The Republican Party is in shambles.
Yeah, I know. That's been kind of obvious for a while. But never was it crystallized more than in the two stories running today showing the party to be completely rudderless.
First, Adam Nagourney in the New York Times reports:
A party and a conservative movement that over the years have been home to a parade of optimistic figures in American politics -- like Ronald Reagan and Jack Kemp, who died last week -- is increasingly worried about coming across as downbeat or angry.
He quotes a bunch of the old guard, like former Chairman Richard Bond, worried that the party is coming off as increasingly angry (read: "crazy"), and lamenting that the party seems to be heading over the cliff.
At the same time, a story from Roger Simon in the Politico reports that this weekend, the party is expected to approve a resolution calling on everyone to refer to the Democratic Party as the "Democrat Socialist Party."
To those in the party like the current Chairman, Michael Steele, who don't think this is wise and might resist, an RNC member said, "Who cares?"
I'm fairly sure most of those in the leadership in the party aren't Ozzy fans, but his lyrics seem pretty spot-on here: "Mental wounds not healing... Who and what's to blame... I'm going off the rails on a crazy train..."
Being in the "wilderness" isn't a new phenomenon for political parties. It was a relatively short time ago that the Democratic party was wrestling with its own future, and which way it would go.
The difference is that Democrats (and even Republicans during their soul-searching of the 70s) didn't focus on tone, but on carving out a positive agenda that fit the times.
But this is what happens when Boss Limbaugh is the real leader of your party. An entertainer, Limbaugh is all about tone, and not much about ideas. Tone gets ratings. An angry tone gets boffo ratings. But, an angry tone without ideas doesn't get votes. And by forcing a battle over how angry your tone should be, before you even know what you stand for anymore, you make radio hosts happy, but you lose the American people at a fast clip.
And so, by focusing on tea parties that protest everything, offer nothing, and feature signs with Barack Obama made up like Adolf Hitler, and keying their internal battles on whether or not to call the Democratic Party the "Democrat Socialist Party" or not, Republicans aren't just on their way off the rails on a crazy train, they're about to head straight into the sun, warp factor 10.
Godspeed on that voyage, Grand Old Party.
Conservative: An old, white person that likes the way things were back when, well, whenever back-when was for them. Someone who thinks Blacks, Hispanics, Gays and Atheists are scary, but they don't recall ever meeting any of them in person. Someone who thinks the NeoCons are looking out for them and that the Republican Party is cool. Rush is right, but very loud. Jesus wants us to kill Muslims.
NeoCon: Old, rich, white guys that gain money and power by convincing conservatives that they have their best interests at heart - nothing could be further from the truth. They believe in the gross accumulation of wealth with no government interference. Free market should be 100% free, no regulation, no taxes. Thinks Republican Party is just a means to an end. They own Rush and Cheney. Poor people/ - Too bad for them. Nothing is illegal until you are convicted. Need some cash - start a war!
Republicans: Sometimes an effective vehicle to conduct elections, but courts and voter fraud are far more efficient and reliable. Party claims Abe Lincoln but disavows Civil Rights Act. Party elects Black man as chairman, but hates fact that Black man is President. Always trying to please Conservatives while following rules set by NeoCons - can't have both. Thinks "groovy" and "hip" youngsters will flock to the party.......someday.....probably when they are 75. Thinks having 20% identification with voters should get them 60% of elected offices.
The elephant is a lousy symbol for the modern Republican, as the elephant is well known for its intense loyalty and concern for all members of its species - to the point that the elephants will often stop to caress the bones of dead elephants for hours.
Were elephants Republican, they would have to carry large wallets in order to be accepted as worthy elephants by the elephants with the largest wallets.
Why this is not obvious to the MSM is amazing.
They hoped and continue to work for the failure of Obama. They've been doing that since the day he announced. He started with no money, and ended up running a near-billion$ campaign, with millions in surplus. He did all of this defeating the most powerful political machine of the last 30 years as well as a relentless right-wing attack. He succeeded beyond anyone's expectations, and at the same time his opponents destroyed themselves from within.
It has seemed that judgment continues to come out of their own mouths.
Don't get cocky!
And before anyone jumps in, the fact that there are democrats who engaged in namecalling as well doesn't make it okay.
...in related news, Ethically-Challenged Party officials declined to comment on how they feel about the party formerly known as the "GOP" being re-labeled the "ECP".