What can Republicans do to be competitive in the Pacific Northwest again?

[Sumner 1868]

So long as the Dems in WA doesnt introduce an income tax, there is no reason to vote GOP at the state level.

And this is very much the truth. There is nothing in the GOP platform on social, fiscal or foreign policy that appeals to the state. I would even suspect that a Democratic governor introducing a state income tax wouldn't be enough, as it would likely be repealed immediately via Eyeman-sponsored ballot measure.

[Podgy the Bear]

So long as the Dems in WA doesnt introduce an income tax, there is no reason to vote GOP at the state level.

And this is very much the truth. There is nothing in the GOP platform on social, fiscal or foreign policy that appeals to the state. I would even suspect that a Democratic governor introducing a state income tax wouldn't be enough, as it would likely be repealed immediately via Eyeman-sponsored ballot measure.

These are all good points.  Looks like these days Washington is probably even less likely to switch to the Republicans than Massachusetts.  The Republicans in Massachusetts (Charlie Baker, Paul Cellucci, William Weld) would be Democrats in much of the rest of the country.  Meanwhile, the Republicans in Washington are as conservative as anyone in the party--fine for Eastern Washington but with little appeal in the dominant Seattle-Tacoma-Olympia sector.

[Sumner 1868]

So long as the Dems in WA doesnt introduce an income tax, there is no reason to vote GOP at the state level.

And this is very much the truth. There is nothing in the GOP platform on social, fiscal or foreign policy that appeals to the state. I would even suspect that a Democratic governor introducing a state income tax wouldn't be enough, as it would likely be repealed immediately via Eyeman-sponsored ballot measure.

These are all good points.  Looks like these days Washington is probably even less likely to switch to the Republicans than Massachusetts.  The Republicans in Massachusetts (Charlie Baker, Paul Cellucci, William Weld) would be Democrats in much of the rest of the country.  Meanwhile, the Republicans in Washington are as conservative as anyone in the party--fine for Eastern Washington but with little appeal in the dominant Seattle-Tacoma-Olympia sector.

It's not just the cities. Republicans also lose in the coastal counties.

[Indy Texas]

Same thing they can do to be competitive everywhere else: focus more on economic issues and less on social issues.

Because everyone agrees with the Republicans on economics, after all.

No; because people agree with Republicans on economics more than they do on social issues.

I'm comfortable with saying the percentage of Americans who oppose abortion in most or all circumstances is higher than the percentage of Americans who think shutting down the government to keep working class people from accessing health insurance is a wise thing to do.

[RI]

Someday, the Republicans might actually run a moderate for a major statewide race. They'd probably also need a favorable climate as well. Even then, it would be pretty close.

[bobloblaw]

Same thing they can do to be competitive everywhere else: focus more on economic issues and less on social issues.

Because everyone agrees with the Republicans on economics, after all.

No; because people agree with Republicans on economics more than they do on social issues.

I'm comfortable with saying the percentage of Americans who oppose abortion in most or all circumstances is higher than the percentage of Americans who think shutting down the government to keep working class people from accessing health insurance is a wise thing to do.

Working class people dont depend on the govt for their access to healthcare or health insurance.

[bobloblaw]

Someday, the Republicans might actually run a moderate for a major statewide race. They'd probably also need a favorable climate as well. Even then, it would be pretty close.

What you guys dont get is this. A moderate loses more conservative votes than they pick up in moderate votes. In a state with NO conservatives like NJ that can happen. But WA has lots of conservatives in Eastern WA who sit home on election day if there is no conservative on the ballot.

Also unlike IL, Dems in WA actually do a good job. A GOPer can win in IL but it takes the Dem party to run a Mob Banker for Senate and a incompetent buffoon for Gov who bankrupts the state, raises taxes and bankrupts the state again.

[smoltchanov]

Someday, the Republicans might actually run a moderate for a major statewide race. They'd probably also need a favorable climate as well. Even then, it would be pretty close.

What you guys dont get is this. A moderate loses more conservative votes than they pick up in moderate votes. In a state with NO conservatives like NJ that can happen. But WA has lots of conservatives in Eastern WA who sit home on election day if there is no conservative on the ballot.

But if these Eastern WA conservatives help a conservative to get to top 2 - he invariably loses to Democrat..

