1 What route do you think the repubs should go? Cut spending, cut taxes, seal the southern border, work out a plan for work visas etc for illegals in country.
Keep up plans on National Defense via renewing our warheads, beyond that the military needs to shrink, the Navy doesn't want as many carriers as they have also the next gen is on the way cut that, focus money on special ops, advanced weaponry.
Balance the budget, renew calls for balanced budget amendment, lock Federal spending to 10-12% of GDP unless time of declared war. Remove the death tax, cap tax rates at 25%, for individuals and corporations. True SS reform, we can no longer kick the can, those currently on, and heading into it (say 10-15 yearas out) get current system.
2 Which route do you think they will actually go? Related: How big of a struggle will there be in the party between moderates (which may like option 2 above) and tea party (option1). Tax cut for the rich, more spending deficit will swell, debt continues, pass some form of amnesty, attempt Obama impeachment, shoot themselves in the dick over a social issue, drop Pres in 2016 by running a Romney/McCain ticket.
3. What should be the top 5 issues they should tackle?
1 Border
2 SS
3 Spending
4 Taxes
5 Anything that is good for the country and both side agree on, to get the ball rolling (good luck on that!)
4. Which route do you think Obama will go - work wt Congress or remain ideologically pure and fight Congress all of the way wt his 'pen, phone, and veto' via executive action. He will work with them at first depending on what bills get brought up. Min wage is dead until after 2016, some sort of amnesty will pass in 2015, Vote to repeal Obamacare will result in veto, after that back to gridlock.
EDIT: Bold flavors.