The Republican Party is dead

[Mr.Phips]

The Democrats appeard dead in 2004, after a weak crop of candidates let George Bush, a verifiable disaster, win re-election.

There were editorials written about Democrats being a permanent minority party, about needing to take a harsher stance against Republicans and the need to develop a strong identity as a minority party.

2 years later they took congress. 2 years later they elected the first black President, who won with the biggest margin in 20 years.

Parties fortunes can change quickly based on their Presidential candidates, and how the party in power behaves. Parties in power always  up, leaving room for opposition. And Presidential elections have always been very much personal competitions. A good Presidential candidate cna win even if the national mood is against his party.

Name one time when a Presidential candidate won when the mood was against his party?

[Mr.Phips]

The Democrats appeard dead in 2004, after a weak crop of candidates let George Bush, a verifiable disaster, win re-election.

There were editorials written about Democrats being a permanent minority party, about needing to take a harsher stance against Republicans and the need to develop a strong identity as a minority party.

2 years later they took congress. 2 years later they elected the first black President, who won with the biggest margin in 20 years.

Parties fortunes can change quickly based on their Presidential candidates, and how the party in power behaves. Parties in power always  up, leaving room for opposition. And Presidential elections have always been very much personal competitions. A good Presidential candidate cna win even if the national mood is against his party.

Name one time when a Presidential candidate won when the mood was against his party?

1948

1996, 1988, 1984, 1980, 1972 (assuming inability to win Congress is a sign of the mood being against the President's party).

1996, 1988, 1984, 1972, and 1948 all had a good economy. 

[Mr.Phips]

The Democrats appeard dead in 2004, after a weak crop of candidates let George Bush, a verifiable disaster, win re-election.

There were editorials written about Democrats being a permanent minority party, about needing to take a harsher stance against Republicans and the need to develop a strong identity as a minority party.

2 years later they took congress. 2 years later they elected the first black President, who won with the biggest margin in 20 years.

Parties fortunes can change quickly based on their Presidential candidates, and how the party in power behaves. Parties in power always  up, leaving room for opposition. And Presidential elections have always been very much personal competitions. A good Presidential candidate cna win even if the national mood is against his party.

Name one time when a Presidential candidate won when the mood was against his party?

1948

1996, 1988, 1984, 1980, 1972 (assuming inability to win Congress is a sign of the mood being against the President's party).

1996, 1988, 1984, 1972, and 1948 all had a good economy. 

Cool non sequitur, bro.

A good economy swings the mood to the party holding the White House. 

[Mr.Phips]

Name one time when a Presidential candidate won when the mood was against his party?

1948

1996, 1988, 1984, 1980, 1972 (assuming inability to win Congress is a sign of the mood being against the President's party).

'80 was clearly anti-Democratic, since they lost the Senate and about 30 House seats. The other years were just pro-incumbent, though there was a lot of anti-Gingrich sentiment in '96. '48 was primarily bad polling, like if everyone stopped polling Kerry/Bush immediately after the Democratic convention.

And the other years were pro-incumbent generally because of a good economy. 

[Mr.Phips]

The Democrats appeard dead in 2004, after a weak crop of candidates let George Bush, a verifiable disaster, win re-election.

There were editorials written about Democrats being a permanent minority party, about needing to take a harsher stance against Republicans and the need to develop a strong identity as a minority party.

2 years later they took congress. 2 years later they elected the first black President, who won with the biggest margin in 20 years.

Parties fortunes can change quickly based on their Presidential candidates, and how the party in power behaves. Parties in power always  up, leaving room for opposition. And Presidential elections have always been very much personal competitions. A good Presidential candidate cna win even if the national mood is against his party.

Name one time when a Presidential candidate won when the mood was against his party?

1948

Wrong. 1956. Thomas E. Dewey lost badly in 1948.

1956 was generally pro-incumbent with a good economy.