic & racist agenda of some his external advisors like Mr. Zakaria.
Given this scary scenario I might consider switching sides to vote for Romney or even Santorum come election day 2012!
As if you are anywhere near America! is this a case of muslim humor?
seems to be once a senator or congressman its job number one to get re-elected....in order to do that politicians only need to speak to the voters that got them elected and hopefully will re-elect them. this dynamic has gotten much worse and screams for term limits. presidential candidates are doing the same thing, only to be nominated...its almost like they know they wont be president, so say what u will to be nominee. they are preaching to the choir and know it, and do it on purpose to keep getting re elected...this way of thinking leaves out alot of people and alienates majority of americans. not going to change only gets worse with each election and career politicians hanging around to feather their own nest.
Sorry about the previous post. It was due to an interface problem.
@Balanced99
"The push-back on voter ID laws is simple – the left is afraid of losing the illegal vote." I am not sure what you mean by the illegal vote. Are you talking about illegal immigrants? They would not appear on the voter registration rolls anyway; so how is not having an ID at the polls leading to that? You also said "If you can get out to the polls – you can get an ID." But what if you can't get to the polls due to disability, and vote absentee?
The bottom line is that absent of any evidence of a real problem of voter fraud, what is the purpose of these laws other than to suppress minority voting?
One more article from CNN/s biggest schiller for the Obama Administration doing his best for his man in the White House. CNN has some of the most openly bias shills including Soledad Obrien.
Oh she's horrible! I've listened to her in the way in to work in the morning sometimes... Wow! They couldn't be more openly supportive of Obama. You don't see them doing stories on Obama's failures do you? And there is ALOT of them!
"Angry" White Males... the only people who believe in paying down our national debt... and not a government controlled society... man that just makes me laugh every time I read it!!!
Like I've said, I know alot of people who have been successful in the last 4 years... because they have worked hard for it... not sat around complaining about what someone or some government hasn't done for them.
The GOP has to hit bottom before things can improve for it. The tea party is doing a great job of accelerating that process.
Obama is done. Mop up starts in Novemeber. A lot of mess made by the Left, as in decades before. But we will recover, with businesses growing and government in check, we always do.
And all Fareed is but a parrot of the Left.
Actually, he is a very intelligent, thoughtful, insightful writer and speaker. Your comment has no basis, no thought and is a shallow non rebuttal. In other words, it is not part of any meaningful discourse.
Bob oh Bob, I see u r pompous and with low intelligence. Typical Liberal, lol.
Do your due diligence sir, before you spout. Just go look at the last 10 Zakaria articles. All the same view, no objective viewpoint, none. Whatever supports Obama's positions. That equates to a man whose opinion of little value.
Only a fool listens to a broken record over and over and over and is content to continue listening, believing and respecting. .
We have noticed that when muslims go on the attack, they ridicule.
Aren't they ridiculous.
This could be summed up much easier: The Republican Party is a mess.
Just remember, you Liberals are in your little bubble. There are way more of us Conservatives than you know about. Reason being, we are at work most of the days. We don't have time to Occupy or take to the street. We WORK. Our earnings, jobs and tax payments support your lazy ways. So, we are the silent majority. But now we are getting more vocal because enough is enough, you have caused More than enough damage.
You will see us all in November. Then it's all over for your disturbing socialist ways.
Majority rules.
I work, in fact several jobs, I teach, coach, am self employed in the summer and have worked as a police officer in the past yet I will vote democrat in this next election because I dont feel that the republicans have a solid candidate that represents the realities of what the middle class face on a day to day basis, and can put forward a person who will work to look out for the interests of the working majority.
The Republican party is now only the party of four groups: The Corporate elite like Wall Street, the billionaires, the Christian Right, and the military-industrial complex. They are reactionaries by nature. People need to read and get educated and then they will no longer vote Republican. Read some Chris Hedges, Gore Vidal, and Jim Hightower. If you are Hispanic, Black, Gay, a women, the working poor, the uneducated, disabled, or chronic sick there is no need to vote Republican. Pray Israel isn't stupid enough to bomb Iran and throw the world into a world depression and give the military industrial complex control of the the American government. Obama is not perfect but Romney means war, death, destruction, and poverty.
Again Zakaria has shown his bias and his love for Obama. He dismisses the impact of the Catholic vote and majority of Christians who have been alilenated by Obama and his love of ismalmist. Excuse me but I think Zakaria is an islamist. Also, the Asians who although Obama got a slight majority in the last Presidential election are now more leaning towards the Republican since they have seen the damage the Obama has done to the economy and are just about looking to vote anybody other than Obama. Zakaria as usual has not done his homework but rely on misinformation!
Most Americans are pragmatic voters. It seems like the Republican party has become a party of increasing extremes, (not that the democrats are innocent in this either,) and as a result they are appealing to less of a broad based voting block than they used to. I feel that it will become critical in the future to find a candidate who comes from a middle class background whose policies and intentions focus on stabilizing our country and bettering it for the majority of people. Candidates can claim they are focusing certain agendas, but their actions need to reflect that. Where have the good centrist candidates gone form the republican party?
