Salon: Conspiracies, baseless accusations, and lunacy is the new normal for Republican Party

[ailsagirl]

From fringe to mainstream: Conspiracies, baseless accusations, and lunacy is the new normal for Republicans

-snip-

It is equally likely that the Republican Party will stay intact after November, that it will still have enough of a power base in the House of Representatives and in the states to convince itself to limp along and rebuild. But it likely can’t be viable until it purges itself of all the racism and toxic waste it has spent the last 40-plus years cultivating. And as the confluence of several stories this week reminds us, disentangling a functional political party from the rot that has infected it at all levels is likely an impossible task.

-snip-

http://www.salon.com/2016/08/10/from-fringe-to-mainstream-conspiracies-baseless-accusations-and-lunacy-is-the-new-normal-for-republicans/

[Buckeye_Democrat]

1. I don't think it's new. They also gave us McCarthy, "wanted posters" for JFK...

... because he was supposedly conspiring with Communists in Cuba and elsewhere, various accusations and investigations of the Clintons, accusations that Obama is a Muslim promoting Sharia Law and gun confiscation, etc.

The wealthy people at the top of their party have been using crazy fear-mongering techniques to attract voters who are susceptible to such propaganda since before I was born.

[ailsagirl]

2. This is true

...but I think with the influx of the tea party, the birthers, and all the others, they have become more mainstream

This is no longer "the party of Lincoln," or even the party of Dwight Eisenhower

It can't sustain itself anymore and has finally imploded (or collapsed?)

[Buckeye_Democrat]

3. I'll concede that it's possibly an all-time high for insanity now! n/t

[ailsagirl]

5. yes-- I guess gingrich had a lot to do with this with his "contract with (read: on) America"

in 1994

[Buckeye_Democrat]

8. Yeah, he was another deceitful jackass. n/t

[AlbertCat]

22. the influx of the tea party, the birthers, and all the others,

The black president is a huge factor in the nuttiness really becoming mainstream, as bigots appeared everywhere...even people who didn't think they were bigots until they were presented with a real "right of everyone" actually coming to life and being carried out. Sure it had been festering for decades, but Obama being elected just made them go nuts. Then.... gays were treated like ordinary people.... and the religious just lost their minds....even more.

[MichiganVote]

4. Good article.

[ailsagirl]

12. Really nails it

[MichiganVote]

13. Yes. Now if only we had a crystal ball...

[malaise]

6. The kooks are the party now

That's the truth

[procon]

7. The GOP will likely become a minor rump party as something more mainstream rises

from the ashes. There are always going to be a fringe group of racists, bigots and nutters who will seek out the reeking swill that the current Republican Party leaders are offering, but new party with sane and modern ideas can attract a wider electorate to fill the void.

[ailsagirl]

9. I'm amazed they're so stupid as to think they could triumph with their odious ideology

More and more people are abandoning that ship-- which gives me hope that, maybe, maybe sane heads are prevailing

It truly is The Party of Death

[MichiganVote]

14. Racism is not an ideology. Its a disease.

[ailsagirl]

15. Yes it is. Nor is hatred an ideology

or any of the other disgusting things they worship

Loathesome

[MichiganVote]

16. So much for the whole Christian thing. Seems to be a toy they grow tired of at convenient times.

[Nevernose]

30. I don't think they ever really understood Xianity to begin with

They know only what their pastors tell them, and all they're told about is sin and redemption (a fairly small part of the NT).

I've watched recently recorded videos that -- I swear to God I'm not making this up -- explained that the Parable of the Tares was warning against illegal immigration and that the lesson of the Sermon on the Mount was "every man for himself."

[MichiganVote]

31. The Sermon on the Mount was about everyman for others. Weird.

[Chasstev365]

11. Goebellsvision (Faux News) is the biggest reason for this

From Vince Foster to Father Jeramiah Wright, it's one of their most effect means of propaganda: SPREAD THE LIES!

[Wounded Bear]

17. Good read...

but Salon is getting increasingly hard to click on with the ads freezing the screen over and over.

As to content, this will probably get ungly. I just hope the crazies that have invested so much energy and emotion into their bullshit fantasies don't hurt too many people on their way out.

[ailsagirl]

19. That's my concern

that "they don't hurt too many people on their way out."

You never know how demented people can get

[Zambero]

18. When does the switch from "red states" to "orange states" happen?

Any time is a "good" time at this point.

[yellowcanine]

20. Douche Lou Dobbs and Newt were flogging the "Hillary is ill" story this evening.

Clearly shows how desperate they are to change the narrative away from Trump.

[ailsagirl]

21. What the hell is going on with THAT??

I just can't believe those bastards.

Trust that snake Gingrich to be involved-- some things never change. Hasn't he done enough damage???

[SunSeeker]

23. K & R

[2naSalit]

24. Seems like this is where it's at...

[world wide wally]

25. I watched a video abou the KKK and it's the same pattern.

They seemed to reach a peak, and then it began to fall apart as light was shown on it. I think the Tea party is at that point right now.

It was called "klansville USA" (it's on You tube)

[GoDawgs]

26. Better to take off and nuke the entire site from orbit

Its the only way to be sure...
-Ellen Louise Ripley

[RagAss]

27. Whatever is going on...

I can tell you this much, having spent the first 30 years of my life in Connecticut, no Republican ever drew a crowd like the one in Fairfield tonight that came to see Trump. Not even Reagan...nowhere close to this. This is Connecticut blue as blue gets. He won't win the state of course, but his dog whistle is mighty.

[Charles Bukowski]

28. They've been the norm since

January 2009

[underthematrix]

29. THis event was hosted by the University.

To me this means many students attended who are unlikely to vote for Trump Conn is a small state so I imagine people came in from adjoining states. Finally, sometimes campagns literally ship people it appear as if the candidate has a level of support that will trans;ate into votes. That's not the case.