Why did the Republicans lose the election so soundly and what would they do differently if they could?

I know many will cite the percentage numbers saying it wasn't a landslide, though I would venture if the Republicans had won by the same numbers they would definitely call it a landslide. At anytime during the primaries, the National Convention, or the months prior to election- what would you change? Alright- I respectfully withdraw the landslide remark. The comment about not being aggressive enough is interesting. My impression was most voters thought McCain ran an extremely disjointed, negative campaign. I know some wanted him to go after the Reverend Wright issue, but they did pursue his ties to a former domestic terrorist. As far as the low turnout by Conservatives- WHY? Again, if you were managing the campaign, what would you have changed? To those citing the 'close race' cite percentages rather than electoral votes: I'm no fan of the Electoral College but this is how wins are typically measured. Big Cazzo- previously, you citred the polls. What of the polls stating Palin merely galvanized the Right (whom you say didn't show up to vote) and completely turned off most everyone else? If Palin was such a draw, why wasn't there more Republican support? b123(et al)- Are you saying that people that disgree with you do not love their country? Big Cazzo- Thanks for your thoughtful responses. We respectfully disagree on the Palin pick, I think she carried too much baggage and completely negated McCain's trump card of Obama's lack of experience. Furthermore, she was ill prepared for the big time. You can blame it on the media but if you can't hit cwertain pitches you should stay in the minors. I believe McCain could have won had he ran a more stable, planned, coherent campaign AND if he ran as himself rather than trying to superficially recreate himself as a Conservative. Despite polling numbers saying Joe the Plumber tactics were tanking, he married the strategy. A telling moment was when he introduced Joe to a crowd of supporters but Joe did not show up. Sadly, the media captured McCain desperately calling out to Joe- "Joe, are you here?" The infighting and backstabbing among his staff reminded me of Dole's campaign where staffers began distancing themselves well before the final outcome.