Will the White southern man ever be tolerate? Ain't Christians meant to love everyone?
Pauline err Fathma, habibji,
"Will the White southern man ever be tolerate? Ain't Christians meant to love everyone?"
If you want someone to believe that you are American, the word is "tolerated".
Christians are lovers of humanity whereas muslims kill, kill, kill and lie, lie, lie.
This is so much fun to read all these comments. Fareed, your the man!
Zakaria make good points, but if winner will be Romney he will turn his speaches and in this case I am not so sure that Democrats could be in so good condition.
It is still economy..., and everything will depend how economy will doing in October 2012.
It is to early to claim any winner.
Mr. Zakaria states the GOP is increasingly just a southern party. If tha tis so, how is it they captured so many midwestern governorships and legislatures in 2010?
Okay i think Zakaria went a bit far in his assessment that the Republican party is the "Angry white male" party... seriously? You can't say that. I'm not saying Zakaria doesn't have a point... the Republican Party has not reached out to minority groups or women... but Zakaria nearly calls the party racist which is not true at least from what i can tell. Republicans have to get over their extreme right wing is the problem. They have to realize that Governing is as much about compromising as it is about your agenda, you need to work with the other side and try to understand the arguments of the other side, because if you Polarize to the left or right you have an independent group that makes up the majority in this country feeling like you don't represent them... and they're right.... so stop forcing the right wing on America, look towards a middle ground approach and you'll win the Independent vote, that's why Obama is in office, because he promised to work with the other side and be flexible.... that's what America wants... not that politicians are listening.
Didn't see too many minority faces in the 2008 Republican Presidential Nomination Convention...don't expect see many in Tampa.
Read through some of the posts, scrolled through some. Most seem extreme to one side or the other. The real problem is that almost everyone is to worried about their issues and screw everyone else. Why don't we talk about career politicians, or people voting by way of what there told by someone else, instead of for their own research. I don't really care what news they watch, or who's books they read, or can't read, what color, what they wear, what body parts they have, or don't have. If people voted with their brains, rather than their emotions things would be way better. It would also help if we could vote for someone with good points instead of the lesser of two evils. In reality being the president has to be one of the worse jobs in the world. Heres a news flash, anyone who wants the job might just be on a power trip. Hmmm? Theres a thought for you. Think hard.
Obama is the most devicive president in U.S. history and is solely responsible for creating the TEA party, by addind more than 1/2 to our national debt! He has literally polarized ever cocievable political group on the left, right and in the middle! He can't win on the issues and people like Zakaria are looking more and more desperate as the perilous November election looms closer for the Democrats demise! The Democrats produced the 2 most expensive governments in the history of humanity which are the 110th and 111th all Democratic controlled congresses and have no excuses that they can offer to a beleagured middle-class they are destroyiong in response! ...there days are numbered!
You have made some great points! Obama has devalued the dollar and for the first time in many years Canadian dollars are now worth more than U.S. dollars. Currently there is a glut or over abundance of oil on the market, but prices continue to skyrocket! Canada and Mexico and not the middle-east, are our largest suppliers of imported oil and we're seeing these price increases at the pump and in the grocery store due to this devaluation and bond down-grades. Obama is definitely destroying the middle class by spending us out of existence! You can't expect to add as you put it, 1/2 or $5 trillion to the national deficit in less than 3 years and expect everything to be okay! ...you are also correct that Obama created the TEA party with the most expensive government in creation simply, because he and the 111th congress are the only ones that you can blame! ...OMG! (Obama Must Go!)
That's funny! I guess it's fair to say that if it wasn't for our "spend thrift" president , the TEA party would not have been created. The Democrats will despise Obama for destroying their party for generations, because of what he has done. Nobody forced Obama to open "pandora's box" ($5 trillion to the deficit), he did that all by his little lonesome! ...OMG!=OBAMA MUST GO!!!!!!
Yes. The GOP have their heads up their asses.
Fareed,
If Republicans have a demographic problem, then explain the following:
1) Republicans hold more House seats (242) than they have ever had since the 1940s.
2) Republicans control 30 of the 50 governorships.
3) Republicans control nearly 60% of the state legislative bodies (57 R to 39 D). 1952 was the last time Republicans had this much control over state legislatures.
4) There are more individual Republican state legislators now than at any point since the 1928 election.
Republicans control a higher percentage of the House membership, state legislatures, and governships than Obama won as a percentage of the popular vote.
Some positive signs for the Republican party are their strong vote among the elderly who represent a growing contingent of the American public as the baby boomer generation retires and lives longer. The white vote, which will remain the largest voting group for a long time, is becoming increasingly Republican. Around 60% of seniors and whites voted for a Republican House member.
Demographics can change, but political parties adapt to the times as well. That's how the Democrats won elections in 2006 and 2008 and Republicans won in 2010. Being out of power makes political parties focus on winning back the voter. Having power makes the party in power arrogant and less responsive to voters.
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Hispanics and Blacks are actually socially conservative. But the GOP immigration and healthcare policies have turned them off.
The Republican Party is the party of white old farts.
هلا بك اخي سرور .وانا ايضا مستمتع بمتابعتك الجميلة والراقية