Republicans: I Feel Your Pain

Donald Trump wants to get behind the wheel of what Real Time's Bill Maher has wonderfully called the "Republican clown car."

Since only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum elected to climb in the back seat for the surrealist ride-along, Trump has cancelled the trip. His stated reason: he wants to preserve the option to run himself if the last candidate standing displeases him.

Somewhere, Fox programmers weep.

Donald as political interlocutor would have made for amazing -- epic -- political spectacle; a main-tent Charlie Sheen, only without the introspection and humility.

It all leaves me wondering. How did the heart of a nation's leadership selection turn into a predictable reality show, where damaged players arrive in a limo, melt down and get voted off?

And ...

How much more of this can Republican voters take?

It's time to face facts. The primary has been hijacked by opportunists who can't win, couldn't lead, and don't particularly care.

Sarah Palin may have created the template: it doesn't matter if you win or lose, as long as you sell the brand. Witness her quick descent into old-news obscurity -- the exiled queen of a dwindling band of passionate Palinistas -- once it became clear that she was really, truly, no more teasing, not going to run.

A fat bank account, book deals, and speaking gigs show the template works. And she gets to keep the bus.

Palin begat Michele Bachmann as the new steely-eyed Republican hot chick. On a good day, Palin-lite. On the worst day, using an invented anecdote to cynically question life-saving vaccinations.

Could third-try libertarian/conservative Ron Paul, "the intellectual godfather" of the Tea Party movement, a man who told a nation of aging boomers that Social Security is unconstitutional, carry a national election?

Santorum was blown off the high perches of the Party by a 20-point margin five years ago -- a home-state victim of his right wing pandering and his own situational ethics. He has done nothing in the interim to make it back to the national stage, other than declare he'd like to be there.

Rick Perry swaggered on the stage and then tripped on his own platform: He wants to trim government, but can't recall exactly where. "Oops?" Nice comeback, cowboy.

Herman Cain surged to the lead on little more than an engaging style and a tax plan that would never happen. In what 24/7 media universe would multiple harassment charges and a 13-year affair not find its way into the conversation? On the bright side, he sold a lot of books.

And now: rising in the polls and stirring the hearts of conservatives is Gingrich. He comes to center stage with his personal failings and bright, shining hypocrisies trailing him like a long roll of toilet paper stuck to the heel of his well-buffed. Wingtips. That rumble on the horizon is the campaign-killing gaffe that his history says is all but sure to come.

That leaves poor Mitt Romney: the most qualified, least damaged, and possibly most serious candidate in the field. But never has a contender been so unloved. Maybe he's just not strange enough -- although his left-right pirouettes bring him closer and closer to edge with every turn of his fungible positions. Suggestion: blame what went down in Massachusetts on an evil twin.

I'm not a Republican. But if I were a Republican, I would watch in wild wonder this chorus of jesters and jugglers, and the needful bombast of a would-be kingmaker with Crazy Glued hair. And I would ask: what the hell happened here?

 

 

 

Follow Dr. Peggy Drexler on Twitter: www.twitter.com/drpeggydrexler

Comments

[Si1ver1ock]

02:52 PM on 12/15/2011

Ron Paul may be wrong on the economy, but he is honest and principled. The "qualified" Republicans (ex Republican govenors ) realize the worst may be yet to come and are taking a pass.

The media is starting its horse-race phase designed to sell advertising and generate interest. Eventually, after much toing and froing, they will rally to Obama. He is the establishment candidate.

Republicans are looking at a brokered convention. While Democrats are looking at a third party challenge.

If you want to see a real political discussion looks like look here->http://www.booktv.org/Featured/12949/After+Words+Patrick+Buchanan+Suicide+of+a+Superpower+Will+America+Survive+to+2025+hosted+by+Ralph+Nader.aspx

I voted for both these guys. To no avail.

