Who deserves more credit for the present state of the GOP?

[A18]

Discuss.

[Inverted Things]

I say Carter. Carter made people ashamed to be liberal, and made Reagan look like an excellent option to lead the country. The democrats became afraid to be liberal due to Carter's association with the word. So, we get the republicans back in power, and the democrats falling all over themselves to move to the right. The republicans thus move still further to the right, to the point that they get George W. Bush (a far-right policitian by American standards) re-elected.

[WalterMitty]

id say blame instead of credit.

yes the gop has a small electoral majority at present.  if the ykeep up their intolerance, however, they will be a footnote in american history.

[David S]

If you're talking about the fact that the R's now control the Presidency, the House and the Senate, then I think Bill Clinton can take the credit for that.

[jokerman]

Carter, for simply being so incompetent as he was and thus allowing Reagan to sieze control of the Republican Party.  If it wasn't for Carter Reagan might have lost the nomination again like in 76.  Then again, we wouldn't be competing against a sitting president, but it might have been a stronger candidate.

[WalterMitty]

If you're talking about the fact that the R's now control the Presidency, the House and the Senate, then I think Bill Clinton can take the credit for that.

or white xenophobic suburbanites...

[The Man From G.O.P.]

What a quagmire, who is more responsible, the brilliant political moves of Reagan, or the utterly stupid Carter, I cannot choose!

[MODU]

Carter gets the credit for opening the doors for the Republicans, but Reagan receives credit for cementing the Republican presence in Congress.  It had been decades before Reagan since the GOP had a significant presence in Congress.