Bush is now worried about his legacy. It's odd and sad that he didn't worry about his legacy before he got us mired in the fubar that is Iraq, while he was eating birthday cake while Katrina was destroying New Orleans, and so on. I would like to see Bush have the same legacy of Millard Filmore and John Adams: that they were the LAST presidents of their respective parties.
Many diarists have reported that the GOP is reeling. While I maintain that obituaries for them are premature, I celebrate the GOP's woes, and think it's wonderful that the Republicans are in as much of a tailspin as they are.
I worry about us being complacent though. Yes, Dems have the presidency, and we hope Obama will represent us (finally, after thirty years of having no advocate). Yes, a majority of Representatives and Senators are Democrats, but many are Blue Dogs or spineless, and in 2009 the Republicans will still have 40-42 Senators, 22 governors, etc.
Some bleeding hearts and others believe that we should lay off them, that they've fallen enough. I disagree: I see an opportunity to obliterate them completely, and think we should take it. They would've shown no mercy to us in 2002; I do not think it's due to them either.
Many people have pointed out to me that democracy requires there to be a minority party, and that one-party states are generally characterized as dictatorships even if they have elections, count votes, maintain fiercely that they respect individual rights, etc.
All this is true, and underscores why the Republicans need to be replaced. I agree that the US needs to have (at least) two political parties, but I disagree that either of them should be the Republicans.
Some ideas on how we can make this happen:
- Encourage existing Republicans to join minor parties: I think Phil Gramm almost pissed off Ron Paul enough that he re-joined the Libertarian party; this would be good.
- Continue to remind everyone that the Republicans are "the party of Bush". Republicans will try to emphasize that Bush is in the past, which he will be soon (thankfully), but we very much have to live with his legacy as a country. The Republicans should have to especially, and also have to answer for their unswerving support of him.
- Continue publicizing racist and offensive comments that Republicans make. Demand other Republicans criticize or support those actions and publicize those Republicans' decisions.
- Instant-Runoff Voting encourages minor parties. Someone who's everybody's second choice can win.
- When Obama's government conducts the 2010 census, have them hand out voter registration forms. The Republicans don't like ACORN or MoveOn registering people, and what better way to register everybody than have the census do it. Some counties won't provide forms, of course, so residents of those counties won't be able to register that way; but this still would get out the vote on a massive scale. Republicans would bitterly mourn having criticized get-out-the-vote groups.
- Eliminate Straight Ticket Voting where it exists. Make candidates WORK for every vote they get, regardless of party.
I agree that one-party government is dangerous, and it's worth noting that the Keating Five contained four Democrats. But the Republicans have earned removal from US politics. Conservatives should found a new political party.
I look forward to reading other suggestions in the comments.