[jerseyjoe99982002]

01:06 PM on 12/15/2011

So lets talk about the great Obama , who is definately the biggest jester of them all. I laughed at the left when they were swept during the last election and lost Congress, and I will laugh again when Congress, and possibly the Senate, goes to Republicans during the next election.

Dont feel sorry for us conservatives. There is no way Obama could beat Newt in a debate. You know that and we know that. Romney. I will agree there is not a lot of love for him, and that is simply because he instituted a lousy health care bill just like Obama forced on us.
No , dont be sorry for us. Feel sorry for yourself, because after another year, the Congress will remain in Republican control, the Democrats will lose more seats in the Senate, ( and possibly control) and with the way the economy is going, it is entirely conceivable that Obama will lose

[BBackSoon]

05:15 PM on 12/15/2011

You are wrong about how congress will move in the next election. People are tired of the Republican games.

[mwb970]

06:43 AM on 12/16/2011

Thanks for giving us the Fox "News" view on Obama. Trouble is, we've already heard it.

[not one of the sheep]

12:37 PM on 12/15/2011

Why, probably because everyone is realizing that the nation cannot handle another four years of insane spending, enslaving our children and grandchildren with massive debt, sustained unemployemnt of around 9%, a blatent lack of leadership, economic ignorance and the list goes on and on. People will hold their noses and pull the repub lever rather than continue to wade in the current swill. We're running out of "change" from the change.

[rockysparks]

12:52 PM on 12/15/2011

No, they won't. They'll hold their noses and pull the Obama lever because, as this smart commentator just stated, they're all loonybirds with nasty baggage to spare. Your comment shows you're just whistling past the Party of No's graveyard ...

[mwb970]

06:44 AM on 12/16/2011

This "analysis" reads like a transcript of Fox "News". I remember reading similar silly screeds before the 2008 election smugly predicting McCain would win in a landslide. I don't hear as much of that now.

[not one of the sheep]

10:03 PM on 12/16/2011

This "analysis" can be related to the Carter/Regan campaign. Comparable favorablilty polls, the press banging the incumbent drum, constant disparaging remarks on the lack of intellect of the contender, and economic woes. The Party of NO and the Party of SPEND depend on sheep like yourselves and not thoughtfully weigh all aspects of the candidates.

[ArtsyJane]

12:33 PM on 12/15/2011

I am particularly fond of this part of your analysis:

"It's time to face facts. The primary has been hijacked by opportunists who can't win, couldn't lead, and don't particularly care."

You hit it on the nose!

[ArtsyJane]

12:32 PM on 12/15/2011

I know, I've felt the same for the last six months. I do not know what happened in the GOP and how did they manage to gather such a collection of clowns.

By the way, you're forgetting Jon Huntsman, who I think is the best GOP candidate. But he will never get the nomination. Which is sweet, because whoever else gets it, Gingrich or Romney, will never win the general election.

[liberal leaning]

12:15 PM on 12/15/2011

What happen here is the republican party wants to bloody the current president, and are looking for a warrior who can do that, but all they're getting is wimps.

[athiesttoo]

11:38 AM on 12/15/2011

Best summation of the Republican field I've read to date. It should be an embarassment to the entire country, no just Republicans, that this field of clowns are even considered Presidential amterial. What happened to only the Best and Brightest concept of qualified leadership?

[rockysparks]

12:54 PM on 12/15/2011

I agree thaht she's provided a fine summation of what many Amerhicans are feeling about the Republican clown car that is filled with unacceptable, unqualified candidates who could never lead, never win.

[studioh!]

11:29 AM on 12/15/2011

well, I think we all know wh*t happens!

[Paisano]

11:26 AM on 12/15/2011

I guess you would need to come to this blog with the assumption that republicans FEEL? based on their voting record over the last 30 years... They do not seem to have feelings for ANYTHING OR ANYONE!

