A Problem of Shrinkage

[Lemur]

Not really...

Really? I have a hard time imagining DD approving of the racist epithet "coon."

[woad&fangs]

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Yesterday on Facebook, an unfortunate incident occurred. An individual posted two comments on my Facebook wall, the first comment arguing against big government and the second filled with racially charged comments. I responded supporting the individual’s first post, to continue the fight against big government spending. I was not aware of the racial comments until sometime later, when a third individual brought it to my attention. I immediately deleted the derogatory and outright disgusting comments and subsequently posted a statement on my Facebook Status stating that in no way, shape or form are the comments posted by other individuals a reflection of me or my beliefs as an American, a Veteran, a Mother or a Candidate. I do not, nor would I ever, condone that type of language or behavior.

bolding is mine
link

Sounds plausible

[Lemur]

Sounds plausible

Sounds like a bald-faced lie. She fails to mention that she de-friended the two friends who brought the racist comments to her attention, while staying friends with the dude who made them. And from looking at a cache of the page, the timing doesn't even work.

Damage control, nothing more.

[woad&fangs]

Sounds like a bald-faced lie. She fails to mention that she de-friended the two friends who brought the racist comments to her attention, while staying friends with the dude who made them. And from looking at a cache of the page, the timing doesn't even work.

Damage control, nothing more.

Ah, I don't think that information was mentioned in your link. In that case, I hope the Republicans banish her from the party.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Really? I have a hard time imagining DD approving of the racist epithet "coon."

Hmm, good point. Either way, it doesn't seem like a good choice.

CR

[Banquo's Ghost]

Does a thirty-eight year old really qualify as a "young" Republican?

[Crazed Rabbit]

Does a thirty-eight year old really qualify as a "young" Republican?

Apparently.

CR

[Banquo's Ghost]

Apparently.

Hmm. I wondered if I had misunderstood.

Surely one of the key demographics the GOP would like to recapture is young people? There must be some charismatic young people with conservative views that can appeal to and energise their generation.

What would the normal route(s) into national politics look like for a young person full of vim and vigour?

[Lemur]

There are campus organizations in which a young(er) person can enlist while still at Uni. A lot of politically inclined people start there, and go on to intern in campaigns, for Congresscritters, etc.

[Banquo's Ghost]

I wasn't sure whether to post this article here, or in the Palin Resigns thread, for it neatly concatenates the two. I think it belongs here, because it addresses (albeit from a conservative UK viewpoint) the core concern of the future of the GOP. I'd be interested in views from our American colleagues.

The maths of politics aren’t very complicated. If you want to win and you don’t have enough votes from people who agree with you, you have to win support from people who don’t by accommodating their views. You cannot win elections by getting the same people to vote for you by pulling the lever harder. This, however, is the strategy the Republicans seem to be embarking upon.

Footnote: I think Mr Finkelstein's copy editor may have missed a mistake, since this sentence doesn't make sense (at least to me) unless the examples are placed the other way round: "The experience of the British Conservative Party is that trying to sack your voters — effete chattering-class liberals — and replace them with a new set — hard-working strivers — doesn’t work very well."