"Republicans' big problem with crazy"

[applegrove]

Republicans' big problem with crazy

by Michael Cohen at the Guardian

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/15/republicans-big-problem-with-crazy

"SNIP................................

For years, the GOP establishment mined this wellspring of racial and economic anxiety. They railed against gay marriage and abortion; attacked big government and out-of-control federal spending and demonized welfare and social programs.

But once in office, Republicans had a funny way of never really carrying through with their tough rhetoric. Rather than do away with social security or Medicare – they strengthened it and expanded it. Rather than slash government spending or the size of the federal bureaucracy – they increased it. The more visceral imperative for Republican officeholders was to provide tax breaks for their wealthy supporters, weaken regulation (be it financial, environmental or workplace) and, above all, hold on to their political power. Going after sacred cows like social insurance programs or popular spending programs, or working to enact abortion restrictions, were political nonstarters (or were quickly shelved once they became political liabilities).

.....................

The result of all this is more dysfunction, more budgetary shutdowns and more political black eyes for a Republican party unable to reason with its most ideologically fervent followers. None of this should really be unexpected. If you're going to tell radical conservatives that Obamacare is the worst thing to ever happen to America, is it really a surprise that those same extremists are not going to meekly nod when you tell them that it's now a fact of life? If you're going to tell voters that government debt is destroying the country, is it really a surprise when those voters demand that every step must be taken to reduce it?

Any hope that the defeat of Mitt Romney in November 2012 would begin to drain the GOP's fever swamp has gone by the wayside – and Republicans have no one to blame but themselves. In nurturing and radicalizing its extremist fringe – in pursuit of short-term gain – the Republican establishment created a political Frankenstein. Increasingly, however, it looks as though the monster's first victim is going to be them.



...............................SNIP"

[DJ13]

1. Good article kick!

[lamp_shade]

2. An excellent read. Thanks.

[longship]

3. When one has an authoritarian ideology one cannot help witnessing for it.

It is an attribute common with all such ideologically based political systems. The fact that they cannot shut their damned mouths attests to this inescapable fact.

For years they have run their media machine to keep everybody on message as has been reported here time and time again. But now they cannot stop themselves. The paradigm of witnessing for their ideology using the most strident rhetoric has become the standard.

Most specifically, the overt racism and misogyny, to say nothing of the LBGT baiting, shows an entire political party completely out of touch with the modern world.

The Republican Party, one of only two important parties in the USA, is in big trouble. The repercussions may be considerable. I am afraid of the possible results.