Evolution of U.S. Politics

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The Republican Party is betting on big wins in the November 2010 midterm elections. Pundits have been saying that conservatives are showing more energy than liberals, many of whom may have become somewhat disillusioned with President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled 111th Congress. During George W. Bush's presidency, neoconservatism and the Christian Right held major influence, but many of today's Tea Party activists disavow aspects of the Bush administration, voicing a quasi-libertarian/anti-incumbent ideology. In some regards, I would welcome a more libertarian Republican Party (particularly on social and religious issues). I'd definitely prefer a more free-market approach than blatantly giving favors to large, established businesses, especially when these favors benefit a particular company or industry at the cost of the nation as a whole. I feel that even the Democrats have been far too willing to coddle failed business plans. Will the Republican Party change, or is all this rhetoric just the same old, same old?

Likewise, we heard plenty of inspirational speaking from Democrats in 2008, but I'm not seeing quite the change I was hoping for. Will Would Democratic losses in November signal a need to embrace real progressive change and a need to reject the coddling of Wall Street, the health-insurance industry, and the oil industry that has blocked real transformative change?

In other words, will we see the arrival of a progressive bloc and a libertarian bloc to replace two more or less pro-status quo caucuses, both now corrupted by powerful moneyed interests?

Dude, as much as I don't like the over-usage of the word "evolution", especially with the connotation of academic censorship, I was hoping to see some history of U.S. politics from the beginning and how it altered and mutilated itself over the last 234 years.

I don't see a major shift happening in the democratic party for awhile unless Obama loses in 2012 and they're completely out of power like the GOP is now. Obama still has very strong core support in the party with the establishment and minorities who will probably support him no matter what. The supposed progressives like Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich are still begrudgingly supporting Obama too so I just have a hard time seeing a change coming. Hilary Clinton could still be waiting in the wings for another chance at the presidency too, I don't think she is any less ambitious now than she was in 2008.

Neanthumain, while it would be nice for US politics to get that progressive, it is very unlikely. Populism stands against both progressivism and libertarianism, and populism is popular with the populace.

(By progressive, I just mean that both libertarianism and progressivism are comparatively rationalist and forward-looking political ideas compared to many other notions.)

There is only one thing that pops to mind: TOLD YOU SO

I wonder if Number5 has finally turned around and realizes what an utter failure Obama's corporate accomodationism was.

The benefits of being a political defensive pessimist are finally bearing fruit.

As for predictions, the Republicans will probably regain control of the House if Tea Partisan infighting doesn't destroy the Party. A few regressive Democrats will loose nomination battles to progressive Democrats. Obama will probably hire a '10s Dick Morris and shift from being a statesman to being a Slick Willie style panderer extrodinaire. And voters will utterly ignore Greco-Roman philosophy when casting their votes.