"The mainstream runs from Hillary Clinton all the way to Mitt Romney, so you got about a quarter of an inch. If you fall out of this wide spectrum, you're an extremist" - Tom Woods

I really don't understand why cutting taxes for the wealthy would be a major part of anyone's platform. If there is an effect on the economy, it would be minuscule, and I can't imagine it would be the reason anyone would vote for a candidate--rather, I can see it as a reason someone would not vote for a candidate. Even in most polls, the majority of millionaires who respond think their taxes should hold or go up. The capital gains taxation rate is already ridiculously beneficial for anyone who earns their living by using their wealth. I mean, as an example, Romney only paid 14%? God lord, it must be nice to be rich.

I think this is why many people believe the GOP is out of touch with most of America, and why it comes across as rich people looking out for other rich people, even if that's a false perception. And, of course, Romney has not helped this perception at all, which I do not understand. Pandering to the wealthy might get you more campaign funds, but it can also lose you votes, which is ultimately more important.

If the GOP loses this election then they're going to have to look at refocusing, because this is an absolute golden opportunity. They really should be able to defeat Obama, given the state of the economy. If they cannot, then I think it points to the fact that many people just simply do not trust that the Republican party has their best interests at heart. They pander so excessively to the wealthy and the religious that it leaves a lot of other people cold.

If Romney loses, look for the GOP to run someone even more hardcore in views in 2016.  The candidate will have no one throwing RINO at them, and wll end up being through and through whatever the GOP is.  They will run that candidate in 2016, thinking Romney wasn't consistent enough.  Will be interesting what happens in 2016 if that candidate runs and loses also, which seems to be the trend demographically.  The candidate will need to be selectively smaller government, and also say tax cuts, and more military defense, and not have civil liberties as much of a priority, while also trumpeting traditional values, and be consistent.  You would have someone like Santorum run on this in 2016 actually.

Of course, another one is a faction uprising that ends up having its own base and can persuade people to go along with them in the general election.  Seeing how things went with Ron Paul, it is iffy aboutthis happening.