Originally Posted By gadzuux Over the past weeks and months and years, we've sifted through the specifics of many of the repeated republican outrages, but today I came across a column that offers a quick thumbnail of these offenses in pursuit of the 'bigger picture'. Namely that the GOP has deliberately - and cravenly - lurched into the far right in a bid to increase their appeal with nutcases. It's working. They long ago kissed off the entire african american community, and now they're diligently demonizing hispanic and muslim americans for their own political gain. This is achieved by pandering to an angry group of completely irrational white people who can be easily manipulated by their own fears and ignorance. <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/08/18/2010-08-18_for_the_gop_its_rightward_ho_after_two_big_electoral_losses_the_party_is_becomin.html" target="_blank">http://www.nydailynews.com/opi...min.html</a> [Excerpts] In the wake of the 2008 elections, the Republican Party's second consecutive humiliating cycle, the GOP faced an uncomfortable dilemma. Burdened by dwindling numbers, a tarnished brand and its smallest congressional minority in a generation, Republicans had to decide how they would position themselves for the future. The party's choice - move aggressively to the hard right, while catering exclusively to a reactionary, right-wing base - belied history, political norms and even common sense. But if it's successful, and the party's strategy is rewarded in November, the consequences may generate some new pages in the American political rule book. The post-Bush direction for Republicans, seemed fairly obvious. To wash off the stench of failure, the GOP would have to distance itself from its own discredited agenda and reconsider the value of the mainstream. Republicans chose to do the opposite. Ideas and tactics that have long been considered beyond the pale, even for Republicans, are suddenly an integral part of the party's election-year message: It's a far-right party now; no one else need apply. On areas of public policy, the approach has been even more dramatic. Many GOP leaders have inexplicably vowed not to deviate from the failures of the Bush-Cheney era. One Republican House leader recently conceded his party wants to "go back to the exact same agenda" the party offered before it was bounced from power. At the same time, many more leading Republicans have insisted that this vision isn't right wing enough. The electorate is now confronted with key GOP officials, for example, who've groused publicly about the possibility of their states seceding from the United States. Many more party leaders have suggested that the 14th Amendment may need to be at least partially repealed; Social Security may need to be privatized, and President Obama may need to be impeached. Among GOP incumbents, voters see Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) warning of "terror babies" that don't exist, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) suggesting the U.S. census may lead to "internment camps," Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) insisting Americans have "more to fear" from health care reform than from terrorists and Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) apologizing to BP after its oil-spill disaster. Among GOP candidates, Kentucky's Rand Paul has voiced opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Colorado's Dan Maes considers efforts to boost bicycle riding part of a nefarious United Nations plot, Wisconsin's Ron Johnson believes global warming is likely the result of "sunspot activity," and Nevada's Sharron Angle has hinted about the possibility of an armed insurrection against our government. The fact remains, however, that a fragile economy and an election season increasingly premised on pitting Americans against one another give a radicalized Republican Party a chance to make significant gains anyway. If that happens - if their bad behavior is rewarded - Republicans will interpret the results as exoneration. Winning by backing away from the ideological cliff will be seen as a quaint, antiquated ideal. ----------------------------------------- It's scary, because it's so on target. What should be unthinkable has instead become unquestioned dogma for far too many people.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney This is scary. The most scary thing about todays Republican party is how much HATRED they have. Toward anyone and everyone who does not agree with them or who is different from them. And they are armed. I have heard 2 Republicans I know talk about the possibility of civil war in the past 3 weeks. Why is this? No one talked like this when Bush was President, did they? Why are we hearing talk of repealing the Civil Rights act or seceding from the union? It can't all be because we elected a black Democrat for President.....can it? If Hillary Clinton had won, would things be different?
Originally Posted By Longhorn12 >It can't all be because we elected a black Democrat for President.....can it? If Hillary Clinton had won, would things be different?< Probably. That whole seceding thing? Texas has been talking about that longer than I've been alive, so that should come as no surprise. We just get media coverage now.
