One thing that argues against GOP survival is the bulk of the media in the hands of five conglomerates. They are the sponsors of Hannity, Limbaugh and Coulter, Inc.

Are these commentators crucial to Repub self-identification? I would argue, yes. Is this sponsorship supported to aid the Repubs? Or is it to entertain and reap the cash?

If the former, they will be replaced and a strategy for Republican survival will emerge.

If the latter, ha, ha.

How long do you suppose it'll take before we start hearing how "Muslims are taking good American jobs" or other such garbage?

I think the GOP in the twenty teens will be the same GOP of Ins-hannity, Coulergeist, Bill-O and Malkinvania.

They'll just be a lot smaller.

More at Zandar vs. The Stupid.

as far as the GOP "surviving", I'm more concerned about the credibility/long term viability of the democratic party.

the democrats had everything going for them in 2000, blew that POTUS election, then proceeded to blow the 2004 election- in spite of the handwriting already on the wall regarding just how horrible/corrupt bu$hco was.
clearly this shows massive weakness.

then there's the what? 22 percent approval rating for Congress? that's hardly a strength either.

Now, no one believes their brand of economic conservatism is either conservative or good economics.

'vini, vidi, excreti' - Joe the Plumber

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/7/205533/4172/462/590433

I think he does a good job of running the numbers.

Which also reminds me of a previous Billmon post (when he had his Whisky Bar) where he speculated that the GOP would go the way of the Whig party and the Democratic party would be the right-wing party of the future.  I think that's a possibility and I certainly see the trend.  I can see it happening.  As the Democratic party stands in as the corporate and elite party and doesn't respond to the growing progressivism of the country (for lack of a better word) those on the left will look to another party.  

The Democrats have become the corporate party--yesterday they meet with Citibank (after the Federales have just given them 100s of billions in loans to Citi with nary a second look--unlike the loans to the auto industry) to decide what bankruptcy policy should look like.  They didn't meet with the average Americans and try to fix a bankruptcy system that is very punitive on regular people and already very good for Citibank.  No, they met with Citibank.

Also, other societal changes will leave the Democratic party behind.

 1) the war on drugs.  Almost 1/2 of adult Americans have committed a crime by using illegal drugs.  Our last two presidents have admitted to using cocaine and the last three marijuana.  It is quite astounding that there are no politicians arguing for decriminilization considering we imprison the most people on the planet for something most Americans do.  Eventually people have to start getting upset that their family members are locked up and we spend such huge sums on locking people up for things most people do.  No?

2. the result of our draconian drug laws and laws in general fall on black people and increasingly on latinos.  I'm surprised we don't have more riots like there were in Oakland.  

3. Religion.  Atheism and secularism is growing in America yet there are no politicians that even respectfully go after this group.  Look at Europe and the transformation that has occurred there in a generation.  

4. Pro-Corporate Hostile Takeover of Treasury.  The TARP, the bailouts, and the over $8 Trillion already pledged to corporations (mostly banks like Citi) will be a huge debt that will enrage the average person as soon as they see what happened.  Our children and grandchildren will be paying the bill to make sure Citibank didn't lose any money after years of deregulation that allowed them to make huge profits.  When people realize that we're on the hook for so much to prop up corporate America and there's nothing left for the little guy, we're screwed.  Where's my bailout?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_RO8HM5Puk
   

Anyhow, the real point here is that a lot of immigrants are from very socially conservative countries. If the GOP weren't so hell-bent on demonizing them for the skin/national origin, they might have been able to pick up the second generation on social issues.