The problem with the more conservative party is that is can't appeal to Hispanics while remaining or even pretending to be conservative. The idea that Hispanics are conservative is not supported by any evidence. Hispanics in the Republican Party are more liberal than any other group in the Republican Party. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is the second most liberal group in congress. Hispanics politicains at the state and local level are overwhelmingly liberal.

The idea that a demographic group that does not value education, that commits crimes at much higher rate than whites, that has a 50% illegitimate rate, and is trying to isolate itself in the U.S. is either moderate or conservative is laughable. The best you can argue is that Hispanics do not like gay white guys any more than social conservatives do.

Hispanics overwhelmingly support high taxes, big government, race based programs, nanny state. There is no conservative issue that will attract such a liberal group to the more conservative party.

I understand why R's would not oppose her vehemently because she is less bad than other potential choices. But, we should get better than”less bad” for the Supreme Court.

In fact, that is more illuminating about the Latinos in question than about the Republican Party.

http://www.workingimmigrants.com/2009/02/surge_…

“The Latino vote, contrary to SD's assertion, is not, or need not be, a monolithic “liberal” voting bloc. Bush II got nearly 40% of this demographic vote just five years ago. Latinos have a base of strong family values and work ethic and tend to be culturally and socially conservative.”

Reps need to read and understand this paragraph. Latinos would naturally move towards a moderate conservative party. I think the Reps lost generations of Latinos when they passed the House immigration bill. They haven't done much to bring them back since then.

Her statements are somewhat disturbing, but she appears less of an activist threat (even if she jokes openly about the reality of decades of leftist judicial activism) than others Obama could have chosen instead, so people who are concerned about rule of law and attacks on it are relatively relieved that “only” Sotomayor was chosen this time. Her experience (her record) qualifies her and the GOP will be attacked mercilessly for whatever opposition they present, even valid and good opposition, as “racist,” anyway.

I would look at the more obvious, blunt fact of the past several decades — the Democrats are the party that preaches “inclusion” (and distorts what the GOP is like) and more importantly, buys votes with social-spending programs and entitlements, aimed in a number of cases at non-citizens. The left-wing Dems are also the “multi-culturalist” fanatics who make even liberals like the late Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., upset.

The Latino vote, contrary to SD's assertion, is not, or need not be, a monolithic “liberal” voting bloc. Bush II got nearly 40% of this demographic vote just five years ago. Latinos have a base of strong family values and work ethic and tend to be culturally and socially conservative.

Most people vote their own interests, and Latino voters are no different. When one candidate, or one party, consistently takes positions against those interests or appears to be anti-Hispanic as the R's have done, that vote will be lost notwithstanidng potential natural alignment on certain issues. If any one factor will send the Republican Party to permanent minority status it will be the Party's failure recognize the role of Latinos in America's changing demography and the Party's failure to address that changing demography in a positive manner.

Have we ever seen a case in recent history of a party taking such careful aim and shooting itself in the foot?

When every single misstep, mistake, or any other stupid thing this party does or says is highlighted in a constant news cycle, it isn't all that hard to believe. With every thing else going on right now, it seems a bit strange that the Repub troubles are worthy of being discussed at all.

As a democrat I can't tell you how encouraging it is to hear SD add his own little chime to the ongoing death knell of a once respectable party.

Excito sursum

Hispanics are a very liberal voting block that overwhelmingly support big government, high taxes, a nanny state government, and race based governance.

The idea that the Republicans should be pandering to a group that overwhelmingly supports 8a contracting, quotas, affirmative action, set asides, and government sponsored discrimination is idiotic.

The Republicans should oppose a Supreme Court justice that believes that anit-white discrimination is legal but that anti-black discrimination is illegal.