[Senate Minority Leader Lord Voldemort]

The GOP is not anti-environment. There is nothing you can do about temperature change. When Carter was President people thought we were gonna have an "ice age" but it never happened. There is no global warming just ask people  that live in the Northeast this winter if there is global warming.

Sounds like a plan! All you have to do is let the voters of Oregon and Washington know (who haven't yet bought into the talking points of oil and coal companies who fund political campaigns) and watch them flock en masse to the GOP.

It should be a piece of cake because when the tobacco companies manipulated studies and presented real facts about how cigarette smoking causes no negative health effects, they got rid of Christine Gregoire right away and avoided a $200 billion payout. Phew.

[bobloblaw]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

[Rockefeller GOP]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Ugh.  This is why our party is sucking more and more everyday.

[smoltchanov]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Ugh.  This is why our party is sucking more and more everyday.

I can only second that. Not a big fan of "left loonies", but absolutely hate "rabid wingers"....

[Sumner 1868]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Ugh.  This is why our party is sucking more and more everyday.

WE HAVE A WINNER!

[bobloblaw]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Ugh.  This is why our party is sucking more and more everyday.

Your side hasnt won an election since 1956. Your side also was very happy with the "arrangement" that the House GOP had with the Dems prior to 1994. Conservatives brought the GOP into majority status, not moderate and liberals.

[Sumner 1868]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Ugh.  This is why our party is sucking more and more everyday.

Your side hasnt won an election since 1956. Your side also was very happy with the "arrangement" that the House GOP had with the Dems prior to 1994. Conservatives brought the GOP into majority status, not moderate and liberals.

Your not the majority party, you just have the convenience of presently holding the Congress.

In any case, this is all off topic.

[Rockefeller GOP]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Ugh.  This is why our party is sucking more and more everyday.

Your side hasnt won an election since 1956. Your side also was very happy with the "arrangement" that the House GOP had with the Dems prior to 1994. Conservatives brought the GOP into majority status, not moderate and liberals.

LOL.  Yeah, Reagan, Bush 41 and even Bush 43 for that matter look like downright liberals compared to people like Ted Cruz.

[Mr. Illini]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Ugh.  This is why our party is sucking more and more everyday.

Your side hasnt won an election since 1956. Your side also was very happy with the "arrangement" that the House GOP had with the Dems prior to 1994. Conservatives brought the GOP into majority status, not moderate and liberals.

LOL.  Yeah, Reagan, Bush 41 and even Bush 43 for that matter look like downright liberals compared to people like Ted Cruz.

It's not too late to join the Democratic Party.

[Rockefeller GOP]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Ugh.  This is why our party is sucking more and more everyday.

Your side hasnt won an election since 1956. Your side also was very happy with the "arrangement" that the House GOP had with the Dems prior to 1994. Conservatives brought the GOP into majority status, not moderate and liberals.

LOL.  Yeah, Reagan, Bush 41 and even Bush 43 for that matter look like downright liberals compared to people like Ted Cruz.

It's not too late to join the Democratic Party.

Meh, I'd just be ridiculed by the base there, too.  Think Walter Mittey 2.0, haha.

I guess that's part of a two-party system.

[Mr. Illini]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Ugh.  This is why our party is sucking more and more everyday.

Your side hasnt won an election since 1956. Your side also was very happy with the "arrangement" that the House GOP had with the Dems prior to 1994. Conservatives brought the GOP into majority status, not moderate and liberals.

LOL.  Yeah, Reagan, Bush 41 and even Bush 43 for that matter look like downright liberals compared to people like Ted Cruz.

It's not too late to join the Democratic Party.

Meh, I'd just be ridiculed by the base there, too.  Think Walter Mittey 2.0, haha.

I guess that's part of a two-party system.

WalterMitty goes out of his way to say spew Republican viewpoints while keeping the D avatar. Moderate Democrats are just not ridiculed as much in the party as moderate Rs are in theirs.

[IceSpear]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Ugh.  This is why our party is sucking more and more everyday.

Your side hasnt won an election since 1956. Your side also was very happy with the "arrangement" that the House GOP had with the Dems prior to 1994. Conservatives brought the GOP into majority status, not moderate and liberals.

LOL.  Yeah, Reagan, Bush 41 and even Bush 43 for that matter look like downright liberals compared to people like Ted Cruz.

It's not too late to join the Democratic Party.

Meh, I'd just be ridiculed by the base there, too.  Think Walter Mittey 2.0, haha.

