After the Republicans took over the House of Representatives and several state houses after the November elections, several of my friends expressed morose concern. While I certainly understood their reaction, I explained why they shouldn't worry.
If the Republicans acted smart, I said, they'll concentrate on jobs, jobs and jobs -- just like they gave lip service to during the campaigns, which is why they got elected. But, I added, I don't believe Republicans will be smart. It's in the conservative DNA to get so frenzied over social issues that they can't help pushing them. Instead of jobs, Republican will be filled with such a hubris at having power that they'll convince themselves America wants everything they do and will start crusading for social issues -- none of which the country agrees with them on, and none of which most Americans even wants to hear discussed now. Republicans, I said, will become their own worst enemy.
So it has come to pass. And it's more of a horrific mess for Republicans than even I thought.
In only three months of the new Congress, with the country looking to its leaders for jobs, this is the platform the Republican Party is pushing --
Abortion.
Same-sex marriage.
Cutting Social Security.
Cutting Medicare.
Cutting affordable healthcare.
Cutting education.
Cutting Environmental Protection
Cutting NPR, PBS, Planned Parenthood
Busting public employees.
It's near-impossible to imagine most Americans looking at this list and thinking, "Yes! This is what I want my America to stand for. That's the party for me!"
You don't win elections from the far right -- or far left. You win by convincing the Great Middle that your party has the best direction for America. And that middle, by definition of being "the middle," are not ideologues. In general, they like America's status quo and only get flummoxed when things shift too much one way or the other.
The Republican Party hasn't just shifted far right, it's lost touch with America:
In a CBS News poll, 75% of Americans said abortion should be available to at least some extent.
Where conservatives once could parade masses to the vote against same-sex marriage, today 53% of Americans support it, up 21 points. (Far worse for conservatives is the future, because two-thirds of young voters support same-sex marriage.)
More than 75% of Americans are against cuts to Social Security. And any cuts to Medicare.
Only a mere quarter of Americans now support repealing the healthcare law. In fact, almost half want the law to do more.
And on and on it goes, as conservatives keep taking draconian far right positions so out of touch with the core of America. Angry cuts to the fabric of the nation that Americans cherish. Cutting health, personal security, benefits to the elderly and poor, cuts to children, teachers, the air we breathe.
This is how conservatives are defining the Republican Party for 2012.
Yet it's worse than that. Look again at the list of conservative issues. See if you can pick out something missing:
Abortion.
Same-sex marriage.
Cutting Social Security.
Cutting Medicare.
Cutting affordable healthcare.
Cutting education.
Cutting Environmental Protection
Cutting NPR, PBS, Planned Parenthood
Busting public employees.
What isn't there is jobs. The one thing that got Republicans elected in the first place. In fact, for all the Republicans' flim-flam about "the budget deficit" (which they've never cared about previously), the reality is that their cuts do the exact opposite. What do you think gets lost when making all those cuts? Jobs get lost.
And it gets worse still for Republicans, because to get elected last November they made a deal with the devil, aligning themselves with the "Tea Party" corporations. Yet now, that deal is dividing the GOP: those who insist Republicans keep their "Tea" promises and cut even more, and those who fear of losing the middle ground of American voters and must break those promises.
Deepening the problem for Republicans is that conservatives don't like government, so they have no governing to offer. Because today they are a party only of social angst, that is all they have on their plate.
Last week, Steve King (R-IA) organized a meeting for Republicans considering a presidential run. His own words unknowingly expressed clearly this problem the party faces:
"We need to work on the economic issues, yes we do," he said -- and then added the all-critical 'but' that eradicates what came before. "But," he continued, "if we let our society deconstruct, to the point where it's Godless and faithless and valueless, and..."
And, indeed. And there you have it. The very organizer of Republican presidential hopefuls is telling you that economic issues don't come first in this economic crisis. Jobs can be overlooked. It's mostly about the Godless, the faithless and the valueless.
(Side note: providing health care, social security and education...those are values.)
Michele Bachmann (R-MN) seems to see the hole that conservatives have dug for themselves in 2012 pushing social issues above all. At that same event, she tried desperately to make some, any connection to the economy. Alas, all she got was, "Social conservatism is fiscal conservatism."
Mind you, it's not, of course. Social issues, like abortion and same-sex marriage have zero to do with economics. That means all that remains is fiscal conservatism, which in the end is about cuts that only lose jobs -- and lose the social benefits from society that Americans cherish most.
And Republicans have no recourse but to keep spinning their social agenda, while painting themselves into a corner that is getting tighter and more divided by the day.
Tell lies, over an over. Spend plenty of money to do it.
Point out to them that "outsiders" are taking over the country, and freezing them out of what belongs to them.
