Can Republican Party be Mainstream again??

So I'm English but American politics is fascinating to follow, I try to be objective, Iv'e liked Presidents from both the Democrats and Republicans. I would love feedback from Americans on here on what might be happening to the Republican party and how they may go into a severe decline.
Firstly I just cannot see Cruz or Trump being President, Cruz is hated by even his own party and far too conservative for moderate people. Trump would get destroyed in an election, and its not that Hilary is that good, Trump is loved by many but detested by a lot more.
So if this happens it will be 12 years since a Republican won the White house, and if she got another term 16 years of Democrats. Despite many thinking Obama's first term was poor he still comfortably won in 2012 which shocked many Republicans. How can they break this cycle?
A problem I see for them is generally society in the West is getting more and more liberal whether people like it or not, gay marriage, abortion, views on guns etc. However the candidates running for office this year from the Republican side were very conservative on abortion, 2nd Ammendement, Immigration, gay marriage etc. I could imagine if one of those running said they wanted tougher gun laws they would get ridiculed at the GOP debates.
It seems there caught between trying to win primaries, which means having to pander to Evangelicals,interest groups like the NRA and having to have very strong views on abortion, guns etc but then after that process having to then appeal to the general population.
How are they going to win a Presidency in the near future if they don't adapt to the modern climate? All these candidates are always citing Reagan as an inspiration to them yet they are far more conservative than him.
Could we see candidates in the future who do away with social conservatism and be pro-life?, not attempting to stop gay marriage and agree to some gun control?
Also just a side note, in all the interviews and debates from the Republicans this election they have never once said anything positive about trying to help the environment, cut emissions etc, which again is important to many. I know some would say changing there stances drastically would mean there liberals but are they going to have to make concessions?
But what do you guys think? whats the future? Where do they go from here?

Despite what the media makes it sound like, mainstream America isn't going anti gun and doesn't care that much about cutting emissions and all that. That isn't why the Republican Party is declining. By the way, you ask about agreeing to "some gun control" as if there is no gun control or as if the Republican Party is against any type of gun control at all when there's lots of gun control and laws, there's just no gun ban.

Part of the problem is the religious element, yeah social conservatism, their position on gay marriage and abortion is a huge turn off, especially with younger generations. So it'll be hard to take them serious because of this. But this will work itself out over time after the older generations die off.

The real issues that drive people to vote for either party comes down to money. The economy and how people perceive republicans and conservatism.
Even though Republicans don't cut spending or welfare when they gain power, the perception is that they will, and the democrats can easily pander to the poor with promising to expand welfare benefits. The more people subsidized by the government, the bigger loyal and permanent voting base they will continue to have. More government spending means less resources going towards private investment and more towards politically driven projects. WhicH further harms the economy and now more people become dependent on the state.
Trust me. Tweaking a few things on gun control and environmental talk will change NOTHING.

There's no fixing the Republican Party. The house of cards has to collapse first.

The young are dumb and naive and they tend to vote that way.

Single people have a history of getting very little from the government in tax benefits. So a lot don't vote their parents vote.

If they don't start voting young they might be doing other things to even think about voting.

College kids are led by their teachers to vote liberal. Because they were never taught to think for themselves they can be led by them like sheep.

When my parents were born things were not always good. But no one took money from the government because their was a stigma if someone took it.

No more now.

Both parties are dying, its just that they still have a strong strangled hold on the government. That is why you see independent and other party members join one of the two to get votes for a major election they want the office to. Parker and currently Sanders who was an independent but became a democratic to get the votes. Davis and Williams who was an American Independent Party member but became a republican to get the votes. There are other parties out there that win local, county, district, or even a State election here and there, but when it comes to the National Election, it is hard for them to win. That might not be the case for the other parties in the next decade or two.
Everyone is waiting for both parties to fall so they can rebuild them, but the fact is that these parties have fallen before and flipped on there past issues. The Deep South is a testament to this, as in the views switched parties.
Best President who was a Republican was Eisenhower, but he would be too liberal for that party today.
Best President who was a Democrat was FDR, but he would be too conservative for that party today.
It is a funny thing. Both parties live in their own bubbles. Just keep an open mind when listening to the media cause Fox and NBC are two of the biased network's out there in the United States.

Sanders this past month got 40 million in donations. Does anyone believe these donations were all under 50 dollars.

He is lying if he says they are.

If I was running for president I would take donations from everyone.

