tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412583847145043520.post3345014346498401020..comments2024-03-27T19:01:21.504-06:00Comments on Enik Rising: Modern Republicans and the invented crisisSeth Maskethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17178036016555722068noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3412583847145043520.post-30648082917410553392011-07-29T12:21:08.035-06:002011-07-29T12:21:08.035-06:00What's the solution? I agree that nonpartisan...What's the solution? I agree that nonpartisan redistricting, blanket primaries, etc. are unlikely to make much of a difference. Reforming the rules of the Senate to reduce or eliminate filibustering would be nice, but unlikely.<br /><br />It's easy to say, "Elect Democrats." But sooner or later, there will be a recession, a scandal, or an unpopular war, and the Republicans will return to power. And the most conservative, most partisan Republicans will have a disproportionate share of power.<br /><br />It seems that what is needed is to loosen the hold of the most conservative voters on the Republican Party. (It's worth noting that the most ardent Tea Partiers come from the safest Republican districts). <br /><br />Perhaps, as a counterbalance to the Club for Growth, some group of centrist donors could fund moderate Republican candidates in open-seat races in safe GOP seats. (I can't imagine conservative incumbents losing primaries, except for non-ideological reasons such as scandal). Or they could back vulnerable moderate incumbents like Richard Lugar. Such a group would have to keep a low profile, since being tarred as a "squish" is the curse of death in Republican primaries.<br /><br />There's a model for this -- in New York State, wealthy Wall Streeters have pledged to protect those Republican state senators who voted for same-sex marriage. <br /><br />I actually doubt that this would work, but I can't think of anything else with a better chance of success. There's plenty of evidence that ideological extremism hurts at the polls, but that doesn't dissuade those who practice it.Richard Skinnernoreply@blogger.com