[mwb970]

06:48 AM on 12/16/2011

They do too have feelings! Their concern for themselves and their exquisite sensitivity to the tiniest imaginary slight (about one's seat on a plane, for example) show the strength of their emotions. Beyond themselves, though, you're right. The fellow down the street? "I've got mine, screw him!"

This all boils down to a battle between republicans and Americans. My money is on the Americans.

[Gadgetman]

11:18 AM on 12/15/2011

“'After watching the GOP debate, it is clear we can no longer believe in evolution.­' -The Capitol Steps”

[spriddler]

11:16 AM on 12/15/2011

This what what happens when a party loses control of the process. Do not think that the same thing cannot happen to the Democratic Party as well. There a lot of disillusioned progressives out there plus the overlapping OWS movement. I hope we do not see a similar spectacle there and that the GOP gets a handle on things before the 2016 election. This is just plain embarrassing embarrassing for the nation.

[PrehensileOne]

12:12 PM on 12/15/2011

The Republican Party depends upon tops-down consensus in a way that the Democrats have not experienced in recent times. Republicans form their group with exclusionary rules and associated discipline. It is great for organizing a parade or selling books that will never be read, but when confronted with governing this diverse nation they subdivide into warring tribes of varying belief systems. Democrats on the other hand, form consensus by openly debating policy based upon science-based truths and provable facts---a process not dependent upon central control. Progressives will always be disillusioned and independent, you can count on it.

[jeb50]

11:10 AM on 12/15/2011

Let the people dumb enough to vote for for the gop suffer the same as the rest of us.

[JackR13]

11:09 AM on 12/15/2011

How is it that I recall this exact same thing happening among the Democrats in 2007/8? Hypocrite much?

[JMilton1976]

11:21 AM on 12/15/2011

That is a lie.

[lizt]

11:39 AM on 12/15/2011

You have a poor memory. Obama and Clinton battled it out politically but neither of them are the jokes that the current field of republicans are. The republican clowns have become a gaffe-a-minute group.

[JackR13]

03:11 PM on 12/16/2011

For God's sake, you Dems nominated John Kerry in 2004, Al Gore in 2000, and had a host of early candidates during the 2008 run that included Chris Dodd and Dennis Kucinich. Bub, it doesn't GET any funnier than that!

[bev1241]

11:01 AM on 12/15/2011

"The primary has been hijacked by opportunists who can't win, couldn't lead, and don't particularly care." After reading this statement, it was clear the author of the article knew the exact score. Likening this political prelude to a reality show is truly "it" and it's very sad. Is this the death of the Republican Party? Has it become the laughing stock of American politics? Quite possibly.
How could educated, informed Americans fall for all this blather and, well, you know the two words to insert here?

[lizt]

11:44 AM on 12/15/2011

I told my friends when President Obama was elected and the GOP seemed to collectively lose their minds that I thought we were watching a rarity: the death of a political party. They have cheered our country's loss of an Olympic bid. (What kind of people cheer a loss by their own country??) They have obstructed every attempt to aid a faltering economy stating that their #1 goal is to defeat the president. In harsh economic times they have characterized out of work Americans as lazy. They fight the stimulus and then take credit for its programs. They consistently put greed and love of power over country. I thought it would take 20 years for the GOP to die but add the baggers to their running out all the moderates and alienating nearly every major voting block and I think the process is accelerating out of control for them.

[MED1025]

12:35 PM on 12/16/2011

Why the Mormons stick with the GOP is beyond me. The GOP base turning up their collective noses at Romney/Huntsman due to their religious belief should let them know how welcome they are in today's Republican Party.

[rambot02]

10:54 AM on 12/15/2011

Dear Dr. Drexler,

Tabby Cat hopes you have the best holiday season EVER! You deserve nothing but Godiva chocolate and Harry Winston diamonds in your stocking for writing the following description of Donald Trump: "a main-tent Charlie Sheen, only without the introspection and humility."

Perfect!

=^. .^=