Republican governors on the outcome of the recent election

Sixteen of 21 current Republican governors met at the Republican Governors Association in a sleek hotel on Biscayne Bay. Here is what some had to say about McCain's loss of the Presidency:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty -- passed over by Sen. John McCain for the No. 2 spot on the presidential ticket and one of nine GOP governors who preside over states won by Barack Obama -- offered a summary of his party's predicament at the governors' opening lunch.

"We cannot be a majority governing party when we essentially cannot compete in the Northeast, we are losing our ability to compete in Great Lakes states, we cannot compete on the West Coast, we are increasingly in danger of competing in the mid-Atlantic states, and the Democrats are now winning some of the Western states," Pawlenty said. "That is not a formula for being a majority governing party in this nation."

As if that weren't enough, he ticked off a few more challenges.

"Similarly we cannot compete, and prevail, as a majority governing party if we have a significant deficit, as we do, with women, where we have a large deficit with Hispanics, where we have a large deficit with African American voters, where we have a large deficit with people of modest incomes and modest financial circumstances. Those are not factors that make up a formula for success going forward."

Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, at 37 the youngest of the group, was more succinct: "They fired us with cause." He was referring to the loss of at least six senators and more than 20 House members, the first time since 1932 that the party has lost so many seats in consecutive elections.

These are Republicans capable of being elected governor in their respective states. They are very competent people and do not misunderstand the lessons of the November 4th election.

Let's look at these comments from Republican governors in detail:

• we essentially cannot compete in the Northeast,
• we are losing our ability to compete in Great Lakes states,
• we cannot compete on the West Coast,
• we are increasingly in danger of competing in the mid-Atlantic states, and
• the Democrats are now winning some of the Western states.

These are geographic indicators. Then there are demographic ones.

• we have a significant deficit with women,
• we have a large deficit with Hispanics,
• we have a large deficit with African American voters,
• we have a large deficit with people of modest incomes and modest financial circumstances.

This is one Hell of a deficit for the Republicans nationally. What do they do to change these deficits?

So far the Republicans seem to be blaming these deficits on not being sufficiently conservative. George W. Bush was not a real conservative, so he failed. They therefore intend to double down on extreme conservatism. When the Democrats offer solutions to the current economic problems, they are largely going to be in the "Hell! No!!" camp, then blame the Democrats for not solving America's economic problems (which they created.)

Anyone think that is going to work for them to return to being a majority party?