Delegitimize the opposition. The President is not an American. (See Donald Trump's argument)
Donald Trump is NOT stupid.
Weaken the public school system, and teachers in particular. After all they deal in facts.
Talk about a mythological past, when everything was terrific.
Blame those who are not "like us" for everything, and "take the country back from them".
Make up any and all the facts you need.
Call the intellectuals and opponents "natering nabobs of negativism". (see Spiro Agnew)
It seems to me in the middle of the last century a leader of a highly educated European country, and leader in science and culture used these devices quite successfully.
My issue with the post is simply with the implication that the detachment of teapublicans with voter priorities is a growing problem. This detachment has been in place for decades and they just re-took the house a few months ago. Clearly, the detachment is not as big a problem as the author implies.
"Make up any and all the facts you need."
Case in point - Robert points out that the gopee platform doesn't mention jobs. republican solution is to trot out this 'basis' for their entire agenda: "Banks can't loan and businesses won't open when there is such a horrifyingly large national debt - so no jobs can be created until we cut every penny of spending that isn't enriching the wealthy, because the wealthy are the only humans capable of expanding business."
It's a demonstrably false load, but it doesn't matter. All who buy into the premise are going to maintain their fervent support of the publicans. Simple as that.
Exactly. But don't forget their fanatical drive to de-regulate everything possible, which helps facilitate economic bubbles and crashes, oil spills, nuclear meltdowns, etc.
F.Y.I. I am liberal and I assure you that the Democratic party is not in any shape, way or form, liberal. I have voted in the last 10 presidential elections and believe me when I tell you today’s Democrats are yesterday’s Republicans. It is absolutely appalling what is happening to this country.
And depending on how long you've posted comments on this site, you will find out how aggressively the fan club members hit the "Flag" button on comments that don't flatter the President.
As a fellow liberal Dem, I also have a hard time comprehending the national Dems. They are like rubber ducks bobbing aimlessly and pointlessly around a pool, going nowhere, accomplishing little more than staying afloat, pushing for nothing and standing for nothing.
It is difficult to keep up a discussion if comments take 60 minuted to get posted.
Second, to fix your statement - the republicans who stayed home in 2008 because of the bush hangover, palin humiliation, etc., came out in 2010 to take back the districts that went to Dems in 2006 and 2008. The anomaly was 2008, not 2010.
Last, the "image" is only in your teabag mind.
We all know the republicans are liars as they ran on JOBS, JOBS, JOBS and that's the last thing they have accomplished since they took office. We cannot allow them to continue lying to us and we believe it like a bunch of lemmings. I have been fighting their control over us since I realized years ago how false their faces really are.
Wake up America and see the forest for a change. We have got to stop these people from enslaving us in our own country and making our lives miserable just because they can. We must fight back and demand our freedom. Pay attention to what these people say compared to what they do and you will see they are two different things. Make them honest to their word or vote them OUT the next time. Stand up for your rights and the ability to live in peace and harmony with your fellow man without the lies and discourse.
Things have got to get better if they expect things to change significantly. Thank you for your comments. Enjoyed the spirited colloquy :).
happen was once they got back into power they would give it the "old bums rush" and ram through
as much as they could before everyone knew what was happening. Like what is going on in Wis.
but on a much grander scale.
The private sector jobs will come when government is made smaller. The list provided in this article is all about shrinking a government that has grown larger than we can afford. The last election was not about Jobs, jobs, jobs, but about cutting the government spending so private sector jobs can be created.
You can't privatize all of the jobs. Imagine what happens when all schools become private. Who controls the curriculum? Not only will they include creationism and intelligent design, they will get rid of evolution all together.
Very true -- but I feel it's only fair to warn you to be careful -- there are people on this blog who might mistake you for Spiderman.
;-)
[just FYI, I've seen all three "Spiderman" films and I have a few of the original Marvel Comics strips of "Spiderman"]
What we see is the wealthy enjoying benefits at the expense of failed middle class economy, increased corporate profits, business back to normal on Wall Street, but the middle class shrink from the job losses that fuel the profits of the wealthy.
There was a time that what was good for the company was good for mainstreet, and what was good for mainstreet was good for the company. When the company is all about profits, at any cost, mainstreet closes. So, enough talk about the private sector jobs. The wealth is going into overseas investment, not into America. Jobs are abundant in Asia, offered by American companies. Wealth is abundant in the corporate world. The jobs being created in the US are minimum wage, burger flipping, Walmart clerking, etc, and we continue telling Americans the wealthy are going to "invest in America" as soon as the budget gets balanced! Nice Republican propaganda.
Tough fix we're in. Confiscating corporate profits will work, but only for one year.