Now that the election is finally over, the Republicans need to reflect on how they can win in 2016. I don't think there is much of an argument that the rape comments cost them a few votes, but that might just have been the tip of the iceberg.
Many moderates and independents realize that when it comes to foreign issues and domestic economics, there isn't going to be much variance when it comes to the end result of policies by either party, though you wouldn't know it with all the rhetoric.
When Romney was unknowingly taped regarding his 47% comment, he also said that when it comes to China and the Israeli conflict, the best one can do is just kick the ball down the field and hope that the problems sort themselves up over time. As for economics, cycles are generally out of the President's hands too, and cycles trump policy.
Most business people realize that the fiscal conservatism is usually much healthier in the long run than big government, though when it comes to bubbles and bad economic cycles, neither policy types help much. The GOP definitely appeals to those who understand economics and business, but that is a growing minority in the free world.
I believe the GOP understands this, and that is why they have such a hard time dropping the social issues which give them little to no shot now or going forward to win a Presidential election.
Humanity has evolved too much, and the Religious Right simply pisses off far too many people with their anti-women's right nonsense and even their anti-gay rights nonsense. The fact 45% of Americans still do not accept evolution is comical, but I expect that number to only drop in the future as creationists continue to have their asses handed to them, especially now that social media makes it very easy to quickly refute their idiocy.
However, the Religious Right will never vote for a the Democrats right now because the Republicans, in their charter, are strictly Right To Life, no exceptions. They would rather vote for someone who wears magical underwear while converting dead Jews than a Godless Muslim from Kenya any day of the week.
But as less and less people consider themselves to be religious, and science continues to show more evidence that homosexuality is created in the womb the overwhelming majority of the time, the Religious Right will continue to make it impossible for the GOP to win a major election.
The big question is if the GOP were to drop social issues, would they pick up more moderates and independents to make up for the losses from the Religious Right. They could drop their public stance on abortion and gay marriage, and still hang on to the Armageddon crowd, by being perceived as more pro-Israel than the Democrats (which is the case, though it might just be hogwash as both parties are in kick the ball mode). The Religious Right needs a Jewish majority in Israel or the prophecy of Jesus' Second Coming will be screwed up.
The reality is that the most famous person who never existed, Jesus Christ, would vote Democrat if he could vote today. He was definitely portrayed as a Socialist in the bible, not quite a Communist though, but still he would be compelled to vote for the left leaning party.
So take social issues away, and think what Jesus would do, the Democrats could steal many Religious voters. You know charity and make sure your neighbour doesn't starve and the rest of that empathetic and sympathetic stuff.
It is tough choice to let go of such a big base, but one thing does hold true in politics when you take social issues out of the equation, if the economic cycle is trending downwards, the opposing party has a great chance to win. That is what the GOP needs to happen in 2016, but in the their case, they would lose because of their current need to appease the Christian Taliban. They need to cut ties.