Then I would keep the overage and do favors for no one.

foots, at least you are honest, glaq you are not running.

you are absolutely right, and it will collapse sooner than later.

the young aren't voting for trump, they have more common sense than that.

the young aren't responsible for the mess in the republican party. why blame them.

The following is a paraphrase of Reince Priebus (Republican Party Chair) analysis of the Republican Party's report on itself soon after its 2012 Presidential election loss:

"Priebus noted that the party's policies are fundamentally sound but require a softer tone and broader outreach, [to] include a stronger push for African-American, Latino, Asian, women and gay voters."

I'm not necessarily saying they need to vote for Trump. But many of the young voted for Obama. And those same idiots will be voting for Hillary or Bernie. So, yes, I am blaming them. The increasingly secular 18-35 year olds who actually believe abortion and gay marriage are Constitutional "rights," who believe everything their liberal professors in college tell them, and who look to Western Europe as a model for society. They make me sick.

@ivyleague

only an idiot is going to vote for donald trump

he's been making himself a joke for the last 30 years, why should he be president

Cook county only a homosexual will vote for Hillary. Want to keep answering that way?

Has anyone else other then Thrump created any jobs in the private sector?

All the other bozo's used their position in the government to make money for themselves and their friends.

It is still about the economy.

what about the middle class what did Obama do for them?

Hey at least Obama gave people all those shovel ready jobs he get talking about.

The great electric car company.

If you like your health care you can keep it.

Who on here is actually on Obama care.

Obama brought people together.

What did Obama do for black people outside of putting a lot of them on welfair.

well, the age group you are talking about, abortion has been the law for forty years. gay marriage is different, I oppose it because of religious, and moral grounds.

ive been to college,and most liberal professors do want to influence young people, I think that is very wrong.

but the young currently, are turning out en masse for sanders.
because they want someone with different ideas, someone who will not cater to the rich lobbyists.

They are for the socialist/ because they think they can get free college. He can not get them anything. He can't help them get a job. He can't do shit. He can't keep the country safe either.

So what can Bernie do for them? What did Obama do for them?

Their parents probably told them about a happening.

I have my reservations about him as well. But he's certainly the lesser evil compared to Hillary or Bernie.

It is a very mainstream party.

GOP had sweeping victories in last two midterms.

They are an underdog but not irrelevant.

that was then, this is now, the 2016 elections coming up,

will give the democrats the senate, and major gains in the house. plus a president. any party that a man like Donald trump can take over, has no chance in a presidential election

he cant get the black vote, the Hispanic vote, the womens vote, big numbers in minority voters, the republicans will get crushed, and they cant stop it.

What has the Democrates got the black and Hispanics other then welfair?

Women will get what?

They will take away your legal guns.

I can't wait to see that. When the deficient reaches 24 trillion they won't get shit.

Crime will go way down under the Democrates. they offer nothing good man.

US midterms trend that way historically for close to the past hundred years, the incumbent president's party loses seats.

Yep. Goes all the way back to Teddy. Two big ones were Johnson in the 60s, and Bush in 04'.

whites are starting to wake up. To become more self-aware in the face of #blm, the hostile campus environment, Islamic terrorism, etc.........

Those segments of society turned out big time for Obama. Their numbers will drop without a black candidate. Especially in places like Florida and and Virginia where the black and Latino vote matters most.

Therefore the GOP ain't dead as implied in the OP.

It still has a mainstream following.

On my end it's stuff like New Haven Firefighters case, or the e-harmony lawsuit or #blm behavior that makes me self-aware and vote Republican.

I actually support abortion, want to close tax loopholes for the rich.

closing tax loopholes for the rich may be impossible, since they own congress--- great idea, how about this one.

everybody pay 10% no deductions, 10% for the whole country.

can that work, doubtful, because then congress would not have anything to sell. and all the lobbyists would be out of work.

"Closing loopholes" also known as ......the government gets to steal more money from its citizens.

