A Party in Complete Disarray
For my entire adult life, when it comes to election time, the Republican party has always been a well-oiled machine, with all of its various parts moving in concert to get their team elected. Disagreements are put aside until after the election. Talking points are repeated down to the syllable. All actions are taken with an eye on how they affect Dear Leader's political prospects.
Well, folks, that machine has completely broken down. Today two-thirds of the Republican caucus voted in a way that utterly embarrassed not only the sitting Republican president, but also the man the Republican party nominated to replace him. And they did it just one month before the election and in open defiance of their congressional leadership. That's an unprecedented breakdown of party discipline.
It's too early to know how today's events will shake out politically, either on the congressional or presidential level. But if any of this ends up helping the Republican party, it will be pure luck. There is no master strategy at work here, no coordinated plan. The Republican party is in every man for himself mode. It's something I never thought I'd see.
Right now reality is crashing down very hard on the Republican party, and Republicans are scrambling in all directions to try to survive the reckoning. Republicans are resourceful creatures and they may yet find a way to survive this, but right now they're as panicked as Wall Street investors, and it's showing.
Well, folks, that machine has completely broken down. Today two-thirds of the Republican caucus voted in a way that utterly embarrassed not only the sitting Republican president, but also the man the Republican party nominated to replace him. And they did it just one month before the election and in open defiance of their congressional leadership. That's an unprecedented breakdown of party discipline.
It's too early to know how today's events will shake out politically, either on the congressional or presidential level. But if any of this ends up helping the Republican party, it will be pure luck. There is no master strategy at work here, no coordinated plan. The Republican party is in every man for himself mode. It's something I never thought I'd see.
Right now reality is crashing down very hard on the Republican party, and Republicans are scrambling in all directions to try to survive the reckoning. Republicans are resourceful creatures and they may yet find a way to survive this, but right now they're as panicked as Wall Street investors, and it's showing.
posted by A.L. at 9:07 PM
8 Comments:
What I really loved about this vote (besides the result of not bailing out the rich) was that McCain tried to blame the failure of the vote on the Democrats. LOL! Look at the numbers. His own party sank something he supported and (attempted to) have a hand in developing.
I never thought I'd see the day when I'd appreciate the right wing of congress.
I think this is the end of the "Reagan Revolution". This morning, the Huffington Post quotes Reagan's inaugural: "Government is not the solution; government is the problem". There are probably still some true believers, but at the moment the main pillar of Republican ideology is incoherent.
I get the impression that everyone agrees there should be a bailout, even though they disagree about what form it should take.
But it is clear to the American people that the foundations of the disastrous economic policies of Bush were laid by Reagan. I think history will honour Reagan and Bush Snr as winners of the Cold War.But it will also note that their policies laid up the roots of future trouble - they cosied up to Big Oil when the US should have been weaning itself off oil to other technologies; they began a period of corporate influence and dominance that ended in disaster; their disengagement from rebuilding Afghanistan left a vacuum for jihadists who hated America.
I would like Obama to seize this moment to enunciate a new philosophy of government.. one that synthesizes the lessons of the New Deal and its successors.
Now is his chance to go beyond the ordinary and put himself in the shoes of Roosevelt and Reagan. Both were opposite in many ways but they were both first-class communicators with the American people.
Very well said, Toby.
As of today, I think the Republican Party ceased to exist as a coherent group. Their caucus broke and their president, nominee and leadership were left badly embarrassed. As flawed as the bailout is, the Republican suggestion was a complete farce. They aren't even trying to govern any more, they are only obstructionists. They are behaving as though they are already in opposition to the executive branch. As and ye shall receive. I think they are headed for an electoral disaster.
A 60 seat majority never looked so possible and neither has an Obama landslide. I see him getting at least 350 EVs unless something dramatic changes the race.
Best comment of the day. NYT's David Brooks- House Republicans "have confused talk radio with reality."
I think this is further evidence of the "Canadiazation" of the GOP. McCain is the equivalent of John Kerry this election, and I suspect you'll see some sort of open warfare between the libertarian and socon wings of the party.
It was quite a thumb in the eye of McCain, the self-anointed Saviour of the Economy. Apparently many have already written off his chances and it's every (congress)man for himself. And the rude raised digit towards the waddling, quacking President, given his popularity, is also understandable. But Paulson? Although officially titled as Secretary of the Treasury he is actually His Excellency, the Ambassador from Wall Street. Biting the monied hand that feeds them is very uncharacteristic for the GOP. Perhaps these guys really are loose cannons...
Good Grief,
They'll be back. Krugman made the point that if the economy struggles in the near future, Bush will be gone and the fault will all lie with Clinton, Pelosi and Obama and don't think for a minute it won't work.
"Mr. Bush is what Mr. Reagan would have been given the opportunity." ... Paul Krugman, 3/17/07
It's not just the end of the corrupt and unprincipled Republican Party, but also a glaring demonstration of the bankruptcy of laissez faire conservatism. Neocon ideology led us into an unnecessary war, lowered our esteem in the world, shredded our Constitution, trampled on civil and human rights, and just before sneaking out the door gutted the world economy with their insatiable and unregulated greed. Americans need not focus their anger solely on the political ideologues, however. Those morons never could have seized power without the help of right wing religious extremists who deserve equal repudiation and intense enforcement of existing I.R.S. rules against political activity by tax exempt churches.
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