(October 7, 2015 at 3:56 pm)Pyrrho Wrote:(October 7, 2015 at 12:19 pm)Crossless1 Wrote: And yet never seem to lose market share. What does that say about the U.S.?
No need to answer. Rhetorical question.
They do seem to be losing market share. I don't know of anyone with half a brain who believes our next president will be a Republican.
It is through gerrymandering that they have many of the positions they now have. And, of course, there are quite a few stupid people, too.
See:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/gop-...ems-house/
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/29...ballot-box
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-...story.html
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2...cting.html
The Republicans aren't primarily pitching those with half a brain. They already have a substantial share of the decently educated business class and the wealthy in their back pocket. They're pitching the dolts, whom they need to win and who exist, as you noted, in significant numbers. Without working class dupes who can be persuaded to vote against their economic interests in the name of patriotism or family values or whatever, the GOP would be extinct.
Sure, it seems that the Democrats' nominee should be the odds-on favorite, but I've learned from 40 years of watching the GOP that they are endlessly, shamelessly sleazy when it comes to national elections. I never underestimate their ability to obfuscate, distort, lie, and vilify their way to power.
Of course, your point about gerrymandering is spot on.