Republican Party in 2016

The Republican Party can win the presidency in 2016 with a shift in strategy.

First,  the G.O.P. must cut ties with radical elements within its camp.  For instance,  Republicans should distance themselves from Sara Palin,  Rush Limbaugh,  Michelle Bachman,  the Fox News Channel, and the notorious Senator Ted Cruz of Texas to be victorious in 2016. They stir up misguided passions from the past with their relentless bashing of Obamacare and by seeking to erect new barriers to voting,  such as voter identification laws.  If not, the party will seem less sensitive to the needs of the poor,  minorities, and independent voters,  thus ensuring an easier path to victory for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or Vice President Joseph Biden. 

But the most divisive element affecting Republican prospects for 2016 seems to be the Tea Party,  a group of ultra-conservatives who caucuses with the G.O.P. in Congress.  They defy compromise,  especially regarding healthcare reform, and prefer to shut down the U.S. Government instead of extending the olive branch to the president,  the way moderate Republicans would like to do.  As a result,  the party of Lincoln is often viewed by the public as overly hostile to President Obama and his policies,  which didn't go over well in the 2012 Presidential Election.

In addition to distancing themselves from extremists within their ranks,  Republicans must pivot to the center if they hope to recapture the White House.  A way to do this would be to nominate former Florida Governor Jeb Bush or Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey for president.  Both advocate rebuilding the nation's crumbling infrastructure and rescuing public education to promote economic growth like most Americans,  except right-wing conservatives,  who could never appeal to the middle-of-the-road constituents.  Bush and Christie also backed a balanced federal budget so that Social Security and other pivotal government programs survive for the next generation.  But their biggest challenge is to break the gridlock in Washington, which means they must abandon efforts to abolish the Affordable Care Act and other Obama programs that don't threaten the economy or national security as a goodwill gesture.

Also, by shifting to the center,  the G.O.P. could double its voting base.  African Americans,  Hispanics,  Asians,  women, and voters between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five might flock to a party with moderate views on critical issues like abortion,  health care reform,  welfare spending, and gay marriage, unlike the Democratic Party.  It could likely guarantee victories in much-needed states like Ohio,  Florida,  Virginia,  and North Carolina and enable the party to hold on to Texas as demographics in the state steadily shift.

So,  for those Republicans seeking a comeback in 2016,  there exists a pathway to victory not with a candidate who will seek to overturn health care reform,  neglect the environment, or scale back Social Security,  but someone with style,  vigor, and foresight on the crucial issues of the day.