The GOP Rests on Ideologically Shaky Ground

RebuttalR1) While interesting, I move to dismiss CON's history lesson and charts.- Do we need to know whether or not the GOP was formerly the Whig party, or that it changed ideologies in the past? No. - What does a chart with impenetrable terms like "democratism" and "monarchal constitution" have to do with this debate? R2) CON asserts: "The Modern Republican Party tends to attract libertarians and conservatives. Conservatives are attracted to the Republican Party because they want to maintain the status quo of the constitution. Libertarians are attracted to the Republican Party because they favor limited government."This fully conforms to the reasoning I laid out in round #2. "Status quo of the constitution" and "limited government" are cornerstones of classical liberalism. Republicans are liberals.R3) CON makes a false distinction to reach a preposterous conclusion:The defining factor between the two parties is that the Democrats favor Democracy or loose constitutionalism, while Republicans favor Republicanism or strict constitutionalism...The difference between a democracy and a republic is rule of law; instead of rule of law, democracies are restricted by majority rule.- In order to substantiate this, CON will have to demonstrate that Democrats in Congress do NOT create laws, and instead cater to mob rule. - CON will also have to demonstrate that Republicans do NOT favor majority rule, that the laws that Republican congresspersons pass are NOT products of the majority vote in Congress. CON's assertions here are absolutely absurd. It lessens his credibility in regards to any discussion regarding the Democrats and the GOP. I move to ignore CON's framework, and to simply stick with what I've provided in round #2.R4) CON makes an inaccurate assertion:Classic Liberalism is a form of Libertarianism. This seems minor but the point is significant. Libertarianism is a form of classical liberalism, not the other way around. Libertarianism is firmly grounded in the traditions of classical liberalism, like free markets, limited government, and freedoms of speech and religion - traditional American values.Libertarians, modern conservatives, and modern liberals all share common ideologies found in classical liberalism, i.e. traditional American values. - All Americans are liberals.R5) CON's main credible point of contention with my round #2 presentation is that "Although Liberalism has become more popular in the modern era, it does not mean everyone is liberal. There are still nationalists, socialists, populists, and traditional conservatives who would not fall into the liberal category."First of all, Liberalism has been popular in American since its inception. Liberalism = traditional American values.I agree with CON that anyone can divide anything into more specific parts. Maybe there is no Democratic Party, and no Republican party, but rather factions within each party that vie for ideological control.However, I find that such analysis obfuscates the matter at hand, which is to find common ground between the two parties and America at large.My main point in round #2 dealt with moderates - American liberals - which share common values with both Republicans and Democrats. For the GOP to develop a firm foundation with the American public, they would have to appeal to these moderates, and not the myopic groups that CON presents in his case.SummaryA picture is worth 1,000 words: The Statue of Liberty is one of the most recognizable symbols of classical liberalism in the world. Its message transcends party distinctions. It is a symbol of traditional American values, values both Democrats and Republicans share.Whenever the GOP demonizes "liberalism", they inadvertently demonize principles upon which this country was founded. The GOP needs to focus more on demonizing socialism, not liberalism; otherwise they are on ideologically shaky ground. The Democrats simply do not have this problem, and thus claim the moderate vote.