Young people today have no understanding of socialism/communism and it's effects. Their professors brainwash them. Both parties are now fucked up but I am hoping they will wake up and realize that they have to get it back together. I was against Trump but have decided to vote for him after looking at MY important issues. I think he will strengthen the military. He has the proven business experience and success so is better suited to fix or help the economy and I think he has the balls and ego enough to fight issis. Hillery is a blatant pathological liar

Sanders is a commie who will ruin the country even more- if that's possible and bankrupt small bussines. Clinton, sanders and Kasich all will grant amnesty to Illegals and Trump won't

socialism in a country as large as ours would fail miserbly.

communism collapsed all over the world, china is probably only communist say, 50-50- nothing works as well as a free market.

look at the difference when east Germany was under russias thumb, compared to west Germany, east Germany could not buy lunch, look at north and south korea, same situation, south korea wins hands down.

socialism does destroy freedoms by outrageous taxes, it devastates health care, but, we here are ruled by big money, with no concern for the people, that must change,

and look where nafta, and other trade agree ments got us,
we must have change.

This is an age old argument, or seems to be, capitalism versus socialism. The truth of the matter might be that no extreme of either economic system is probably a good idea.

Pure capitalism means no regulations, rampant abuse of workers, peonage, serfdom, slavery, pollution, etc.

Pure socialism means no competition and therefore less innovation, etc etc etc.

Our system in the U.S. has always been a combination of the two. What we've been doing is trying to find the right balance.

Maybe our ability to shift that balance, as needed, is what allows the system the flexibility to adapt and perpetuate itself. Whenever business needs a boost, capitalism is unregulated and set loose. Whenever the public needs a boost, socialism is instituted to bridge them through the tougher times.


Some things have to be socialized, like the public ownership of roads and bridges. Other things must be privatized, like home ownership. So we need to strike the right balance, not swing to extremes.

When I see these kids cheering for Sanders I think how can these kids be so stupid. They hear free school, free Medical care, and any other free stuff they want. Evidently, they have not lived long enough to know nothing in life is free.

Why would you want to invent anything it goes to the state. The only people with money in the state are the people that run the state.

There are plenty of kids that don't give a shit about the government and have never voted. Then you had so called smart kids who were brain washed in college not to think for themselves.

All my kids are doing well, but not all of them are free thinkers. I like to see them all, but I don't need to see them. My wife thinks she has to see them.

My daughter the communist who lives in Germany. Is comming here next week. She has a new boy friend he has a daughter. My daughter wants me to meet them. I have no urge to meet them. Good news the boy friend who is Germany can't come here because 4 years ago he had work in Iran. He is an electrician Iran, and Iraq used Germans to help set up their electric power.

So I said to her that's to bad So I guess we maybe safer then we thought we were.

The world has had trouble admitting that socialism is terrible.

Communism was a total and complete disaster as predicted by the great economist Ludwig Von Mises decades before it collapsed.

Legit economists like him were ignored or ridiculed. They weren't part of the politically connected club that got awarded prestigious positions in government or academia.

Once communism collapsed and its failure could no longer be denied, the world came to the conclusion that we need this mixed economic system. A balance between the two. Like some sweet spot.

But after decades of that, all we will be left with is trillions of dollars of debt, trillions of unfunded liabilities, wild booms and bust cycles due to central banking run amuck and guess what gets blamed when this happens?? You got it ! Capitalism ! The free market ! Lack of regulations!
Wrong. The problem is still too much Socialism. Having socialism lite just means it takes longer for the house of cards to collapse. Like cancer, some minor beginning stages of cancer are still bad and eventually could lead to something life threatening. No cancer whatsoever is better.
BTW, we haven't been swinging both ways trying to strike a balance.
It has been swinging in one direction for over 100 years. Towards more socialism, more regulations, less freedom.

A real free market is the way to go . But realistically the people can't be convinced of it. Which is why Ron Paul lost in three presidential elections. The people voted NO for freedom.
They want Trump or Sanders. More welfare more warfare till everything crumbles!
Now I will sit back and watch them expect Clinton, Sanders or Trump to work miracles.

i don't know much about life in East Germany before the wall was thrown down. But this I know I never heard a former East German complain about it out loud.

The older Germans ,I know who lived their and still live their have their own houses.

Before I got my own apartment in Germany I would stay in a hotel in what was east Germany..

Hell I never had my own house until I moved out of east Harlem as a kid. I never had a car until I moved out of east Harlem. Yet I still feel East Harlem as home not where I live now. When I go back and I go back often I always get that cool feeling about being back home. My brother does not have that feeling in the rare times when he goes back. My friend Johnny has the same feeling as I do when he goes back.

When I go back and see a black guy from Harlem. He does not seem like a stranger to me. If I ask him where does he live he says it the same way I said it as a kid. Like I live on a Hun 16 street which means 116 street.