Public Comments

1. Obama won, I know this, It wasnt a great margin but it was a solid margin.
2. Reps lost their butts no doubt (this from a rep). They have only themselves to blame. Knowing of course not all reps are to blame - just the ones in the capitol going against the ideals that got them there. Things such as outrageous spending, eminent domain, wire tapping, war in Iraq off false intel, etc. Thats why they lost. But get this. Obama and the dems have been built up so high by the media as our saviors. The masses are going to be in for a BIG let-down. It won't be long till everyone is square again.
3. 80% of conservitives did not go out and vote. Pull up the numbers. It will show you how many voted out of how many and who > there was no candidate that excited the base. Add to that the doom and gloom preaching of the media disheartened alot of people into thinking that their vote wouldnt matter anyways. Unfortunately i talked with quite a few who believed that way. the only reason Mccain came even close to obama was palin. Personally, i would have layed the campaign the same way obama played his. Mccain tried to play the ncie guy and kept flipfloping on his convictions. ther ewas not enough truth, not enough pressure on th eopposition to explain alot of the questiosn that came up over the course of the campaign. Aka it was a free pass ride. Hillary even by allintensive purposes should have beaten obama by a landslide. >>Look at the numbers as they were pre, and post Palins Nomination. which is what leads me there. Look at the way she weas treated by the media also, and how most people diddnt bother reviewing the facts for themselves, and how nothing of what she was accused of was cleared from teh mainstream media untill 2 days prior to the election. again even still, she was only the VP. the first pick, Mccain, was by far not a stellar pick. Mccain was a tough medicine for alot of people to swallow. Myself included. Personally speaking, i diddnt vote FOR mccain so much as Againast Obama. OH and on teh landslide, Electorial it was a landslide, but to site the numbers, it was a mere average of 4% difference between mccain and Obama in most areas. so the actual numbers not so much. Reagan now, was a landslide. >>>> I can agree with you, i do think she wasnt ready for what was comming. I think that was part of the draw for her though, was she wasnt intwined so deeply in the washington politics as usual, which was honestly one of the things i liked about Obama at the start, fresh face in washington, but the more i learned the more he turned me off. but like you said can respectfully disagree on the baggage. And yes i can definately agree with the mccain stance, it did feel alot like Dole. Dole was horrible!
4. Well Republicans got 46% of the vote so you are right you didnt win by a landslide.
5. They lost because they played too nice in the sandbox and Never challenged the dems properly. They sat back and where too nice made them look weak. They also never set themselves apart from Bush for the genera publics liking. They also did not make rediculous promises.
6. they could not- no brains
7. Had the economy not tanked, McCain would be President of the United States right now! Obama lied to his supporters with his constant "the Bush economic policies have failed"......."look what they have done to us!"........and his stupid supporters bought it hook, line and sinker!
8. 60 million Americans vote for the other guy, and liberals beat their chest like they won a landslide victory. You want to know what a landslide victory is? Check out the stats on the 1984 presidential elections. But the bottom line is that you're right. Obama won. Now liberals control the White House, the Senate, and the House. SO GO OUT THERE AND DO SOMETHING ALREADY! Because "it's all Bush's fault" ain't gonna fly with the American people in 6 months! So you people better get to work!
9. The one thing that could have changed the results of the 2008 election is if the 2004 election went to Kerry. Hear me out. By the time this election came around Bush's approval rating was in the low 20's, and because he was soooo unpopular he made it possible for a minority candidate from the Democratic Party to be elected. Had Kerry won in 04, the people would have been completely sick of him and his policies by now, especially since this whole economic mess would have happened anyway and a Republican would have easily won last November.
10. Republicans lost the election simply because of the fiscal irresponsibility of the Bush administration, and the never ending war in Iraq. McCain's voting record showed him in support of Bush policies a good 95% of the time. Who, in their right mind, would consider another 4 years of the worst administration in history?! For McCain to have won the election, he should've distanced himself from Bush and all his policies...announced a measured withdrawal from Iraq, and chosen a better running mate than the idiotic, wolf killing, Palin, and distanced himself from the fanatic religious right. Then...he might've had a chance..unlikely because America is fed up with the republican party, a party that campaigned on one issue and then did whatever they want when in office.
11. I'm a rep, and it was a landslide...not a Reaganesque vs mondale landslide but it was a big win. I'm not sure there is much we could have done. my belief is that bush was demonized by the liberal media for 8 years so there was no way to stop a strong dem candidate...with obama getting the lefty vote and 98% of the black vote it was pretty much impossible to beat him...I just hope he isn't successful in turning us into a socialist state where we lose our traditions of individual responsibility for your own success based on hard work and risk taking and not think/expect that the govt is there to be a cradle to grave nanny state.
12. He won by 10 % that's not a land slide like Reagan did he won 49 states out of 50 that's a land slide he also won 80 % of the popular vote that is a land slide 10% is not. Why they lost was McCain was not a true republican he's a democrat, no republican voted for McCain he got into the election because the libs voted him in office during the primaries where it does not matter if you lived in that state or not so the Democrats basically set us up to lose or if we did win we had McCain as our choice, Believe me if Mit Romney had won and he had Palin as a Running mate this would all be a mute point. I voted for Obama because I knew McCain could not win And I did not want him to win, I had hoped that Obama would be the better of the choices we had that he had not been in office long enough to be corrupted by the political system, I had hoped he would actually change some things in the government, And he was better than Hillery by a long shot. That was the last person I wanted in office and many more agreed with me, so he had to put her in as state department so they would not try to kil him. (Obama) The Clinton's had a lot of Friends die in plane crashes and suicides And some were thrown into prisons. So the whole notion that he won because of change is wrong he had dead people vote for him and he had the young vote for him first time voters normally don't vote but once til they get older and they vote for the Hip person not one that knowswhat they are doing and A lot of blacks and latinos voted for him as well, many hoping he will give amnisty to illegal aliens so many people that are not here leaglly had familes that were so they voted for him hoping to get thier family members here leaglly. And what they need to do now is be republican not democrats that is the only way they are going to win. The conservitie people in this country have no leaders so we have no one to vote for. Once there is a true conservitive to vote for they will win. And many democrats that love our country will vote for them as well they love our country as much as us right wingers but have not had a chance to vote for someone who is for a stronger country so obama had better play his cards right cause it does not mean he will the election the second time around if the right people go for it he will be in trouble. If he would get away from all the liberals and start making his own choices he would be fine and unstoppable. If he acted like Regen he would win again with a landslide.