What is your advice to the GOP?

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

I've tried to write a post for this thread several times and found doing so very difficult - the GOP have really gotten themselves into a bind.  Here are my several suggestions:

One, have a series of private, off the books, heart-to-heart meetings and explain to their billionaire backers quietly, in very private one-on-one conversations, that while the GOP is happy for their money and their support, and is equally happy to keep being bought, the quid-pro-quo is going to be less blatantly obvious from here on out. The 1% may hear the GOP saying some nasty things about them from time to time, and the whole conservative billionaire sugar-daddies showering money on their favorites shtick has got to stop. The GOP will stay pro-business, but will stop being so transparent about it.

Two, make it very clear to the misogynists, the anti-science nutbars, and the other crazies on the fringe that while they're welcome to keep voting Republican, they need to be neither seen nor heard, and that if they stick their heads up nationally they will be unceremoniously denounced and booted post-haste. If that costs the party a seat now and then, or even a presidential election in 2016, that's a price that needs to be paid.

Three, along with the above, graciously concede on abortion, without ever coming right out and admitting that's whats happening. Certainly, continue to fight for laws banning late-term abortions (which are mostly illegal anyway), but otherwise call it a day. Make it clear that the Republican party supports every individuals right to make their own choices. Visibly put party time and effort into supporting adoption, prenatal care, and similar unquestionably good works. Lead by example, and forget about banning abortion via onerous and offensive legislation.

Four, figure out which other voting blocks to grab and drive hard for them. I'd suggest going for civil libertarians and anti-war activists. With the wingnuts muzzled, there's no longer any inherent contradiction between the party platform and individual rights, and the government has certainly done plenty in the last 12 years that's worthy of criticism on that front. And while anti-war may seem an odd fit for modern Republicans, they can always play the "suppressing piracy" and "protecting commerce" cards. They're not advocating weakness or large defense industry cuts, but they're done with military adventurism. The military should only be used for protecting and strengthening America's economy. Obama has done an excellent job demonstrating how far the "anti-war" position can be stretched.


I don't know if the above suggestions are achieveable, but without something like them, I think the Republicans are headed for permanent minor party status or even a split. But, even in the darkest days ahead, Republicans can rejoice in the realization that Obama has been a massively successful moderate Republican president.