How much damage has Bush done to the Republican party and how long will it take for them to recover?

Question

- cost them the 06 election
- 19 GOP reps retired/retiring

Answer 1

What has hurt the Republicans is the concerted effort by the liberals to bash President Bush for everything he's done, right or wrong. Yes, some Republicans are stepping away, but the party will recover prior to Rudy's election in 2008, and by 2010 they will retake the Senate.

Vote for Rudy!

Answer 2

Well the Republican party has moved very far from its original form and as a result a lot of true republicans have become disenfranchised and left their party or no longer support it.
Huge government and fiscal responsibility has went the way of the dinosaurs.

Disenfranchisement is high wall to climb. The republicans/ conservatives will have many years to repair the damage to their credibility. They are guilty of the same thing all dirty politicians are around the world and that is hypocrisy and greed. Not to mention the obstructionist practices that everyone is well aware of.
By their actions they have alienated all but the most easily pandered too of the religious right.
It will take years to undo the damage. Possibly in the term of one president but it would take a republican leader willing to stand out and and above the current incarnation of "conservative" ideals and bring the Grand Old Party back to its roots.
Thats a tall order as you can imagine and therefore it will take many years.


Of course this is only an opinion of someone who can't vote anyways.

Answer 3

I think we'll bounce back just fine, and hopefully not make the same mistake. I have a feeling that the only people that will bother to recall Bush will be liberals that attempt to shame conservatives (much like a handful of conservatives do with Bill Clinton).

Democrats have managed to not damage their party a lot over the last few years for the simple reason that they don't do anything! Except complain when Republicans do anything.

Answer 4

Only damage will be in the Congress and Senate and it may take 4 or more years to recover from Bush Presidency. However, the Presidency will still reside with Republicans in 2008. America is not yet ready for a woman or black President so the Democrats will not retake the White House.

Answer 5

It seems, as an outside observer (i don't consider myself a republican,) that some of the carnage left in the wake of Bush could lead to a revitalized Republican party, given time. I believe that in this election we shall see the effect of the rift between Conservatives and Social conservatives. I think that this split can only be a good thing. Social conservatives (Christian coalition, etc) and more traditional Conservatives have strikingly different agendas. I see the possibility of the formation of a new party, with evangelicals and moralist conservatives banding together to support candidates who really represent them, not just pay them lip service. If this does happen, and traditional, business oriented conservatives regain control of the Republican party, i can see them picking up the votes of people who believe in fiscal responsibility, but are ailenated by the moralizing crusaders. In order for this to really happen, though, it would be necessary for Republicans to reevaluate what they consider to be fiscaly responsible. It means to balance the budget and to reduce debt, not just hand out tax cuts like party favors.

Answer 6

No damage at all. The GOP will dominate the '08 elections because of the antics of the Pelosi/Reid controlled Congress. They have seen that Democrats do not care about our soldiers winning in Iraq. In fact, Harry has declared it a loss previously. They don't care about solving problems. They only care about trying to embarrass this President. There's a reason Congress has a 90% dissapproval rating. Therefore, be prepared for significant GOP wins in '08 including (of course) the Presidency. The only way a Democrat can be elected President is if someone like Perot enters the race and siphons off votes from the GOP candidate. That's how Bill Clinton was elected for those of you too you to know who Perot was.

Answer 7

You can only blame Bush so much for this mess.

Part of it is the "Hammer" Tom Delay's, Hastert's and Lott's fault as well.

It was Delay and Hastert who were arm twisting a lot of GOP Reps. to support bad spending bills and making threats to others to keep them in line. Freshmen Congressmen have little choice when the party leadership comes calling and looking for support.

Trent Lott didn't help his party by running the Senate as an arm of the Executive branch, either.

However, Bush's big govt. socialist (Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act, Medicare Drug Program, NCLB) programs didn't help in the long run.

What the US has ended up with is a lot of debt (40% higher than in 2000); US dollar is losing value (down 35% since 2003); and a massive credit crunch. Our only saving grace right now is that a lot of foreign entities who bought into the BS, are stuck with our debt as well.

Answer 8

It took a loss in 06 to show that the Dems were all talk and no action. As low as Bush's approval rating has gotten, the Democratic congress continues to be rated lower than Bush.

Answer 9

Unfortunately there has been major damage done to the GOP by Bush and the neocons. They will recover but it will take time. I would estimate about 1 6 to 20 years for full recovery.

Answer 10

the priority with the republican celebration isn't Bush. the priority with the republicans is they have bought out their center suggestions and ideology. via the way, you'll have an extremely undesirable memory in case you think of Bush is between the worst presidents. for sure you have in no way heard of Jimmy Carter or Ulysses S. furnish.