We have been deluged by the news of the recent landslide Republican victories in the House and less so in the Senate and while it would be idiotic to suggest that these victories were not very significant, even in an historically incumbent-bashing off-year election, I think the Republicans are not going to do so well in the next election.
The Congressional elections formed a perfect storm for the Republicans that will not be repeated. The gutting of campaign finance reform launched a never-ending stream of negative ads that allowed the Republicans to wage a national campaign against Pelosi and Obamacare while not having to back a specific candidate. The Republicans are incapable of backing a single candidate, the only thing that unites them is that they are not Democrats.
The Republican "car" has in the driver seat the business class that has always sat at the wheel. They have changed direction somewhat, requiring government bailout in such a fantastic and public way, but the business class has always looked to government to "pave the way", by building projects meant to aid in the doing of business, and in removing obstacles, such as legislating tariffs. That they expect these things while simultaneously complaining of government has been useful to keep others in their car satisfied and thereby get themselves elected. There are two other groups vying for directional control that is the cause of the cars' erratic course. On one side there are the social conservatives; claiming Christian values they don't want to spend a lot of money feeding the poor or helping the homeless but they very much want to see homosexuality outlawed and prayer in school mandated and maybe a flag-burning amendment. This is in contrast to the growing Libertarian bunch reaching for the wheel on the other side who have taken seriously the verbal trashing of government and want nothing to do with an engaging foreign policy. The only federal spending they are in agreement with is for defense and they are opposed to government regulating the private lives of individuals.
The Republican car may be currently driving down the middle of the road but that is due only to the social conservatives and the libertarians pulling in equal measure in opposite direction. Once they are obliged to agree on a single candidate with a cogent agenda will we see their car weaving and lurching. We can only hope they are cited for reckless driving by an intelligent police/electorate and have their licenses/seats suspended for awhile.