Originally Posted By Mr X ^---I don't think it would be that much different if Hillary had won. First of all, because she's a chick. Secondly, because I think it's the times and not the person. They were vitriolic enough towards Bill Clinton, but the times were different then so they couldn't go "all out". Now, they can. It only HELPS them that the guy in question is black, if he hadn't been they'd find whatever ammunition they needed one way or the other. The times are changing, they HATE being out of power, they have NO remorse or regret about when they were in power, and they will do ANYTHING to get back into power. If the American people allow it, they will reap what they sow. Frankly, the Republican Party is essentially insane now. Time for them to go away and let some other group take their place. But I don't think that's gonna happen (I think things will get so much worse over the next 20 years, due to election stupidity, that people will look back and wonder why anyone had any problem with Bush whatsoever). I hope not, but I think that's they way things will go if the right wing gains even a modicum of power at this point (hell, they've done enough damage even "out of power" thanks to Obama and his lack of sack.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>They were vitriolic enough towards Bill Clinton, but the times were different then so they couldn't go "all out".<< They went all out. The Starr investigation meandered around and around until they found their "gotcha."
Originally Posted By Mr X I suppose we'll really see the full force of their intentions if they retake the Congress in November. I'm thinking the very first order of business will be impeachment charges (for whatever excuse they can drum up).
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Kind of, but it seemed like a non-stop drumbeat of anti-Clinton stuff throughout the 90s. They spent millions of dollars in taxpayer money to bring Clinton down over 8 years. I goal today is the same, but what's changed is that there's no pretense of respect for Obama (calling him a liar during the state of the union, etc.). That "vast right wing conspiracy" that Hillary saw and was mocked for is much easier to identify today -- they've got a powerful right wing media that was only in its infancy back then. If the economy in the 90s hadn't been what it was, who knows, maybe what little restraint they seemed to show back then would have been as easy to see as it is today.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>I'm thinking the very first order of business will be impeachment charges (for whatever excuse they can drum up).<< Sadly, I think you're right.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>I'm thinking the very first order of business will be impeachment charges (for whatever excuse they can drum up).<< Followed by a call to dismantle all social programs in the name of balancing the budget. Of course military spending and further tax cuts for the super rish will be sacrosanct.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney These far right Republicans are armed and ready to fight. My husband works with two men who've told him they are building their artilery for when it all comes down. Republicans are expecting it, I'd almost say looking forward to it, and it's scary. Maybe it's time for Democrats to arm themselves??
Originally Posted By DyGDisney The Republicans need to remember that President Obama was elected by this country, "of the people, by the people, and for the people." HE was actually voted in, by the popular vote. To look for petty reasons to Impeach would be going against the fundamental beliefs on which our country was found. The extreme right is starting to resemble the Nazi party. If you don't look like them and sound like them, they are ready to take you out.
Originally Posted By fkurucz On a related note Orson Scott Card (of Ender's Game fame) wrote a novel called 'Empire' where fanatical liberals try to overthrow the US government. It seems that it got it backwards.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>My husband works with two men who've told him they are building their artilery<< You mean like in cannons, tanks and howizters? Isn't it technically illegal to own that sort of weaponry? Or did they just mean rifles?
Originally Posted By DyGDisney No, I just mean buying extra ammo for their guns and storing it. They hunt, and have handguns for personal safety. They are legal gun owners at least.
Originally Posted By gadzuux This crowd got all wound up during the election in 08 with rampant rumors of how Obama was going to take their guns away. This prompted a run on sales of bullets and other ammo. It actually created a shortage around the country and it was all based on nothing except stupidity and fear. But don't tell that to the gun nuts, they'll shoot you.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>No, I just mean buying extra ammo for their guns and storing it.<< Big whoop. Like their hunting rifles would be any match for military weaponry, not to mention that the soldiers they would be fighting are traine the art of war and combat.
Originally Posted By mawnck >> Like their hunting rifles would be any match for military weaponry,<< Small comfort given that the military tends to be pretty conservative.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Small comfort given that the military tends to be pretty conservative.<< I would not for one second believe that our mercenary military would not aim its weapons at the American citizenry if it was ordered to do so. I don't think it will happen, but if it does a bunch of yahoos with hunting rifles would be quickly mowed down. And if said yahoos try to overthrow the government they wil also be mowed down.