I guess that's part of a two-party system.

Why not independent? Does Maine have closed primaries?

[Rockefeller GOP]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Ugh.  This is why our party is sucking more and more everyday.

Your side hasnt won an election since 1956. Your side also was very happy with the "arrangement" that the House GOP had with the Dems prior to 1994. Conservatives brought the GOP into majority status, not moderate and liberals.

LOL.  Yeah, Reagan, Bush 41 and even Bush 43 for that matter look like downright liberals compared to people like Ted Cruz.

It's not too late to join the Democratic Party.

Meh, I'd just be ridiculed by the base there, too.  Think Walter Mittey 2.0, haha.

I guess that's part of a two-party system.

Why not independent? Does Maine have closed primaries?

You know, I'm not even sure (but I don't think so), it's never affected me.  And being an independent just seems like sitting on the sidelines to me because you're dissatisfied; I'd rather try to do my part to add a differing voice to one party and mold it into something I'd be more proud of.  And considering Maine's/my family's ancestral Republicanism, I stick with it.

Plus, let's be clear: my fiscal conservatism matters a lot more to me than does my social liberalism.

[smoltchanov]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Ugh.  This is why our party is sucking more and more everyday.

Your side hasnt won an election since 1956. Your side also was very happy with the "arrangement" that the House GOP had with the Dems prior to 1994. Conservatives brought the GOP into majority status, not moderate and liberals.

And YOUR side lost a LOT of presidential elections since 1964, and is poised to lose vast majority of presidential elections in coming years. And we specifically speak about Washington state here, where Republicans failed to win a single Governor election since 1980 and single Senate since 2000 (and even that elections were not won by right-wingers). In this state people like you are perennial losers....  And the cause for statewide Republican losses as well... You will be marginal group relatively soon (in 20 years). And yes, i agree that Reagan and at least Bush Sr. would be considered liberals in present Republican party - which is too frequently a party of denial, bigotry and foolishness now....

[KingSweden]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Ugh.  This is why our party is sucking more and more everyday.

Your side hasnt won an election since 1956. Your side also was very happy with the "arrangement" that the House GOP had with the Dems prior to 1994. Conservatives brought the GOP into majority status, not moderate and liberals.

LOL.  Yeah, Reagan, Bush 41 and even Bush 43 for that matter look like downright liberals compared to people like Ted Cruz.

It's not too late to join the Democratic Party.

Meh, I'd just be ridiculed by the base there, too.  Think Walter Mittey 2.0, haha.

I guess that's part of a two-party system.

Why not independent? Does Maine have closed primaries?

You know, I'm not even sure (but I don't think so), it's never affected me.  And being an independent just seems like sitting on the sidelines to me because you're dissatisfied; I'd rather try to do my part to add a differing voice to one party and mold it into something I'd be more proud of.  And considering Maine's/my family's ancestral Republicanism, I stick with it.

Plus, let's be clear: my fiscal conservatism matters a lot more to me than does my social liberalism.

FWIW, Rocky, I think your attitude towards your party is refreshing and admirable.

[Cobbler]

Someday, the Republicans might actually run a moderate for a major statewide race. They'd probably also need a favorable climate as well. Even then, it would be pretty close.

What you guys dont get is this. A moderate loses more conservative votes than they pick up in moderate votes. In a state with NO conservatives like NJ that can happen. But WA has lots of conservatives in Eastern WA who sit home on election day if there is no conservative on the ballot.

Washington has mail-in ballots.

[Frozen Sky Ever Why]

Here is what I say. Who cares? As a conservative I dont consider the people in SEA-TAC and Portland to be people I am interested in chasing or pandering to for votes. They are primarily atheists, socialists and people who reject American Exceptionalism and are Blame American Firsters. They wallow in multiculturalism and moral relativism and are increasingly anti-semitic with their support for the genocidal BDS movement.

It will be a wonderful day when white coastal liberal gentries, especially in CA, are outnumbered by hispanics who want their own candidates and not benevolent white liberals representing them.  Those whites whose primary concern is climate change even if it means banning energy jobs, destroying manufacturing and turning the state into a third world country with no upward mobility for anyone not employed in Silicon Valley or Hollywood.

Which is a problem why? Some people just don't believe in a god, it's not a choice people make. You can't force yourself to believe in something, you either do or you don't.