The GOP Declines to Rump Status

The good news for the Republican party is that it can’t get much worse; the bad news is that it’s pretty bad already. As Rod Dreher points out, a new Washington Post poll finds that just one in five Americans are prepared to identify themselves as Republicans. That’s some achievement in a two-party system. With apologies to Evelyn Waugh, you see, we may class political parties into four grades: Leading Party, First-Rate Party, Good Party and Party. Frankly, Party is pretty bad.

Now this may be a rogue poll and the GOP may still do well in next month’s gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey. Equally, the conservative base may still, pace Nate Silver, be more motivated than the disaffected, moderate centre, to turn-out at next year’s mid-terms. But, to put it mildly, if you were plotting a path back to power you wouldn’t begin it with the lowest party ID in a generation.