Americans are done with Democrats, done with Obama, done with Harry Reid, and so done with liberalism.

So why are Republicans polling so badly?

The Czar is about to advance a theory, here, and you are welcome to help shape it.

Polls continue to show that liberalism is on a massive decline, which happens every other generation. Last time it happened was in the late 1970s, which proved disastrous for Carter, Mondale, and Dukakis. After another generation, the kids got a little more tolerant of liberalism, and you were awarded Clinton, Dole, and Pelosi.

Based on today’s polls, we may be due for a return of libertarian conservatism around 2020 or so, in which case we will see another dozen or so years of Democratic shortfalls. The economy will improve, unemployment will go down, the military will build up, and the rest of the world will start hating America’s success again. Over time, around 2040, we will see Democrats winning governorships, senates, assembly houses, and presidencies and the whole stupid cycle happens all over again.

Sharp readers like you will notice the Czar hasn’t mentioned Republicans. And the reality is that Republicans are not all that likeable. They’re the guys the public puts in charge when they have absolutely had it with Democrats. It isn’t that Republicans are so good at selling their ideas to the public—even in the Age of Obama, the Republicans couldn’t find one candidate who could put an argument together twice in one evening—it’s just that they happen to be the Other Party.

Thus, here is the Czar’s first attempt to formulate a theory. It isn’t that Republicans sometimes win elections, it’s that Republicans tend not to lose them as much when conservatives get organized. It’s a little strange, we know, and not very pithy.

So what about Reagan, you ask? In point of fact, Reagan was viewed as the Great Communicator and a masterful president well after he was elected. If you are old enough to recall, Reagan’s popular image from 1980-1983 was that of a senile, sleepy bad actor from the 1940s who had no business being in office. People hated Reagan, but they were done with Carter. Yes, perhaps you liked Reagan…and indeed by 1984 his popular image turned around. But in the first two dozen months of his first term, the average American wasn’t sure how he’d work out…they just felt Carter and his brand of liberalism had to go.

When we see Americans complaining so much about Barack Obama and Democrats as a (w)hole, Republicans start celebrating because they start winning elections. But look at how badly Republicans are polling. As Charlie Cooke said today, “Because America essentially has a two party system, it can be tempting on occasion to see politics as a zero-sum game. In this case, however, it’s not.” That’s exactly right.

Republicans tend to win, more and more, when liberals give up for while.

The Czar of Muscovy

Божію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of all Russia upon the death of Boris Mikhailovich, who replaced Alexander Yaroslav Nevsky in 1263. However, in 1283, our Czar was passed over due to a clerical error and the rule of all Russia went to his second cousin Daniil (Даниил Александрович), whom Czar still resents. As a half-hearted apology, the Czar was awarded control over Muscovy, inconveniently located 5,000 miles away just outside Chicago. He now spends his time seething about this and writing about other stuff that bothers him.